Selling a dead or junk BMW i3

If your i3 no longer drives, or the repair quote is bigger than the car is worth to you, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and there is free pickup anywhere in the US.

What owners reported, model year by model year

BMW sold the i3 in two forms. EPA lists battery-only cars (BEV) and Range Extender cars (REx), which it files as plug-in hybrids. The REx carries a gasoline fuel tank, which matters for one recall below. We had no generation history to work from, so the groups below simply follow the model years.

2014-2015: the first cars, and the most complaints

The 2014 has 76 complaints, the most of any i3 year. Its top components are the power train (13), the engine (12) and the steering (10). Owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries on that year. The 2015 adds 47 complaints, and 15 of them name the steering.

Both years had passenger air bag recalls. Campaign 14V422000 replaced the front passenger air bag; its 27 vehicles include 2014 MINI Cooper Hardtops as well as i3s. Campaign 15V628000 replaced the passenger frontal air bag module, and its 6,073 vehicles also include several MINI models, so that number is not the i3's alone.

The recall REx owners should know is 17V088000. On 2014-2017 i3 REx cars, the fuel tank vent line can rub against the protective sleeve on the battery positive cable and wear a hole. Dealers inspect the line, replace it if needed, and add a clip to stop the rubbing. The campaign covers 19,130 vehicles, and its summary names only the i3 REx.

2016-2017: structure complaints rise

On the 2016, structure leads with 10 of 33 complaints. On the 2017 it leads again with 11 of 52. Between them, those two years hold 21 of the 38 structure complaints in the whole file.

Recall 17V720000 covers 2014-2018 i3s. BMW said unbelted, small adult drivers could face a higher risk of neck injury in a frontal crash, and dealers update the driver air bag control unit software. Its 32,000 vehicles are all i3s by the summary. Recall 16V914000 replaced air bag modules on 2017 cars, but its 3,506 vehicles span many BMW models and Rolls-Royce, so most are not i3s.

2018-2021: fewer complaints, drive electronics recalls

The 2018 has 14 complaints and the 2019 has 13. There are none filed under 2020 or 2021.

The recalls here are about the drive system. On 2018 cars, campaign 19V310000 replaced the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module, because a circuit board fault could cut the high-voltage power supply. It covered 159 vehicles, all i3 BEV and REx. Campaign 19V599000 did the same on 2019 i3 and i8 cars, 139 vehicles in all. On 2018 models, 18V652000 had dealers inspect the charging cable and replace it if needed; its 3,501 vehicles include the 330e, X5 xDrive40e, 530e and i8.

Complaints and recalls by model year

Our count of NHTSA's file stops at October 10, 2026. The later i3s have been on the road for fewer seasons, which leaves them less time to draw owner reports. A recall campaign often spans several i3 years, so it appears in each year it covers.

Across all years: 11 crashes, 3 fires, 8 injuries and 13 tows reported, and no deaths.

Repair it or let it go?

1. Check i3 recalls first. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's search. An open EME, air bag or REx vent line campaign is a free dealer repair.
2. High-voltage battery or drive trouble? Get a written diagnosis before you decide. Our EV battery guide explains what to ask.
3. Weigh the quote against the car. If the repair comes close to what a running i3 of the same year would sell for, selling it unrepaired often makes more sense. See repairs cost more than it is worth.

Selling an i3 whole

1. Know which one you have: BEV or REx, the VIN, the mileage, and what is wrong.
2. Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Describe the spot: garage, curb or lot, and whether an i3 stuck in Park can be moved at all. That tells the driver which truck to send. Pickup is free anywhere in the US.
4. Leave it whole, charging cable included. Tell us about anything already removed.
5. When we come for the i3, our driver collects the title and looks at your photo ID. Plate rules change by state, and after you sell covers each one. No title? Start with the no-title guide.

Looking at another BMW? See the i4, the 2 Series or every BMW we cover.