Here's Why The BMW i3 Failed And What You Should Know Before Buying a Used or New BMW i3!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ค. 2024
- Why did the BMW i3 fail to become a successful EV? Buying a used i3? In this video I go through everything you need to know.
Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular, and I, as everyone else, like them. They are efficient, fast, they have less parts, and they require less maintenance. But there is a problem with them, they depreciate faster than petrol cars, except Tesla, which seems to hold value better than regular EVs. However, there is one car that seems to be the leader in depreciation, the BMW i3.
A little bit of history, the BMW i3 concept was introduced back in 2011 at the German auto show, the purpose was to make the i3 part of BMW's new division the Project i. The car didn’t go into production till 2013. The idea behind the i3 was to make BMW a leader in EV production, and possibly take over Tesla.
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Just want to clarify this, I have no hate against BMW, but I do think that this car could be so much better, it has the potential. If this had a range of 350 miles on a single charge, this thing would be a hot car. Would you agree?
I do expect a lot of dislikes on this video.
Update: BMW i3 sales for 2020 so far down 85%...: insideevs.com/news/432198/bmw-i3-sales-us-q2-2020/
Yep for sure.it still need some modification. But i think the new model(if there is one) will be so amazing
Totally
EV people are freaks
Yeah, but higher range means more weight and space needed... But newer models have better batteries, along with the Rex, which kinda solves the range anxiety. It's a neat and interesting resource, but I think only the i3 has it, none other car has, and sadly, because here in Brasil, which we don't have a charging infrastructure, would be great.. (well, also EV prices here don't encourage people. And we don't have incentives from the government)
@@workingmanbh yeah i totally agree .
this video is billed as "everything you need to know" about a BMW i3...
by way of a balanced argument, I will give you my experience as an i3 owner of 12 months ( as of 16th April 2020).
Depreciation... every car on the planet depreciates the minute you become the first owner and drive off the forecourt. Yes, buying new isn't a good financial decision, the cost of being the first owner is dire to your bank account.
The sole reason why teslas currently have a low depreciation is due to supply and demand. They have become a very desirable, almost cult vehicle at the moment. In countries where the supply of new Tesla Model 3's is almost non-existent, both new and second hand, the depreciation of this model is low... at the moment. The model 'y' will no doubt be the same, such is the enthusiastic and cult following. My guess is that as soon as model 'y' volumes increase, model 3's will be flooding onto the second-hand market and consequently their value will plummet as owners shift over to the model 'y' which is a better proposition as it caters for the most popular crossover market.
Anyway, about my i3. as I have previously said, I have been the owner of one for 12 months, so I can give you a better appreciation of the car from an owner's perspective.
I purchased the car from a BMW dealer here in the UK as a pre-registered, ex-demo model with 1600 miles on the clock, so not brand new. 12 months on, I can tell you that my car has depreciated by a massive £20!.... yes, that's right, £20, or 0.08%, nowhere near the 70 percent that the reviewer quotes. My previous car, by comparison, lost £16000 ( 48% ) in the 2 years that I owned it.
Running costs - it has cost an average of 4.2 pence per mile( £0.042) in fuel (electricity), compared to £0.22.8 pence per mile (£0.228) for my previous car.
Reliability - I have had ZERO maintenance costs during the 12 months of ownership. The build quality is typical german engineering and BMW quality, there isn't the usual cheap scratchy plastics, there are no rattles and I have to report that nothing has fallen off contrary to what the reviewer seems to suggest that it falls apart.
The problem with the i3 is that it was way ahead of its time and very poorly marketed. In short, very few people knew of its existence or what it was when it was launched in 2014.... only a tiny minority of people were the slightest bit interested in electric vehicles, why would they be? A different story now, 6 years on, where manufacturers are tripping over themselves to get a cobbled together electric model of their own to market. Many are merely existing models with batteries shoehorned in.
The i3 was designed and built from the ground-up as a dedicated electric vehicle, using a unique construction method, using unique and sustainable materials.
"Not meant for day to day traveling to work and so-on".... well actually I suggest that this is EXACTLY the intended use of this vehicle. it is an urban non-polluting town car, and for this purpose it is perfect. easy to park ( in fact mine parks itself ), has a small turning circle, cheap to run, great visibility and is a great commuter car. (Statistics state that 90% of daily journeys are less than 30 miles).
No, it isn't a GT or touring car, that is not its intended purpose, so pointless comparing it with the Tesla 's' and the like.
On the open road, it is well at home also, typical BMW 50/50 weight distribution, superb acceleration means it will beat most cars away from the traffic lights and handles corners confidently at speed due to the low centre of gravity and superb suspension setup. It is really fun to drive.
I agree that the i3 isn't a good buy new from a financial point of view, but if you are looking for a great town or commuter car it is well worthy of consideration.
I suggest that anyone considering the i3 to take a long test drive ( I had one for a weekend before I purchased) to evaluate the car fully to determine if it fits in with your lifestyle.
Yes, the design isn't to everyone's taste, it is definitely refreshingly unique and individual, standing out from the crowd of soap-bar boxes that adorn roads these days, its difficult to tell one from another. The interior design again is just satisfyingly unique, i have not had anyone ride in my car who doesn't like it. It exudes design flair and originality.
If you like to be different like to drive something different, appreciate design flair and engineering expertise then this car is definitely for you. if you prefer to follow the crowd and blend into a beige background, it definitely won't be of interest.
The worst electrical vehicle you can buy? I don't think so. I am more than satisfied with my 12 months, rather cheap, ownership of my i3.
In fairness you are an owner, and probably don't want to hear negative videos about this car. I am unbaised because I don't have anything against BMW, i look at other competitors, look at the history, look at what others offer, and I think, this car new is a terrible investment. Used is a steal, but be cautious.
I agree with everything you say apart from the long test drive. I was about 3 metres into my test drive when I knew I was definitely getting one :D
@@SamCarLegion Your review is the most negative one that I have come across regarding the i3. I agree on some points but you seem to forget the cars are not to be evaluated and judged as if they were investments. It depreciates and likely more than most but that's not why I bought one. Its the clever design, the environmental focus in it's manufacture and most important, its fun to drive. I drove the Kona, the Niro, the Telsa S85 and the i3 won me over because the others I just mentioned lacked the fun factor.
Well written summary as a real owner. Unlike Tesla owners, we BMW owners are very critical of our purchases. I love my i3s but they could improve the single camera based cruise control with radar and more cameras. I just hate it when it cuts out whenever sun is low or I am about drive through a tunnel or under a bridge.
@@timothyma8358 yeah, only car connoisseurs will buy the i3. It's a real blast to drive in a city environment. I smoke 99.9% of any cars at the traffic light with my little rocket.
I think this video has just proven yet again that with the BMW i3 you either love it or you hate it. Personally I love it because it fits my lifestyle and driving habits and needs perfectly. I agree that it's not worth the new asking price even after all of the incentives, but I've never purchased new and never will because of instant depreciation in general. I was able to take advantage of the depreciation and lack of popularity in my neighborhood and was able to negotiate a great price on my '17 i3 94Ah BEV with
Nnanelle Noz I respect your opinion as well. Thank you for the feedback.
