I was sitting parked in our i3 and a lady backed her minivan into the side of it hard enough to rock the car slightly. I got out and looked at it and there was NO damage whatsoever. Amazing.
Just bought a certified pre-owned 2014 i3 REX Mega for $19000 with 25k on the odo. I charge at work for free and have a level 2 charger at home. This car is such a fun car to own. Loving it so far!
I have had an i3 for 2 years now. Best car I've had in 50 years. Not a family car, it's a city car. I have an other car for longer trips. Oh, and I have not had to take it back to the shop for any faults. This car has put the fun back into driving.
Just got a 2 year old 5k miles just off lease white on black i3. I got it for less than half of its new price. I love it! Quick off the line, lots of space, stunning interior, incredible screens. The adaptive cruise allows me to just steer while on the highway or even better in bumper to bumper as it takes care of the gas and smooth controlled stopping. My 30 mile roundtrip commute allows me to plug it in at night and always leave the house full of electrons. No range anxiety because I have the engine if I need it. Best town car I have had. Beats the pants off my 50 mpg soot spewing TDI Golf.
After 5 years with a Leaf, I leased one last year. I would never pay the sticker price, but the lease was so good I couldn't resist. I'm sure I got a great deal because they were trying to get rid of stock at the end of the year. I was looking at getting another Leaf or try the VW e-golf. When the lease payments were lower for the i3 than all of the other EVs I was looking at, it was a no-brainer. Leasing makes sense with EVs. They have low residual prices so payments are lower. It is a 30-month lease so it will be easy to change to a newer EV that will have longer range at the end of the lease. Besides only buying electric cars, one pedal driving is an absolute must have for me now.
Drove one today and I gotta say: i've been as shocked as this good sir. A part of me wanted to hate this car for the simple fact it's not particularly good looking and stands out a bit too much compared to my beloved and so reliable GTI (no jokes, I love this thing as much as I loved it on day one, three years ago). But good f'n Lord, this car got me. It's stiff as I like it, it's so practical and it really is a reassuring drive. The body's rock solid, the direction is straight as a metal bar and, no jokes, it really moves. Price? Yes, it's expensive. But. Where I live, you take 8000$ off the price with the government grant, the outlet is free of charge and installation, insurance rates are as low as a Hyundai Elantra and this thing costs pennies to maintain. Plus, being 6'3", this cabin is pin point for my needs of leg room and visibility. I was on the market for an S5 not so long ago as I dig Audi's products so much. But this? This pushed me back to the drawing board. Seriously. What's happening to me? I don't know. But good God, I love this thing.
I totally get what you're saying I bought mine 2 years ago for my wife, she doesn't get too drive it much... If you can check your ego at the front door it's a damn great car.
One thing that gets you is get go power. Also because it’s rear wheel drive it has very nice kick compare to other front wheel drive EVs. I now have 2017 430i Convertible M Sport in gorgeous blue color but man I do want i3 next. It is weird but this car is really both fun and practical.
I own a 2018 Rex, and agree with him 100% on how amazing it drives. I believe people either love or hate the design, personally, I absolutely love it. I tip my hat to all the creatives who worked on this gem. My preference is to drive something unique, I've only seen one here in Mpls. since it was introduced in 2014. The suicide doors are my fav, and my dog fits fine in the rear. Wish I had the sunroof, and the rear windows rolled down. Love this car!!
I leased an i3 in 2014 and a second one in 2015. After tax incentives the lease payment was less than our cell phone bill. The deals aren't as good today. It cost $200 to install a dryer outlet in our garage and another $400 for a 220v Level 2 charger. We save over $150/month in gas and it adds only around $20 per month to our home electric bill. Pays for itself basically in savings.
Would you have been able to use the dryer outlet to charge the car via and plug adapter? That would have save you the money from installing the level 2 charger.
Also on buying it. No way. Leased w $900 down for $320/mo. It was a FREE car. I was putting more money in gas in my Focus ST than the lease and insurance cost of the i3! For someone blowing $ in gas on a daily driver they love, garage it for the weekend, and use the i3 daily. When you do the math it really is like a free car.
We're on our 3rd i3 and love them. My other cars are an M2 and Tacoma TRD Pro. The i3 does it all so well. Ours is protonic blue and the new longer range is nice. Here's the catch, we lease them, and in Cali you get $2500 credit in top of the federal credits. So we're only paying $278 including tax for a 30 month lease with effectively zero out of pocket (after your refund) I recommend this car to anyone, and on several occasions have let people try ours out. Model 3 is hopefully next, but the bimmer is a special car. As good as my M2??? Well... debatable. Wifey would say so, she thinks her i3 is faster then the M2 (because she drives that in normal and auto,rather than sport plus) :)
I have a Tera REx i3, and have been driving it for the past 18 months, with 1 year left on the lease. For what we use it for (driving to work in LA traffic daily, using the FastTrak HOV lanes that you need to pay to drive on), it works perfectly for us. Even fits our 2 kids in the back with plenty of room (4 & 7 year old). The acceleration is really good compared to a lot of other cars out there, and with it's size and instant throttle response, getting in & out of LA traffic is much easier with the i3. When you have the car coded so you have the full 2.4 gal tank unlocked and the REx enabled so you can use it whenever you want to (and not just having it automatically come on when the battery is at 6%), there's no worry about range anxiety at all when we're driving 100 mile round trips in the greater LA area. Around town and in traffic, the battery lasts a long time. But on the open freeway doing 70-80 mph, the battery drains fast. Having the REx enabled during these times helps keep it from dropping, and it costs around $7 to fill the tank when gas is $3/gal. Will I get another one when my lease is up? Not sure, as my wife still wants another EV or plug-in hybrid that's applicable for CA's HOV decals. The price is expensive.... our's was $54k, but after a dealership sale discount, the $7500 fed tax rebate (which they take off from the price on a lease) and the $2500 cash rebate from CA, the price came out to $36k and it was easier to accept and to get into the car at that price. However, with different EV & plug-in cars coming out later this year and in 2018, it'll be interesting to see what I'd rather go with next year, or possibly go with the 2018 i3 that is going to have a face lift and larger battery.
