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Used BMW i3 and i3s: what to check

Carbon-fibre body that can be costly to repair; range-extender versions have a small petrol engine. 120 Ah cars go furthest. Years covered: 2013 to 2022.

Typical asking prices: About £8,600 (2014) to £16,300 (2022) (average asking prices on AutoUncle UK, 8 to 15 October 2026). Prices vary with mileage, battery and condition.

Versions and battery sizes

ev-database order dates: 60 Ah Sep 2013-Feb 2017; 94 Ah Jul 2016-Oct 2018 (i3s 94 Ah from Oct 2017); 120 Ah (i3 and i3s) Nov 2018-Jul 2022. i3s added in 2017 refresh (Driving Electric). Range-extender (REx) petrol versions also sold; REx discontinued when the battery was upgraded (Driving Electric). Note: BMW now also uses the 'i3' name for an unrelated new model (2026) - not covered.

Batteries

60 Ah: 21.6 kWh gross / 18.8 usable; 94 Ah: 33.2 gross / 27.2 usable; 120 Ah: 42.2 gross / 37.9 usable (ev-database.org/uk).

Real-world range

ev-database EVDB real range: 60 Ah 70 mi (combined cold 60, mild 85); 94 Ah 100 mi (cold 85, mild 115), i3s 94 Ah 95 mi; 120 Ah 145 mi (cold 120, mild 170), i3s 120 Ah 140 mi. Figures are for the pure-electric car, not REx.

Charging

AC: 60 Ah 7.4 kW; 94 Ah and 120 Ah 11 kW (3-phase; typically 7.4 kW at home). DC: CCS; on the 60 Ah car ev-database lists CCS as optional and Driving Electric says fast charging was an option the first buyer had to specify. Peak DC: 60 Ah 47 kW (10-80% avg 40 kW); 94/120 Ah 49 kW (avg 46 kW).

Battery warranty

ev-database lists 8 years/100,000 mi for the 120 Ah car; no data for 60/94 Ah. InsideEVs reported BMW extended the European i3 battery warranty for newly sold cars from 100,000 km to 8 years/160,000 km (100,000 miles) (date and UK applicability not stated). BMW UK's current warranty page: battery cover for material defects and 'excessive loss of battery capacity' for up to 8 years/100,000 miles from first registration; no capacity percentage stated. InsideEVs (US-focused) says 70% threshold - not confirmed for UK.

Known issues to check

Carbon-fibre body: even minor damage can be expensive and difficult to repair (Driving Electric, 22 Jan 2021).
Leather upholstery ages poorly; strictly four seats (Driving Electric).
REx models: chain-driven petrol engine needs an oil and filter change every two years (Driving Electric).
Air-conditioning compressor failure is reported as a known issue (InsideEVs, US buyer's guide).
Rapid charging was optional on early cars - check it is fitted (Driving Electric; ev-database).
One UK recall noted for 41 cars built Oct-Nov 2015 (power steering sensor calibration) (Driving Electric).

Asking prices in detail

AutoUncle UK (last updated 15 Oct 2026): overall £7,243-£19,969, median £13,470; includes REx cars. Average asking price by year: 2014 £8,578; 2015 £8,474; 2016 £8,995; 2017 £8,745; 2018 £11,152; 2019 £11,581; 2020 £13,233; 2021 £14,812; 2022 £16,269. Motoring Research (5 Aug 2026): 'from £6,000'. evpowered.co.uk (updated 16 Feb 2026): from £7,000.

Before you buy

Get an independent battery health (state of health) report, or ask the seller for a recent one
Check how much battery warranty is left (years and miles from first registration) and whether it transfers to you
For a Renault Zoe or early Nissan Leaf, check whether the battery is owned or hired
Check recalls on GOV.UK and that any battery recall work has been done
Check the MOT history and mileage on GOV.UK
Check the rapid-charging plug (CCS or CHAdeMO) and that rapid charging is fitted at all
Make sure both charging cables are with the car
Ask for the service history: some warranties need servicing on time
Test drive from a full charge and watch the range estimate and any warnings
Remember the Electric Car Grant is for new cars only

What a battery health report shows and where to get one

Sources

Researched 2026-10-16 from the sources listed. Where sources disagree we say so. General information, not advice: confirm the warranty terms for the specific car with the manufacturer or a franchised dealer.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a used BMW i3 and i3s?

Average asking prices on AutoUncle UK in mid-October 2026: About £8,600 (2014) to £16,300 (2022). Prices vary with mileage, battery size and condition.

Does the battery warranty transfer to a new owner?

Not confirmed from BMW UK.

What should I check on a used BMW i3 and i3s?

Get a battery health report, check the remaining battery warranty and whether it transfers, check recalls and MOT history on GOV.UK, and make sure both charging cables come with the car.

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