BMW i3 Review In Depth Long Term
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- Опубликовано: 10 дек 2016
- I decided to do a video on electric cars and more specifically the bmw i3. Enjoy
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Although this post might seem somewhat dated now, it is still SUPER relevant. The insights ,stats and comparisons you provide are still current and very useful. We weighed your input making our decision to purchase our i3. It is the 94Ah however with 120(ish) mi. range. We recently drove 127mi to the coast w/30 mi. remaining, so obviously subjective. You’re right! This covers 99% of our needs. If we want to drive a thousand miles we can take the gas suv, but mostly it sits in the garage now. Thanks for the awesome vid.
Thanks so much for the comment Eric. I appreciate you watching my review and I'm glad you're enjoying your i3 😎👍
I've had my 2017 i3 for a couple weeks now. TOTALLY love it. Charging at home with the 120v charger is working out fine, since I work from home and just run errands. This car is nicer than I thought! We have two older BMWs that are very awesome to drive, but not really worth much to sell. So getting a 3rd car was a LOT cheaper than selling an old car and buying a newer car. Now we run all the errands on the i3 and save miles on the older cars (06 530, 08 X5).
That's awesome Jerry thanks for the comment. that's how I use my i3 to it's my utility car and I save the miles on my other car for when I want to go for a fun drive😎👍
Your enthusiasm for the i3 is infectious. When I first saw one, the radical styling was too much to take in. Now, like you, I get it! I took a test drive a month ago, and ordered one the following week. The test drive blew me away, and the interior is so pleasant, comfortable and airy; then when you start driving, just wow. Here in the U.K. The REx is no longer available, but now with 42kwh I don't think it will be an issue.
I'm taking delivery of a 2014 Rex on Thursday. This is exactly the kind of in depth review I was looking for!
Awesome video - should be mandatory viewing for anyone sceptical about EVs. The i3 may be a bit pricey but it is a technical tour de force and light years ahead of other compact EVs. Those considering buying an i3 just need to bear in mind that the running costs are negligible and in many places there are added benefits such as free parking and charging, use of bus lanes, tax benefits etc. I guess most of us who bought our i3s have access to another ICE vehicle but just as with Brandon are using the i3 much more than we predicted. I'm a confirmed petrol head who just didn't think the i3 was a serious car until I was offered the opportunity for a test drive which I accepted out of pure curiosity. Normally I am pretty cautious and rational when buying cars (or anything) but after 5 minutes driving the i3 I was sold and 2 years later am still beaming ear to ear. I have a Porsche 911 for longer journeys but like Brandon's M2 it often sits in the garage for weeks. What is difficult to describe is how stress free and comfortable the i3 is to drive so for many people in the UK where travelling distances are shorter and roads pretty congested it is actually a pretty practical sole car for small households.
+Richard Piper thank you so much for the comment and the compliment sounds like you really are a real car guy funny thing is I actually have a 2014 911. I also did a review on the 911 you should check it out and let me know what you think. I really think that electric cars and especially the I3 are totally misunderstood and that people don't give them a chance. I decided to do the I3 review and ended up being 40 minutes long I know it's kind of a long video I wasn't sure if anybody would watch it but they're just so much information that people need to know when it comes to electric cars. Anyway thanks again Richard you made my day
Hi Brandon. Thanks for your reply. My Porsche is a 2009 Gen 2 997 3.6 Coupe. Bought new but only done 25,000 miles so barely run in. Porsche's getting really pricey in the UK so was thinking that when it came to change I would trade down to a Boxster (which now I'm retired probably suits my needs better) but I'm very disappointed that it now only comes with turbo 4s. Best wishes Richard
Hi Brandon. You have a great garage. Although my 911 is a generation before yours I never regretted buying the standard Carrera as the S cost about £8k more for just an extra 20 bhp and bigger wheels which cost me just £1.5k to upgrade. Critically the standard car cost about £250 a year less to tax because it fell just within the standard UK Co2 taxation bands. To keep the weight low to get under 225gm co2 Porsche had substituted the steel trunk and door panels on the S for aluminium on the standard car so the power to weight ratio was not a lot different. The PDK box is good but I'm not sure if I was to spec again that I would choose the auto over a manual box which allows for more interaction. I really like the glass sunroof (moonroof?) on your car. I was initially interested in the Targa but when the Gen 2 version came out it was only offered in the UK as as Carrera 4 which pushed the weight and price up quite a bit so I decided the settle on the standard steel sunroof. I also really like the BMW M2. I had a succession of BMW 6 cyl 3 series but became turned off as they got bigger and too large to thread through the country lanes where I live. My favourite 3 series was my 326 E46 which I guess is about the same size as the new 2 series Coupe. I switched to MINI Cooper S s before moving on to the i3. The current MINI is a very good car but has grown in size and to my mind its refinement has taken the fun away that I enjoyed with the R53 and R56 models. It is very easy to get carried away with ticking the options list on the MINI (and I did) but they were terrific little cars. With the double panoramic sunroof open it was almost like being in a sports car hence me thinking about going for a Boxster when I decide to change the 997. BMW have said that they will be launching a i3 Sport next year with more power and another battery upgrade which sounds really interesting. Kind Regards Richard
Richard Piper thanks again for the comment makes sense that's why I went with the standard 911 I felt like it was plenty of performance and a much better price and really enjoy the car. I agree with you most cars nowadays are just too big and fat I think that's why the M2 is doing so well it just because it's smaller and a little more fun to drive. as far the new i3 sport i hope it turns out good i may have to go put a deposit on one
Richard Piper Qa
Great video. I remember watching your videos a few years ago back to back comparing the E63 AMG & the F10 M5 when I was in the market for one...I ultimately went with the E63. Now that I'm looking for a small daily to fit in tight parking spaces & to commute in heavy CA traffic, this car seems to check all the boxes. Your review here confirmed that...thanks again for helping me make another choice!