A leaf is just a modified Versa. This was designed from the ground up. Price wise, get a second hand one 20k here on CO. Did a tour of the factory where you got to see how they make the vehicle- amazing.
I leased Fiat 500e for $130 a month with $0 in maintenance, charged it at work and local Whole Foods for Free despite the fact that Fiat’s 500e MSRP was $33k. That was far more fun experience than owning old used car. I did drive i3 for 3 days and fell in love with it as a city car. Compare to all other EVs and I drove Leaf and Bolt it handles very well on Mullholland drive in LA and is very stable on Freeway. Since they came out with 120 ah battery, I would lease it without a range extender. Not many people realize how well i3 drives. Not now but in a year you can try to lease one around $250 a month with UDE $1000 coupon in CA. Maybe demo/loaner. These things depreciate like crazy. Would I buy one for cash? NO. The tester I drove had a problem on the Freeway where a piece of rubber from the door came out while driving. I dont know how reliable i3 would be. Dealers sell them at very steep discounts, so it can be a good lease compare to Toyotas and Hondas.
Comment @8:20. Have to disagree. I'm a somewhat aggressive driver and the i3 is the single biggest hoot for zipping in and out of traffic of any car I've ever driven. From 20-50ish its dimensions and power make it aweosme for dealing w traffic. And it's the funnest car to whip around a turn because of how instant the torque is. Great review overall tho.
lol, you don't put your hand through the steering wheel to start the car, you just rest your hand on the lever and move your thumb over, then switch it into reverse or drive. You just have to acclamate. ;) I would take a CPO version. That being said, if you LEASE it, the dealer can apply federal and local incentives to the down payment and lower your monthly payment, so I guess it depends on all of your incentives where you live and the final monthly payment. Still, I would lease a CPO version, not sure if you do that in the U.S. but it is extemely cost effective in Germany.
Not only can you use it on the freeway I drove from Philadelphia, PA to Charlotte, NC then from NC to Phienix, AZ = 4000 miles. Now I do have a newer 2020 BMW i3s with the range extender. I actually used the REX in Oklahoma and Arkansas as charging stations were a little to close to my max electric range. I could have made it with about 10-15 electric and sometimes Electrify America does not maintain their charging stations. So, just in case, I ran earlier on gas. Yes I hacked the software so I can turn on the REX as long as I am below 75% charge. So I ran the car 4000 amazing miles fairly easily. And then I drove round trip AZ to CA and guess what. Tomorrow another 1000 miles round trip again AZ to CA and back.
I don't know if it continues with the new models, but the deals on the i3 for last couple years have been pretty good, way below MSRP. This was especially true if you were looking to lease them. I know several people with low $200 leases on fully equipped versions and have read about people getting sub $200 no money down leases. I have honestly considered getting one a couple of times, but I don't really need a commuter car (which I view this as)... just a practical hauler.
Well I waited till end production to buy an i3S 42Ah. I driven Audi A2 full aluminum car for over 20 years before this BMW. Am I happy of this car? Oh yes, it drives super nicely and you feel like it is a treat to be sitting and moving on it. A fast yet super safe and precise driving machine. Price excluded a best buy and should be highly considered for a second hand purchase these days.
Factual error at 4:50. Body panels are extruded polymer not CFRP. They have too much give and bounce back to be CFRP, as demonstrated by your shopping cart stunt. That said, the roof panel is CFRP of sorts. It's pieced together of carbon fiber scraps trimmed off the mats that eventually get molded into the frame.
i got my i3 the day the gas prices doubled in tx because of the hurricane. i drove it for about a month and a have just using the regular current to charge over night but kept pretty close to home. when i got the quick charge in my own garage, felt confident to go from austin to kerrville a 200 mile round trip and did it with an addition of 2 gallons of gas for the range extender to kick in for the last 35 miles of the trip. it cost less than $4 to fill the tank and i have only filled in 3 times in the 8 months i ve owned it. keep the charge up and it will run on all the trips in town every day. i bought a 2014 lease sale for 17955 and it is so economical ill probably do it again whenever i tire of it
This model is just updated to a 120Ah battery. Sadly in The Netherlands the version with the REX isn't on the list anymore. Also that falls under 22% taxes if you have this as a lease car(for/from work). The full EV is only 4% taxes. It drives amazingly refined! There are many 'haters' because of its looks, but just take it out for a testdrive! You will be amazed! Its construction design is a few steps ahead of many suv's you see in the US.
I've heard some complain about the hard-reach to the START button through the steering wheel... because that's the wrong way to it. You can do it from the side, then you twist to D (or P or R, etc.). :)
I plan on picking one up to replace my 2014 Smart ForTwo. I love the odd styling, modern interior, practically and sustainability. That being said, my only issue with it is the depreciation, which makes it best to buy this car used or lease it.
Test drove one today (i3s) I loved it!! Now, I would never pay 56K for it, but you can find a used one a few years old with under 20K miles for under 20K. I would buy that in a second! We'll be needing a 3rd car in when my daughter starts driving and I think this would be the perfect car ( used one) for that purpose.