BMW just discontinued the i3. ☹️
"I do not regret my purchase" I bought a used 2014 and loved it, then bought a 2017 and can't find anything (for the price) that I love better.
Exact same thing for me. Look at what those cars sell for now.
@@jobordonaro6665 i drive 90 miles daily for work. I really want this car but i'm afraid it probably won't fit my lifestyle... i guess it depends how long it takes for it to fully charge? do you happen to know? thanks in advance!
I would like to start to tell you that I had one i3s-94Ah and I was a bit unhappy with it. It was three things actually:
1. Battery capacity - the range of the car was a bit low in cold weather conditions. Or my disappointment was the fluctuation of the range.
2. The cruise control - it doesn’t work properly in all conditions. It had just one camera - one system which gives it signals. Better cars has both camera and radar. It just stop working if you, for example have sunshine conditions and the sun is shining towards the camera.
3. Building quality - feel the doorsides and the panel…
Regarding the room in the car - it is a small car what do you really expect? Why didn’t you step into the red thing? You couldn’t even get into it back seat?
If you buy a small car you are quite… let me call you…demanding if you expect a big car from the inside.
I have a Tesla MS now and I am quite happy with it (so happy that I ordered a new M3) but I have never been so successful with charging to be able to charge my car to 100% in 15 minutes! I mean, when you buy I3 you know that you can charge it with maximum 50kW. So, in my opinion, to compare it to Tesla is really strange.
This is my first comment ever on such places like youtube (I am 50), but this video is so bad so I felt like I had to comment.
I commuted wit my I3 150 km per day. I can tell you that this car is a city car in my opinion. Perfect. My MS is not aimed for cities at all due to its size.
Live in Sweden and it not a city care. And if we move to Southern Europe I can tell you it definitely doesn’t fit.
In my opinion you need to compare apples to apples (like we say here in Sweden).
Thanks…
How long does it take to fully charge this car? How long does it take for one full electric charge to expire? And what are its downsides?
@@pontus.andersson these cars seem perfect for the perfect situation. I have heard from many that the tires wear out fast. A lot of EV's with the Eco hard rubber tires spin when you hit the gas. I have a Prius Prime and I switched to Michelin tires. This car only has ONE tire. So you can't resolve that issue. I have seen many videos of turn signal sounds, dash backlight and leaks underneath. Getting a BMW fixed is not cheap.
@@CandycaneBeyond that's false information - there are plenty of tire options for the BMW i3 and I never had any of this "spin out" described
@@eddunn3021 Right...there are Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental in all dimensions from 155 to 175 and 195 and some cheap brands avaiable. Just for Winter use the size is limited to 155.
@@rainersta7073 I believe CandycaneBeyond is referring to us across the pond, and he is right we only have one option for tires, Bridgestone. I wish we had all the options that Europe has because the Bridgestone really don't last....roughly 12,000 - 15,000 miles if you have a heavy foot and 20,000 - 25,000 if you drive it normally and some even can get 30,000 if you drive like a granny.
I bought a white one and it is fantastic! Am 6"5 and it's comfy. Perfect for my 60 mile daily commute although I have a REX. Good thing I did not take your review too seriously! A car ahead of its time. Still looks fantastic after all these years. I don't see myself getting another car anytime soon.
What’s the maximum range on this puppy? I have a 70 mile commute
@@kbos0310 about 60 miles so far in the winter but increasing with the warmer weather. That's why I bought the range extender. No range anxiety. Really good car to drive especially in town. Regenerative braking is fantastic.
@@kbos0310 The last few year’s models have 120-160 Mile Range depending on weather and how fast you’re driving.
This is by far the best electric car on the market right now. The only downside is the small trunk which might be a showstopper for many. One of the crazy thing is that it can do 220 km max on electric, but it can run without limit on gaz and it’s very économie this way too. Second best is the Nissan Leaf which is reliable as a tank, good ergonomy lors of space, work like a charm and latest one has nice range too.
??? This can't be true. I'm 6'7 and I felt like I was sitting in a clown car when a coworker gave me a ride in her i3.
"It's terrible at depreciation" - fantastic for me, as a 2nd hand car buyer.
"Range is terrible" - I'm looking to only drive 10 or 20 miles a day with this car - I already have a diesel F11 5 series for the long distance driving, but it's poor for all the very short distance journeys.
"Doors are terrible" - it's ridiculously easy to get kids in their seats at the back with this style of doors.
So, this car is perfect for my use case.
Just because it's not good for you, doesn't mean it's not good for anyone :-)
Why are you on this video???
Thank you.
This video actually just sealed the deal for me. I'm definitely getting an i3 for myself! :))
Congrats you are going to love it
@@SamCarLegion I actually had 3 i8s. 2 coupes and 1 convertible. I'll get the i3 for my father. Very cool, awesome little car. Obviously a one with range extender. 2018+ with a much bigger battery for around 20k best value vehicle!
@@alizierny nice
No thanks to your terrible review, Sam. More facts, and maybe less jaded opinions. you are ridiculous. Realize this is a grocery getter. For a used price it is fine. I agree with you that it is overpriced as new.
Europeans 6000mile per year as if try 15000 UK av and I'm doing 26k miles
this is a city car, not long range. perfect as 2nd car, i love the fact that that is has 70% depreciation. good for 2nd hand market
2nd hand as I said it is an absolute steal
Right?! And he says it "is not meant for day to day like to go to work". That blew my mind. It's the best day-to-day commuter city car I have ever owned.
My wife has a BMW i3. She has been using it for two years now. She ABSOLUTELY LOVES the car and I can tell you she is very picky...I also drive it every so often. I drove many "upscale" cars (MB e-class, BMW 1,3,5, as well as AUDI 4,6). In my view the BMW i3 is a good car. Considering its size internally very spacious, impressive acceleration, great outer and internal design, ever-lasting frame, low central of gravity - due to the batteries. The only two downsides for me is the ride quality - far too firm and "bouncy" and the fact it can carry only 4, while I have three kids... I believe this is a great second family vehicle for daily, town usage - precisely what BMW designed this thing for....
If there is a depreciation issue with the BMW i3, I think this may be unique to the USA and Canada. Here in the U.K. Used i3 cars are one of the most expensive in the BMW range. The 4 star safety rating for the i3 is only this low because of pedestrian protection- the short bonnet (hood) means if you hit a pedestrian, their head is likely to hit the windscreen (windshield) increasing the risk of injury. The i3 actually scores high for occupant protection in a crash.
The average person in the U.S. drives OVER 80 miles per day. I'd be towed every day!!! There is no market for this heap in the USA.
@Herman Alarcon unlikely that the average person is driving 80 miles per day. That would be about 30k miles a year( or 20K miles a year if just business days). The average in the US is 14k miles a year.
I usually take public transit to work, but if I drove it's only 3 miles each way if I did. I don't often drive more than 30 miles in a day.
That said, I'd prefer a longer range vehicle for weekend trips.
