BMW brand mark

2018 BMW i3 problems

A 2018 BMW i3 is now 8 years old, so an average example has covered around 108,000 miles. A mid-run car · most launch faults had been addressed by this point, and wear items are the main risk at this age. Check the state safety inspection and service history alongside the documented faults below, which are sorted by whether a 2018 car has usually reached the mileage where they appear.

Compiled & reviewed by the VehicleFaults Research Team

Quick answer

The 2018 BMW i3 is 8 years old, so an average example has covered roughly 108,000 miles. At that mileage 1 of the documented faults are already due, so check those first.

Faults a 2018 example has usually reached

Documented onset mileage is at or below the ~108k miles an average 2018 car has covered.

SuspensionMedium

Narrow tyre availability and rear bush wear

Typically appears
60,000+ miles
What to inspect
Check tyre condition and source availability before pricing

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 2018 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 car

BMW 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.

Other i3 model years