Great to see another i3 video from Wisely! I bought mine new in 2019, still have it, still love it. After previous Wisely videos, I chose Continental tyres when the factory Bridgestones wore out at 38k miles. The Continentals have more tread, are quieter and more comfortable than the Bridgestones imho. If you want to avoid ally wheels corroding, spray them with a rinse wax after washing, this is a water activated protection that is very fluid and flows into all the crevices (like the centre badge) protecting from corrosion - I use Auto Finesse Aqua Coat, others are available.
You are 100% right about the sunroof. I was convinced I had to have one but have hardly used it. I don't even bother opening the blinds most of the time.
I consciously avoid cars with a sunroof, in my experience they are just a pain in the arse, especially as the car ages. Water leaks, blocked drain hoses, perished rubber seals, corrosion in the mechanism. Avoid!
In answer to your statement at 56 mins, yes I do and I will be buying a car based on this and many of the other videos you have produced. Trust is a very undervalued word these days, you have mine.
I'm quite happy for you to fit second hand parts rather than buying new, seems a bit over the top for such a high mileage car especially as used parts are available. keeping the costs down for the repair can be passed onto the end user plus reusing stuff it good for the Planet !
£10,950 is (was!) probably a fair price for a 99k miles i3 with everything sorted so well. Shows how well the i3 can carry the miles if looked after. Problem is there are lots of low miles "bargains" on Autotrader - like a 2020, i3 120Ah with less than 12k miles for £13,500. I was going to sell mine but with prices so low I think I will just hang on to it for a very long time as it's a brilliant car and costs peanuts to run I will definitely take it to Wisely when it's due its next checks in September, maybe to save a bit over the cost of the main dealer but mostly because it will get done properly !!
Hi Wisely Team, my second comment here. You are the go-to source for us i3 owners, as such a video on long term maintenance would be great, my i3 is the BEV and I don’t service it with BMW because I think it’s a ripoff. I plan to keep mine for as long as possible, my questions would be… Should the transaxle fluid be changed? If so how often and what is the spec of the fluid? Does the battery coolant need to be changed? If so how often and the spec of the fluid? Brake fluid is hydroscopic, BMW say to change it every 2 years, but this seems unnecessary to me, and 5 years a more real world requirement. I should add that I am 58YO and have been a DIY mechanic for all my cars, my first being a 1974 Renault 12. 🤗
Brake fluid is indeed Hygroscopic - it absorbs moisture from the air, You can buy a cheap £15 fluid tester, you dip it in the master cylinder reservour and press a button - it will measure the moisture - change fluid if it reaches 3% - which for an average car will be 8 to 10 years
@@Gripper-ie2qg Thanks for taking the time to reply. I think your observation that brake fluid is good for 8 to 10 years is about right. I’m all for cars being safe, and effective brakes are essential to this, hence my suggestion to change the fluid at about 5 years.
@@rp9674 Hi, I don’t fully understand your comment, but I assume you’re saying that your wife has a BMW and she takes it to the dealership for servicing. Personally I think this is a ripoff; especially for an EV, as no critical maintenance is required imho. Combustion engines are high maintenance, without regular oil changes, cambelts etc. the integrity of the engine is severely compromised. This does not apply to an AC electric motor.
Fantastic to know the level or detail you guys go into with your car prep! Keep up the good work. PS. thank you for my winter wheels last year for my i3!
Had this 'battery stationary' warning after only driving 7k km over a year and the car sitting still for weeks at a time while working from home. ISTA says the 12V is charged by the DC/DC converter - I couldn't top up the 12V by driving normally for 1h, only by going on some country roads for 2h and diligently using regen as much as I could the warning disapeared. No electrical faults during the recent checkup, however all four brake discs show rust and look worn, will replace them with ceramic coated ones this summer.
Hello great video....i have a tera world and my door handle light went out when i unlock the 1 on the other side works...but i am trying to figure out how to replace the bulb or led thats in the door handle...thanks for any help.