@@hermanalarcon9802 I can do 200 miles in our i3 in summer, this is such a crap review. Every aspect is nearly wrong. Not even the current model
its bc there are insurance laws that state a set amount of "extra" replacement parts "produced" per vehicle sold. So theres already an earmarked inherent amount of replacement parts...and once it reaches a threshold of cost/to repair based on supply/demand...insurance companies will start issuing "TOTAL" checks instead of offering paths to repair....and those "totaled" vehicles will enter the spare parts/inventory list. SO considering how "LOCALIZED" these parts are. You can see why BMW discontinued it due to the low sales in our respective markets. Im PURELY buying it as an investment to do ride share as a profession bc in california gas is high....and gas guzzler "working class" has to depend on this now to get by...so any morning commute becomes purely for professionals/single passengers. Our family friend suggested this to me as i was about to engage in 2 jobs/ 12 hour days. Due to shift availability. They suggested i buy an i3 as they did and capitalize. Theyre currently out waging their spouse. Morning=commutes for professionals To and fro. In my case ill be doing summer/beach runs inbetween those commutes...and then post work 3-6pm depending on the pay incentivization or where i end to a job that ends near where i live. Hes proven to show its quite lucrative vs relying on a petrol vehicle for ride share as a profession. I dont really have to worry about overcharging bc ill be drive/working the second its full. And hell for "100-80%" or if im solo i can RIP/RUN the thing as hard as i want to get the range down to a "HEALTHY" level of charge while getting to my passenger XD. RWD light whats not to ask that Little boy racer fun as i top it off between jobs getting snacks/bathroom-coffee break etc filling water bottle at target while it charges using restroom getting some produce/snacks/yogurt to practice healthy eating habits. I love driving and music and people so a used i3 can be a very good buy IMO very good investment...when applied as one. also in regards to safety its not like ill be driving in the fast lane with passengers unless theyre comfortable with higher speeds...My personal concern with the i3 if i am to follow-through with one. The potential for a wider rim/tire for better ride quality/grip breaking/acceleration in corners. For added stability and ride quality. The parts issue...isnt a big deal to me bc i dont expect to own one that long...but im also not sure how many spare parts there are PRODUCED...if "some" will even be sent over sea...etc. Those are also a concern. Granted our friend was already hit and run...when his car was parked. And they only had to replace the rear bumper, tailgate glass panel(the top glass for viewing wasnt damaged) and bolt on a new rear/inner insert panel. Havent asked if they did a bolt/epoxy/rivet etc or how they replaced it. But they bought OEM bmw parts and did it themselves for 3000$ parts costs. The glass is nice bc NO PAINT. FACTORY painted bumper replacement. VS down the road...no OEM/new replacement parts just "used/lkq/etc" As insurance sells the damn thing a second time parted out....to itself. For ppl with lower miles on their car bc it will have a higher re-sale value...and potentially retain a "REPAIR" cost threshold in the case of an accident...or owner with a minor repair...."gl with ppl that have bad deductibles" In that situation. Trying to find a paint matched door skin/quarter/etc. For DIY in such a low # local part market. I was gonna buy car why i was gonna take upon 12-14h days. GR86 or an elantra N. But now im considering doing the i3 as a work tool then buying another car down the road with the i3 as a trade in....that insurance/spare part DOUBLE EDGE Sword is not a dance worth dancing to the end. CLEARLY why bmw went with a black roof hood/glass rear panel as someone with former experience in the repair field with insurance knowledge Even a glass roof is probably a better situation than a peeling black roof panel. As far as cost retention/repair etc. depreciation if they have a glass roof option or the sunroof means glass roof...You could literally buy one and sell it as an investment LMFAO just the glass roof panels b4 theyre scarce. SUCH irony with this i3. so much
I love my bmwi3 style,performance,space,minimalistic,180miles per 5$ to 8 $ not bad..
My company car is an i3 Rex, the Rex bit has got me to places where the charge points are far and few between, 60k miles on the clock in just over 2 years and no issues. Great little car
Which year so you have?
I bought a used 2018, with 39,000 km, a 94 ahr, pure Ev in February of 2021 and I live in Ottawa Canada. In the spring, summer, nice days where little cooling is required it goes 285 km on a charge around town if one is traveling 50- 70 km/h, on the highway at 100 km/h, 220 km. I have no idea what this guy is talking about and neither does he as far as this car is concerned. I think this is a perfect city car, I have owned a BMW for decades and this is my favorite as far as a city car is concerned.
I’m been contemplating buying an i3 for a few months; and your review and detailed explanation really helped. Thanks!!
Helped me too: I pick up my new i3 in a week!
I own a BMW i3. 2016-December so far. I did 120,000km. And I claim that every word of this type is a lie!
The car has flaws only 2.
- A few% of people claim to be ugly
- If I go on longer routes than 500km I really prefer diesel, but there are very few such routes, so I work with this EV 99% of the time, and diesel is brown at home
I have a 2017 which I bought pre-owned at a cheap price with only 20K miles, the range extender is WORTH it, this guy does not know much.
6 months ago I bought a 2018 used i3 and I love it. Greetings from Glenview, Illinois.
On Thursday I could start doing car sharing, and the BMW i3 was the first car I took. It was a nice ride for 3 hours. I don‘t take a car every day but that one ride, it was actually neat. It felt very comfortable on the road and as I just went to a city close to Vienna, where I usually am, I had no range issues. So I guess that model is more suitable for close range with good public transit where you only use it for the last mile or in areas with close distances in general.
Lucky for me because I bought a used 2017 at a GREAT PRICE, and I love the car ❤️. I live in the SF Bay, and I see quit a few of these in the road.
Nice
sweet. i also live in sf bay are and im about to buy one too!! so excited
Love this guy^ the last honest Vehicle reviewer!
After watching this video and then watching another dozen review videos and reading reputable sources such as Edmunds, it's worth noting that this is the ONLY review I've encountered with a harsh view of the BMW i3. Most reviewers praise it. I would NOT buy a new one due to depreciation or if you need to drive 100 miles every day. Other than that, it's an incredible car and I love mine. Also, it's a GREAT car for tall people in the front two seats. I am 6' 3" and it's even more spacious than my wife's Buick Enclave.
Wouldn't shit break on it since it's got all the german high tech stuff on it and cost a fortune?
@@hamishmcmonkeypants5672 I haven't had to do any repairs yet on my used i3 I bought but what everyone tells me is that electric cars have fewer mechanical issues because they have fewer parts. But when you do need repairs, they are more expensive. Not sure how it will all balance out yet since I've only had my car for a year but I prefer the idea of fewer, more expensive car repairs, the lots of less expensive ones.
