Video Summary
The BMW i3 has bespoke parts primarily shared with the i8.It's one of the most reliable EVs on the market but can have issues.
The most common issue is the 12-volt battery failing prematurely, around every three years, which will strand the driver; this is less common with 95Ah, 120Ah and 2017+ models.
Weak motor mounts can fail abruptly, causing the car to vibrate and make noise in the back.
BMW replaced the plastic mounts with metal, upgraded bolts, and reprogrammed the cars to have less initial torque during a recall/repair campaign.
Common suspension issues include front damper dust covers breaking down, leading to unstable rides and expensive repairs.
Failing strut bearings are another common point of failure, needing upper strut mounts to be replaced.
A failed AC compressor is expensive to repair, which can also cause the cooling fan to implode and send shrapnel through the high voltage battery pack cooling loop. The compressor is required to cool both the HVAC system and the high-voltage battery.
Leaky windshield washer pumps are also common; epoxy can be a fix, or it can be replaced.
Materials used in the interior are advertised as eco-friendly but are of lesser quality and stain easily.
The antenna deteriorates in hotter climates.
Door seals will wear out sooner than other BMW models.
The charge port door solenoid can fail, preventing the charge door from opening.
Three-G networks turning off in the US impacts early models.
There have been a few reports of KLEM and EME modules failing due to bad solder joints; these can shut the motor down.
It is recommended to buy a 2017 or newer REx.
Aggressive drivers can cause tire wear in as little as 10,000 miles.
Owners often overfill gas tanks.
Camshaft bearings need to be maintained in the range extender.
Twenty-inch wheels are most popular but most susceptible to damage in a pothole.
