2020 BMW I3 Electricity · LM70 HRO

The 2020 BMW i3 presents a stable and largely clean maintenance trend, with its most recent MOT on 22 October 2025 at 1,844 miles resulting in a pass. However, that latest test flagged advisories on both front tyres and the nearside rear tyre for slight damage, cracking, or perishing. This is notable because the 2023 test at 1,475 miles recorded zero defects, and the 2024 test at 1,661 miles flagged only a child seat obstruction. The emergence of tyre deterioration advisories in the most recent inspection suggests the tyres have aged or degraded between late 2024 and late 2025, consistent with a vehicle that has covered very short distances over extended periods. The overall trend is not worsening in any mechanical or structural sense, but the tyre condition flagged in October 2025 warrants attention. The mileage pattern is exceptionally low. Across roughly six years of ownership, the vehicle has accumulated just 1,844 miles, averaging approximately 307 miles per year. The progression from 1,475 miles in October 2023 to 1,661 miles in October 2024 shows only 186 miles added in twelve months, and a further 183 miles were added between October 2024 and October 2025. This is not a vehicle that has been driven regularly. Such minimal use raises different concerns than high-mileage wear. Components like tyres, brake discs, and rubber bushings deteriorate through age and standing rather than through use. Long periods of inactivity can lead to flat-spotted tyres, seized brake calipers, perished rubber hoses, and dried-out suspension bushes, none of which are captured directly in the MOT advisories but remain a realistic risk with a vehicle of this usage profile. A buyer should inspect the tyres carefully, including the sidewalls and inner edges, given the October 2025 advisories for cracking and perishing on three of the four tyres. Original-fit tyres on a 2020 vehicle are now approaching six years of age, and even low-mileage tyres should be replaced at five to six years regardless of remaining tread depth. Beyond the tyres, the underbody and suspension mounting points should be checked for corrosion, as a vehicle standing for long periods in damp conditions can develop surface rust on subframes, brake lines, and suspension components that may not yet constitute a failure but could progress. The brake system deserves a close look, particularly the rear calipers and handbrake mechanism, since electric vehicles like the i3 rely heavily on regenerative braking, meaning the physical brakes can see very little use and are prone to seizing or uneven pad wear as a result. The 2024 advisory regarding a nearside rear child seat preventing full inspection of the adult seatbelt is minor and likely resolved, but it is worth confirming that the seatbelt retracts and locks correctly during any in-person test. Overall, the MOT record is reassuring from a structural and mechanical standpoint, with no recurring serious defects. The primary concern is age-related degradation of consumable and rubber components driven by the vehicle's extremely low usage pattern rather than by wear from driving.