5 Pro's and Cons of bmw i3 120ah Review, is it any good? 🔌🔋🚗
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ส.ค. 2019
- I've had the bmw i3 120ah 6 months now and thought it was time for a 5 pros and 5 cons review of this product. It the i3 better than a renault zoe? How does it compare to the leaf? Well in this video i'll be going threw the cons and benefits of the i3 40kwh version this car is the new 2019 version with the new LED headlights which are by far the best feature on the i3.
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Real Range
between 100 - 225 mi
City - Cold Weather 145 mi
Highway - Cold Weather 100 mi
Combined - Cold Weather 120 mi
City - Mild Weather 225 mi
Highway - Mild Weather 130 mi
Combined - Mild Weather 170 mi
Thanks for these really useful real-life figures. Are these with or without heatpump?
Thanks for the review. Took ownership of my new 120ah i3 four months ago. Most of the negatives mentioned in the review are not an issue for me. The i3 is one of the few cars on the road that put a smile on one’s face. Very happy with the car that one day will be remembered as one of the cars that reignited the trend towards EV’s. I just hope BMW will continue to produce this fabulous and cute car for many years to come!
When driving, a touch screen is very difficult to use. I find the BMW I-drive easy and intuitive to use, and does not need a touch screen. I do agree with you about the other points. Do remember the design brief for this car was as an urban daily driver. I think BMW themselves did not expect this car to become so popular and sell in these volumes. For me the biggest plus, is every time you get in, the interior experience is a joy, and the driving experience is sublime.
Oh the drives amazing great fun on country roads!
Touch screens are fine if you always drive on smooth surfaces. As soon as the road gets a little bit rough your finger dances around trying to find the right icon. I think the reason manufacturers are flocking to touchscreens have more to do with cost-cutting than actual research into efficiency.
traded in my mini for a second hand 2017 i3 REX .A dealer demo model loaded with options.
I so enjoy the driving experience . Its response .confort .interior spaciousness and visibility.Quality finishes . I can only recommend this vehicle. Just keep in mind its a city -commuting car . Not an autobahn bullet to compete with R.Rovers and Porsches .
I prefer the scroll wheel with the i3 format. The screen is too far away for it to be touch screen. The heat pump is removed on your Deka world trim level. It was a standard feature on the BEVs prior to 2019 so I disagree with that as a con. Thats personal choice and if you live in a mild climate you might prefer the weight savings and purchase price reduction. I'm sorry the dealer didn't educate you on the full ramifications of the Deka trim and the features you are missing like an interior Froot button and the courtesy lights. I agree that for the money this stuff should be standard, but the build materials and the overall high cost on the bill of materials makes it tough for BMW to bring the price down. They got ruthless with the Deka world so you missed out on a few things that the car does have in even one trim level up.
Great video overall mate. Keep them coming.
I have disabilities that make touch screens difficult so the iDrive is probably going to be better for me.
Good review. I’ve lived with an i3 for the last 2.5 years and love it. As for touch screen, for me it’s a nonissue. I very much like the idrive. Took just a little time to learn it and once I did it’s very easy. Also the i3 floating screen sets too far back to easily work as a touch screen. I like it’s location and wouldn’t want it moved closer to accommodate touch. I don’t understand your point about the location of the charging point. It’s never been a problem for me. Some of this does feel a little nitpicking but overall enjoy your review.
Have a car with a front charge point end your understand ;)
Maybe our charging cables are longer in the US. Not once have I had to think about how I park the car to charge it. The cables always reach. Would it be slightly more convenient? Possibly but I don’t mind a few steps around to the side.
You forgot to mention the advantage of that; You will not need to indicate (such a chore) when turning, in fact (having purchased the road along with your BMW) you can ignore most of the rules of the road that we lesser mortals have to abide by........
😂
Excuse me if I have missed an earlier video but have you produced one on the voice activation of various controls such as Sat Nav instructions, calling someone in your address book or activating hold state of charge etc? Also do you have Apple Car Play and how does this work on an i3? Thanks
Hi Richard i've gone into some of these features on my easteregg video however others are well documented by other i3 owners as i don't have a REX i can't "hold the charge" i also don't have car play the cost to add it seems stupid when you can do 90% of the features without it using connected app
I just subscribed. Thanks for the vids!
Great. Well-founded, well-considered discussion of the pros and cons. well done.
Touch screens leave fingerprints, which reduce visibility in bright sunlight. It's also hard to control it without looking at the screen. That's why I prefer the iDrive system.
By the way, I have a 94Ah i3, and there's a button for opening the frunk down by the wheel arch on the driver side.
