Known APK problem

BMW i i3: brakes

On the BMW i i3 the APK inspector finds brakes problems 90% more often than on cars of the same age: at 11–12 years 3.3%, against about 1.7% nationally.

Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026

What is it?

Worn or rusted brake discs and pads, or uneven braking.

Repair indication: mediuma targeted repair at the garage.

How to check it at the viewing

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Ask the seller: When were the brake discs and pads last replaced?

By age

Share of inspected BMW i i3s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.

Age	Type	i3	95%-CI	National	Difference	n
5 – 6 years	B	0.4%	0.2 – 0.9%	1.3%	0.3×	1,487
5 – 6 years	C	0.5%	0.2 – 1.0%	1.7%	0.3×	1,487
7 – 8 years	B	0.4%	0.2 – 0.8%	1.3%	0.3×	1,959
7 – 8 years	C	1.3%	0.9 – 1.9%	2.6%	0.5×	1,959
9 – 10 years	A	1.1%	0.6 – 2.0%	1.8%	0.6×	906
9 – 10 years	B	1.1%	0.6 – 2.0%	1.6%	0.7×	906
9 – 10 years	C	2.1%	1.3 – 3.3%	2.6%	0.8×	906
11 – 12 years	A	2.0%	1.2 – 3.4%	2.9%	0.7×	639
11 – 12 years	B	3.3%	2.2 – 5.0%	1.7%	1.9×	639
11 – 12 years	C	4.1%	2.8 – 5.9%	2.9%	1.4×	639

A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.

Comparable cars at 11–12 years

Model	Brakes	Vs. national
BMW i i3	3.3%	1.9×
Toyota Prius III	3.9%	1.4×
Mercedes-Benz V-Klasse / Vito W447	6.1%	2.1×
Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W212/S212	3.1%	1.1×
Honda Insight II	7.5%	2.6×
Chevrolet Aveo II	4.1%	1.4×

Looking at a BMW i i3? Check that car

Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other BMW i i3s of the same age.

All weak spots of the BMW i i3 · Brakes: which models more often · Checklist for this model

Frequently asked questions

Does the BMW i i3 often have brakes problems?

Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 11–12 years the inspector found a brakes defect on 3.3% of inspected BMW i i3s, against about 1.7% of all cars of the same age (1.9×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.

How do you check the brakes on a used BMW i i3?

Look through the wheel at the discs: no deep grooves or thick rust edge. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stay straight.

Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.

Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know