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BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE vs Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE carries less risk than the Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small): 34/100 versus 38/100 (both moderate risk). The BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «Defective cells in the high-voltage battery of the i3 from 2018 to 2021»; 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 i3 / Mini Cooper SE

34

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)

38

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

11 sourcesHow we work

Is the BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE reliable?

The sources consulted record no faults in the i3's electric motor or its power electronics, apart from a small 2019 campaign. What is documented is charging (charger and port, in owner testimonies) and a 2022 recall for defective cells in the 2018–2021 battery. Always ask for proof of that campaign.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE 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 i3 / Mini Cooper SE and Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)
BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SERenault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelElectricalElectrical
Displacement——
Timing——
Power170–184 hp95–150 hp
Production2013–2022[7][8][9]since 2024[4][10]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)34Moderate risk38Moderate risk
Documented faults33
Of high or critical severity11
Worst severityCritical severityCritical severity
Main faults
  1. Critical severity: Defective cells in the high-voltage battery of the i3 from 2018 to 2021
  2. Medium severity: Failure of the on-board charger and the charging port on the i3
  3. Medium severity: Motor electronics board (EME) built out of specification
  1. Critical severity: Anode delamination in 52 kWh battery cells (2026 campaign)
  2. Medium severity: Motor inverter: no-start fault and 0EN5 campaign reprogramming
  3. Medium severity: Rejections, errors and charging interruptions on the R5 E-Tech
Most expensive documented repairNo reliable dataNo reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versionsNoneNone
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • i3 22 kWh gross battery (60 Ah) (2013–2017)[1][11]
  • i3 and i3s 33 kWh gross battery (94 Ah) (2016–2018)[2][11]
  • i3 and i3s 42.2 kWh gross battery (120 Ah) (2019–2022)[2][3]
  • Mini Cooper SE F56, 135 kW motor (2020–2024)[3][8]
  • 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 avoidNoneNone

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 i3 / Mini Cooper SE

Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)

Other comparisons

With the BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE

With the Renault 5 E-Tech (AmpR Small)

Compare other engines

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Sources

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

  1. Tous les problèmes sur BMW i3 2013 (testimonios de propietarios y llamadas a revisión)fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  2. BMW i3 (2018 – 2021): EV/Hybrid, firecar-recalls.eu · Other source · published 22 October 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026
  3. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisión (R/2019/289, R/2022/322)DVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 30 October 2026
  4. Fiabilité Renault R5 E-tech (2024) (11 témoignages)Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  5. Grosse alerte chez Renault : 16 000 véhicules rappelés en urgenceL'Automobiliste · General press · published 5 March 2025 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  6. 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
  7. BMW i3 (hatchback)Wikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  8. Mini Cooper SEWikipedia (de) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  9. Mini ElectricWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  10. Renault 5 E-TechWikipedia (en) · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  11. BMW i3 reliabilityAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026