One hundred percent.
I'd rather have the scroll wheel format than the touch screen for exactly the reasons you've listed and for it eliminating the use of physical buttons and knobs, witch I LOVE them because they erase the necessity of looking at a screen and having to be extremely careful because fingers just slip in the stupid screen in bumps or just trepidation inconveniences, and for that you just press or hold them buttons and your absolutely focused on the road.
Thanks for the video. Slightly odd question. I am planning on getting a new i3 on motorbility. I have a couple of classic cars so this would be ideal as my daily city driver. I have a greyhound and am wondering if he would fit in the boot with one or both of the rear seats folded. He's a rescue ex racing dog, so very good in the car, and being a greyhound he can't sit, so will quickly lie down for 95% of the journey. I just need the ability to get him in the car if needed for relatively short trips. Many thanks for your help.
What I especially like about your videos (i3 videos in particular) is that you don’t talk about what every other car reviewers is talking about. Watch a handful of reviews of the i3 and it’s like watching the same content but with different faces of the people reviewing it.
That fact alone made me hit the subscribe button. Btw, I’m only here for the i3 videos. 🇸🇪
Thanks Glenn it’s likely Because unlike other reviewers I don’t watch other people’s content I just create my own based on my own views. PS check out my other videos to you might enjoy them
I absolutely love the fact it's not touch screen. We also have a model 3 and the giant ipad is the most distracting thing I've seen in a car. The other thing that is absolutely great is the turn circle. I can make a U-turn in spots that pretty much nothing else can. Got the 94ah model so a bit less range but still plenty good enough for my 55 mile/day commute. If I had the 120ah I wouldn't have picked the rex model :)
Here in the UK and Europe there is no REX anymore they got rid of it! and yes turning circles is AMAZING i should of made than one of the pro's!
@Nicolas - I’m in the market for a used i3. What year and what accessories should I look for? And what would be a decent price point for the recommended model?
Depends year, mileage, battery etc etc also if your UK or somewhere else, I sell them at Luigi motors I’ll be back in work after lockdown
100% agree on the charging port location. It's really tedious! On some charges I can only reach the port if the right parking spot is available. On the left side the cable is too short to reach around.
I don’t fuss about touch screen in a car, no tactile feedback means you have to take your eyes off the road more often and for longer periods of time to see where you’re pressing and what’s next.
Thats one valid point for some buttons having tactile feedback is important but if you ever used a tesla there AP system and great voice control soon shows this isn't an issue, but i do like keeping windows for example as a button
Personally I don’t like touch screens in cars and love the bmw I-drive system. I don’t like having fingerprints all over my car screen. But that’s just me
not just you
P21 of the i3 120Ah 2019, Heat Pump section, explains that the HVAC uses a heat pump to heat the car, not heat coils? Just checking?
Heat pump cost option
Being at the dealer yesterday (was considering buying one there and then), and reviewing all the specifications and bridging all specs to the Zoe, this a thorough review, the heat pump was not a cost option, but in the base price of the car. We discussed it’s operation, which differs in pre-conditioning of the battery temp, as well as the cabin or both. In the pricing options, there is no option for a heat pump since it’s in the chassis from the base price.
Not according to BMW website...
Nicolas Raimo depending on Market - in my market heat pump is standard and not an option...
Driving from Whaley a6 direction towards Buxworth there... I recognise that corner!
Great review. Thank you
Thanks so much Sarah! please hit subscribe and check out my other videos
@@NicolasRaimo Hi, would you know, if in the event of one of the battery modules or blocks going dud as you were running down the motorway would the extender generator still keep the power up enough to make it off the motorway and get you home especially buying a second one if you see what i mean ?
As a second BMW i3 owner (company lease; first sold to my wife), I do not agree that the i3 needs touch screens. Especially on bumpy roads the control button is easy to use 'blindly' (i.e. without taking eyes off the road), much better than reaching out...and just missing the right spot on the screen because of bump in the road.
Nice review. The LED headlights, do you have the standard lights or the optional matrix lights?
All the 120ah come with the LED lights that used to be an option on the smaller battery model before (UK)
they appear to be the standard ones, the matrix ones have a different physical appearance and are branded "BMW icon"
@@CharlieStyr Yes, you are right. Just now I re-watched the video and noticed the "BMW LED" label inside the headlamps. For the matrix ones, it says Matrix or something along that line.. Cheers mate.
Hi Nicolas. Great videos. Do you work for Lloyds or are you sponsored by them?
No neither used to use them for finance so have some branded coats.
ARE the sunroof/moonroof standard on the i3 , are they all retractable?