Interesting to see the sunroof - I excluded it when I spec'ed my i3 in 2016, as it reduces the roof height and I'm over 6ft. Seeing it for real, very glad I excluded it!
Really informative video and (take this positively), you are the High Peak Autos of the i3 World (except you do it all in house). I’m teetering on the brink of buying a lovely i3 from a trusted friend with a failed REx engine, but it is priced to take this into account and he recommended following your channel to better understand the i3 before taking the plunge. I’m certain it will be a good move; you’re not that far away so I can imagine using you for inspection work even though I usually maintain all my vehicles myself. Great video and thanks for sharing.
You are quite unusual in that you do proper checks on cars before sale, all say they have a 200 point vehicle check but some of the faults found by customer demonstrate the retailer didn't do anything at all. To be honest if a dealer just cleaned and sold a car as is, then if it came back for a fault and the dealer apologises, fixed the problem promptly and wished them bon voyage - most customers would be pleased with them. I had never heard of you guys prior to buying from you, bought back in 2021, still have the same car and it remains without scratch, dink, dent or fault - though i have added many extras and improved the car. My car was the White Tesla M3P, traded in my unblemished Focus RS.
Thanks again! I would love to See how to replace the driverseat cushion. You said it's covered before, but I can't find somewhere how to replace it. Would be very helpful. Sadly I don't live in London, otherwise in would visit your workshop! All the best !
great info. So glad my car went through this process. A friend bought a "bargain" bmw from a, hmmm, not good dealer. they have had to pay a big price to put it right and have had breakdowns on trips due to this.
@@colintwyning9614 Sorry miss spelling. I was asking was your friend's bargain bmw an i3 or another bmw. I would never buy a cheap bmw but I am really thinking about doing an i3
Goodyear Vector 4seasons are all season tyres - the name makes this obvious (one would think) - hence if as you say they’re in good condition then I would leave them, rotate them to the rear and put the same on the front. That way the car is set up for any weather in any part of the U.K.
Thanks for your comment. You are correct in pointing out that the Goodyears are branded as an all season tyre. However, they have a 3PMSF symbol which is a winter tyre certification. This indicates that they are suitable for severe snow conditions, quite different to the M+S rated all-seasons of old. Unfortunately there's no "rotating" 155/70R19s front to back in the way you have suggested as the wheels are staggered (5J front and 5.5J rear). The rear wheels take 175/60R19s which don't exist in any winter (or all season) sizes so to achieve an even setup it would be a case of buying 2 more 155/70R19s AND 2 more skinnier alloys. It's for this reason that all-season tyres remain an awkward proposition for i3 and why, instead of buying 2 more alloys and having a year-round compromise, most people chasing better winter performance just end up buying a second set of alloys and switch them seasonally (ie they use the car's original staggered set on summer tyres through summer and have a square set of winter tyres through winter). The argument for moving to a square all-season set only really wins where storing an additional set of wheels is unviable.
Question - do you replace i3 batteries, if so how much and could you upgrade? I see on ebay a 120ah pack going for £6000, could REX take a bigger battery?
Thanks very much again for a both entertaining and educating video. I am almost sad that my i3 is so new I will probably not need your services that soon ;-)
Another great video. Much as I'd love to own an i3 looking at your videos about things that can go wrong or need replacing and the costs involved is frankly putting me off buying one, I know as your preparation and refurbishment is second to none it obviously leads to a resale price that is obviously going to be premium as you have to cover your costs and make a profit, if I was to get an i3 it would definitely have to be from you, from any other dealer it would be a lottery, big question for me is could I afford it 🤔 (won't stop me regularly checking your stock list)
What you need to remember is that this channel is dedicated to repair & maintenance. Of course you’re going to see lots of repairs & faults. Pick any other brand & you’ll find someone doing the same.
you don't buy an i3 with a sunroof because you want a sunroof. You buy it with a sunroof because you don't want the carbon fiber on the roof to peel or blister in a couple of years as they are not CF if it has a sunroof.