WOW!!!!!!!! thank you so so much for this review.. My wife and i just purchased a 2015 i3/REX Tera every option except the sunroof. and you have just made i realize this has been the smartest automobile purchase. ( we also own 2011 BMW X6 35i-X-drive and 2018 Mini Countryman S (Fwd) ) Our i3 fit in the family just as you described you use yours for. :-) We picked it up used with 17000 miles on it from a dealership 107 miles from home. I did have to fill the tank up before getting home . but to my fault i was driving it on highway like one of our other cars (wrong of me). i love the smart cruise control... its such a stress relief. all you basically have to to is steer and pay attention to the drivers around you.
Getting my 2017 i3 94Ah 'fully charged' Norwegian edition tomorrow, killing time watching your great vid, thank you very much!
Are you Norwegian?
What an amazing review, thank you so much. I am about to upgrade my Mini SD to an BMW i3 and had a test drive yesterday. I was blown over by the experience and everything you mention in this video sounds like how i've experienced my 20 minute drive yesterday. I cannot wait to start driving my i3.
+inez bethell thanks for the comment and thanks for watching my review. I really appreciate it. if you decide to get an I3 you will love it. me and my wife still drive these cars today and they are one of the best cars on the road. thanks again👍
Thanks for this video! You've helped me get off the fence with your enthusiasm for it!
Informative video Brendon & like the split screen too - thanks.
My car is a 2015 i3 Rex & love it! I have been driving for 65+ years & it's my best drive of all.
One really good point, which no one has ever mentioned to my knowledge, is the fact that you won't get zapped by a static charge when exiting the vehicle - especially in a hot dry climate thanks to the car's composite construction. :)
+Jerry Savage thanks for the comment. that's a cool point you bring up about the static charge I never thought about that. the I3 is literally the best car on the road today in my opinion I absolutely adore the i3. thanks for watching my review I appreciate it.👍
Awesome Video!! Thanks for all the things which I need to know before buying the i3 with range extender. I will be test-driving one in two days, a certified pre-owned 2015 with all the options. I can't wait to have my hands on it. I also love the fact that it uses dual fuel types. I see them a lot in San Francisco too.
Really appreciate your review. I just bought a 2015 used with all the options and your video helped me make that decision. Thanks again.
You're welcome Lance enjoy your i3. still one of the best cars on the road today😎👍
Great video! This was a great influencer in a recent trip I made from Sacramento to Los Angeles California with my range extender. Thank you for your sound, honest and unbiased advice!!
Hi Brandon,
this is the best review about the i3 we have seen so far.
You provide very usefull information from a users perspective with well balanced arguments. Congrats and thanks.
We ordered the i3 as well, and we can't wait to own it by March this year.
Greetings from Switzerland
+Thomas Schürch thanks so much for the comment and the compliment. I really appreciate it. You are going to love the I3 so much. believe it or not there's even more things I love about that car that I forgot to put in my review. I believe it is the best car in the road today electric or gas. I love Switzerland I need to get back there and get me some real chocolate and some gruyere cheese that we got up in the Swiss Alps where it was made fresh it was pretty amazing. Enjoy your i3 if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask me thanks again.👍
They're growing on me thanks to your efforts, so thank you.
I saw a RUclips blog of an i3 owner in England who received a £300+ bill from BMW for a brake fluid & cabin filter change. He had also had issues with one bolt in the front suspension. The bolt was sent from his BMW franchise, to BMW Germany for examination and they recommended that the major components of the entire assembly should be changed. Had his car been out of warranty, the bill would have been several thousand pounds. His brakes and tyres also needed attention and the cost for the four Bridgestone moon lander tyres was over £900!!.... Then there's the depreciation. So while it may be cheap to recharge them, they still have hidden costs.