RLG
no sunroof on mine its solid carbon fibre
I would think the i3 interior design would make up for the lack of design on the outer car. Having difficulty wrapping myself around hi cost and simplicity in design and technology. Your thoughts
In DK. you have to rent the battery for Renault Zoe, the battery is NOT included in the price and it is way too expensive in that way.
I think the reason is because of the Renault Clio Electric, this one was made by Renault, Citroen, Peugeot and SAFT, all of which ran with Ni-Cd Battery from SAFT, the batteries got Black Spot (a cell that short circuits)
I bought 3 Renault Clio Electric from a scrap yard in Germany and rebuilt with another battery type, the mileage was: 7600 KM, 10200 KM, 6800 KM, and the scrap yard had over 15 of these cars with battery failures. These cars were replaced with a gasoline car warranty instead.
I only carry my "rescue kit" cables and the small charger in the front of my i3 and have absolutely no need for anything else.
Perhaps your suitcase just have the wrong sizes ;)
No. Not touch screen. It's distracting to have to reach for a screen, putting smudges on it. I love the iDrive and find it much less distracting to use.
I hope you found the innside manual opener for the frunk.
I'm taking delivery of an i3s in December 2020 Oh I wish someone would make an up to date video on this car, because.. It has more HP, its Quicker still, it has a touch screen, it's cloud based in real time, it auto updates, it has Apple car play and Android auto. The voice control actually works because its Internet connected not hard drive based. The tack is wider and lower. The 20" wheels although still skinny are wider. A year has made a lot of difference.
Bet you can't wait!
Many thanks for this video. My wife and I love the i3 and its green credentials are a big plus point for us. The problem is the price. I am thinking about buying a used one but could easily buy a new Zoe for the same price. Both cars meet our needs although the additional range of the Zoe, while not essential, would make our life easier (we do not have off road parking). Any thoughts?
Drive both, it up to you which may suit you better look at the boot and size you may need. Way up pros and cons of each which suits you, video on zoe on my channel also
Sheetal Shah a Zoe?
Killed by Bigfoot see my videos
You could open the front of the trunk in the front if you look at your door on the right side when you open it U-Pull-It The Wire and it opens it up and there's a accessory that you could buy to make the trunk waterproof it's a cover
1:24 There is a hidden bowden under a small cover (left side) at the bottom of column A. to manualy open
I briefly had an i3 from Carvana that I tested for 5 days before I returned it. I am definitely reconsidering now but I have to make my relocation from midwest to the west coast first, not sure it would make a 1700 mile trip or not. Couldn't quite remember but I thought the steering wheel had a blue lining within the wheel and remember the whole inside lit up blue one night, is that still the case?? I may be going from my Lexus es300h to the i3. Thanks anyone! :)
I've just noticed you appear to have 2 different colored eyes, and I do as well, we're a small percentage of the population, Excellent review, as I am thinking about buying a used 13Rex.
Welcome to the cool club
The frunk button is still there on the left near your foot. Sits on top of the trunk button. i just drive a 120ah 2019 model in the US.
Not if you haven’t paid for keyless entry least here in the UK 🇬🇧
Nicolas Raimo UK seems to be low on spec, i believe standard in my market - although I have keyless entry (seems strange to not have on a ’beemer’ as I believe you call them...
@@NicolasRaimo Interesting. In Norway my 120ah top spec has both keyless entry and the frunk button. It also has a heat pump.
@@skog77 each market specs there cars different but mine is a entry model, see the video on how i got it for free in my library
the charge port is perfect for me because i don't public charge and it doesn't get in the way back there
How's it's DC fast charge speed? Good review 👍
it can charge 11kw AC or 50kw DC via ccs port
@@NicolasRaimo The best is, it holds a steady 44-48 kW Load from 0 to around 86-88%.
@@tobias834 Higher in the 2018 an up with the bigger packs. My car will pump 48 plus Kw right up to 90% state of charge.
No problem with the screen, we used the idrive for 4 years with a series 2 and it works fine. As for the trunk size, good you didn’t buy a Mini et or a Honda e, then...
Regarding the Touch Screen . I personally prefer the scroll wheel ...and find it more accesible , thus while driving its safer option . I use a combination of scroll wheel movements AND the preset Numbers for a faster selection of the most frequently used menu options.
Consider this bar of numbers - your touch screen :-)
Also I don't need to wipe clean the touch screen that often .
I'd like it if they gave you BOTH so touchscreen and wheel
Hi Nicolas. I have a i3 2015 Rex I love my car But the range keeps me on edge. I like to see a video talking about the range from year to year and how does Tesla get 300 to 400 miles on a charge.