The 3 different "modes" do not "limit" the available power, it just remaps the accelerator pedal response curve. You can push through to get 100% full power in any mode, you just are forced to push into the accelerator pedal further. By bringing-on a higher power level sooner in the accelerator "map", it makes it feel quicker... it's a mind game. Neither are you actually "speed limited" in any mode... same deal applies... just push through it to hit "passing power" - so to speak. Or, if you want to use Eco Pro+ mode and still go fast on the highway, just turn the cruise control ON... whether you actually engage it doesn't matter, it eliminates the "soft speed limit"... until you hit the brick wall electronic limit at 93MPH (99-100 for the i3s).
I could never justify paying the price new. But Lordy, I’m seriously looking at buying one just off lease. The depreciation has made the i3 way tempting as a real commute and local car, religating my RAM to the long haul and towing journeys. I’d buy the CPO at a BMW dealer and get advantage of the extra year’s warranty coverage.
Drove one yesterday. It was fun to drive and I liked the acceleration, but I could not justify the price of the car plus adding a charging outlet to your house. With gas still relatively cheap in the US, there are lots of small hatchbacks like the Honda Fit that would be a better option at a half to a third of the price.
they said about $1000 for the unit plus installation. It's a 220 system so if your already prewired like for electric dryer or air compressor in your garage etc then it would be less.
You can get chargers from Home Depot or Amazon for about $400. The BMW one is $1k but it's not necessary. Depending upon how much you drive, you might not need 220v to charge it at home. One of ours use 110v for the last two years and it works just fine. We plug in when we get home from work and in a few hours it's charged up. We drive about 30 miles a day.
Calimag we just plug ours in a standard outlet inside our garage. Works fine, yes it's slower but it does the job nightly while we sleep. 3years now never an issue. We lease a new 2017 for $278 a month. In California.
I test drove a Chevy Bolt, and I likrd it. I honestly would be happy driving it. But then I test drove an i3 (just a few minutes later) and it felt so much better. Assuming a similar price, I'm tempted to take an i3 Rex over a Bolt.
Just bought the 2018 i3s after driving an eGolf for 3 yrs. I can only justify the cost because of the $10k gov't rebates + the current $10k Southern California Edison (or Costco) rebate, which only applies to a purchase. Like other commenters here, leasing makes more sense for EV's due to the ever changing specs in this tech, but my specific life situation shows that I can be perfectly happy with this model's restrictions (33kWh battery) + REx. So an i3s nearly fully loaded comes in at $40k. Yeah, that's feasible.
@MotoManTV Dude, it's called a REx For a Reason. it Means Range Extender, And it does have a REx engine. But the one withOUT the engine is called BEV, Not REx.
This is a perfect car to buy used. There are plenty of 2014/5 REx models with low mileage in the low $20Ks, which gets you a practically new i3 for the price of a new Jetta.
Re. highway stability compared to a Smart ForTwo ED - the i3's wheelbase is almost 40% longer than the Smart's. That's going to be the primary difference, and also the biggest difference for comfort and pitch-induced vertical jitter.
I have a 2014 that I bought recently and I'm contemplating buying a second one like the one in the video. I love the car -- having owned a 7-series and many other luxury cars. It's such a practical car. In my 2014, I easily can drive 100 miles one way (my all-time high: 103 miles on a single charge). But, for $60k, to me, I don't think the value is there because (at least in the US) value has a specific definition and look. I don't think the BMW i3 symbolizes $60k. I think that's partly BMW's fault and part Tesla. For $45k, I can get a used 2013/4 Tesla and the battery capacity plus the perceived value is there. This BMW is not in the same class with the Tesla in terms of perceived value. But, in terms of engineering -- it surpasses Tesla (I believe); however, I just don't think it goes far enough with the tech for $60k. For $30k to $40k -- definitely.
What an beautiful dog. Not sure am I the only one notice this amazing dog. Can u tell me what kind of dog is it plz ? This dog somehow looks great with i3 and i8. Nice review as usually.
It looks like komo doesn't fit too well in the trunk, so my question is how best to transport a dog of this size in this car? The back seat is a no-no, so is it feasible to transport a dog comfortably and safely in the rear compartment with the rear seats folded down?
David, I used to transport a large dog with folded down back seats in a similar sized car and there was plenty of room. BMW also sells a durable cover that attaches to the front and rear headrests creating a secure tube-shaped area for pets.
I test dove this thing and was blown away. I loved it!!! (and yes I think it's kinda ugly and didn't really want to look at it) Somehow BMW makes this funky, weird car seem really fun & cool once your diving it. If you don't believe me, just go drive one. Now for the $56K, no way!! However, I've seen several nice used ones for under $20K and that makes sense to me. It's a great car for $18-25K, not so much for $50K +. I think this would be a great 3rd car for our family when my daughter starts driving in a couple years.
You can pick up a used, and well equipped i3 REx for under $20K. That's a LOT of car for the money, especially one as well designed & built as this BMW is. Personally, I dig the looks of the car especially in black as it blends seamlessly into the hood and hatch panels. For those looking for more of a "drivers" electric car, but don't have Model S money - look no further than the i3.
It sounds overpriced in the US market. Here in Norway, the base model is $31.000, and the top model is $41.000. This is the BEV version. The REX adds $11.000 to the price, since only pure EV's are sales tax exempt.
As a bearded hipster from Portland (who thinks Voodoo Doughnuts is "so over,") I don't get the smoker's package, either. When I got my i3, it took me a bit to figure out what that thing in the cup holder was. "Wait, an ash tray? WTF?"
I wouldn't buy one new, or the top spec version, but I fully intend to buy one used when the price drops a bit more as they're still quite new and for its intended use, short journeys around town.