+Darryld1 that's interesting I owned one for two years never had a single problem the tires here for me or only about 500 bucks I can't see the brakes needing to be changed for at least a hundred thousand miles. And the car is made out of carbon fiber aluminum on plastic with dual fuel it's pretty amazing in my book.
Transport Evolved also had expensive repairs and way too many of them on their"office i3" - there is a great video review listing all the positives and then all the repairs. It's good to also hear stories of people with faultless i3's, so thanks both of you.
Brandon, thank you for this video, I have a Mini Cooper now and I'm thinking of getting the i3 your review help sell me even more. Thanks again.
Tony you're welcome thanks so much for watching I am still driving at I 3 everyday and I love it best utility car that you can get😎👍
Awesome video Brandon I own an I3 as well and love it the electric drive train is so quiet, smooth and quick. You are so right in how so many people write this car off since it is quirky looking as I must agree but at least it doesn't blend in like almost every other car on the road. Being a previous Mini owner I appreciate the quirky styling. Also totally agree that I wish the traction/stability control could be completely deactivated.
+B Stang thanks for the comment. its such a sporty car .supposedly they're making a sport addition of the i3 this next year it will be awesome.
Is the i3 better than the leaf overall
Excellent real world video. I just purchased my first EV, a 2014 i3 thats being delivered Monday and I love the feedback from a fellow 'car guy'. This one will be exactly how you use yours, as the ultimate utility vehicle/extra car. Hopefully it was a smart decision, prices are pretty inflated right now.
Thank you for that very insightful video. I am actually considering this thing now. Especially your point on the Rex actually makes sense now.
+Hans Wurst thanks for the comment. you're so very welcome. it truly is one of the best cars on the market today and if you can find a used 2014 I3 with range extender they're pretty good price especially considering how much money they save you in gas and maintenance.👍
Cool review thanks Brandon...I owned one too for about 6 months last year and I absolutely loved it....especially the driving dynamics and technology...but living in South Africa where distances are far between towns I found the range too small for me...but i'm excited for the new i3s...
+Brandon Kiley the range has never been a problem for me. but I can see how it would be different if I lived in South Africa the new one coming out will have a 150 mile range on electric and 150 miles on the generator so that one should be able to do whatever you wanted to do. thanks for watching my video and thanks for the comment.👍
Everything you mention in this video has been my experience owning the BMWi3 for over 2 years. Everything you state about the comparison of this car with other electric cars has been the conclusion that I also have come to. If more people drove the i3, they would love it too. Even the comments about the looks of the car. I am not sure why there are so many critics of it. As far as efficiency, I also think the same thing that the author of the video thinks. It is the most efficient car on the market. I saw that Hyundai had an electric car that was considered more efficient, but it could only go about 40 miles on an all electric charge. Electric is more efficient, so I don't understand why people would want that car, compared to a BMW i3. A car for me is usually to get from point A to Point B and so I never really had any emotion over a car, until I owned the i3. I really like this car compared to others that I have owned. So, the author of this video really captures the spirit of this car and you can often tell the intent of the engineer, but the functionality of the product. What the author of this video describes is exactly my experience of owning the BMW i3 and he represents my enthusiasm for it.
Thanks for watching😎👍
By far the best review and finally someone who understands the purpose of the BMW i3 REX thanks. I listen to you and purchased a 2015 REX used.
Thanks so much man i really appreciate it. I hope you're enjoying your i3😎👍
I love your reviews. Please, keep them coming!
+Sebastian Pokowski thanks so much man I really appreciate it. I'll keep the reviews coming👍
Thanks Brandon..yes after 2 years and 15,000 miles in a BEV Tera World in PHX area, I got a second BEV Tera world at a crazy price of $24K...I find them great in every way you describe...Level one worked for us with one car but went to level 2 once we got the second. Having second thoughts about spending $45K for a Mod.3...when I really never use that extra battery. capacity..(renting for the occasional longer trip is ok with us). We have great DC fast charging in this area, and the CPO BMW gets a year of EVgo 30min charges at no cost!
Thanks for posting! Very good info. Someone crashed into my 2013 Volt so now I’m thinking of a 2014 i3 with a Rex.
I love the I3 for the money😎👍
Happy New Year and thank you for sharing this video Brandon! Also a fellow car guy and am interested in an i3. It'll be replacing my 2011 Volt. Think you've just about sold me on getting it 😁
To this day I still believe this is the best electric utility car for day-to-day City use. thanks for watching 😎👍
@@pmutah Anytime! Thanks for the scenic drive as well. Don't see any mountains I'm the Midwest lol
Thank you for the through and candid video. My wife and I are about to get a gently used i3 for our 'around town' car.
Welcome there is no better car for around town you guys will love it
Thanks so much for this review. I think you have convinced me. I have been thinking about the i3 for a while. Awesome review.