Also interesting on the 12v battery - mine's still original from 2016, no warnings, and last time it had its MOT BMW said no need to change it. Might ask BMW to do the ISTA check next time it goes in for MOT, but not worried.
The problem is there is NO WARNING! So after 5 years exchange it! Otherwise you risk being stranded. In the USA they are not a common breezy type and I had to order it from Amazon and wait a few days. So I wouldn't risk it. Those BMW batteries are not very good. I replaced mine with Energizer based on a youtube video and it seems to fair much better. Good luck!
Top is blistering, don't know how to fix it Had to replace a 20-inch, not fun, wish they were 19-inch. I purchased a rubber pad for the top of the bumper where the paint doesn't fare well, one of these years I might even apply it
Fantastic prelude to this cup. May the HUNDRED GUINEA CUP return home at ling last. So happy that we are through against such stiff competition. Let the race begin.
Thanks
Thank you so much for your generous comment! We’re pleased you enjoyed the video :)
Nice!
Great to see another i3 video from Wisely! I bought mine new in 2019, still have it, still love it. After previous Wisely videos, I chose Continental tyres when the factory Bridgestones wore out at 38k miles. The Continentals have more tread, are quieter and more comfortable than the Bridgestones imho. If you want to avoid ally wheels corroding, spray them with a rinse wax after washing, this is a water activated protection that is very fluid and flows into all the crevices (like the centre badge) protecting from corrosion - I use Auto Finesse Aqua Coat, others are available.
Excellent refurbishment. Done as it should be done. 👍
It looked ok to start with but what a transformation! Must book my service in with you soon.
Glad I'm not too far from Wisely and I'm sold on the expertise, time and effort.
You are 100% right about the sunroof. I was convinced I had to have one but have hardly used it. I don't even bother opening the blinds most of the time.
I consciously avoid cars with a sunroof, in my experience they are just a pain in the arse, especially as the car ages. Water leaks, blocked drain hoses, perished rubber seals, corrosion in the mechanism. Avoid!
In answer to your statement at 56 mins, yes I do and I will be buying a car based on this and many of the other videos you have produced. Trust is a very undervalued word these days, you have mine.
Great job for this unique car! Thanks for showing us everything so detailed.
Sad I live in Belgium, wish we had same service point here for my I3S (2019)
I'm quite happy for you to fit second hand parts rather than buying new, seems a bit over the top for such a high mileage car especially as used parts are available. keeping the costs down for the repair can be passed onto the end user plus reusing stuff it good for the Planet !
I was offended when a shop used used parts to repair my car until I remembered the car is used also
£10,950 is (was!) probably a fair price for a 99k miles i3 with everything sorted so well. Shows how well the i3 can carry the miles if looked after.
Problem is there are lots of low miles "bargains" on Autotrader - like a 2020, i3 120Ah with less than 12k miles for £13,500. I was going to sell mine but with prices so low I think I will just hang on to it for a very long time as it's a brilliant car and costs peanuts to run
I will definitely take it to Wisely when it's due its next checks in September, maybe to save a bit over the cost of the main dealer but mostly because it will get done properly !!
Hi Wisely Team, my second comment here. You are the go-to source for us i3 owners, as such a video on long term maintenance would be great, my i3 is the BEV and I don’t service it with BMW because I think it’s a ripoff. I plan to keep mine for as long as possible, my questions would be…
Should the transaxle fluid be changed? If so how often and what is the spec of the fluid?
Does the battery coolant need to be changed? If so how often and the spec of the fluid?
Brake fluid is hydroscopic, BMW say to change it every 2 years, but this seems unnecessary to me, and 5 years a more real world requirement.
I should add that I am 58YO and have been a DIY mechanic for all my cars, my first being a 1974 Renault 12. 🤗
Brake fluid is indeed Hygroscopic - it absorbs moisture from the air, You can buy a cheap £15 fluid tester, you dip it in the master cylinder reservour and press a button - it will measure the moisture - change fluid if it reaches 3% - which for an average car will be 8 to 10 years
@@Gripper-ie2qg Thanks for taking the time to reply. I think your observation that brake fluid is good for 8 to 10 years is about right. I’m all for cars being safe, and effective brakes are essential to this, hence my suggestion to change the fluid at about 5 years.