"Communist mode" Hahahahahaha! If I lived in Europe in one of the cities with emission free zones, I might consider it, but as is, I want some ICE bsvt ;). As always, excellent work M!
Barbara & Rob Simpson The thing I prefer about this compared to the Model 3 is that it's quiet and the Tesla is noisy, road and wind noise is really loud and that really annoys me! But looking at lease prices the i3 is cheaper. But it just depends on your taste, both are great cars.
At $60k, that's getting dangerously close to Tesla Model S territory. Heck, you could get a used Model S for that money, and you'd be getting a lot more car.
As you should lease electric cars overall, the price doesnt matter so much like with a car you would buy. Every year there is new developement steps in the double digit percentage area. So buying an EV is stupid anyways. Petrol cars are stretched out meanwhile and there are just little steps in development. So there buying doesnt matter so much. EVs in the moment are like Smartphones. Nothing you want to keep for to long. - Maybe you want to buy electric cars in the later future, but for sure not now.
Body Panel Material: (from BMW website) "The BMW i3 is the first BMW ever, in which the entire outer skin is made of plastic. Only the roof is made of recycled CFRP." www.bmwgroup-werke.com/en/produktion/bmw-i.html#:~:text=The%20BMW%20i3%20is%20the,also%20insensitive%20to%20minor%20damage. Leasing options are more affordable than the new purchase... but the secondary "used" purchase prices are amazing!
Model 3 just too noisy for me, also lease price is double, but otherwise a great car. Personally I like a quiet car, probably not the biggest thing for most people. Tesla still an awesome car.
God! I want to love this car, and I love the interior but I just can't buy a car that's only for the city for that price! If I am paying that much I want a car that's more versatile. Can we please make it more areo-dynamic and give it more range? I love the range extender because in a world that is just starting to make the change to EV it just makes sense!
"Take the corner like a human being, not a New Yorker" You crack me up. I was surprised at the price; it's very expensive. The major problem is the Tesla 3 is coming to a town near you in about 6 months and will not cost as much and with longer range so..
i3 costs about the same, if you count federal credits. Tesla is going to run out of credits by the time the general public can get the M3 - which is at least 24 months away.
Once the car has been bought, what then? Being enslaved to BMWs frankly abusively high service costs, how low on their niceness scale they place out of warranty owners when something goes wrong, 33kWh now being the smallest capacity battery around.... My advice is that you buy a Leaf 30kWh before the new Leaf is released, as they are selling for very low prices, are proven to be reliable and cost a fraction of a BMW to service. Dealers are now selling remaining stocks of Leafs so barter hard and buy a 9 month old car with under 5,000 miles for £14k and falling.
I would absolutely NOT buy one of these NEW - I would absolutely buy one of these USED - with under 10,000 miles the price drops roughly in half of new. Now I don't know what all the tax incentives look like for where I'm located (Ohio) but I would have to think that it would cut down the price significantly - I still wouldn't pay over $30k new. The engineer in me loves this car the car enthusiast in me hates this car. Looking at what would be practical, reliable transportation a new loaded Honda Fit would be much less than a used one of these - you couldn't charge it up in your garage but you may only need to go the gas station a couple times a month for city type use....
I was sitting parked in our i3 and a lady backed her minivan into the side of it hard enough to rock the car slightly. I got out and looked at it and there was NO damage whatsoever. Amazing.
Just bought a certified pre-owned 2014 i3 REX Mega for $19000 with 25k on the odo. I charge at work for free and have a level 2 charger at home. This car is such a fun car to own. Loving it so far!
I have had an i3 for 2 years now. Best car I've had in 50 years. Not a family car, it's a city car. I have an other car for longer trips. Oh, and I have not had to take it back to the shop for any faults. This car has put the fun back into driving.
Shiva1945 Me too, ditto!
Just got a 2 year old 5k miles just off lease white on black i3. I got it for less than half of its new price. I love it! Quick off the line, lots of space, stunning interior, incredible screens. The adaptive cruise allows me to just steer while on the highway or even better in bumper to bumper as it takes care of the gas and smooth controlled stopping. My 30 mile roundtrip commute allows me to plug it in at night and always leave the house full of electrons. No range anxiety because I have the engine if I need it. Best town car I have had. Beats the pants off my 50 mpg soot spewing TDI Golf.
After 5 years with a Leaf, I leased one last year. I would never pay the sticker price, but the lease was so good I couldn't resist. I'm sure I got a great deal because they were trying to get rid of stock at the end of the year. I was looking at getting another Leaf or try the VW e-golf. When the lease payments were lower for the i3 than all of the other EVs I was looking at, it was a no-brainer. Leasing makes sense with EVs. They have low residual prices so payments are lower. It is a 30-month lease so it will be easy to change to a newer EV that will have longer range at the end of the lease. Besides only buying electric cars, one pedal driving is an absolute must have for me now.
Drove one today and I gotta say: i've been as shocked as this good sir. A part of me wanted to hate this car for the simple fact it's not particularly good looking and stands out a bit too much compared to my beloved and so reliable GTI (no jokes, I love this thing as much as I loved it on day one, three years ago).
But good f'n Lord, this car got me. It's stiff as I like it, it's so practical and it really is a reassuring drive. The body's rock solid, the direction is straight as a metal bar and, no jokes, it really moves. Price? Yes, it's expensive. But. Where I live, you take 8000$ off the price with the government grant, the outlet is free of charge and installation, insurance rates are as low as a Hyundai Elantra and this thing costs pennies to maintain. Plus, being 6'3", this cabin is pin point for my needs of leg room and visibility.