+I trecinque thanks for the comment. if you buy and I3 buy a used one and if you're in the US and you need help finding one let me know. they are the best.👍
Cheers Brandon, I'm in MN so my only worry was what would happen when it's in the parking lot at work for 12 hours in -30f weather in winter. I can't charge at work. Anyway, it would be my DD so I might sell my M4 and get a smaller toy, like your awesome M2.
I trecinque did you ever buy one? Im also in MN, would love to know range in -30 F weather.
Great information. Looking at one. I'm really struggling to make that leap. I feel the time is right though. The range extender is the positive factor.
+James North thanks for the comment. take the leap James you'll love it you'll never go back it changes your life. one of the best cars on the road today.👍
Great in-depth review. Looking into buying a 2nd hand model, buying new is a little pricey here in the UK. I have watched a lot of owners reviews on RUclips all great, but your review mentions other aspects like the app, pre-heating, performance, driving in the winter with narrow tyres etc etc...basically covering the whole aspect of the i3 and more. Thanks.
Thanks so much I appreciate you watching my review😎👍
Test drove one a couple months ago absolutely loved it. But we decided to invest in a large truck for my husband for work. So next car we buy I am totally convinced this is what I want. I have two small kids and drive 90%of my time around the city we live in. We have so much access to ev charging as well. And since we can all comfortable fit in my hubs truck now for road trips this will be he perfect around town car I think. Thanks for the in depth review!!
+Ashlee Hein You're welcome thanks for watching my review. sounds like the I3 would compliment your truck perfectly. it can do all the around town work and the truck can help your husband at his job and take you guys out of town. thanks again. get an I3 they're the best.👍
i ended up watching your video after a 5 minute fast test drive at the i3, now i'm working my way to get to test one for a couple days with the dealership. with the 2 fuel types is unbeatable in a city.
Great Video
+jorgekontor thanks man I appreciate it. the I3 is the ultimate City weapon. it is the best and when you're stuck in traffic it doesn't matter if you're in M5 and M3 a Ferrari you're stuck in traffic so you might as well be in an i3.👍
jorgekontor I
I love the design as well! I don't understand why people don't get it. I am a huge car guy and the only other small car I liked so far in terms of design was the Audi A2. It had a pioneering all-aluminium chassis and only weighted 900kg. Also super aerodynamic and could get 100mpg in the 3 cylinder version. It was also way ahead of its time and it the clean design has aged really well if you ask me. It was similar concept , with a premium feel and equipment in a small package. The i3 is definitely the successor to the A2. Maybe peeps will "get it" in another 5-10 years.
Thanks for the great video
francescop1 thanks for the comment. usually the people that don't understand or dont like the design are the ones that haven't driven it once you drive it and think about the concept it's hard not to love it. I'm glad you like the review👍
Really good video with lots of good information about the i3. Thanks !
Your welcome jd😎👍
Brandon, you have to release an update video about the i3. This is one of the best videos out there about The i3. It made me become a happy i3 owner and is my favorite car that i’ve ever owned.
Enjoyed the ride up the canyon. Kind of guessed it was UT - fond memories. (Guessing - the route to the Timp? Couldn’t tell as I’m more familiar with the SLC canyons.) Appreciate the Tech package and “dual fuel” pro comments - I haven’t seen the tech in action in other videos yet.
Thank you for the beautiful review.
Thanks for watching 😎👍
I have I3 as well and love it that other plug is for DC fast charging not level 3. I have used it and it is much faster than level 2 chargers I use.
Took a test drive of this a couple weeks ago...loved it...am taking one out again next week to see if I still like it better than the e-Golf.
+Bill Plaschka I don't know much about the e-golf but I would guess the I3 is better considering it is a ground up electric car not to mention it's made out of carbon fiber reinforced plastic!!.👍
Love the i3...dynamically much better...faster...and geek ridden with the CFRP cell and intricate aluminum castings. I like the interior IKEA styling and material quality and the exterior screams BEV but looks fine to me in black.
Now, the VW has a great interior and exterior, that is the exact opposite of the i3 where 99% of regular people will not know it is a BEV...which is also desirable. It has a longer real world range. And is significantly cheaper in Canada. Around $14,000 more for a well equipped i3 vs a loaded eGolf or almost $17,000 more for a base i3 vs a base eGolf...no small thing.
That is the conundrum...pay up for the fun car or save a pile of money for the practical nice car.
Its such a wonderfull car. The design and the interieur and the good view from inside....Your car look so superclean in the garage! Unbelievable Clean! Very good review !!! Greetings from Berlin..
Thanks E.K. 😎👍
Thanks for the posting the video. Made it easy for me to decide to buy an i3. :) Cheers!
