BMW i4 years to avoid? MOT pass rate by year

6,442 initial MOT tests in 2025 on cars first used 2022–2022 · DVSA data · For guidance only · How we count

Only one BMW i4 year has enough tests, and its MOT pass rate is below the average for vehicles first used in the same year.

The MOT pass rate is one signal, not the whole story. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't record gearbox or engine faults, and a pass rate also reflects mileage and upkeep, so the table shows median mileage too. Whatever the year, the car in front of you matters more than its model's average.

83.6%passed first time

First-time pass rate, all years together: initial tests passed with no repairs. 95% range 82.7% to 84.5%.

BMW i4, all years83.6%
Same-age average, all vehicles88.5%

In 2025, 83.6% of the 6,442 initial MOT tests on BMW i4 cars were passed with no repairs. The same-age average, for all vehicles first used in the same years, was 88.5%. That is 4.9 points below the same-age average.

Check a specific i4

Its own MOT history, free.

BMW i4 MOT pass rate by year

Year is when the car was first used. Older vehicles fail more often, so each year is compared with all vehicles first used that year.

Year	Chart	Testsmedian miles	Passed first time	Against all vehicles that year
2022age 3		6,44231,400	83.6%±1.0	−4.9 ptsall: 88.5%

Tests are initial MOT tests in 2025, not retests. Median miles is the middle odometer reading at the test: half had more, half had less. ± is the 95% margin of error in points (Wilson interval): a difference smaller than that could be chance. Years without a link have fewer than 10,000 tests, so they are listed here but don't have their own page.

When a car's mileage doesn't add up

Does mileage matter?

BMW i4 first-time pass rates by the mileage at the initial test, all years together, against all vehicles of the same age and mileage.

85.7% of BMW i4 tests under 30,000 miles passed first time, against 82.2% at 30,000 to 59,999 miles. For all vehicles of the same age and mileage, the figures are 91.1% and 84.7%.

Miles at the test	Tests	Passed first time	Against all vehicles, same age and mileage
Under 30,000	2,988	85.7%±1.4	−5.4 ptsall: 91.1%
30,000–59,999	2,939	82.2%±1.5	−2.5 ptsall: 84.7%

Against all vehicles of the same age and mileage, i4 tests were below average in every band shown.

Mileage is only one factor. How a car has been driven and looked after matters too. These figures show an association across all BMW i4 tests in 2025, not what mileage does to a particular car.

Mileage is the odometer reading at the initial test. Each band is compared with all vehicles first used in the same year with a reading in the same band, weighted by this model's own tests in each year. Bands need at least 1,000 tests. Not shown, with fewer than 1,000 tests: 60,000–89,999, 90,000–119,999 and 120,000 or more. 1 test (under 0.1%) had no usable odometer reading and is left out. How we count

Common i4 problems at the MOT

Share of the 1,054 failed tests with a fault in each area, all years together. A test can count in more than one area, so these add up to more than 100%.

Tyres77.2%
Lights and electrics11.5%
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors11.3%

MOT records show roadworthiness faults, not engine or gearbox problems. Each year page compares that year's failure areas with all vehicles first used in the same year.

Most common MOT failures on the BMW i4

The defects recorded most often at the 1,054 failed initial tests on BMW i4 cars, all years together, in the DVSA's own words. Each share is of failed tests, and a failed test can have more than one defect.

Defect	Share of failed tests	All vehicles, same age
Tyre has ply or cords exposedTyres	33.4%352 tests	9.8%
Tyre has a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cordsTyres	31.1%328 tests	18.2%
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mmTyres	8.9%94 tests	10.4%
Headlamp aim too highLights and electrics	7.9%83 tests	8.0%
Tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structureTyres	6.6%70 tests	3.8%
Wiper does not clear the windscreen effectivelyWindscreen, wipers, mirrors	6.3%66 tests	14.0%

These are failures recorded at initial MOT tests in 2025. Retests are not counted. "All vehicles, same age" is the same defect's share of failed tests for all vehicles first used in the same years, weighted by the i4's failed tests in each year. How we count

What to check when viewing a i4

Based on the areas where BMW i4 MOT tests fail most often. These are general checks anyone can do, not a mechanical inspection.

Tyres
In 77.2% of failed i4 tests
- Check the tread on every tyre. The legal minimum for cars is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread.
- Look for cuts, bulges, and wear on only the inner or outer edge, which can point to an alignment problem.
- Check that the spare wheel or the tyre repair kit is there.
Lights and electrics
In 11.5% of failed i4 tests
- Ask the seller to help you check every light: dipped and main beam, brake lights, indicators, fog lights and the number plate lamp.
- Look for cracked, misted or yellowed headlight lenses.
- Warning lights on the dashboard should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts.
Windscreen, wipers, mirrors
In 11.3% of failed i4 tests
- Look for chips and cracks in the windscreen, especially in front of the driver.
- Run the wipers and washers. The blades should clear the screen without smearing.
- Check both door mirrors and the rear-view mirror are intact and adjust.

Then read the car's own MOT history. Advisories in the same area at several tests are worth asking about.

Check a i4's MOT history

BMW i4 questions

Is the BMW i4 reliable?

MOT results show only part of the picture. In 2025, 83.6% of initial MOT tests on BMW i4 cars were passed with no repairs, against a same-age average of 88.5%. That is 4.9 points below average. An MOT checks safety and emissions on the day of the test. It doesn't measure breakdowns, engine or gearbox faults, or repair costs.

What are the most common BMW i4 problems at the MOT?

The most common failure areas are tyres (in 77.2% of failed tests), lights and electrics (in 11.5% of failed tests) and windscreen, wipers, mirrors (in 11.3% of failed tests). A failed test can count in more than one area.

What mileage is normal for a 3-year-old BMW i4?

At their 2025 MOT tests, BMW i4 cars first used in 2022, about 3 years old, had a median of 31,400 miles. Half had more and half had less.

How do I check a specific i4's MOT history?

Enter its registration in our free check. It lists that car's own MOT results, the faults and advisories recorded and the mileage at each test, and flags repeated advisories and mileage that goes down.

Check a car's MOT history for free

What MOT data can't tell you about any BMW i4

Outstanding finance, write-offs, theft and plate changes aren't in MOT records. For a particular car, you need a history check.

Compare history checks What MOT history doesn't show

Other BMW models

Points above (+) or below (−) the same-age average for all vehicles.

All 22 BMW models Cars ranked by MOT pass rate, by age

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests, 2025. For guidance only: these figures describe all BMW i4 cars tested, not the one you're looking at. How we count