OMG… That Renault 12! 😍
My wife gets excessive service from the BMW dealer because how could I possibly know anything about cars I've been working on for decades
@@rp9674 Hi, I don’t fully understand your comment, but I assume you’re saying that your wife has a BMW and she takes it to the dealership for servicing. Personally I think this is a ripoff; especially for an EV, as no critical maintenance is required imho. Combustion engines are high maintenance, without regular oil changes, cambelts etc. the integrity of the engine is severely compromised. This does not apply to an AC electric motor.
Another great in-depth video, thanks very much.
Fantastic to know the level or detail you guys go into with your car prep!
Keep up the good work. PS. thank you for my winter wheels last year for my i3!
Thanks
Nice!!!
Had this 'battery stationary' warning after only driving 7k km over a year and the car sitting still for weeks at a time while working from home. ISTA says the 12V is charged by the DC/DC converter - I couldn't top up the 12V by driving normally for 1h, only by going on some country roads for 2h and diligently using regen as much as I could the warning disapeared. No electrical faults during the recent checkup, however all four brake discs show rust and look worn, will replace them with ceramic coated ones this summer.
Another great video guys 👍👍👍
Hello great video....i have a tera world and my door handle light went out when i unlock the 1 on the other side works...but i am trying to figure out how to replace the bulb or led thats in the door handle...thanks for any help.
Interesting to see the sunroof - I excluded it when I spec'ed my i3 in 2016, as it reduces the roof height and I'm over 6ft. Seeing it for real, very glad I excluded it!
Really informative video and (take this positively), you are the High Peak Autos of the i3 World (except you do it all in house).
I’m teetering on the brink of buying a lovely i3 from a trusted friend with a failed REx engine, but it is priced to take this into account and he recommended following your channel to better understand the i3 before taking the plunge.
I’m certain it will be a good move; you’re not that far away so I can imagine using you for inspection work even though I usually maintain all my vehicles myself.
Great video and thanks for sharing.
Yes please for the 12v video!
If buying an i3, then this video demonstrates why I would head straight to Wisely. It's worth paying a bit more to get this kind of attention.
Thank you 🙏
You are quite unusual in that you do proper checks on cars before sale, all say they have a 200 point vehicle check but some of the faults found by customer demonstrate the retailer didn't do anything at all. To be honest if a dealer just cleaned and sold a car as is, then if it came back for a fault and the dealer apologises, fixed the problem promptly and wished them bon voyage - most customers would be pleased with them. I had never heard of you guys prior to buying from you, bought back in 2021, still have the same car and it remains without scratch, dink, dent or fault - though i have added many extras and improved the car. My car was the White Tesla M3P, traded in my unblemished Focus RS.
Very in-depth review of an i3 prep.🥇
Thanks again! I would love to See how to replace the driverseat cushion. You said it's covered before, but I can't find somewhere how to replace it. Would be very helpful. Sadly I don't live in London, otherwise in would visit your workshop! All the best !
I wished you were in the United States! Specifically Denver!
As they sat you pay for the quality and in the long term it's pays for it self great video
Thanks for another very interesting and informative video.
Superb video
great info. So glad my car went through this process. A friend bought a "bargain" bmw from a, hmmm, not good dealer. they have had to pay a big price to put it right and have had breakdowns on trips due to this.
@@Freerider93 sorry, not understanding that
@@colintwyning9614 Sorry miss spelling. I was asking was your friend's bargain bmw an i3 or another bmw. I would never buy a cheap bmw but I am really thinking about doing an i3
@@Freerider93 oh it was a 2 series hybrid, not sure of exact model
Do you have worries about the ac unit? Is there merit to replacing it ahead of time? 2016 rex with 100k miles
Great video! If were in the market for an i3 I'd come knocking, if fact you'd be the first place I'd call. Also, this is the exact spec I'd purchase.