Thanks Dave
Don't know of any Tesla's doing 400 miles but few will do 340ish. Which to be honest is all you need with a fast charging network very rarely people travel over 150 miles never mind double that. I have an early Renault zoe as well which is a 22kwh battery with no REX never worried about range, if your doing a long trip do some careful planning. I have a 1000 mile trip in a gen 1 roadster coming up so stay subscribed not to miss it
If you had to use your own money ,would you still buy a brand new i3 or the model 3 ?
🤐 not in the same class so you can't really compare them ones a hatchback easy to park other is a saloon,
the reason the frunk is not water proof is because of the range extend version ... owners of this version are likely to carry a fuel tank but of course BMW would not recommend this but know people will do this and you would not want a potentially leaky fuel container in a sealed compartment .
I thought the trunk could be opened from the inside by a button on the lower kick-panel? With a plug covering the pull-chord backup.
That was on the older REX models than panel is just blocked off now
Nicolas Raimo well that sucks :/
Oh the pull cord still there I mentioned that on vid...
I do have a 120ah since August 1st and there is a Button inside to Open the Frunk as well as one for the Trunk
Thomas Brunke are you in the US or pay for keyless entry
What’s the noise like cruising on a highway?
Some good points, such as the poorly designed charge point (and what you omitted to say is that the flap door is vulnerable to careless pedestrians during charging); and the excellent build quality.
I am on my second i3, in nearly three years of ownership, and I would not go back to a combustion car.
However, you seem easily impressed with some things. The headlights are not as wonderful as you suggest. I had a Mercedes SLK before my first i3. The headlights on that were far superior, both in brightness and how they turned with the steering wheel. Other Mercedes models have solitarily excellent illumination. Equally, the performance on the i3 is acceptable for the class of car, but under no circumstances would I call it impressive. Adequate is a more appropriate adjective. The i3s might be more satisfactory; I’ve not driven one, but the figures suggest only a modest improvement. Considering that electric motors deliver all their torque all at once, as Tesla and others prove, it seems not to be hard to make an EV a very fast car compared to a combustion equivalents, and therefore the i3 really ought to have delivered more on that front.
Your criticism of the boot is asinine. It is a small city car with decent passenger space. Unless it was to have been designed longer, or with less passenger space it’s hard to see how the boot could have been bigger. The lack of waterproofing in the front storage is a valid criticism.
What you don’t mention is the terrible handling. The car cannot take corners at speed, and even taking a roundabout briskly is a challenge. Again, I understand the i3s is considerably better in this regard, but the poor cornering of the standard i3 is hugely frustrating.
Range. The latest 120aH battery (and that BMW don’t do the sensible thing and adopt kWh like everyone else is irritating; likely to try to impress the uninitiated with bigger numbers) is still poor by today’s standards. When the Leaf is offering 62kWh, the Kona 64kWh, and in the US the Bolt offers 60kWh batteries, that BMW provide just 42kWh, at this high price point, is deeply unimpressive.
It is a well built and reliable EV, but at this money it should be delivering both upwards of 200 miles per charge, and DC speeds of 100kw.
It probably ought to be added that they ever sold it as a REX was a mistake that served only to pander to people’s range anxiety, so the deletion of REX with the 2019 car was the correct decision.
The headlights on the i3 120ah are the upgraded headlights from the old model which is where you might be getting crossed wires. I work in the motortrade and had plenty of SLK's the headlights in the I3 are a standout winner over the xeon tech. Only headlight i think might beat it is the new porsche Taycan system.
I personally think the handling is fantastic, i've given it some belting on country B roads locally and it sticks like glue, it takes some time getting used to its high ride out and thinking it may roll but if you trust it then it GLUES, even with traction partially turned off on a wet day i've struggled to get much action from the rear losing control in a manner that would be classed as bad handling.
Although am not a big fan of the i3 i'd certainly have it over the leaf 60kwh with its lack of thermal management on the battery.
The lack of anything faster than 50kw charging speed is upseting however!
I have a 2014 i3 with eight active cruise control option when I use the active cruise control mold when a car come down to a complete stop car in front of me move and my car will not move until I step on the accelerator pedal again.
yep i don't have the radar option, i did a video in past about how tesla has the advantage there of fitting hardware just software locking for a fee!
Totally agreed with you on touch screen....it is the best in most case. First, reduced the cost of having a knob/buttons, less parts to breakdown, etc. Some might like the knob/controller which is fine, but not the efficient. Why blackberry died and touch screen phone ruled? Also location could of moved more forward.....the info screen behind the steering wheel is pathetic.
