Ranked #62 car in the UK · Fastback (EV) · 10,822 units sold last year

BMW i4

The BMW i4 (2022 on) is the electric Gran Coupe - effectively an electric 4 Series, and one of the most convincing EVs to drive in its class. Strong range, rapid charging and proper BMW handling balance make it a genuine Tesla Model 3 rival with a more conventional, higher-quality cabin. The dual-motor i4 M50 adds serious pace. A driver's electric saloon that doesn't feel like a science project.

How these figures are sourced the valuation is anchored to a researched used-market price for this model (AutoTrader median, 2023 at 30k miles). Reliability, mileage and variant data are real DVSA MOT records. Dimensions, tyre sizes and costs, servicing figures and the insurance group are segment-level estimates rather than sourced per car, and are being replaced model by model.

BMW i4
Photo: Alexander Migl via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Body
Fastback (EV)
Years
2022–2026
Fuel
Electric
Efficiency
3.7 mi/kWh

typical

Insurance
Group 38

The short version

19/100

Forecourt score

Value 32 · Reliability 10 · Insurance 12 · catalogue percentiles

The BMW i4 loses value faster than most cars and is dearer to run than most. Its MOT-based reliability is below average — an MOT score of 57/100. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 32% of models. The main things to check on a used one are the tyres & wheels.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20) — the from-new ownership picture. Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Estimates are tuned to the version you choose.

Fuel

Electric

Power

340 ps

Drivetrain

RWD

Efficiency

3.7 mi/kWh

The volume i4. 84 kWh, ~365 mi WLTP, 340 PS, RWD. The proper rear-drive electric BMW saloon - drives like one too.

Tell us about the one you're looking at

2023
20222026
34,068 mi
0Expected: 34,068180k
good
PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.

£25,050

Range £20,850£29,650

medium confidence

When new (2023)circa £53,000Age-based value£29,150Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region+£3Market calibration-£2,503Forecourt price£26,650Private sale£23,450Part-exchange£20,650
Buythis 3-year-old

Past the steep drop — most of the depreciation is behind it.

At 34,068 miles it’s about the ~34,524 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

£

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration BMW i4 loses value over time.

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 34,068 miles you entered above — worth about £25,050 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 11,356 miles a year.

5-year total

£19,891

Per year

£3,978

All-in per mile

£0.35

Fuel per mile

7.1p

If a company carAround £81/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£40/mo at 20%) — 4% band (EV)

Depreciation£6,997
Fuel / energy£4,034
Servicing£2,570
Road tax£1,000
Insurance£5,290

If you're a company-car driver

At 4% BIK, this would cost a 40% taxpayer about £81/month in company-car tax (£40/month at 20%) — one of the strongest cases for choosing an EV via salary sacrifice. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 2 years

A 2-year-old example loses roughly £2,900 a year — 86% less than the £21,450 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 32%
Reliabilitybetter than 10%
Cheap to insurebetter than 12%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

eDrive35 / eDrive40 (volume)

BMW's electric 4 Series Gran Coupé. eDrive40 the sensible buy — 380mi WLTP class-competitive. Cross-shop Tesla Model 3 (cheaper), Hyundai Ioniq 6 (faster charging), Polestar 2.

New price
circa £55,000
Annual fuel / energy
£900
3-yr depreciation
51%

Watch for

  • ·Minimal — BMW reliability strong
  • ·iDrive 8 occasional freezes pre-2023
  • ·M Sport firm ride on UK roads

M60 xDrive

Performance i4. 3.7s 0-62 — sub-4-second sport saloon. Heavier than Tesla Model 3 Performance but better-finished. Cross-shop Model 3 Performance, Polestar 2 Performance, Kia EV6 GT.