Goodyear Vector 4seasons are all season tyres - the name makes this obvious (one would think) - hence if as you say they’re in good condition then I would leave them, rotate them to the rear and put the same on the front. That way the car is set up for any weather in any part of the U.K.
Thanks for your comment.
You are correct in pointing out that the Goodyears are branded as an all season tyre. However, they have a 3PMSF symbol which is a winter tyre certification. This indicates that they are suitable for severe snow conditions, quite different to the M+S rated all-seasons of old.
Unfortunately there's no "rotating" 155/70R19s front to back in the way you have suggested as the wheels are staggered (5J front and 5.5J rear). The rear wheels take 175/60R19s which don't exist in any winter (or all season) sizes so to achieve an even setup it would be a case of buying 2 more 155/70R19s AND 2 more skinnier alloys. It's for this reason that all-season tyres remain an awkward proposition for i3 and why, instead of buying 2 more alloys and having a year-round compromise, most people chasing better winter performance just end up buying a second set of alloys and switch them seasonally (ie they use the car's original staggered set on summer tyres through summer and have a square set of winter tyres through winter). The argument for moving to a square all-season set only really wins where storing an additional set of wheels is unviable.
Is there any value in updating the car’s software and is it problematic if that has never been done?
Really looking to get an i3 and just found you. You’re in London is that right?
Need to get rid of my a-class 2016 first
We are indeed in London, and we welcome trade ins!
Feel free to get in touch for a stocklist showing all the i3s we currently have in the pipeline :)
@@wiselyauto thanks. Do i just email you? Also what is considered high milliage for these?
What happened to the project car you took all the body panels off?
Not a bad looking car!! It’s not really my style, but there again it’s not a camper!!
Question - do you replace i3 batteries, if so how much and could you upgrade? I see on ebay a 120ah pack going for £6000, could REX take a bigger battery?
Thanks very much again for a both entertaining and educating video. I am almost sad that my i3 is so new I will probably not need your services that soon ;-)
Another great video. Much as I'd love to own an i3 looking at your videos about things that can go wrong or need replacing and the costs involved is frankly putting me off buying one, I know as your preparation and refurbishment is second to none it obviously leads to a resale price that is obviously going to be premium as you have to cover your costs and make a profit, if I was to get an i3 it would definitely have to be from you, from any other dealer it would be a lottery, big question for me is could I afford it 🤔 (won't stop me regularly checking your stock list)
What you need to remember is that this channel is dedicated to repair & maintenance. Of course you’re going to see lots of repairs & faults.
Pick any other brand & you’ll find someone doing the same.
you don't buy an i3 with a sunroof because you want a sunroof. You buy it with a sunroof because you don't want the carbon fiber on the roof to peel or blister in a couple of years as they are not CF if it has a sunroof.
Also interesting on the 12v battery - mine's still original from 2016, no warnings, and last time it had its MOT BMW said no need to change it. Might ask BMW to do the ISTA check next time it goes in for MOT, but not worried.
The problem is there is NO WARNING! So after 5 years exchange it! Otherwise you risk being stranded. In the USA they are not a common breezy type and I had to order it from Amazon and wait a few days. So I wouldn't risk it. Those BMW batteries are not very good. I replaced mine with Energizer based on a youtube video and it seems to fair much better. Good luck!
i think i see a groove on the right front brake disc, maybe its time for a new one
This is how car dealers should work… Why would anyone risk buying elsewhere?
Did you meant kilometers?
Top is blistering, don't know how to fix it Had to replace a 20-inch, not fun, wish they were 19-inch.
I purchased a rubber pad for the top of the bumper where the paint doesn't fare well, one of these years I might even apply it
Fantastic prelude to this cup. May the HUNDRED GUINEA CUP return home at ling last. So happy that we are through against such stiff competition. Let the race begin.
I bet that was a bird strike at highway speeds.
You may consider moving your microphone as in most of your video I could only hear your heart beating which made it hard to watch
It’s the thud of trains going overhead (we are based inside a railway arch)!