Yes, one of the more enjoyable i3 videos.
Quick question, can I update/hack software on any BMW i3 or just work on certain years, like 2015 or above?
what you want it to do???
Nicolas Raimo Have more gas ⛽️ update software and get more features
@@Zavash th-cam.com/video/xaRmd8uj7p8/w-d-xo.html
Nicolas Raimo Thanks 🙏
Hi great work thanks
I wanted this car badly but its 4 seater only thing I want to ask can I carry 5 people in this car just incase if I need to
Do you think its illegal and police will stop me I know it's small rear sits but just sometimes if I have to please let me know
its a 4 seater on the logbook the max people you can carry is 4
It only have 2 seats in the back. The middle part are cup holders so a person can't even try to sit on it unless they have some weird fetish.
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet, but the scroll wheel is a touch device, you can pinch and zoom on the top.
it can indeed which is great for zooming but what about scrooling threw the map...
Personally I hate a touch screen, my wife has a Honda with a touch screen and on-the-road with the car bouncing up and down almost unusable.
There is that
Well said, I agree.
I hated my touch screen in the car
I'm onto my second i3. 94 i3s. REX. Probably the pinnacle of i3. Removal of the REX is a backward step IMO as 120 does not have enough extra range over the 94 to justify changing. Especially with REX in the back.
The S is more stable at motorway speeds cf standard.
i disagree removing the REX is a step forward but lets agree to disagree did you see my easteregg video?
@@NicolasRaimo no, or maybe. link? I agree with you about the headlights, they are really excellent on the current i3, the old halogen ones being the worst i've ever used!
Scroll Wheel! Precise and needs no screen wipes. And you can lay a seat or two down 😉 reversing in is the safest way to park. Plenty of studies point this out.
I like the scrool wheel for address input however for map navigation i'd prefer to touch the map!
@@NicolasRaimo fair enough, wheel is just really fast for me. I also use the voice commands more and more
@@nosoupforyou425 I use voice commands sometimes but 90% of the time i like to input as most the places i go have weird names the voice control can't hear correctly!
@@NicolasRaimo traveling to weird places... I like 😸
Heading towards Vegan!? Great stuff! 🍓🍌🍊🍍🍉🍇
Cutting my meat out to a couple of days a month at first replaced most meat with fish which is lower co2 however I try eat more plant full stop getting better and better
Keep it up buddy. Every little helps. Never been easier with the choice that's available now 😁
Been vegan since 2016 and most folk who know me still find it hard to believe that I have adopted this lifestyle. No regrets whatsoever and if I can do it anyone can 👍🏼
Based on my 18 months of 2015 i3 bev ownership, and 28k km, I suggest the i3 is a completely different proposition to a Zoe. (I nearly bought a Zoe, but Renault Australia were too hopeless to deliver it.) Solid quality is much nicer, and drive experience is heaps better. Rear Charge Port is fine - front one is hopeless if you have front damage (e.g. kangaroo strike - yes, my i3 just ploughed on afterwards!). Frunk weather proofing is poor - but IKEA does a lidded plastic box that fits perfectly. Much prefer iDrive to touch screens. Safer, more convenient, and very clever, once you learn how to use it. Boot space is fine, for what it is supposed to be. Rear coach doors are only ok - the triangle of death can be a problem in a confined space. Apart from a Model 3 for same money, I'd certainly buy another one...
Kangaroo's do change issues i guess! whats the price difference in both cars?
Nicolas Raimo Zoe about AU$52k, i3 120 starts around $69k
Why didn’t you show the boot on a Zoe then?
They could do a Mazda on touch screen only active when the car is not moving or slow speed. Touch screen is hard to operate when driving and I prefer the dial to operate the system when driving on the road.
A system that does both would be ideal! Touch screens are much faster to use when stopped but like you said SLOWER when not
I was initially attracted to the idea of acquiring a 2016 BMW i3 94 Ah Rex a)because it would have meant avoiding the road fund licence and b) the Rex option would have meant I could use the car in electric mode for all short journeys and the petrol generator for longer ones.
Unfortunately two things have put me off - 1) the cons you mentioned here 2) the cost of replacement parts , which is something that never gets mentioned in car reviews.I nearly fell throuugh the floor when I learnt that a i3 replacement side mirror would cots over £800 whilst the central consol would cost well over £1000 ,both plus fitting charges.I dont know what the Zoe equivalents would be but I suspect they are quite a bit cheaper. Unfortunately, I can't find anything online that would give me that kind of information.
