BMW i3: Best Years and Years to Avoid
The BMW i3 was built in a single generation (the I01) from 2013 to 2022, but the way buyers actually choose one is by battery, because the battery era decides the real-world range. This carbon-fibre electric city car is cheap to run and characterful, and no version is a blanket avoid, but the earliest small-battery cars are a very different proposition to the later long-range ones. This guide splits the i3 into its three battery eras so you can match the range to how you actually drive.
Quick answer
Best all-round pick: an i3 120Ah (2019-2022), the long-range car with roughly 150-165 miles of real range. The 94Ah (2016-2018) is a strong value choice at around 110-125 miles. Be most careful with early 60Ah cars (2013-2016), whose real range is often only 60-80 miles. For most buyers the pure-electric (BEV) i3 is simpler than the REx range-extender; check battery health on any car.
i3 120Ah (2019-2022) (2019-2022) Buy
Chassis: I01
The final and best i3, with the largest 120Ah battery giving roughly 150-165 miles of real-world range (a little more in mild weather). This is the version that makes the i3 genuinely usable as an only car for many people, and it commands a premium for good reason. It also gained the sportier i3s option. This is the one to buy if the budget stretches to it.
| Best years | Any 120Ah car is a strong buy. Later 2020-2022 cars benefit from the newest software and, in many cases, remaining battery warranty. |
| Years to watch | The REx range-extender was not offered on the 120Ah in the UK or Europe, so every UK 120Ah is pure electric. Check the remaining high-voltage battery warranty and, on any car, the battery state of health. |
| Variants to trust | i3 BEV (pure electric), i3s BEV (sportier, pure electric) |
| Variants to check | No REx range-extender was sold on the UK 120Ah, so every UK 120Ah car is pure electric |
Key risks
- Battery degradation: check the state of health and real range against the roughly 150-165 miles when new
- High-voltage charging electronics (the KLE charging module) can fault; confirm the car AC and rapid DC charges correctly
- 12V battery failures cause odd electrical faults; check its age and condition
- Narrow, tall, low-rolling-resistance tyres are expensive and can be hard to source (155/70 R19 front, 175/60 R19 rear, roughly £100 to £150 each); check tread, budget for replacements, and note there is no spare wheel, only a repair kit
- Confirm remaining high-voltage battery warranty (typically 8 years or 100,000 miles from first registration)
i3 94Ah (2016-2018) (2016-2018) Buy
Chassis: I01
The mid-life battery upgrade, with a 94Ah pack giving roughly 110-125 miles of real-world range. For a lot of UK buyers this is the value sweet spot: enough range for most commuting and errands, at a lower price than the 120Ah car. Mechanically it is the same well-proven i3, so buy on battery health and condition.
| Best years | Any well-kept 94Ah car with a healthy battery and full history is a sensible buy. Prefer a pure-electric (BEV) car unless you specifically need the REx for longer trips. |
| Years to watch | The REx range-extender versions need the small petrol engine used occasionally; a REx that has sat unused can develop fuel-system faults. Check the remaining battery warranty. |
| Variants to trust | i3 BEV (pure electric), i3s BEV (from 2018) |
| Variants to check | i3 REx range-extender (small petrol generator, needs occasional use or fuel and injectors deteriorate) |
Key risks
- Battery degradation: check the state of health and real range against the roughly 110-125 miles when new
- REx range-extender: fuel system and injectors deteriorate if the petrol engine is rarely run; confirm it has been used and serviced
- High-voltage charging electronics (the KLE charging module) faults; test AC and rapid DC charging
- 12V battery failures causing intermittent electrical gremlins
- Expensive, hard-to-source narrow tall tyres; check tread and budget accordingly
- Confirm remaining high-voltage battery warranty (typically 8 years or 100,000 miles)
i3 60Ah (2013-2016) (2013-2016) Caution
Chassis: I01
The original i3, with the smallest 60Ah battery. Real-world range is typically only 60-80 miles when healthy, and less on a degraded pack or in cold weather, so this is strictly a second car or short-commute proposition. These are now the cheapest way into an i3, but battery health matters more here than on any other version because there is so little range to lose.