I was on the market for an S5 not so long ago as I dig Audi's products so much. But this? This pushed me back to the drawing board. Seriously.
What's happening to me? I don't know. But good God, I love this thing.
Jérôme Lévesque-Boucher ironic I have an S5 now and I'm looking at the i3 to replace it :-)
I totally get what you're saying I bought mine 2 years ago for my wife, she doesn't get too drive it much... If you can check your ego at the front door it's a damn great car.
One thing that gets you is get go power. Also because it’s rear wheel drive it has very nice kick compare to other front wheel drive EVs. I now have 2017 430i Convertible M Sport in gorgeous blue color but man I do want i3 next. It is weird but this car is really both fun and practical.
I own a 2018 Rex, and agree with him 100% on how amazing it drives. I believe people either love or hate the design, personally, I absolutely love it. I tip my hat to all the creatives who worked on this gem. My preference is to drive something unique, I've only seen one here in Mpls. since it was introduced in 2014. The suicide doors are my fav, and my dog fits fine in the rear. Wish I had the sunroof, and the rear windows rolled down.
Love this car!!
I leased an i3 in 2014 and a second one in 2015. After tax incentives the lease payment was less than our cell phone bill. The deals aren't as good today.
It cost $200 to install a dryer outlet in our garage and another $400 for a 220v Level 2 charger. We save over $150/month in gas and it adds only around $20 per month to our home electric bill. Pays for itself basically in savings.
Would you have been able to use the dryer outlet to charge the car via and plug adapter? That would have save you the money from installing the level 2 charger.
Also on buying it. No way. Leased w $900 down for $320/mo. It was a FREE car. I was putting more money in gas in my Focus ST than the lease and insurance cost of the i3! For someone blowing $ in gas on a daily driver they love, garage it for the weekend, and use the i3 daily. When you do the math it really is like a free car.
We're on our 3rd i3 and love them. My other cars are an M2 and Tacoma TRD Pro. The i3 does it all so well. Ours is protonic blue and the new longer range is nice. Here's the catch, we lease them, and in Cali you get $2500 credit in top of the federal credits. So we're only paying $278 including tax for a 30 month lease with effectively zero out of pocket (after your refund) I recommend this car to anyone, and on several
occasions have let people try ours out. Model 3 is hopefully next, but the bimmer is a special car. As good as my M2??? Well... debatable. Wifey would say so, she thinks her i3 is faster then the M2 (because she drives that in normal and auto,rather than sport plus) :)
I have a Tera REx i3, and have been driving it for the past 18 months, with 1 year left on the lease. For what we use it for (driving to work in LA traffic daily, using the FastTrak HOV lanes that you need to pay to drive on), it works perfectly for us. Even fits our 2 kids in the back with plenty of room (4 & 7 year old).
The acceleration is really good compared to a lot of other cars out there, and with it's size and instant throttle response, getting in & out of LA traffic is much easier with the i3. When you have the car coded so you have the full 2.4 gal tank unlocked and the REx enabled so you can use it whenever you want to (and not just having it automatically come on when the battery is at 6%), there's no worry about range anxiety at all when we're driving 100 mile round trips in the greater LA area. Around town and in traffic, the battery lasts a long time. But on the open freeway doing 70-80 mph, the battery drains fast. Having the REx enabled during these times helps keep it from dropping, and it costs around $7 to fill the tank when gas is $3/gal.
Will I get another one when my lease is up? Not sure, as my wife still wants another EV or plug-in hybrid that's applicable for CA's HOV decals. The price is expensive.... our's was $54k, but after a dealership sale discount, the $7500 fed tax rebate (which they take off from the price on a lease) and the $2500 cash rebate from CA, the price came out to $36k and it was easier to accept and to get into the car at that price. However, with different EV & plug-in cars coming out later this year and in 2018, it'll be interesting to see what I'd rather go with next year, or possibly go with the 2018 i3 that is going to have a face lift and larger battery.
D Newman such a good deal! Where did you purchase your car? I also live in LA
so did you end up purchasing a 2018 i3? How does this story end?
A leaf is just a modified Versa. This was designed from the ground up. Price wise, get a second hand one 20k here on CO. Did a tour of the factory where you got to see how they make the vehicle- amazing.
I leased Fiat 500e for $130 a month with $0 in maintenance, charged it at work and local Whole Foods for Free despite the fact that Fiat’s 500e MSRP was $33k. That was far more fun experience than owning old used car. I did drive i3 for 3 days and fell in love with it as a city car. Compare to all other EVs and I drove Leaf and Bolt it handles very well on Mullholland drive in LA and is very stable on Freeway. Since they came out with 120 ah battery, I would lease it without a range extender. Not many people realize how well i3 drives. Not now but in a year you can try to lease one around $250 a month with UDE $1000 coupon in CA. Maybe demo/loaner. These things depreciate like crazy. Would I buy one for cash? NO. The tester I drove had a problem on the Freeway where a piece of rubber from the door came out while driving. I dont know how reliable i3 would be. Dealers sell them at very steep discounts, so it can be a good lease compare to Toyotas and Hondas.
Comment @8:20. Have to disagree. I'm a somewhat aggressive driver and the i3 is the single biggest hoot for zipping in and out of traffic of any car I've ever driven. From 20-50ish its dimensions and power make it aweosme for dealing w traffic. And it's the funnest car to whip around a turn because of how instant the torque is. Great review overall tho.
lol, you don't put your hand through the steering wheel to start the car, you just rest your hand on the lever and move your thumb over, then switch it into reverse or drive. You just have to acclamate. ;) I would take a CPO version. That being said, if you LEASE it, the dealer can apply federal and local incentives to the down payment and lower your monthly payment, so I guess it depends on all of your incentives where you live and the final monthly payment. Still, I would lease a CPO version, not sure if you do that in the U.S. but it is extemely cost effective in Germany.