Tyres is another one, a full set for the Zoe comes to just shy of 400 whereas the i3 would cost about £520
I know BMW parts to be very expensive anyway but i do feel that when doing car comparisons the costs of parts for each individual car should also be mentioned giving clear examples such as the ones above,
Parts in premium brands cost more but are more reliable so less likely to need replacement
@@NicolasRaimo so from your reply i can deduce that a BMW part will more be reliable than a Renault one? I know a lot of people have complained about French car parts in general , especially electronic ones, (in fact some mechanics hate working on French cars) but i have not heard anyone complain Zoe components being especially unreliable
I preferred the iDrive in my i3 . The Tesla M3 touch screen is far more distracting. I've triggered the lane guidance a couple of times while learning the layout. M3 has a frunk, huge boot and another sub boot underneath no contest there.
I like a mix of some buttons with a touch screen
In the 2015 U.S. model, there is a button inside to open the frunk.
yep there is in US some reason the EU doesn't get it..... go figure
Have you noticed a significant drop in range with the heater on now its gone cooler?
Not any more than I noticed in my other EVs to be honest
@@NicolasRaimo interesting, i had a mark 1 leaf without heat pump, it was dramatically worse than the one i have now with a heat pump, if you had the opportunity, would you have got the heat pump/auxiliary heating system?
with a 40kwh battery it doesn't bother me if it was a smaller battery then lilkely but to be honest the heated seats save a load of heating
@@NicolasRaimo ok thanks for the info, im considering an early i3, so maybe a heat pump would be beneficial.
Coming from a 3dr mini (which also has four seats lol) the boot on the i3 looks big. :-D .. plus it HAS doors so you don't have to get out to let people out. It's a matter of perspective and needs lol. I'm hoping to get an i3S in the next few weeks it appeals to me because of the performance and driving experiece it offers, and I'm not so bothered about practicality but actually it's more practical than my mini for sure!
I am goign to try to get one with the heatpump though. I also think it's ridiculous that it's an option on a car that expensive!
to be fair with a large battery its not really needed too much unless your going to be sat in traffic a lot doing HUGE trips
Thanks for the thoughts for a first time ev owner it might just help a little. I really wanted the mini E but the range is looking just a little low.inbet it'll be a blast to drive though.
The location of the charge port is annoying. We often have to back into spots just to reach the charging cable.
The screen shouldn't be lower than what it is, specially for touch screen they really need too be more eyelevel or as possible
My 2015 REX has internal buttons to open front and back lids, right by the fuel flap release.
Not any more
i just drove a 2019 and in America, they have the interior button. the remote here dont have a frunk button but a trunk button.
As does my 2015 i3 bev
@@petergorton9848 odd, my 2015 BEV doesn't 🧐
Sean Powell I think we've established that it's a stingy aspect of trim level. ☹️
As the car looks a little different a lot of dutch people don't like it. As a result it hasn't been sold here a lot.
But it has one big advantage over many other ev's and that is an excellent rear view over your right shoulder direction four o clock.
In Holland we have a lot of roundabouts with bicycles around it. You need a good four a clock view to see them coming.
Unfortunately there's a lot of cars that have huge window frame C-pilon blocking the view in that back angle.
We have a lot of accidents with bicycles because of those.
If you’re going on honeymoon, you’re not taking anyone else, so fold the seats down to get the suitcases in.
Because we had to stop at MK for a charge and combined this with lunch and shopping meaning suitcases were on display not ideal
Touch screen for me... most people are right handed, using controls with your left hand would be time consuming, difficult and not safe to be doing while driving. great review., thankyou/
Thanks Julie please click subscribe! Don’t forget other part of the world use other hand ;)
So as a lefty it's unsafe for me to control the car with steering wheel on the left side as I do here in Sweden? Stupid argument to be honest.
Never liked the looks of these i3 when they first came out but they have so grown on me , touch screens never bother me in a car esp with the fantastic Bmw scroll wheel ( I am a Bmw 1 series owner ) it’s like the old iPod wheel such a simple but effective thing to go through menus fast . The boot part is the only thing what would put me off in buying this car , that’s why I also didn’t buy a Volvo C30 due to boot space , could you imagine a slightly larger version of this car suv type , it’s a shame they are just doing a X1 electric / hybrid
I thought they looked odd too, but now like their originality and character. Also, they become more desirable close up as you can appreciate the BMW quality and design, and the interior (where, as an owner, you'll spend most of your time) is fantastic.
A bit disappointing that there were 5 very specific cons and then the pro's were; it's "green", great lights, it's acceleration and it's quiet inside the cabin, oh and the build quality. Do you have another video describing what you like about the car?