We just recently grabbed a 10k miles 53k BMW i3 for 24k and we already have a Tesla. My family will never see another gas station tune up or oil change ever again. Every morning Gas tank is full and it costs 5 bucks to fill it from zero thats 2.50 for a half a tank lol And to think people still buy V8's
@@DerpMcDerp101 Enjoy it! I can't imagine getting a non-electric vehicle since buying my i3
I was so confused by that also!! I am 6’4 and I have so much room upfront in the BMW I3
Counterpoint - I’m on my second lease with the new 2020 i3S from a 2018 and have nothing but praise! I live in the Los Angeles metro area It’s an excellent city car. I can drive to and back home pretty much on one single charge anywhere in the wider metro area and with the Rex I can go even farther. I’m 6”2’ and have no issues fitting in the front or back of car. My 2018 was a blast to drive and now the 2020 S is even more so. I also find that the car is large enough to carry most things I need and small enough to easily fit into parking spaces. Also ZERO quality issues with both i3 I’ve had. Now this is all my personal opinions but here’s why I have an i3S. With gas all most $4 (most expensive gas in the US) a gallon in LA this car actually pays me back economically as I don’t need to use my regular gas powered car (it’s now the long distance car). With the federal rebates and carpool access it’s a NO BRAINER!!! so your experience may be different but I love this car and it’s incredibly useful, fun, and saves me money.
Leasing is smart.
You have pretty reasonable arguments. Tho I’d still buy it over same priced used Nissan or Honda. In my opinion it looks waaaay better than competitors
That an the fact that your Honda car payment is actually 100 dollars higher because it uses gas. At the end of the day youll pay the same amount yearly or more for a 20k Honda as you will for a 30 or 40 k EV
Here in the U.K. The i3 has rock solid resale value, a used one was so expensive that I decided to buy new, taking delivery in September 2019 - the 42kWh BEV will do 200 miles in summer.
I paid 14k for an i3 Rex w/ 25k miles.
25k more miles later,
I haven’t been disappointed.
Awesome
awesome! im about to buy one! prob a 2018 rex with around 20k miles on it. super excited!!
Thanks for the video, Sam. We're considering a BEV, and we like the look of the i3. But depreciation worries us. It seems manufacturers don't actually want to replace dud batteries; they want us to buy new, and scrap the old car. Thus, a BEV may go from 0 to 60 in seconds but it also goes from $50k to $10k almost as fast! (No one's going to pay much for a used BEV.)
And, knowing the i3 is notorious for this kind of rapid-depreciation helps us to avoid this model.
In fact, knowing how BEV batteries degrade faster with just about everything you do, we'll probably hold out until the battery technology improves.
As an owner of a 2015 i3 Rex, I can say that the majority of the points made in this video are spot on. A few of the facts are a little off, but the point of the video is correct. I purchased the car because of its affordability at $17k, 18 months ago. I would never pay full price for this car and if spending mid to high $40k range, I would go with the Tesla, Polestar, or Lucid. I wouldn't mind a slightly larger car for a better ride. I think what I see in the comments is equivalent to people arguing why their girlfriends/wives are worth keeping. I love the car so don't get me wrong, and would buy another if mine got in wreck or stolen. It is great for a short range commuter (less than 100 miles). I try to stay with home charging at 120 volts, for charging on the road is much more expensive, almost double the price per kilowatt. The car is stable on the road, but I concur that one will feel every bump on the road. The tires are ridiculously skinny (155) and wear very fast with spirited driving. They average about 20k with most i3 drivers per i3 forum. It has a decent cargo area with the rear seats folded down and is actually flat. But one would never want to be a rear seat passenger. First of all getting out of the car requires the front door to be open first, after the front passenger releases their seatbelts. Inconvenient, but dangerous in an emergency situation. There is poor legroom in the back, but the most annoying is that the windows do not open at all, giving one a very claustrophobic feeling. Unless you get the premium stereo, there are no back speakers, not does it have any rear heating or air conditioning vents. I really think that a luxury sub-compact should have the option for electrically adjusted front seats. This car is limited to manual seats and limited steering wheel adjustments. Those are my only negatives on the car other than it being too tall. At 5',7", I have to take out a small single step stool to clean the front windshield or wash the roof. But like a quirky girlfriend, the pro's outweigh the con's and she's a keeper.
Thank you for your comment.
You wouldn't get a Polestar or Lucid in the mid to high $40k
We have an i3 with a range of over 300km. I think there might be a larger battery version available here in Europe. It's a very good electric car for its age, it has 22kW AC three phase charging which is still not common among other manufacturers today. It also has a heat pump, so the range doesn't go down as much during winter. The space is really good for the small footprint of the car, also keeping it practical in the city.
It's not a car made for long travels or extensive driving on the motorway, but it's perfect for city traffic and commuting.
Also BMW is known for high MSRPs in general, but also they are known for good leasing conditions, at least in my area.
i drove this car in 2018 in Mallorca. It had 230 km range in normal sportive use and 330 km in very carefull drive manner. The new models 2020 improved 30% range.
It was really nice to drive. Very much inside space for little outside measures because of this box design.
No vibrations or noices inside anywhere. Perfect seats. BMW as it is.
Just in 2018 too little range for the price. Now, in 2020 i assume, it could run 300 to 400 km by little cautious drive and 250 with speed temperament. That s okay..
Maybe you install solar power on your roof and load for free. It is a good second car....first car, for long distances, you might need a gasoline car.
Oh…forgot Sam, I priced used ones during my 6 week search before leasing new and didn’t see that 70% depreciation. Heck 2018’s are going for $25-30,000 in the US.
Thanks for that accurate information update good investigation
Every used car has gone up in price.
I have the i3s as a second and all I can say about it -Me and my family love it... BMW i3s it's not a cheap city car but it is great fun to drive...
Did this guy forget that this car is a city car more like a second car 😂😂 this car isn’t meant to take over Tesla lol
Exactly
Clueless.
Nicely done and glad to find a Canadian on the YT. I do kinda like the I3 as a used deal in the UK. I believe the slightly "agricultural" interior is supposed to be all recyclable. Even so, it's an acquired taste. Might consider a used one but not easy to justify.
These cars potentially are going to be a design classic, collectable in my opinion
So no mechanical problems then! Seems like a reliable car, and you will not have any rust issues due to the carbon fibre.
Hi Sam, your test vehicle is probably a 2013 Rex in base trim. Is it a company service loaner car or rental car? The interior is made of almost 100% from recycled materials. Maybe you don't like the colour scheme or material choices. When you complained about interior falling apart, there was no footage showing it. Most TH-camr would show the actual quality problems, not just talking about it.
I am a recent owner of a brand new i3s in Australia. Here are my reasons why I haven chosen this car over Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Kona and Nissan Leaf:
1. Interior quality. The i3s with full leather interior has the best tactile feeling of all those competitors. The workmanship is absolutely impeccable. Nothing creaks or rattles. It's also the most durable of them all. I have seen 3 years old interior used i3 that looks as good as new.
2. Efficiency. Notice I don't talk about range. For daily usage, it's all about how fast can you recharge the milage that you use up. If you have a huge battery, but poor efficiency, then you will be spending tons of time waiting for recharge. My i3s recharges from 5% to 90% in 35 mins at any 50 kw fast charger. It's urban consumption is around 135 W/km. (Model 3 is 150 W/km) This means I could travel to anywhere as long as there is a DC charger within 250 KMs. In the very first month of ownership, I clocked 9000 KMs testing all public charging stations within 300 KMs from home. My pure EV i3s city range is around 270 KMs, highway 230 KMs. I am an aggressive driver. There are people on TH-cam who can get 400 KMs city range out of this car.
