Does the BMW i3 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

The BMW i3 records 1.68 lamps, reflectors and electrics failure items per 100 initial MOT tests (2019–2024), against 4.57 expected for a car of the same age mix: less than expected for its class and age (−2.89, 95% interval −3.03 to −2.75). It ranks 439 of 729 models on lamps, reflectors and electrics (1 = most failures above expected).

Data release dvsa-2024-v2 (24 Sep 2026) · page updated 30 Sep 2026 · all models on lamps, reflectors and electrics · check a BMW i3 by registration

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

The most frequent DVSA defect wording in this group on the BMW i3 is “A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning”, recorded 493 times in 2019–2024.

BMW i3: most frequent lamps, reflectors and electrics defect wordings, 2019–2024 (30+ items each)
DVSA defect wording	Items	Per 100 tests
A direction indicator lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning	493	0.56
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements	393	0.45
A headlamp or light source missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED	116	0.13
Lamp not securely attached	55	0.06
Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements	51	0.06

Source: DVSA MOT bulk data (OGL v3.0) · Window: 2019–2024 · n = 87,422 (initial tests) · Method: failure items (major and minor) grouped by DVSA's defect tree; wordings with 30+ items · Updated: 30 Sep 2026 · Release: dvsa-2024-v2 · CSV

Does the BMW i3 fail the MOT on lamps, reflectors and electrics more than it should?

What exactly fails on lamps, reflectors and electrics?

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