Plenty of other videos on i3 on my channel
Yes it has its quirks but I think the car is unique.
I agree with you regarding touch screens. They are very easy to use but they do need to be well designed. The Zoe is pretty good, apple play on the old model Insignia (I’ve not driven the newer model) was excellent - big buttons, colour coded and well spaced apart. Where as the Hondas we used at work had small monocrome buttons close together, which were virtually impossible to select without taking your eyes off the road and even then you could select the wrong button. So touch screens are great but they have to be well designed. It will be interesting to see how Renault have used the bigger portrait screen on the Zoe 50.
I’d also like to say that my R110 has been v good for build quality. Usually the only rattle is from the boot if I don’t pack it carefully to avoid things vibrating against each other - not a problem you have to worry about in an ICE powered car due to all the mechanical noise. The only niggle is an irritating vibration from the drivers window when its open a few centimetres. And I have had the slight drip from the A post drivers door seal in heavy rain that a few people have mentioned.
The BMW i3 is a great car but that charge flap, the leaky frunk, and the resistance standard heater are big niggles. It’s odd that they have designed and built a great, high quality product and these items have been allowed to go through to production.
How much does the range depreciate with time? how does this compare to the model 3? I'm thinking of buying a 2014 i3.
Range doesn't really depreciate a 2014 i3 will do same mileage if its lost anything it be a total of about 5% from its grand total at most
@@NicolasRaimo We have a 2014 BEV only model and range has dropped from around 80 miles to 60 miles here in Phoenix Arizona.
My concern about your review is the number of occasions in your video that you don’t have hold of the steering wheel whist driving.
I’ve just bought a bmw i3 Rex and was also discussing pros and cons and touched upon a potential safety issue...in the event of a front on collision and doors were damaged and couldn’t open the doors...there’s no way to get the kids out of the back due to suicide doors, windows cannot be wound down and boot cannot be opened from the inside, the headrests don’t come off so you cannot use the spiked end to break any windows open. Does anyone have any opinions on this please?
If I had a frontal accident in the BMW i3 that was so severe that on both nearside and offside doors would not open. My only worry would be whether or not I had set up some sort of funeral arrangements for myself. The front of the car is designed to crumple the lifecell is not so having an accidentthat is big enough to actually affect the lifecell your internal organs are going to burst anyway.
Jenny Li hi, you CAN open the boot from the inside but only if your vehicle has keyless entry, you would notice some button down to the right of your right foot, one for the front and one for the back. If you don’t have those then no, you can’t open it from the inside unfortunately. I know because I’ve just ordered an i3s a few days ago and have done loads of research. If you’re interested, there is a very helpful Facebook group called i3 UK I think, just join the group and people will help with any questions.
Michael Rigby 🤣🤣🤣
Germanic 1973 I’m afraid ours doesn’t have keyless entry. And yes I’ve just joined the Facebook group! Thanks!
Germanic 1973 UK i3 fbb Group is FANTASTIC! Only reason to be on fb. Indispensable, nice folk.
What is a tushcreen?
A chastity belt.
WHY would you leave the key in the front boot???? esp: if it was keyless entry !!!
This isn’t keyless entry on this model but you wouldn’t put key there on purpose but you might of put some bags in there with your key...
I vote no touchscreen. No finger prints :)
Haha that’s one way to look at it!
seriously they removed the fronk button from the older i3 with the 94 amp hour battery to the new one or is he to stupid to find it? cause my 2018 has a fronk button to open it why would they redesign the car? and remove the fronk button from the car I found the button with the rex gas door botton on the bottom side of the drivers area down by the floor
It only missing on the UK model unless you pay for keyless entry (easy entry) US models come with frunk button
And very easy to touch when your driving along!! I drive much safer to use
BMW Quality, well i bought my first PHEV a 330e in October 2016. I would have stuck with Lexus if they had a PHEV, come on Lexus keep up. That said the quality of the BMW is far worse than a Lexus and the customer service is abysmal. First fault, the cruise control button just wore out in weeks the rubber around it degraded and it was a floppy rubber mess in less than a year. I initially just let this go until the charge cable failed (the granny charger with the car that is) The BMW dealer told me this is because i was folding it incorrectly and using too tighter turns. The only way it fitted in the bag provided by BMW was to use tight turns and the bag it fitted in even had a spot in the boot where it needed to fit which could only be achieved by winding it round the EVSE brick. So my granny charger failed no problem use my home charger, nope the car stopped working on the home charger too red light on the car port. So i took my car to the dealer to be told this was my problem. The granny charger is not under warranty as it is an accessory and the red light was my home charger at fault. I informed them that it was not working at public chargers too and after them saying that could also be my type 2 lead they eventually agreed to look at the car. In this period they gave me a diesel car which i was not happy with and also cost me a not inconsiderable amount of money as the repair took almost a month on a car less than a year old. So the granny charger (which it turns out was under warranty as i pointed out if i bought one from them it would have a one year warranty even as an accessory) was fixed with insulation tape and tie wraps. The charge fault was diagnosed and fixed but this took far to long almost a month. Whilst they had the car i asked for the cruise control switch to be repaired which it was but is now another year later gone again. I will never buy a BMW again Tesla M3 on order and looking forward to Lexus CT200E in the future
@John Edwards which one of the kids would I make walk if I had an i3? Tesla arrived in November anyway.