3. Driving Dynamic. The i3s is the most fun to drive EV in a city environment. I drive frequently in busy CDB areas. Due to the size and steering response, I can outrun literally any ICE car and most Teslas.
4. Price. Here in Australia, we do not have EV subsidies. I paid $10K less for my i3s fully specced than the cheapest available Tesla Model 3 with NO OPTIONs. Yes BMW list price is way higher than Tesla. But BMW dealerships are very willing to do deals on those cars. Anyone who does not negotiate with the dealership is frankly an idiot. Guess what? Only Tesla does not negotiate. (officially)
5. Durability and Warranty Service. i3s is probably the most reliable car ever made by BMW. There are no real issues with this car to speak of. The biggest complain is always the short range. However most people do not drive 270 KMs a day. Teslas are famous for long waiting time for service parts. The nearest dealership for me is just 10 KMs away. There is a huge BMW dealer network in Australia that will provide me with loaners if I ever break down or need parts. In contrast, Tesla dealership is 90 KMs away and only 4 service locations around whole of Australia. To be honest I don't really expect any problems with my i3s. It's carbon body will never rust. It's battery is old safe proven Samsung SDI prismatic cells with virtually no degradation over 3 years. I plan to hand down this car to my son once he is grown up in 10 years.
Thanks for reading this post. I am not BMW fan boy despite owning this car currently. I have owned more than 150 cars in my life including Teslas. If I am buying another EV for long distance travel I would probably choose another car. Probably a plugin hybrid like Mercedes E300 or BMW 530e. Unfortunately I have seen my fair share of stranded Teslas on the road side to ever consider another one.
2014 and it felt it had 200,000 kms on it and it only had 24,000 or so. The interior feels cheap, u can hear everything from the road. I test drive new and used car for a living, believe me, this car feels like it's falling apart. I showed full interior, maybe you didn't watch the interior video. I am not the only one that is saying this, most TH-camrs have given similar opinions. This car isn't worth the money BMW is asking for brand new, used I think it is a steal. Look up electric vehicles with highest depreciation, this is second after the leaf.
@@SamCarLegion well, my i3 has depreciated £20 in the 12 months that I have owned it (dealer trade-in valuation on autotrader), if I sold it privately I could sell it at a profit. I have a friend who is selling his Tesla model x that he purchased for £101,563.50 when new, now on sale at £81,975 with 2235 miles on the clock, I have seen others bought at a similar price on sale at £48,000 after 2 years....now that is what I call serious depreciation!
@@David-bl1bt I have a friend who bought his i3 for 54k$ and sold it two years later for 15k.
@@David-bl1bt to add more, the i8, my friend bought it for 160k $ 4 years later it's selling for 72k $.
@@SamCarLegion "It feels like it's falling apart" and "i can hear the road" DUH it's an EV, there isn't that noisy rattley engine that normally covers a lot of road noise.
IMO (and actually every other review) the refinement of the i3 cabin is really very good, by far the best in the smallEV segment, and only a little behind the best in the mid size segment because the carbon tub does let through some more high frequency road noise in comparison to say a top of the range 3 series (note top of the range bit, ie 6 cylinder version, not some god awful rattle 4 cly diesel horror). EVery other review of this car has suggested the interior is well built, rattle free and very durable.. I3 with high mileages (100,000 mile and more) are reported to still have "tight" interiors, possibly because the low mass and stiff body shell helps prevent long term flexure degredations
So weird that I have completely other way around.
I can just drive as long as I want and other electric cars have to stop for charge. Also the times I3 have been in collision with other cars the car has been so safe that the owners have bought another i3.
The only thing bad about I3 has to be the tires as they have to be changed often because you will be leaving everyone behind in the lights.
Also there is almost no need for repair. I have to just get 120 dollar checkup every two years where they add oil to range extender and reset the timer for 2 years.
Review answers all my questions and is to the point. Thanks
This car was conceived prior to the Dieselgate scandal where it was expected that EV range would increase slowly over time with a gradual adoption hence the focus was on design, light weight and driving dynamics over outright range. What I love about this car is it's production is pretty green when compared to other EVs. I commend the use of carbon fibre which is produced using hydroelectricity as well as the sustainable materials in the vehicle which helps to offset some of the emissions from the battery production. Unfortunately, the downside of the post Dieselgate world/ mass adoption is that manufacturers are using bigger batteries and steel as opposed to carbon fibre and smaller batteries to achieve range, essentially the EV version of sticking a V8 in a ICE car, which ultimately means the move to EVs isn't as green as it could be. I agree that the sticker price cannot be justified these days but they are great used buy.
Wait what did dieselgate change for EVs??
@@FrancescoDondi like I said - the i3 was designed on the basis that the transition to EVs would be gradual but dieselgate accelerated it massively meaning that it couldn’t compete on range etc after a few years
an 8 K dollar car with low millage for city commute is great.. Always have a beater...
it's works fine for what it is which is a fun city car and if you want more fun get the i3s as it's even funner to drive and the 20 inch tires last a lot longer then the 19's
Greaty review! Thanks for letting us know about the CONS!
i have one of these it cost me 2p per mile in fuel, no servicing , no repairs , never rust
Thank you for this video. I was about to impulse buy this weekend. Thanks for saving me the headache! xD
I could spend the time to pick apart this review and some of the flat out wrong statements that you make but that would be a really long comment. So I won't do that but I will say you have a few good points about the depreciation and the car not not being worth the new sticker price. But in the used market this car is a really nice deal and I love the ride of the car. I think the 60 AH rex is fantastic for around town and it also drive as far as you like on gas with no hassles at all. the REX is truly a great design idea. I think lots of people would love this car. The numbers are low because it's expensive for what you get new...
Do you own one?
@@SamCarLegion Yes 2014 Rex I bought used last Oct.
@@dondakin1 that’s all I wanted to know :)
@@SamCarLegion Do you own one ?
The REX is loud and honestly embarrassing. I try my best not to have that thing run if I can help it.
Yes, 2nd hand i3's are great. €14k (Ireland - multiple taxes included) for a high milage, high spec 60ah Rex model with full service history and I'm loving it..
I have a 2019 with the REX, have had it 2 years now and love it. I absolutely love this car perfect for me
Hello
I really like your sincerely opinion.
I'm thinking about buying an i3 Rex, 2nd hand, year 2016, with 2 year guarantee.
But now I'm afraid. What do you mean exactly with "falling appart"?
Thanks!
I like the size, funky look, and compactness of this car but it is really about 20K too expensive for the range and seat capacity you're getting.
Just a few things: the nissan leaf until the 60kwh battery is crap. You are comparing the kona (64kwh) to a i3 that has either a 18.2kwh or 27.2kwh battery. The facelift i3 has 37.9kwh and should be able to easily do the same as the kona. You dont seem to understand that carbonfiber is better in a crash than steel/aluminium. The charging curve is pretty amazing on the i3 with the optionaö fast charging: 10-80% at the full 50kw power until it drops which is very very good for an EV. Meaning you can charge tha 94ah version to 80% in 27min. As for acceleration, its fast enough for the power it has. Not every car has the size and power of a tesla. Also build quality is very good and as its from carbon fiber doesnt have issues with rust. The i3 has had slow sales, but as bmw plans to produce this until atleast 2024 the current numbers of production output have been rising every year. In 2019 they made 39,500 and as EVs sales rose quite strongly i suspect bmw producing anywhere between 46-50k units this year. So yes carry on making your videos about engineering you just cant rationaly compare or understand. Ps. I dont own one but i think you should have way more knowledge about something before you start bashing it.