+Jeffrey Marfisi that's awesome. I really like hearing that I've helped somebody. the I3 really is the best car on Sale today in my opinion you will love it.👍
Hello, This is the best review I have seen for the I3 so far, especially as you have owned if for some time. I live in a block of flats & do not own a garage. I park my car on the street and there is no way to charge up an EV overnight. That is the only hold-back I have on getting an EV. I know there are charging points everywhere but it is not as convenient as being able to plug in my car at night after work. I am looking forward to getting one so that I can drive into London regularly without paying congestion charge & smothering up the oxygen
Thanks so much for watching my video. If you don't have a good convenient place to charge that is one thing that can be hard about owning an electric car. here in Utah there's a lot of charging and most people can charge either at home or at their apartment. Thanks again😎👍
Thanks! Another great EV review. I want one of these to supplement my LEAF 330xi and F150 motor pool.
I have a 2022 i3S 42kWh non-ReX being delivered next week to run alongside my Cayman. I'd justified it to myself (and my wife 😂) for ALL the reasons you went into, especially re. preserving the fun ICE car. Running an EV will allow me to keep the Cayman forever! Thanks for this video Brandon, it's great to hear first hand from someone in my exact position and with a very similar perspective on motoring, confirming my hopes .
Great video 👍 Thanks for your efforts ! I'm in the market for a 2018.
Great Video but can you do another video tell us how the car is still running as I am thinking about getting one soon.
Great video. I'm expecting delivery of my first i3 REx in March and I can't wait.
Mildly Furious Monk thanks for the comment you will love that 3 it is literally one of my favorite cars of all time and I've had like a thousand cars congratulations
Ur an idiot if you go into 50k in debt for that piece of computarized depreciating junk
john dillenger Not everyone has to go into debt to buy one. I paid cash for mine!
xNYCMarc 😅😁😅😁 that's a great response, people's pockets are not the same. He now knows 😅.
And hey by the way how is your i3 because I see this comment is a bit old, a year old.
fancy O My i3 is still going great. Worth every penny of the £25,000 I paid for it.
Thanks for introducing us to i3
You're welcome it's a great little car😎👍
Awesome review. I wanted to purchase one in 2014 but I decided to wait until the value drops. The 2014 i3 rex is a steal for under 25k in my area.
+Ivan Woodson thanks for the comment. I'm glad you liked the review. an I3 for 25000 is a great deal I have several on my lot that I sell here and Utah they're awesome👍
I have a model3 and an i3, and for drives in town where I am mostly on surface streets, I always end up hopping in th i3. I live in a city, so everything is just easy in the i3, navigating through busy roads, Parking in little spots that are open because nobody else can fit into them. I only live 7 miles away from work so I only have to leave the level 1 charger plugged in overnight a few times per week. I don't like it at highway speeds though. I find myself clinging white knuckled to the wheel because it will get stuck in a grove in the road or a crosswind might throw me off the highway at 75 mph. The highway is where the Tesla reigns supreme, and combination of the two really can be a replacement for internal combustion engines for a two car household.
I really liked your comment and I agree with you 100%. I feel the exact same way. looks like you've got it figured out. thanks Brandon😎👍
Thank you ! very Informative.
You're welcome😎👍
100% agree as I have driven the i3 my self for over 2000miles and loved it :)
bitman EV quite simply they are amazing cars we are lucky that the car even got built. thanks for the comment.👍
Great review! I do disagree that this could not be an only car, especially in an urban area (S. FL) and a single person household.
K Price thanks for the comment I agree with you it can be your only car. but because people don't have experience with electric cars if they go into it thinking about it as their only car it probably won't work for them. so if you want more people to buy them the best thing to do is to have it be a second car they will get used to it and realize they can live without there other car and then it will be there Soul car.
i'm glad you said that because it would be my sole car, and that scared me for a second!
Don't forget, if you buy an i3/i8 new, BMW offers a "Flexible Mobility" program for your occasional "other needs" that involve long-distances. evobsession.com/bmw-flexible-mobility-program-gets-upgraded/www.bmwoffremont.com/bmw-i3-flexible-mobility-program.htm
Yep my i3 Rex is my only car and I use it for food delivery all over the city as well as personal. Works perfectly for me.
brad jackson awesome. I am looking to do UberEats in it.
Thanks for a great video. A major drawback on this car is the fact that in some markets @bmw engineers have decided to disable both gps and the sim leaving the car without any connectivity. This of course means that there is no navi and not even an app, leaving the car functioning as well as a dumb battery with wheels. You are one of the lucky ones.
+Magnus Ragnarsson thanks for the comment. that's crazy about the GPS and the SIM. definitely have never had any those problems here in the US. thanks again for watching my video.👍
You make some great points with using this for work and errands! I’m a true gear head but I’m really see the benefit of buying a electric car for my wife! She drives around maybe possibly 30miles round trip to work. I will be driving a total of 86miles per day, so a TDI diesel will work better for me! We both like love the Tesla cars but I like these i3 with range extender!
+Dre C. Thanks for the comment I really appreciate it. I feel like these electrics are so cheap everybody should have one even if it's a third car it's a no-brainer.👍
Got a new i3s 120Ah /42kwh without Rex this october and it feels pretty fine to drive this car.
