Is the BMW i3 reliable?
Even though the i3 was BMW's first attempt at an EV, it is a reliable electric car scoring well in What Car’s reliability survey. It scored 91.1% and finished 12th in a field of 20 electric cars, behind the Mini Electric, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID 3. According to the What Car survey, 21% of i3s had a fault, but two thirds of issues were fixed in less than a week.
While it finished in the lower half of the class, a well-maintained i3 should serve you well, especially when you consider it has fewer moving parts to go wrong.
Air-con: The most common issue relates to the air conditioning’s compressor lunching itself, and because it’s used to keep the battery as well as the interior cool, the subsequent issues post-failure can be as devastating as a fire.
Owners have also reported that, if it fails, it can shoot metal filings through the air-con pipes, leading to more costly repairs.
It’s worth asking the previous owner about the efficacy of the air-con, because if it doesn’t work as well as it should, it ought to be checked.
Fuel system: The ventilation line for the fuel tank on REx models produced between September 2013 and December 2016 can chafe against a battery terminal, which could lead to fuel vapour escaping and, in extreme cases, fire igniting.
Dealers are aware of it, and if there is cause for concern, they will install extra clips to stop the chafing.
Brakes: BMW fitted a strong regenerative braking system, so you don’t have to rely on the friction brakes to slow down or come to a stop.