Not only can you use it on the freeway I drove from Philadelphia, PA to Charlotte, NC then from NC to Phienix, AZ = 4000 miles. Now I do have a newer 2020 BMW i3s with the range extender. I actually used the REX in Oklahoma and Arkansas as charging stations were a little to close to my max electric range. I could have made it with about 10-15 electric and sometimes Electrify America does not maintain their charging stations. So, just in case, I ran earlier on gas. Yes I hacked the software so I can turn on the REX as long as I am below 75% charge. So I ran the car 4000 amazing miles fairly easily. And then I drove round trip AZ to CA and guess what. Tomorrow another 1000 miles round trip again AZ to CA and back.
I don't know if it continues with the new models, but the deals on the i3 for last couple years have been pretty good, way below MSRP. This was especially true if you were looking to lease them. I know several people with low $200 leases on fully equipped versions and have read about people getting sub $200 no money down leases. I have honestly considered getting one a couple of times, but I don't really need a commuter car (which I view this as)... just a practical hauler.
I got mine and I absolutely love it!!!! I’m 6’2” and there is plenty of room, quick, cool, and efficient!
Thanks for taking the dog on the show it helps dog owners to make decisions
Well I waited till end production to buy an i3S 42Ah. I driven Audi A2 full aluminum car for over 20 years before this BMW. Am I happy of this car? Oh yes, it drives super nicely and you feel like it is a treat to be sitting and moving on it. A fast yet super safe and precise driving machine. Price excluded a best buy and should be highly considered for a second hand purchase these days.
Factual error at 4:50. Body panels are extruded polymer not CFRP. They have too much give and bounce back to be CFRP, as demonstrated by your shopping cart stunt. That said, the roof panel is CFRP of sorts. It's pieced together of carbon fiber scraps trimmed off the mats that eventually get molded into the frame.
I leased a 2017 last week.
Best thing I have done in a long time.
after a year, are you still enjoying this car? What are your likes? dislikes?
i got my i3 the day the gas prices doubled in tx because of the hurricane. i drove it for about a month and a have just using the regular current to charge over night but kept pretty close to home. when i got the quick charge in my own garage, felt confident to go from austin to kerrville a 200 mile round trip and did it with an addition of 2 gallons of gas for the range extender to kick in for the last 35 miles of the trip. it cost less than $4 to fill the tank and i have only filled in 3 times in the 8 months i ve owned it. keep the charge up and it will run on all the trips in town every day. i bought a 2014 lease sale for 17955 and it is so economical ill probably do it again whenever i tire of it
This model is just updated to a 120Ah battery. Sadly in The Netherlands the version with the REX isn't on the list anymore. Also that falls under 22% taxes if you have this as a lease car(for/from work). The full EV is only 4% taxes. It drives amazingly refined! There are many 'haters' because of its looks, but just take it out for a testdrive! You will be amazed! Its construction design is a few steps ahead of many suv's you see in the US.
I've heard some complain about the hard-reach to the START button through the steering wheel... because that's the wrong way to it. You can do it from the side, then you twist to D (or P or R, etc.). :)
Yes I would, it only needs to do one thing go short distances like work and quick errands.
Kumo is the best car reviewer on youtube.
I'm seeing these REX used in California for around $16k and low miles..!!. that's the only way I'd buy one.
exactly what I found and did :-) fantastic vehicle
People drive these on the Autobahn. You can be sure it drives well on the freeway;)
I plan on picking one up to replace my 2014 Smart ForTwo. I love the odd styling, modern interior, practically and sustainability. That being said, my only issue with it is the depreciation, which makes it best to buy this car used or lease it.
Nice review. I love Kumo! ❤️
Test drove one today (i3s) I loved it!! Now, I would never pay 56K for it, but you can find a used one a few years old with under 20K miles for under 20K. I would buy that in a second! We'll be needing a 3rd car in when my daughter starts driving and I think this would be the perfect car ( used one) for that purpose.
The 3 different "modes" do not "limit" the available power, it just remaps the accelerator pedal response curve. You can push through to get 100% full power in any mode, you just are forced to push into the accelerator pedal further. By bringing-on a higher power level sooner in the accelerator "map", it makes it feel quicker... it's a mind game. Neither are you actually "speed limited" in any mode... same deal applies... just push through it to hit "passing power" - so to speak. Or, if you want to use Eco Pro+ mode and still go fast on the highway, just turn the cruise control ON... whether you actually engage it doesn't matter, it eliminates the "soft speed limit"... until you hit the brick wall electronic limit at 93MPH (99-100 for the i3s).
At 4:35 it is Moses Lake, Washington
Yeah its expensive - but It will last forever - end of comment - one vehicle for life - excellent job of your video for you and your team!
I bought a used 2017 i3 REX/mega/loaded with 16 kmiles for $21k in SoCal; I love it and think a used i3 is a steal!
I could never justify paying the price new. But Lordy, I’m seriously looking at buying one just off lease. The depreciation has made the i3 way tempting as a real commute and local car, religating my RAM to the long haul and towing journeys.
I’d buy the CPO at a BMW dealer and get advantage of the extra year’s warranty coverage.
Charging a car at home and work is much more appealing than old fashioned fuel stations so jump on the ev band wangon; the earlier the better!
Drove one yesterday. It was fun to drive and I liked the acceleration, but I could not justify the price of the car plus adding a charging outlet to your house. With gas still relatively cheap in the US, there are lots of small hatchbacks like the Honda Fit that would be a better option at a half to a third of the price.