I have a 2018 BMW i3s that I drive daily right now I really enjoy it. 😎👍
I've love your enthusiasm for this car. I've been looking at a i3 and it does drive awesome. Only concern is I live in MN and wondering about the winter experience. Any thoughts about winter range and drivability?
Dennis when the temperature gets colder your range does lower. but if you buy an I3 that has a range extender you really don't have to worry about it too much. as far as in the snow performance I love the i3 try to buy one with the 19 inch wheels and then you can buy a good set of snow tires and they do great in the winter time.
Thanks Brandon! I appreciate the info!
Great video! I know what I want now! :D
Very, very interesting, thank you!
Greetings from Bavaria/Germany!
Peter
Thanks for watching my video I appreciate it👍
Currently deciding on which BEV/hybrid, current toss up between i3rex, Audi A3 e-tron and Golf GTE. I think you have sold me on the i3, thanks! :)
Dude- Awesome Awesome video !! I was totally on the fence about purchasing an i3, but checking out this video and listening to all your different points of view really seal the deal for me. I,m super excited to get an i3 Now! Thanks man for creating and sharing this video, BMW should hook you up with some royalty funds - LOL !! 😁😁👍👍
Loved this video on the i3 with range extender as well as your one on getting a used Leaf. I live in an apartment and there wouldn't be a place for me to charge at night so I guess i'm SOL on getting an electric vehicle. Great videos though. Thanks
yew2bin thanks for the comment. someday hopefully you'll be able to get an electric car they're great. I appreciate you watching my videos. and I'm glad you enjoy them thanks again.👍
OK you convinced me. Going to try one this weekend
Do it man. I bet you will love it. I'm Still Loving the I3 I think is the best car made electric or gas and I don't see anything in the near future that's going to be better.😎👍
Hi Bud I love your video my question is I drive 47 miles 1 way to work which I 3 do you recommend.
Great video!
Thank you I really appreciate it😎👍
Great video and helpful when considering buying the car. In the UK they are starting to tax cars over £40000 so I went for the battery only option. It's a shame as governments need to encourage people to buy cars like this.
+mckperera I agree and the car companies need to quit advertising to only environmentalist let's advertise to everybody because they're great cars.👍
Really nice and smart dude.
Great Video, I'm currently going through a i3 obsession faze, and I really appreciated the perspective from a driving enthusiast, rather than another features rundown video. At the end you hold back on mentioning the few negatives, I was really interested in what they were.
The door seal wind noise was interesting , thanks.
So far from the Australia reviews Ive read, the only ones mentioned are that the steering is a bit twitchy at highway speeds and it can be buffeted by the wind more than a average car. What are your thoughts?
+William Paton thanks for the comment. I actually wasn't holding back on the negatives I was just having a hard time thinking of any. it does have a little bit of buffering when you roll down the windows I think the steering is fine but really besides it being a 4-seater there is really not much negatives. and the positives by far make up for any negatives. get an i3 you will love it.👍
I live in Utah as well. You said its good in the winter but i'm still concerned that it will not make it through our bad snowy days. Have you ever had the I3 stuck? or is there a car that you could compare it to for snow driving?
Great video! I'm considering my first electric car and hope to get an i3 within 2 months. Very informative, thanks for sharing!
You're welcome Steve thanks for watching my video👍
I also own the same color I3 for an year. I totally agreed with all your said especially the comparison between Tesla and this car. That's why I got the I3 instead of Tesla.
I'd wish to have the bigger battery with REX though because in where I live, a lot of time, I am getting tight into using up all my battery for my weekend chores.
+Tom L (TT) thanks so much for the comment. but I3 is such an amazing car for me I haven't needed a bigger battery because I have the Rex I really love the dual fuel option I'm never worried about range I think it is the perfect electric car 95% on electric 5% on gas whenever I need it. Thanks again for watching the review.👍
I also have the REX option as well. yes, no other car in the market right now have this option and this is great. I think my opinion is more that I can use my battery more often than going into the gas during a weekend trip.
Awesome video, i Love my i3
Thanks Nick I appreciate it😎👍
love the video...i had a test drive of the new version bmw i3 94ah with range extender with all the gizmos £40,000 pounds worth and i loved it. saving up for 2nd hand one roughly £19k in uk 2014/2015 range. it has a unique look that i like plus being electric and has the range extender is a bonus if you get caught short of no battery :-) i like the colour of your car which i will hopefully get .....cheers :-)
Thaanks a lot
Really great video. It answered questions I did not find in other videos
Great job. Totally convinced
I'm picking mine up this coming Saturday
+heat1259 thanks for watching my video I really appreciate it and I'm glad that it helped you make your decision. I love the I3 I still drive mind daily it changes your life. congratulations.👍
Nicely done,thks.
+Bruce Kendall thanks Bruce I appreciate it👍
Great vid! Seems like the i3 is a truly underappreciated car. I'm a gearhead, and I'm getting my Tesla 3 deposit back for one of these used... for half the price.