Thanks for the video! Any way to extend the range by increasing the EV battery size?
Good review. thank I didn't buy when I had the option in 2015
This car saved my life. Someone turned in front of me and I was able to power slide out of the way, pretty much no other car would of been able to do that and not roll. The range does suck though and the battery loses like 20% a year so I switched to Tesla model 3. Incidentally the Tesla is not nearly as agile as the i3.
Why don't you buy a 120ah, 310 km range (WLTP). I have one and I love it!
My mother drives a BMW i3. She's been using it for a while and truly adores it, and since I know how picky she is, it's actually a good sign that she thinks so highly of i3.
I would dearly like to have an i3. The only thing keeping me from buying one is the tires. I know that sounds odd, but the i3 uses a very odd size that is very expensive (if you can find them). I looked for the 19" tires and they can be ordered online, nobody stocks them. I could not find any of the 20" tires anywhere. If you can't put tires on it, what good is it?
Love my 2017 Battery usually gets me 110 - 150 miles and REX 65 - 90. (not KM, statue miles)
I hate to break it too you, i don't think you're gonna get a job on top gear mate........
I would never want to work for anyone. Thanks for the wish mate
Maybe Fifth Gear
Flick us a link to your channel Max, I'm sure its wayyyy better ;-)
GREAT review.
THANK You.
10/10
Awful review. I own a few cars including two I3's. Love them
Thank you that was so beneficial!
I think it's a beautiful car ,it's a shame that it has such a low range
Agreed
I don’t work about that because I have the rex.
romuald chruskov 250 km on the highway at 130 kph and 390 km non highway in comfort mode in my 2020 120ah i3s and that is not even in eco pro mode.
More then enough for my personal weekly commute shy off 200 km, charging it overnight when i sleep.
500€ yearly charging costs compared to my former car yearly 2200€ gasoline costs.
Tesla was my first choice if it not had the poor build quality.
I had to get used to the design coming from my 2018 F80 M3 that i personally render useless on public roads wich was also a reason i didn't look back on it in tears.
The BMW I3 its a great car that isn´t suit for your way of life. the problem isn't the car, all u need its a better choice , u need a car with a better range and more space but this city car its brilliant !
You are definitely right for the review for the people living in the United States and Canada but for example I live in Glasgow Scotland city centre and my daily commute is 20 miles totally and there are electricity chargers in many places. that’s why I’m my opinion secondhand BMW i3 is one of the best options for me with the reasonable prices.
You didn’t mention LEASING. Unless you’re a hobbyist or a wanna be on the cheap, no one BUYS a BMW…new or used. You drive them for 3 year and let the fool who buys it used deal with maintenance. Yes…retired and leased one one of the last new ones left in the US. Giga World interior allows us to visit the grandchildren’s school and show them how elegant and innovative engineers can be with recycled materials, hemp, fast growing eucalyptus wood, and carbon fiber. It’s a real showstopper. My favorite car to drive by far.
The car was manufactured in large part for engineers to use the knowledge to build the next generation electric vehicles…ie. the i4 and iX, but still have BMW flair. A large reason for i3 depreciation is concern over battery degradation…not because it sucks as a car. I’m sure there will be outside sources in the future selling batteries for the car that will go 3-400+ miles.
Yes…because of so few being manufactured and the uniqueness, you’d have to be on crack to buy one of these used. Our 2021 is electric only and with a range of 150+ miles, that’s more than enough for our needs. Picked it up in Maryland last Saturday and easily kept up with the wife in her Lexus doing 80 up I-95. Using the “active cruise control” made it fun.
Awesome review! No bs! Love your honesty!
Having used one since 4 years...very satisfied...great car...real BMW...the Guy clearly has no practical Idea about this car...but everyone entitled to his opinion...
I thank you much for this video. I2ve almost bought one . I need to search more for an EV here in Turkey
This is great review, thank you
Can you comparison review 2020 BMW x2 xdrive 28i vs 2020 Audi q3 techlink vs 2020 Mercedes Benz gla250
Sure
I wouldn’t keep a gas container in the front of the car. The front was made as a crumple zone, so if you get in a head on crash...💥💥🔥
Thanks for the information Sam :)
Men of men , I got an i3 from 2015used for 23k (58 km , terra package )and is my 4th bmw that I’ve owned and I have no idea what you’re taking about , quality is what you expect from a bmw , love the handling , ride quality is great and is fast enough for a city cruiser , is expensive brand new so buy used , the range is short and fluctuates , Tyres get use 3 times faster then any other car I’ve owned . Is the best decision I’ve made with this bmw , I saved 5-6k in gas a year .my wife drive a Tesla 3 and she thinks the bmw interior is far more luxurious and stylish
I think your video is very good and points out important facts. I was considering buying i3 because of the value, I guess high depreciation = value? You pretty answered many questions I had as a potential used i3 buyer. As a new, I'll buy model 3 over this any day. It makes no sense at all. Appreciate the review.
I really started laughing when he said it was supposed to take over Tesla.
I reserved a used car priced @ 24 k w/only 13 miles - good thing I saw this video otherwise it will be a never ending “ buyers remorse “ for me .
I already have one. Any tips on making the battery last or how to save money when replacing the battery? Thanks for the video. Well done.
Don't use DC charging if you don't need to.
The battery is predicted to last 20 years with about 10% degredation doing average milage. Don't worry about the battery.
20 years?! PleSe provide a link to your baseless claim 😂
@@italiarosa4666 Samsung test report. You can find it if you like. Also videos on TH-cam comparing milage with degradation on i3s. Plenty of evidence that they are fine for well past the 100,000 mile warranty.
Interesting video but I suspect I learnt more from the comments...
Perfect. Thank you. You saved us some grief. 👍👍
Glad to help
thank you my friend for helpfull video , i have wird proplems with my i3 , wen i release the accelerator pedal the car tack longs time to stop than normal ..... ..... and it keep moving slowly and does not full stop , what the problem ?
The only reason it has a poor safety rating is because of the whiplash tests- the non-adjustable headrests aren’t ergonomic enough to handle a rear impact. In every other test it performed just as well, if not better, than compatibles like the Bolt and the Leaf
I bought an i3 used. Great value and awesome features. It’s actually very well designed on the inside.
Thanks for the video, I was about to make a mistake
Just test drive a used one and it’s way better than I expected. Now that prices are so low it’s a steal
Our Son-in-law got a used one. One glaring flaw is the back doors. The latch is on the inside and the front door has to be opened first. The front seat shoulder strap is attached to this door as well. Dropping off rear seat passengers means unlatching the front seat belt, and opening both doors. In a parking lot, it is a real production if someone is in the front seat. Most times, you will have to back out of the spot or put on a keystones cops show.