New price
circa £72,000
Annual fuel / energy
£1,000
3-yr depreciation
51%

Watch for

  • ·Performance variants tyre wear quick
  • ·AWD reduces range vs RWD
  • ·Brakes can feel inconsistent (regen + friction blend)

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 03/08/2026) · Petrol 159.9p/L, Diesel 179.2p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 38 of 50 (high — premium bracket) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

3 years
0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+
Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£1,058/ year

Roughly £88 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.
Age bandLower riskTypicalHigher risk
Age 17-25£2,411£3,014£3,918
Age 26-32£1,258£1,481£1,806
Age 33-39Selected£931£1,058£1,248
Age 40-49£790£878£1,018
Age 50+£704£783£923

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

11,356 mi/yr
2,000UK avg for this model: 11,35630,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£200

Standard rate, post year-one

Electricity

£829

3.7 mi/kWh, 27p blended

Insurance

£1,058

Age 33-39, group 38

Clean-air zones

ULEZ compliant
  • Electric variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£2,657 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

205/60 R16 · 225/50 R17 · 245/40 R18

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

OptionNew costAdded used valueReturn

Tow bar (factory-fit)

Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.

£650£45069%

Parking sensors & reversing camera

Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.

£500£30060%

Heat pump

Genuinely useful in winter; buyers increasingly look for it.

£1,000£45045%

Heated seats / cold-weather pack

£450£20044%

Adaptive / matrix LED headlights

£900£40044%

Faster on-board AC charger

£800£30038%

Metallic or premium paint

Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.

£600£20033%

Panoramic / opening roof

£1,100£35032%

Advanced driver-assistance pack

£1,500£45030%

Larger alloy wheels

£700£20029%

Premium sound system

£800£20025%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 34,068 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500high severityParts high

Recorded in 16.1% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 46,807 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 8.1% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 46,807 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 46,807 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Seat belts & restraintsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£250low severityParts high

Recorded in 1.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 46,807 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Identification & otherWatch now

Typical at 30k-60k milesCost £20-£150low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.5% of MOT tests 30k-60k miles — from 46,807 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingWatch now

Typical at 30k-60k milesCost £15-£120low severityParts high

Recorded in 0.2% of MOT tests 30k-60k miles — from 46,807 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the BMW i4, from its 2022 assessment.

4/5
TEST YEAR2022
Current rating · valid to 2028

The passenger compartment of the i4 remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014. Euro NCAP ratings run for six years from publication; a lapsed rating means the protocol has moved on, not that the car performs any worse than it did on test.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 49,712 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

A 3-year-old i4 passes its MOT 85.6% of the time; by 5 years that has slipped to 76%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

Not enough older examples yet to gauge longevity.

What fails at the first MOT

The defect categories a i4 registered 2021–2023 fails on at its first MOT, from 10,547 first tests. Every car here is the same age and the same generation, so these are the faults that show up first - not the wear a high-mileage older example collects.

  • Tyres & wheels11.1%
  • Driver's view1.3%
  • Identification & other0.4%
  • Suspension0.3%
  • Lighting & signalling0.2%
  • Seat belts & restraints0.2%

Share of first MOT tests recording at least one defect in that category. DVSA test-item categories, not parts: “Driver’s view” covers mirrors, wipers and glass.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a i4 at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

  • 3 yr34,524
  • 4 yr43,042
  • 5 yr51,479

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records. Ages below three are not shown: the first MOT is due at three years, so the few cars tested earlier are a self-selected minority rather than a representative sample. Ages with at least 10 tests shown.

Reliability

57/ 100

Below average

First-MOT pass rate and defect rate for cars registered 2020 onward (10,547 first tests), with cohort survival — high confidence.

MOT outlook

Insufficient MOT history at this car's reference age — too few tests to compute a reliable percentile.

Things owners say

  • 01The single-motor eDrive40 is the range-and-value sweet spot; the M50 is rapid but less efficient.
  • 02Drives like a proper BMW - one of the more engaging electric saloons to steer.
  • 03Built on an adapted combustion platform, so the transmission tunnel intrudes a little in the rear - check space.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the BMW i4, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

Higher-value cars like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.

Parts theft

Lower

As an electric car it has no catalytic converter, so the most common parts-theft vector doesn't apply.

Worth doing

  • Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
  • A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a BMW i4 into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

CityAreaDaily chargeLikely outcome
LondonAll of Greater London (within the M25)£12.50
Likely exempt
Battery-electric — exempt everywhere.
BirminghamInside the A4540 Middleway£8.00
Likely exempt
Battery-electric — exempt everywhere.
BristolCity centre and part of the Portway£9.00
Likely exempt
Battery-electric — exempt everywhere.
GlasgowCity centre
Likely exempt
Battery-electric — exempt everywhere.
EdinburghCity centre
Likely exempt
Battery-electric — exempt everywhere.
AberdeenCity centre
Likely exempt
Battery-electric — exempt everywhere.
DundeeCity centre
Likely exempt
Battery-electric — exempt everywhere.