Peter Kraftig Peter you are a smart man. and you will love the carbon fiber I3 it'll do what you needed to do and you can still enjoy your other car.👍
Really like this real owner/users review! One point though. In the US it is quiet common to own 2, 3 or even 4 cars. But that's not really the case in the EU. Quiet some people own 2x cars, but most just 1x! Like in The Netherlands you have to pay road taxes by the weight of the car!! So even if you don't drive your car but it will come on publics or parked on public road you pay quiet expensive taxes just owning a car. Everything above lets say 1400kg's will get pretty expensive in taxes. Also cities are way more narrow. On the positive side distances for work or visiting family are most of the time less far and there are about 32.000! points were you can load your car now. Belgium had about 1200 only.. so far. We have an i3 on order with the new 120ah battery pack. The REX can't be ordered anymore in the EU :-( .Probably because you have to pay full price for road taxes from 2018 on. The new 120ah battery will get you about a realistic 260km far now. In the winter maybe 220km and during summer and not that much highway near 280-300km. Still not Tesla territory but it getting pretty usable for daily use. There are Fastnet chargers now along most highways overhere, so traveling a bit further isn't a real problem anymore.
Great user review. What is noise level like when the REX motor is on? Does it sound like a lawn-mower at the back of the car, or is it quiet?
Dan Zafar on the highway you can not even hear it. once you slow down if you had a lot of load on it you hear it some but it's never bothered me
This is a great vid. Where I am an early i3 is 3 x the price of an early (ish) Leaf. Is it really 3 times the car?
thanks mate nice clip
You're welcome thanks for watching my video😎👍
Hi, great video! Did you get any flat tires and if so how sensitive are these tires? Can you say anything about the comfort in the back seat? Why dont you own an i3 anymore?
+1riwa thanks for the comment. you don't have to worry about the tires they're great both in the summer and the winter the back seat Comfort is good it can be a little tight getting in and out but once you're in it's a good back seat. I actually own 2 2014 I3s with the range extender right now. The I3 is one of my favorite cars if not my favorite. awesome car
Great video Brandon. Just bought a pre-owned 2014 i3 with a REX. Now to find a level 2 charger. Any brand suggestions? I put a dedicated 40A receptacle in my garage years ago for the day I bought a EV.
Alan Lamb thanks for the comment. and thanks for watching the video. I bought the Bosch 32 amp 18 foot cord because it's the exact same charger that BMW uses and they just Rebox to their own design . it was about $600 a couple years ago. but it has increased in price now it's about $800. I think you can get the Siemens for three to four hundred bucks but as long as it's 32 amp and can charge up to 7.2 kilowatts has a long enough cord you're probably ok. thanks again for watching the video.👍
Thanks for the info Brandon. Much appropriated. All the best!
Alan Lamb no problem man enjoy the I3 it's one of my favorite cars.
Hey Brandon. I"m looking at a 2015 i3 Rex with 56K. Would you hesitate to buy a higher mileage i3? Thanks again for such a great review!
Dennis know I wouldn't hesitate it seems like the batteries are lasting really long in the BMW i3 and even if you lose a little bit of battery percentage you have the range extender to make up for it. And I'm sure you're getting a great deal on it😎👍
on my 2nd i3 thanks for posting
january161992 That's awesome man they are great cars we also have 2 of them for a daily run around car 👍
It looks very elegant in black and white!
Robert Bidochon φ agreed when I bought one a couple years ago it was black and white really liked it a lot. thanks for the comment.
Thanks for an informative video. I’m considering a used i3 for the exact reasons you outline. I really like the i3 over a Tesla but the dog feature on the Tesla is really appealing to me as I need to run in for quick stops some times. Does the i3 have a similar ability; to keep the air on while the car isn’t on? Sounded like on the video it did, but I wanted to confirm.
Thanks for watching my review. you can turn the climate control on in the car when you're not in it😎👍
Thanks for the videos Brandon. I have 2 questions. I'm looking to get a daily commuter and trying to decide between the i3 and Leaf. I know you've had both. Based on the year I'm looking at the i3 will be 2k-3k more. In your opinion is it worth it? And is one more comfortable than the other? Thanks again.
Thanks for watching my videos Todd. in my opinion the i3 is by far the better car it took 10 years of development in 3.5 billion dollars. it's made out of carbon fiber has really cool technology and is worth the 2000 to $3,000 more than the leaf. if you're going to buy and I3 make sure you get either a giga or a Terra and make sure it at least has the technology pack thanks Brandon😎👍
Oh and one more thing if you can find one with the range extender I would highly recommend that also. it's just worth getting you'll hardly ever use it but you never have to think about running out of juice.😎👍
thanks for the vid. do you notice any battery life degradation? if not, do you think this might be a problem later on?