The non Rex versions actually have incredible reliability
Don't forget to like and subscribe. Fat chance of that from me someone who bought new and thinks it's the best car on the planet.
Bear car on the planet?! 😂. I’m sorry if you paid $50k for this car, that’s more than the TESLA 3 costs. Bad mistake!
You failed to mention the elephant in the room: the gas tank is a lousy 2.3 gallons (approximately 8.8 L). If the car was just a little bit bigger and had a decent gas tank, it would be something people would want to buy.
I drive a 2014 BMW I3. I think the car handles very well. While the beige interior was impossible to keep clean, it held up very well. I recommend the 2017 120 ah with REX. Very good range and a D.C. charger the REX can be refilled a couple of times on a trip. The depreciation makes this a great value. The electric power train is rock solid and the software change for state of charge is great for hills, heat and AC.
whats ReX mean?
Most BMWs loose value, what do you expect.
In my opinion, BMW done a fantastic job executing their theme.
I completely disagree with your video, since you do not comprehend the theme of this car.
Maybe try not to touch on future cars, stay classy.
eh I'd recommend the i3s over the i3 as you get better tire life with the larger 20's that i3s can be equipped with
I have just bought my 5th BEV and one thing they all had in common is that depreciation has been minimal. My first Renault Zoe went up in value by 10% in the 18 months that I owned it!
a guy that worked in the office building where i worked. Used to daily his accord like 5 years old or w.e And on occasions drive a 7 series. He ran a personal accounting firm with his wife. He pulls up in one of these i think it was a 2020. He said it was one of his most favorite cars to drive. Light and RWD HIs wife drove a FIAT500 and a VW epos which i think she shared with her family bc "others' would drive it too from time to time. But that guy said the car was so fun to drive it had him looking forward to lunchbreak just to be able to drive it. That really got my attention. The price of certified pre owned i3 isnt that bad and 3 months no payments for this summer season of ride sharing. I can just stack up and then KNOCK a chunk off what i owe...b4 i take some classes this fall. Definitely want the BEV for its range. In so cal i can just go to target to fill up on some water use their utilities while i charge theres so many areas or ways of making it convenient. Since im using it for work and constantly moving....it wont be overcharged. And if i need to grab food or "use restroom" i can just plug it in to sip some juice on a fast charger just to keep it topped up. Im actually really stoked this use-case is practical. A family friend has been KILLING it lately and summer is just about to get going. I love driving My previous job was MMJ courier and my transmission forced a career change, then our family friend contacted us about how well they were doing thanks to this car encouraging me to follow suit. Sure some drivers are pretty hectic out there but ive grown accustomed to driving 200+mi a day i love driving/music so its worth a go as my 2nd job. Im getting one PURELY as an investment for work/ride share...single passenger commutes in mornings even early as 5am...California is becoming pretty HOSTILE to pure gas trucks or ppl that once could afford to daily full size trucks. Its now grown quite lucrative to be able to ride share these professionals to and form work at those peak hours...what with summer coming i can cash in on those disney riddes to and fro daily/beach etc. Inbetween these work commute tickets, or good long range tickets. I can get the 125mi verison for a pretty good price with a 1 year warranty so why not buy it PURELY as an investment. Our friend also has a family and has proven more income can be made with just...more rides/hours put in. VS their "Modesty" towards their family. KBB would already destroy me if i got a 25k mile gas car and in 1-2 years put an easy 30,000mi+ on it....ive driven previously in cali during the covid shutdown for medicinal cannabis...and nothing like some good Ol fashioned "FAMILY TIME" work from home to really generate some sales XD. It was the GREENRUSH for deliveries. I was putting down 300mi on double shift days. These are point a to b to c to d back to pt a type runs...same as ride share in my eyes. I can charge to full while potentially working big tickets in...and use the fastest mode to haul riding solo driving less "reserved" until i get near the 80% threshold which is more ideal, then obviously run eco for passenger rides. Potentially sign into a grocer delivery app to charge up at target and do someones grocery run....while juicing up etc...idk to me i dont find that stressful if its 1000$+ a week. And i can trade the thing in after 2023 summer. IMO if youre only driving a modest commute the car isnt remotlely a viable "INVESTMENT" any drive like to the "coast" or etc....becomes something youve not conditioned yourself to find ideal...the way i would like charging. Planning routes/learning how to be optimal...these aspects to normal owners WOULD come as INVASIVE no doubt in my mind. Im a big car guy used to repair them..and know a little bit about insurance too. So for me it will be a 2 year ownership max 3. Depending on if i/family needs it around. Old man has a titan...so why not keep the EV around for "practical" use as well. Given that i also used a kia soul/elantra/jeep for this job the whole safety/handling thing is only an aspect to me of if someone hits me/causes it..which isnt really up to me...and yeah id like the car to be safer...but i dont plan on doing night/drunkies etc....work. Or engaging in the high speed lanes. EVEN though IMO given my experience of high volume/driving....i find the inner lanes to be safer...merge activity seems to be the culprit of accident/hotzone activity between hot heads...and would be slow/abiding drivers. Including certain areas that become high speed zones by trend or curves/break zones by certain bad drivers incapable of maintaining a line...or breaking/speed changing mid corner. Given how small/light the car is if i were solo/commuting i could easily deal with the cars capability but with passengers im more encouraged to drive slow....at least in the slower lanes....there arent any WANNA BE's....aka the "WANNA BE fast" ......the ppl that BREAK jab the second they have to initiate any turning...its sad...but so annoying to be around/behind. Including ppl that break in low speed/traffic 40mph...its like learn to gauge speed/distance of multiple cars ahead and how they interact...its almost as if theyre using auto break and just hotrodding....very annoying and is bad for MPG :(. You learn all these little techniques when you drive that much/often. Now i dont have to double pump my gas pedal to troll my throttle/fuel application like on these direct injection cars etc. Or pump gas. By then the gr86 will be a better car and who knows there will be a 4d corolla or hatch in the states by then to trade the i3 in for. I was going to get one of those as an "INVESTMENT" something to drive on days off all day...XD. Or get into tracking...but ill probably be spending most of my days in the driver seat of the i3. until then. Probably Trade in my sisters kia soul instead of the i3 if it gets a better return...and let the i3 be her car...she doesnt drive she does missionary work island bound. So it became my car when my transmission went out for my elantra..But at least i get to help with the payments...the soul aint bad...ive driven the kona as a rental its better as far as rear suspension/grip. FAR better. Id probably consider the kona...but BMW with that 1 year warranty seems like a good contingency plan. Fingers crossed summer 2023 wont be one to incur irony haha. As ill probably drive the snot out of it....even when im not working...like to the beach through the canyon charge up....get a coffee...take a little hike...then zoom zoom home. Im that kind of a person or hit 2-3 skateparks in a day...even visting friends in LA 46-60mi commute id have to charge it but if im there to stay the night id accommodate it...vs gas. To me its more encouraging. vs workling minimum+tips+gas+car maintenance Its what forced me into working 12 hour days bc i was used to the supplemented pay and often double shifts with epic tips on weekends pretty insane at times(covid shutdown) partys like superbowl/4th of july. PPL in the states are so happy when they get to party again 2021...i was invited inside as the "HERO" for the superbowl LOL a house full of ppl and they were showring me with cash as i joke/pretended to be a dancer. I mean high spirits a nice thing to see and money as im trying to stay away from drinking working on days like that is big $$$ made easy. For someone like me with not much access to good pay/careers. Even servers make minimum+tips....and Cannabis drivers given the cost of an ev to maintain id consider a KONA and its range Not going to lie IF i have a warranty or access to a good used price. Just personally i have no preference for BMW other than the "IMAGE" it may help convey clients etc...that i "CARE" more about their experience than if i wasn't in a BMW per say. I still want a gr86 tbh....but this will be perfect to get some years under that cars belt anyways and any potential issues remedied. Apparently just today they saw a ticket to bakersfield which is like max range for them...it was 600$. They didnt want to take the risk living in LA to bakersfield. Thats where a kona would come in BIG. Given the suspension/feel of the i3 it would have been terrible going through LA on the 5. But as you can see the ride quality is a non factor the workling class/professioals are in such dire need of commute theyll pay etc and tolerate it as uber customers. Just about every household using a v8 suv/truck that was near the edge financially...is now un-able to daily those vehicles using rideshare...bc they cant even sell them for a good return bc of the gas situation as economy cars are also supply/demand high. Its forced ppl into looking at cars like the tesla model x/3/Y bc of how bad the used car market is for economy cars...and gas for v8's. OR older cars that arent as good on gas. TBH i want an ev kona but our friend said bmw/coverage/3m no payments is a good deal/play.