Zones that don't charge private cars

  • BathCity centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
  • BradfordOuter ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
  • SheffieldInside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
  • Newcastle & GatesheadCity centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
  • PortsmouthPart of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

EV reality check

64 kWh
Winter range
280 mi
Cold-weather realistic
DC charge 10–80%
32 min
Typical
Heat pump
Standard
Standard fit
Battery chemistry
NMC
Higher energy density, faster charging, charge to 80% daily
Cost to charge
~£17
full charge · ~£7.30/100mi

Winter range estimates assume ~5°C ambient with cabin heating; figures from manufacturer cold-weather testing where available, otherwise derived as a fraction of WLTP. DC times are manufacturer-claimed 10–80% on the headline charger; real-world sessions on UK rapids can be slower. Charging cost is a full battery at the home/blended electricity rate; public rapid charging costs more.

UK charging network

119,080 public chargers across the UK

As of 2026-04-01, the UK has 119,080 publicly available EV chargers, up 12.6% on the prior year (13,281 added in 2025). 23% of those are rapid (50 kW+) or ultra-rapid (150 kW+), so the network can support both home and on-route charging.

3-8 kW

50%

Standard

8-50 kW

27%

Standard plus

50-150 kW

12%

Rapid

150 kW+

11%

Ultra-rapid

Source: Department for Transport / Zapmap · Released 2026-05-21 · DfT statistics

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this BMW i4 as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 0 g/km, using £60,500 as the P11D value.

EVs sit at the bottom BIK band — currently 4% — so this is one of the cheapest ways to take a company car.

Tax yearBIK %Tax @ 20%Tax @ 40%Monthly @ 20%Monthly @ 40%
2025-263%£363£726£30£61
2026-274%£484£968£40£81
2027-285%£605£1,210£50£101
2028-297%£847£1,694£71£141
2029-309%£1,089£2,178£91£182

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported BMW is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~145

Large network

Premium mainstream

Network size relative to the UK's largest (BMW is 3.2% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

These are segment estimates, not manufacturer figures. 296 of 325 catalogued cars share one of 14 identical dimension sets, so they describe a class rather than this particular car. Sourced figures replace them model by model.

Length

4,700 mm

Width

1,840 mm

Height

1,450 mm

Kerb weight

1,900 kg

Boot

460–480 L

Battery

64 kWh

How many are still out there

How the UK BMW i4 fleet splits: taxed and on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, and gone from the register where that figure is available.

Currently registered

39,705

Currently taxed & on road

39,488

99% of all registered

SORN (off road)

217

1% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

n/a

not in this DfT extract

UK fleet trend — 2021 to 2025

+40.5% vs 2024
9439,488

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 29 Jul 2026

Same underpinnings

Built on the BMW CLAR platform

Rear/all-wheel-drive longitudinal platform for BMW's 3-Series and above. Steel-aluminium hybrid construction. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

BMW Cluster Architecture · BMW

Common questions

BMW i4, answered from the data

Is the BMW i4 reliable?
The BMW i4 scores 57/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure. That is computed from 49,712 real DVSA MOT test results. The main things to check on a used one are the tyres & wheels.
How much does a used BMW i4 cost?
A 2023 BMW i4 with around 34,068 miles is worth roughly £25,050 today (typical range £22,250–£27,850). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the BMW i4 depreciate?
A new BMW i4 typically loses about 45% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the BMW i4?
The BMW i4 sits in insurance group 38 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used BMW i4?
The most common age-related issues we track for the BMW i4 are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); driver's view (typically around over 100k miles, £60-£300 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the BMW i4 cost to run?
Expect around 3.7 miles per kWh on the i4 eDrive40, £200 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.
Is the BMW i4 ULEZ compliant?
The BMW i4 is pure-electric, so it is exempt from the London ULEZ charge and every other UK clean-air zone, whatever the registration year.
How many BMW i4s are on UK roads?
About 39,488 BMW i4s are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.

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