BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) vs Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small): which engine is more reliable?

The BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) and the Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small) tie on our risk index: 38/100 (moderate risk). The BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cells with a damaged cathode in the high-voltage battery (fire risk)»; the Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small) has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Anode delamination in 52 kWh battery cells (2026 campaign)».

Risk index

BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

Risk index

Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

Reviewed on 30 October 202614 sources How we work

Is the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) reliable?

The sources consulted record no faults with the motor or the reduction gear. What is documented are small recalls for the battery (cells, modules, pads) and the integrated charger, concentrated on cars built from 2021 to 2023: ask for the chassis number and the paperwork.^[1][2][3]

See the 5 of the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) faults

Is the Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small) reliable?

2024 drivetrain with little data: Fiches-auto.fr has only 11 owner reports, and the official issues are an inverter reprogramming (0EN5, around 15,700 cars from 2024) and a campaign over defective cells in the 52 kWh battery from December 2025 to January 2026. There is no longevity data.^[4][5][6]

See the 3 of the Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX) and Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)
Item	BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)	Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)
Technical data
Type	Engine	Engine
Fuel	Electrical	Electrical
Displacement	—	—
Timing	—	—
Power	282–650 hp	95–150 hp
Production	since 2020^[3][7][8][9]	since 2024^[4][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)	38Moderate risk	38Moderate risk
Documented faults	5	3
Of high or critical severity	3	1
Worst severity	Critical severity	Critical severity
Main faults	Critical severity: Cells with a damaged cathode in the high-voltage battery (fire risk) Critical severity: Protective pads for the high-voltage battery not fitted (2021 i4) High severity: Battery cell and module monitoring circuit out of specification	Critical severity: Anode delamination in 52 kWh battery cells (2026 campaign) Medium severity: Motor inverter: no-start fault and 0EN5 campaign reprogramming Medium severity: Rejections, errors and charging interruptions on the R5 E-Tech
Most expensive documented repair	No reliable data	No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions	iX3 (G08) 80 kWh, 286 hp (2020-2024)^[2][3]	None
With cautionVersions to be cautious about	i4 eDrive35 and eDrive40 rear-wheel drive (2021-)^[2][11] i4 xDrive40, M50 and M60 all-wheel drive (2022-)^[2][7] iX xDrive40, xDrive50 and M60 (2021-2025)^[2][12][13] iX xDrive45, xDrive60 and M70 (2025-)^[8][14]	R5 E-Tech EV40 95 hp (70 kW, 40 kWh battery, 2024-present)^[4][5] R5 E-Tech EV40 120 hp (90 kW, 40 kWh battery, 2024-present)^[4][5] R5 E-Tech EV52 150 hp (110 kW, 52 kWh battery, 2024-present)^[4][6]
AvoidVersions to avoid	None	None

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)

Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)

Renault 5 E-Tech

Other comparisons

With the BMW eDrive de 5.ª generación (iX3, i4, iX)

With the Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

Rückruf BMW i4 und iX: Batterieproblemeauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 24 June 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
DVSA – base de llamadas a revisión (R/2021/361, R/2022/020, R/2022/330, R/2023/133, R/2023/235, R/2024/211, R/2025/274)DVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 30 October 2026
Probleme mit dem BMW iX3: typische Schwächen inkl. RückrufeCarWiki · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
Fiabilité Renault R5 E-tech (2024) (11 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Grosse alerte chez Renault : 16 000 véhicules rappelés en urgenceL'Automobiliste · General press · published 5 March 2025 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
Rappel Renault 5 et R4 E-Tech : 19 véhicules concernés en France pour un risque de batterieMotorsActu · Motoring press · published 21 March 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
BMW i4Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW iXWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW X3 (G01): sección iX3 (G08)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
Renault 5 E-TechWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
Safety Gate: alerta A12/00124/22, BMW i4 (almohadillas de la batería de alta tensión)Comisión Europea – Safety Gate · Official body · published 18 January 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW iX (2022): EV/Hybrid, firecar-recalls.eu · Other source · published 21 September 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
BMW iX Probleme (i20): Mängel, Schwachstellen und RückrufeCarWiki · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
BMW iX reliabilityAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026