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BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE vs Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…): which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE carries less risk than the Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…): 34/100 versus 36/100 (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 Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…) has 3 documented serious faults, the main one being «Loss of traction from a high-voltage system cut-out (‘electric traction fault’ warning)».

Risk index

BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE

34

Moderate risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

Risk index

Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)

36

Moderate risk · 3 serious faults

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

16 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 Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…) reliable?

Stellantis’s electric drivetrain has no serious factory faults documented: the battery holds up well (median 94% health at 50,000 km and 90.7% at 150,000 km in the e-208 and Corsa-e), and the problems cited are the charger and several software campaigns.[4][5][6]

See the 5 of the Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…) faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE and Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)
BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SEStellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelElectricalElectrical
Displacement——
Timing——
Power170–184 hp136–156 hp
Production2013–2022[7][8][9]since 2019[10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)34Moderate risk36Moderate risk
Documented faults35
Of high or critical severity13
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. High severity: Loss of traction from a high-voltage system cut-out (‘electric traction fault’ warning)
  2. High severity: Traction battery control calibration: motor cut-out from faulty readings (2022)
  3. Critical severity: Astra Electric: communication fault between control units that can make the car move backwards (2023)
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][12]
  • i3 and i3s 33 kWh gross battery (94 Ah) (2016–2018)[2][12]
  • 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]
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

Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)

See the 20 models with the Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)

Other comparisons

With the BMW i3 / Mini Cooper SE

With the Stellantis e-CMP (e-208, Corsa-e, ë-C4…)

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. Ni un solo eléctrico baja del 86 % de batería: 500.000 tests miden la degradación de 20 modelos a los 150.000 kmtestcoches.es · Reliability study · published 4 September 2026 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in Spanish
  5. Peugeot e-208, e-2008, DS 3 e-Tense. Un rappel de 5 761 exemplairesL'argus · Motoring press · published 20 April 2022 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  6. E-Fahrzeug-Rückruf: E-Motor könnte ausfallenauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 1 March 2023 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  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. Common Modular Platform (CMP / e-CMP)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  11. Peugeot Expert (electric versions)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026
  12. BMW i3 reliabilityAuto Express · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026
  13. E-Auto: Rückruf bei Opel, Peugeot, Citroën und DSGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 8 June 2023 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  14. Fiat 600 : fiabilité, pannes et rappels (600e)Fiches-auto.fr · Reliability study · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  15. Rückruf Opel Astra Electric: Kann in falsche Richtung fahrenauto motor und sport · Motoring press · published 23 November 2023 · consulted 30 October 2026 · in German
  16. Opel Astra (Astra Electric)Wikipedia · Other source · consulted 30 October 2026