I have this car and it been great to me
Glad to hear that
What year? Rex or bev? Any mechanical issues?
2014 bev just had to replace the 12v battery last year after that no issues. I know someone that upgraded there 60ah to the 94ah battery making the i3 more than a city car. I’m looking to do the same once everything gets back to normal
@@jayc5405 It's literally the most reliable BMW ever made. If you want to buy used, avoid anything with REX. The battery platform is upgradable even far into the future. The battery packs are drop in replaceable. There is even a proof of concept i3 with 700 KMs range done by third party battery maker.
@@jayc5405 had mine (Rex) just over 12 months now, not a single problem or issue at all, never broken down, nothing fallen off, not even a rattle.
Oh, and only £20 depreciation as of April 16th 2020.
0-60 in 7seconds. Not fast? Oh, 👌
That's slow, really slow for an electric car.
@@zachmasters7397 Not if you compare to its competitors such as the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe, Fiat 500 electric, etc - it's not trying to be a Tesla
Fast enough. It makes my kids cry when I boot it.
There will be a day where everyone wished we could travel back into time we could snatch an electric chassis for these prices. We haven't even opened the electric gate for aftermarket market. Imagine a battery pack that is capable of 1,000miles able to swap into this chassis.
In 2004 I got a 2002 Nissan Xterra as a project 2021 and I still have it I been looking for a Bmw like that but I change my mind after watching this video
4 stars is not “so unsafe”. Whats this guy talking about !? Love my I3. Range extender makes this one of best cars I ever had. Reliability 5/5
The BMW i3 is not an unsafe car, do ur research dude.
don't mind him hes pissy cause he was dumb enough to buy the i3 and is pissy cause he hates how the 19 inch summer tires on it wear out in about 5000 kilometers he should have got the i3s and then the 20 inch tires do not wear out that much thats why he rants about depreciation so much
Not a Troll it only scored 4 out of 5 euroncap.com
@@nomoreterrorism yes, but only because of the head rest. Its the only negative point. The i3 is very safe. Unfortunately also very very very expensive to repair if something is happening to the carbon structure. I have seen 20 mph crash results on i3 ending in a total loss of the car because its so expansive to repair.
@@nomoreterrorism a 4/5 still means the car is safe. On the IIHS, the i3 scored the majority of the time the highest rating which is Good, and the second highest which is acceptable, meaning the i3 is not an unsafe car. In the video, the guy said the car was unsafe, so I just wanted to say that the i3 is a safe car.
Great review
We've had an i3 BEV 94Ah from new in January 2017 and it has been a fantastic car for us. My wife is the main driver and uses it for her daily commute of about 60 miles round trip. That usually leaves her with about 55-60% battery remaining so absolutely no range anxiety. We've also not noticed any perceivable decline in range in the almost 7 years we've owned it where it has covered almost 77,000 miles. My wife absolutely loves the car and has no wish to change it. We did entertain upgrading to the 120Ah model just before it was discontinued but since range is not an issue for us, and there were very few other reasons to change, and some good reasons not to, we decided to stick with our current car.
In the time we've had it, it has had a new set of brakes discs and pads all round, and a set of front suspension gaitors and top mounts. Both of these jobs I did myself using OE parts so it wasn't expensive. I also do the brake fluid and cabin filter change every two years which is all that it needs. The only major expense we have had was a replacement high voltage AC compressor which unfortunately was a £2900 inc VAT job done by BMW. The part itself is about £1500 and realistically I couldn't install it myself without essentially voiding the warranty due to not having the correct AC flush and refill equipment and so I got BMW to do it. A bit painful yes, but all in all it has been a cheap car to run.
I don't understand the obsession with having 350+ mile range on EVs. Yes, if you regularly travel that far each day then fair enough but most people don't travel anything like 350 miles a day. Having more range than you need just increases the initial cost of the car, and increases the weight of it which in turn reduces efficiency. It's not the same as having a big petrol tank on an internal combustion car where you can choose to only fill it half way and thus reduce the extra weight. With batteries, you have to carry the full weight all the time so it's better to carry only what you truly need. This is especially practical if you have a second car like we do, and it's a diesel BMW 5 series that can do 600+ miles on a tank.
I'm not surprised that i3 sales declined because the car wasn't really updated much other than increased battery capacity. And then for later models the government changed the road tax rules so that you have to pay road tax even for fully electric vehicles. And the grant has reduced from £4500 when we bought our car to zero today (I think?). These were factors in why we opted to just keep our existing car rather than upgrade.
So yeah, I get that some people just don't like the i3. In fact I was one of those people right up until I test drove one in mid 2016. The rest as they say is history!
Exactly my thoughts as well. Living in the Netherlands, we are bound to pay road taxes from 2026 on. The government has plans to set taxes as high as petrol cars in the same weight range. The i3 is a light EV, so there is an another reason to choose for a (second hand) BMW i3. I was disgusted by the remarks of the i3 'almost falling apart' while driving. Did he had too much to drink that day, or what? He should be ashamed saying things like this!
It feels like its falling apart and its not even fast.... huh? Lol....
:D not fast. Don't remember when anyone overtook me from a stand still up to city speeds. Don't remember hearing that much misinformation about a car.
Mine smoked a dodge challenger the other day!
Got 2 of these. City cars, quick off the mark and super efficient. If the range isn't for you dont buy it. With range extender you can go anywhere and just refill the fuel. I we won't hear anything bad about them, best cars we've had so far. Easy to drive and surprisingly fun, maybe not so good on corners. Lease it if you dont want deprecation worries. Bought mine outright at great price and will keep until it dies! Unclear why there's a video advising people away because of depreciation?