+john mattern thanks for the comment. I haven't noticed any battery denigration and this usually happens because they don't properly Heat and Cool the battery and I feel like BMW has done a good job of maintaining a good temperature on their battery I've seen the Leafs have battered denigration but never the I3.
that's very interesting. my method and that of my family is to buy used cars and ride them out until they have 200,000++ miles, so i'm trying to figure out if this is practicable with an EV. There is also the possibility of retro-fitting a new battery after many years. anyways, thanks for the reply!
+john mattern John the I3 would be perfect for you because it has the range extender and yes you can replace the battery if it does loose charge for low cost when it's time to replace it
Thanks for producing such a detailed video. I currently own a M-4 Comp Package & enjoy that , but looking to at a 3rd set of wheels (wife has her own) & fell the i3 would be a great addition. Trying to get the right one with the right options. let me no how i can send you a link privately? Would like your thoughts on Price ? Options ? Millage ? thx in advance
Kevin thanks for watching my video. you welcome to email me anytime I can point you in the right direction as far as which I3 to get. My email is pmutah@gmail.com thanks Brandon
i would love an i3rex, but the design is now old. Same functions as my piece of 2010 VW diesel Golf. Also the i3 is AUD $70000 plus on road, that is expensive. I want to see what comes out this year, maybe the new Nissan (Leaf/Maxima)
Any thoughts on the recurrent AC compressor failure? I don't know if I should buy a 2016 BEV for 15k€ after reading about those...
I am considering purchasing a 2016 i3 REx. I have heard mixed review about the i3. Some say to avoid it bc of maintenance costs. Some say their i3 has never seen a shop. My research has driven me towards a 2016 or 2017, and to get the longest extended warranty available (regardless of the cost) bc it will pay for itself many times over. My goal is to pay this vehicle off in 2 years. However, I don’t want to purchase something that will cost me a lot in repairs, crippling my ability to pay it off in 24 months. What are your thoughts?
I have sold over a hundred I3 and they almost never have problems they are super reliable and the only thing you really have to worry about is a set of tires every 25,000 miles😎👍
Just want to point out that it does NOT have "full led lights". The front signal lights and high beams are regular bulbs. So weird that the high beams are so low in the bumper, and look like they would be driving lights. On mine, I changed the signal lights (integrated with the low high beams) to amber led.
Thanks for the review! I'm definitely going to test drive an i3 based on this. I totally enjoyed your enthusiasm for the car. Also, you made a very good point about the way the REx works. This leaves me open to some of the older i3s with smaller batteries.
Hey I got super atv high clearance a arms on my x3 . I set all the adjustments the same as I installed them . The right side is out at the top an out towards the front . Can you save me some time and tell me what yours are set at ?
+Cathy Keller sorry Kathy I do not know the answer to your question but I appreciate your comments👍
Awesome review, just got one, but I live outside USA. how does it drive or feels only with the range extender on ? does it slows it down significantly? I mean, does it feels very slow when the range extenter kicks in ?
It drives great it'll only slow down if you're going up a long constant Hill otherwise you don't even notice
@@pmutah awesome, thanks for replying!!!
Like the i3, test drove one and was genuinely impressed...really want one with the Rex. Turned off by people complaining about reliability, lots of bad reviews even on low mileage units. I really want to like this car as a first electric car! On the test drive the fuel lid wouldn't open so I had to use the manual release. How has yours been? Are there EV specific services that are not able to be done DIY?
Stay away - Read about the law suit and the Rex engine. BMW is greedy and service takes forever. Tires can take 2 weeks to order. This car was not well designed in a lot of ways. The miles you can drive is not close to enough before recharging and without the hold on SOC it is awful. The one petal driving is very stressful and you can not change how much pressure is applied. The seats are questionably comfortable. And the tech is the worst, hard to find setting and no touch screen
Flip side of lawsuit. Basically ignorance by owners. It's not a hybrid folks.
insideevs.com/news/331321/bmw-i3-rex-lawsuit-howd-this-happen-whos-at-fault/
Hi Brandon, can you comment on the maintenance and reliability? I have a Nissan Leaf and its running trouble free. Have you experienced electrical issues or any problems with the I3?
sonyfxi I have been buying and selling cars for 24 years and the BMW i3 and the Nissan Leaf are the most problem free and easy to live with cars out there
+sonyfxi yes I can. I have bought and sold cars for 24 years and owning electrics has been amazing next to zero maintenance or problems the only thing I can remember buying in The Last 5 Years for electric cars is some winter tires. all my extended family drive them and they all love them and I don't think any of them had any problems either. they are the cheapest easiest cars to live with as far as maintenance and running costs.
I really like the i3 design. The only deal breaker is the 4 seat capacity. Thank you for the feedback
sonyfxi in my opinion the I3 is the best electric car on the market the back seat isn't a priority for me it's just my little run-around car I love it and you can get a good deal on them used but if you need to seat 5 the leaf a better way to go