Calimag what's the cost on one of these plug install on charge station?
they said about $1000 for the unit plus installation. It's a 220 system so if your already prewired like for electric dryer or air compressor in your garage etc then it would be less.
You can get chargers from Home Depot or Amazon for about $400. The BMW one is $1k but it's not necessary. Depending upon how much you drive, you might not need 220v to charge it at home. One of ours use 110v for the last two years and it works just fine. We plug in when we get home from work and in a few hours it's charged up. We drive about 30 miles a day.
Calimag Normal outlet works just fine and used is much better value.
Calimag we just plug ours in a standard outlet inside our garage. Works fine, yes it's slower but it does the job nightly while we sleep. 3years now never an issue. We lease a new 2017 for $278 a month. In California.
I test drove a Chevy Bolt, and I likrd it. I honestly would be happy driving it. But then I test drove an i3 (just a few minutes later) and it felt so much better.
Assuming a similar price, I'm tempted to take an i3 Rex over a Bolt.
Just bought the 2018 i3s after driving an eGolf for 3 yrs. I can only justify the cost because of the $10k gov't rebates + the current $10k Southern California Edison (or Costco) rebate, which only applies to a purchase. Like other commenters here, leasing makes more sense for EV's due to the ever changing specs in this tech, but my specific life situation shows that I can be perfectly happy with this model's restrictions (33kWh battery) + REx. So an i3s nearly fully loaded comes in at $40k. Yeah, that's feasible.
@MotoManTV Dude, it's called a REx For a Reason. it Means Range Extender, And it does have a REx engine. But the one withOUT the engine is called BEV, Not REx.
Just ordered one due in 3 months cant wait..
This is a perfect car to buy used. There are plenty of 2014/5 REx models with low mileage in the low $20Ks, which gets you a practically new i3 for the price of a new Jetta.
Re. highway stability compared to a Smart ForTwo ED - the i3's wheelbase is almost 40% longer than the Smart's. That's going to be the primary difference, and also the biggest difference for comfort and pitch-induced vertical jitter.
I have a 2014 that I bought recently and I'm contemplating buying a second one like the one in the video. I love the car -- having owned a 7-series and many other luxury cars. It's such a practical car. In my 2014, I easily can drive 100 miles one way (my all-time high: 103 miles on a single charge). But, for $60k, to me, I don't think the value is there because (at least in the US) value has a specific definition and look. I don't think the BMW i3 symbolizes $60k. I think that's partly BMW's fault and part Tesla. For $45k, I can get a used 2013/4 Tesla and the battery capacity plus the perceived value is there. This BMW is not in the same class with the Tesla in terms of perceived value. But, in terms of engineering -- it surpasses Tesla (I believe); however, I just don't think it goes far enough with the tech for $60k. For $30k to $40k -- definitely.
What an beautiful dog. Not sure am I the only one notice this amazing dog. Can u tell me what kind of dog is it plz ? This dog somehow looks great with i3 and i8. Nice review as usually.
The car is awesome and the price is because of the technology they use it.
the most amazing part that in 2017 you can buy slightly used i3 with range extender for just $15k.......
Ummm.. no you cannot. a 2015-2016 maybe.
@@SkippyPB. more like 14-15
Moses Lake!!
It looks like komo doesn't fit too well in the trunk, so my question is how best to transport a dog of this size in this car? The back seat is a no-no, so is it feasible to transport a dog comfortably and safely in the rear compartment with the rear seats folded down?
David, I used to transport a large dog with folded down back seats in a similar sized car and there was plenty of room. BMW also sells a durable cover that attaches to the front and rear headrests creating a secure tube-shaped area for pets.
It's stable because the center of gravity is low, which is attributable to the placement of the electric motor.
I test dove this thing and was blown away. I loved it!!! (and yes I think it's kinda ugly and didn't really want to look at it) Somehow BMW makes this funky, weird car seem really fun & cool once your diving it. If you don't believe me, just go drive one. Now for the $56K, no way!! However, I've seen several nice used ones for under $20K and that makes sense to me. It's a great car for $18-25K, not so much for $50K +. I think this would be a great 3rd car for our family when my daughter starts driving in a couple years.
You can pick up a used, and well equipped i3 REx for under $20K. That's a LOT of car for the money, especially one as well designed & built as this BMW is. Personally, I dig the looks of the car especially in black as it blends seamlessly into the hood and hatch panels. For those looking for more of a "drivers" electric car, but don't have Model S money - look no further than the i3.
It sounds overpriced in the US market. Here in Norway, the base model is $31.000, and the top model is $41.000. This is the BEV version. The REX adds $11.000 to the price, since only pure EV's are sales tax exempt.
At 55 grand hell no but at 15 grand with 34,000 miles i picked 1 up loaded...so much fun and saving the planet...
I watched this whole video to see what the range of this model is and will the battery run the car on the freeway at speed
Love my 2015 Rex!
As a bearded hipster from Portland (who thinks Voodoo Doughnuts is "so over,") I don't get the smoker's package, either. When I got my i3, it took me a bit to figure out what that thing in the cup holder was. "Wait, an ash tray? WTF?"
Geheheh 🔥
Great and helpful!
I wouldn't buy one new, or the top spec version, but I fully intend to buy one used when the price drops a bit more as they're still quite new and for its intended use, short journeys around town.
carmax has them for 14-15k now :)
The i3 Rex makes a great buy for a used EV car. When you knock the lot tax off it is a great buy.
Nice contrast between the EV car and the red and white smoke stacks.
