SuspensionMedium
Narrow tyre availability and rear bush wear
- Typically appears
- 60,000+ miles
- What to inspect
- Check tyre condition and source availability before pricing
2013 BMW i3 problems
A 2013 BMW i3 is now 13 years old, so an average example has covered around 175,500 miles. This is the first model year of the generation · early-build cars carry the highest share of teething faults and the most recall activity, so check the service history for completed recall work. Check the state safety inspection and service history alongside the documented faults below, which are sorted by whether a 2013 car has usually reached the mileage where they appear.
Compiled & reviewed by the VehicleFaults Research Team
Quick answer
The 2013 BMW i3 is 13 years old, so an average example has covered roughly 175,500 miles. At that mileage 1 of the documented faults are already due, so check those first.
Faults a 2013 example has usually reached
Documented onset mileage is at or below the ~176k miles an average 2013 car has covered.
Faults that appear at any mileage
Age, electronics and build-related issues that are not mileage-driven.
BatteryCritical
Capacity differences between 60Ah, 94Ah and 120Ah cars
- Typically appears
- Any
- What to inspect
- Confirm the battery version and run a state-of-health check
EngineHigh
Range extender fuel system faults from lack of use
- Typically appears
- Any
- What to inspect
- On REx cars, start the generator and check it runs cleanly
BodyHigh
Carbon body repair complexity after accident damage
- Typically appears
- Any
- What to inspect
- Check the history for accident repairs and inspect panel gaps
Inspecting a 2013 BMW i3?
Generate a tickable pre-purchase checklist for this exact year, mileage and variant · add photos and notes as you inspect.
Check this exact carBMW i3 · frequently asked questions
Which i3 should a dealer buy?
The 120Ah cars. Range on early 60Ah examples is now too short for most buyers.
Is the range extender a problem?
Only when unused. Fuel system issues appear on cars where the generator never runs.
Why does accident history matter more here?
The carbon structure needs specialist repair, so poor previous work is both a safety and a value issue.