Pretty sure Model 3's don't have heat pumps either, glad our climate isn't too severe lol!😕
Don't think any Tesla's do however they normally have such a large battery its never really come into play
The Tesla 3 uses the heat from the motor and inverter to help heat the car and the battery. It is all one heating and cooling system using the same coolant far more efficient than the i3s heating system.
*i3 production is history!*
...? Can you elaborate
@@NicolasRaimo *i3 production was discontinued*
They haven’t still being made now
@@NicolasRaimo *Final production year!.*
Not from any sources i can see, whats your source?
The reasons that are put in a touchscreen because it runs more power out of the car and at the touch screen goes blank you can't use it you can't write off the market one to have a touch screen if you can find it
What's the range?
Summer/winter? motorway or city?
@@NicolasRaimo I don't have a car. What's the range you could get on average?
TheSpector 150 miles
it is where the deer and the antelope play
The Zoe isn't half the price of the i3 unless you compare the Zoe without battery to an i3 with battery. Including the battery and factoring in typical dealer rebates, prices are much closer.
Compare like for like Zoe 40kwh to i3 40kwh The new zoe is 50kwh and MORE expensive than previous Zoe. 40kwh Zoe was £18,0000 including battery this I3 was £36000 so yes half the price
what is your real world range?
Winter or summer? motorway or city?
Nicolas Raimo winter motorway and summer motorway. What is your motorway speeds? Looking on the second hand market here in Australia there is no clear indication of range for the cars.
I pin'd a comment with all the figures for you hope that helps
70mph :) and i'd ignore cold climate bit :-p
I know a lot of these were personal likes and dislikes but I didn't agree with a number of things. A thorough review no doubt, but things like touch screens do my head in. I have a 58 plate Mazda 3, it's a hybrid touch and wheel based infotainment system. About a year ago the touch screen went funny, now whenever I'm at low speed and the touchscreen activates, it starts selecting random options on its own. Not good. Stick to a manual screen
I hate the select button for the airvent choise. You have to press and press and press to get the mode you want. Also the display is to small for old eyes.
set it to Auto and forget about it.
all cars should have the tesla info system
Ahhhh the i3 when in a supermarket car park. The triangle of doom. Driver exits vehicle, passenger exits behind driver.....er.... we're stuck in the triangle of doom....
Also triangle of cool!
We tested an i3 on a 24-hour loan from BMW and we took my 87-year old mother-in-law shopping. Once she'd entered the triangle of doom, the i3 was also doomed. Shame, as I loved the car and still want one. We ended up with a mother-in-law friendly Nissan Leaf.
BMW I3 handles well on smooth roads only .... Road noise on motorways is unacceptable
Honeymoon at Heathrow, classy or wot?
haha... no here's a video from honeymoon.. th-cam.com/video/3ylwwLF0pLc/w-d-xo.html
Infotainment should not be touch screen while driving for safety reasons. Some countries do allow full touch screen infotainment systems while driving.
I didn't hear what the fully charged range is.
Real Range between 100 - 225 mi
City - Cold Weather145 miHighway - Cold Weather100 miCombined - Cold Weather120 mi
City - Mild Weather225 miHighway - Mild Weather130 miCombined - Mild Weather170 mi
@@NicolasRaimo - Nicolas, what do you consider 'cold' weather? I'm picking up an i3S next week and have a 300+ mile journey back home. Mostly A roads and motorway. First time driving an EV. Do you think charging every 100 miles will work, or should I top up more often?
I had one. Noisy at speed. Twitchy handling requiring high concentration. Poor range. Sold it after a year.
yep i agree sadly i have one and on the motorway the road noise drowns out the poor audio...
scroll wheel ftw. Much easier to use while driving
I was taking a bus .. now I driving a bmwi3.. ..