Thanks for noticing . . . My favorite frame of the entire episode . . .
Bought a 2015, Giga. USED. $20k 20k-miles, Rex. Saves money on commuting substantially. By used ‘certified.’
2:05 "SMOKE A LEAF" Hahahaha
"Communist mode" Hahahahahaha! If I lived in Europe in one of the cities with emission free zones, I might consider it, but as is, I want some ICE bsvt ;). As always, excellent work M!
"This is like communist mode" I'm fukin dead 😂😂
Luxury prices for luxury vehicles.
I would buy a Tesla Model 3 instead. Thanks for your excellent review.
Barbara & Rob Simpson The thing I prefer about this compared to the Model 3 is that it's quiet and the Tesla is noisy, road and wind noise is really loud and that really annoys me! But looking at lease prices the i3 is cheaper. But it just depends on your taste, both are great cars.
thanks
Omg your dog
is so cute
At $60k, that's getting dangerously close to Tesla Model S territory. Heck, you could get a used Model S for that money, and you'd be getting a lot more car.
A CPO i3 REx loaded with everything is less than 25k right now. Way better deal than a used Tesla MS. ;-)
not quite, tesla build quality is way behind bmw
hybrid is gay shit box with no range no sound no soul even animals make sound
@ 3:00 - 'Communist Mode' LOL! Nice concept but what percentage of the population can afford to pay $60k for a car?
sportster88 00000000000000000,1 %
If I were to buy into electrification, I would get a new Pruis Prime, Honda Accord Hybrid, or a CPO Tesla. I would also consider a Merc E250 Bluetec.
Take a long test drive of the i3 AFTER you drive the others. Less than a CPO Tesla, and much more fun to drive.
I test drove one at the LA Auto Show years back. I kind of liked it. it felt like a boosted golf cart.
As you should lease electric cars overall, the price doesnt matter so much like with a car you would buy. Every year there is new developement steps in the double digit percentage area. So buying an EV is stupid anyways. Petrol cars are stretched out meanwhile and there are just little steps in development. So there buying doesnt matter so much. EVs in the moment are like Smartphones. Nothing you want to keep for to long. - Maybe you want to buy electric cars in the later future, but for sure not now.
All those hand movements, if properly wired, could power a small town.
Body Panel Material: (from BMW website) "The BMW i3 is the first BMW ever, in which the entire outer skin is made of plastic. Only the roof is made of recycled CFRP."
www.bmwgroup-werke.com/en/produktion/bmw-i.html#:~:text=The%20BMW%20i3%20is%20the,also%20insensitive%20to%20minor%20damage.
Leasing options are more affordable than the new purchase... but the secondary "used" purchase prices are amazing!
60k will get you a really good equiped model 3.. someday..
Dang that thing has some skinny tires. I wonder how this would do in snow?
I am buying a Tesla Model 3 instead. Expected median price is $42.5k. Or below the starting price of an i3.
Headroom in the Tesla will be quite low, or didn't you read the detailed review? (Oh, wait... there is no review yet, as nobody has driven one...) :-)
Model 3 just too noisy for me, also lease price is double, but otherwise a great car. Personally I like a quiet car, probably not the biggest thing for most people. Tesla still an awesome car.
I would go for the kman all day
You can get the same car with low miles for around 20k
03:09 Are you ready me too in google translate german.
Batteries and Rex all low on the car so handling is good for a high vehicle
God! I want to love this car, and I love the interior but I just can't buy a car that's only for the city for that price! If I am paying that much I want a car that's more versatile. Can we please make it more areo-dynamic and give it more range? I love the range extender because in a world that is just starting to make the change to EV it just makes sense!
New? No, but Pre-owned at about 50% off?, heck yeah.
Left my wallet... in el segundo
Lease not buy this kind vehicle - plenty cheap!
"Take the corner like a human being, not a New Yorker" You crack me up.
I was surprised at the price; it's very expensive. The major problem is the Tesla 3 is coming to a town near you in about 6 months and will not cost as much and with longer range so..
i3 costs about the same, if you count federal credits. Tesla is going to run out of credits by the time the general public can get the M3 - which is at least 24 months away.
"Communist mode",love it,could also be called "London mode"here in the UK,but more like "Fascist mode"!
worth it if bought used!!!!
Should have ended it at 5:18😎
If the car is so good why is the used market flooded with them with crazy depreciation?
Unreliable
Takes a red light @ 9:14 SMH
Smoke a Leaf, hehe.
I'm gonna make a communist mode label for my drive modes in my EV when I get one 😐
Once the car has been bought, what then? Being enslaved to BMWs frankly abusively high service costs, how low on their niceness scale they place out of warranty owners when something goes wrong, 33kWh now being the smallest capacity battery around.... My advice is that you buy a Leaf 30kWh before the new Leaf is released, as they are selling for very low prices, are proven to be reliable and cost a fraction of a BMW to service. Dealers are now selling remaining stocks of Leafs so barter hard and buy a 9 month old car with under 5,000 miles for £14k and falling.
Darryld1 I got a 5 year service plan for 500 and the battery has an 8 year warranty. End of.
I would absolutely NOT buy one of these NEW - I would absolutely buy one of these USED - with under 10,000 miles the price drops roughly in half of new. Now I don't know what all the tax incentives look like for where I'm located (Ohio) but I would have to think that it would cut down the price significantly - I still wouldn't pay over $30k new. The engineer in me loves this car the car enthusiast in me hates this car. Looking at what would be practical, reliable transportation a new loaded Honda Fit would be much less than a used one of these - you couldn't charge it up in your garage but you may only need to go the gas station a couple times a month for city type use....