| Best years | The best 60Ah buys are late 2015-2016 cars with a documented healthy battery and, ideally, some remaining warranty. Prefer a pure-electric car unless the REx genuinely suits your trips. |
| Years to watch | The earliest 2013-2014 cars have had the longest to degrade and the shortest warranty remaining; a weak battery can leave real range in the 50s. REx cars that have sat unused can have fuel-system faults. |
| Variants to trust | i3 BEV (pure electric) |
| Variants to check | i3 REx range-extender (small petrol generator, needs occasional use or fuel and injectors deteriorate) |
Key risks
- Battery degradation matters most here: check state of health and real range against the roughly 60-80 miles when new, as there is little to spare
- REx range-extender: fuel system and injectors deteriorate if the petrol engine is rarely run; check it has been exercised and serviced
- High-voltage charging electronics (the KLE charging module) can fault on early cars; confirm AC and rapid DC charging both work, and that DC rapid (CCS) charging is even fitted, as it was optional on some early cars
- Occasional rear motor-mount noise causing a clunk or drivetrain rattle; listen on pull-away
- 12V battery failures causing intermittent electrical faults
- Expensive, hard-to-source narrow tall tyres; check tread and factor in replacement cost
- Confirm remaining high-voltage battery warranty (typically 8 years or 100,000 miles); early cars may be close to expiry
The pick of the range
For most UK buyers the i3 120Ah (2019-2022) is the one to target: with roughly 150-165 miles of real range it works as an only car for many people, and a healthy battery plus remaining warranty makes it a low-worry used EV. If the budget is tighter, the 94Ah (2016-2018) is the value pick at around 110-125 miles, which covers most commuting. In both cases the pure-electric (BEV) version is simpler to own than the REx range-extender, which only makes sense if you regularly drive beyond the battery's range and will actually keep the petrol engine exercised.
What to avoid, and why
No i3 is a blanket avoid, but treat the early 60Ah cars (2013-2016) with caution: real range is often only 60-80 miles and much less on a degraded pack, so they suit only short commutes and second-car use. Whatever the battery, the single most important check is battery state of health and real range versus new, followed by the remaining high-voltage battery warranty (typically 8 years or 100,000 miles). Be wary of any REx range-extender that has clearly sat unused, as the petrol generator's fuel system and injectors deteriorate without occasional running. Also budget for the i3's expensive, hard-to-source narrow tall tyres. The passenger cell is carbon fibre, so accident repair must go to a BMW i-approved bodyshop and can write a car off on cost, which makes a clean history check especially important.
Check a specific i3 listing
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Get your report →Bimmer.AI is designed to help you identify BMW-specific buyer risks before you travel, negotiate, or pay for an inspection. It does not replace a physical inspection by a qualified mechanic, a legal vehicle-history check (e.g. HPI Check), or independent verification of finance, stolen, or write-off status. Repair-cost ranges are indicative UK figures that vary by region, specialist, parts supply, and labour rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world range of a used BMW i3?
It depends entirely on the battery. The early 60Ah cars (2013-2016) typically manage 60-80 miles when healthy; the 94Ah cars (2016-2018) around 110-125 miles; and the final 120Ah cars (2019-2022) roughly 150-165 miles. Cold weather, motorway speeds and battery degradation all reduce these figures, so always check the car's real range on a test drive.
Should I buy a pure-electric i3 or the REx range-extender?
For most buyers the pure-electric (BEV) i3 is the simpler, cheaper choice. The REx adds a small petrol generator that extends range for occasional longer trips, but it needs to be run regularly or its fuel system and injectors deteriorate. Only choose a REx if you genuinely drive beyond the battery's range and will keep the petrol engine exercised.
How do I check the battery health on a used i3?
Ask for the battery state of health, which a BMW dealer or an EV specialist can read, and compare the car's indicated real range with what it had when new for that battery. A little degradation is normal with age and mileage; a large drop, especially on a small 60Ah car, badly affects usability. Also confirm how much of the high-voltage battery warranty remains.
Is the BMW i3 reliable?
Broadly yes: as an electric car it has fewer moving parts than a combustion BMW, and the drivetrain is generally dependable. The things to watch are battery degradation, occasional high-voltage charging electronics (the KLE module) faults, 12V battery failures, some early cars' rear motor-mount noise, and, on REx cars, fuel-system problems if the petrol engine is rarely used.
What does a BMW i3 cost to run in the UK?
Running costs are low. Home charging is far cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel, servicing is simple with no oil changes on the pure-electric car, and older i3s sit in low road-tax and congestion-charge-friendly brackets. The main costs to budget for are the expensive, hard-to-source narrow tall tyres, eventual 12V battery replacement, and any out-of-warranty high-voltage repairs.
Does the BMW i3 battery have a warranty?
The high-voltage battery is typically covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles from first registration, separate from the rest of the car. On an early 2013-2014 i3 that cover may be close to expiry, so check exactly how much is left. Remaining battery warranty is a genuine value point when comparing two otherwise similar cars.