Traded my BMW i3 for an i4 - Long-Term Owner Review
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- Опубликовано: 11 июн 2024
- After 9 years of owning four BMW i3 electric cars, I finally decided to sell / return my last i3. It wasn't an easy decision and in this video I will explain why. I will also talk about what the BMW i3 meant for the brand, how it shaped its future, what it means owning a BMW i3, how to charge, how it drives, and how to use it as a family car with two cars seats.
There is a lot to talk about when it comes to the BMW i3, including a long-term owner review. So whether you're a BMW i3 fan or not, or a future customer, this video could be quite informational.
Intro 0:00
My i3 Story 0:30
Driving the i3 08:25
i3 REx 15:00
Car Seats 24:30
Coding Features 27:30
Replacing the i3 with i4 28:45
Turn Radius 34:20
My new i4 Preview 35:50
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My first EV was the i3. Last year I moved up to an iX3 with the intention of selling my i3. But instead I kept it and still love it! For nipping out to the shops, running up to the airport, it’s perfect. Quick, fun, turns on a sixpence. I might just keep it forever. Brilliant car 👏🏽
As an EV it’s way ahead of the iX3 - range is it’s only shortcoming for long journeys
I wish we had the iX3 option in the US, would have been a good choice for me
You can still travel with it ..
The i3 is the absolute best electric vehicles ever!
One of my favourite BMW's for sure!
Mine too. One day I might get one again
@@bmwblog I really hope you do😊
Hi Horatiu, watched and listened your personal review of your i3 ownership right till the end. This is exactly the kind of content people need to see, honest feedback based on your ‘use case’. What you advised about buying for everyday use and not the occasional road trip was spot on. We’ve an auto dealer in the UK called Wisely Automotive and they are i3 specialists, (take a look at their channel). Martin drove a 42kwh car from Edinburgh to London and illustrated the charging options (Apps) and documented the journey to illustrate that you can undertake a 400 mile journey using a city car like the i3. I think you should scour the Ads for a very low mileage 2022 used example and buy it and keep it; your daughter can drive it later! Cheers Geoff
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words. I think eventually I will pick up a used one :) Just need a Galvanic Gold
7:05 in the headrest of the seats there is a lever that allows to pull the seat forward for easy entry to the back seats.
This is similar to some 2-door cars and makes it much easier to help your kids in and out.
Hi, greetings from Oxford in the U.K. I bought a i3 new in 2019, still have it, still love it. Hoping to keep it for a long time to come. I love how radical the materials and engineering are in this car. It is a shame BMW decided to discontinue the i3. A 60kWh pack with faster DC charging would have made for an awesome EV. My only criticism is the overly hard ride quality.
I think they had to move on from the i3's platform. It was too costly for them. As far as the ride quality, in what way? My main complaint was mostly around highway driving during high winds
Thank you for this extensive video, I never tire of i3 content :-). Ever since I got mine in early 2020, a 42 kWh with the 'Suite' interiour with "Eucapytus" wood trim, I've been completely in love and I also feel very sad that BMW no longer has a car as unique as the i3 has been.
As mine is a company leased car I had the option to extend the lease from 4 to 5 years as it is still under a very favourable tax exemption in my country. But my intention is to buy it afterwards, after hopefully the prices have come down a bit.
I do hope you'll enjoy the i4, and even though its shape is so boring compared to the i3, spec wise it looks like you are in for quite an upgrade.
Yes, my i3 was always super base. Not many premium features. I do enjoy those in the i4, but not sure, space wise, the i3 still feels bigger inside. Especially with car seats
Long live the i3!!!! ❤❤❤
Yes! I feel that my journey with the i3 is not over yet
Thanks for the insight on the i3, have always wanted to know what it was like to own that car but welcome to the i4 club!!
Glad you enjoyed it. Now onto i4 content :) Still learning lots about the car too
You will regret selling your i3
No doubt, but financially didn't make sense
Why buying used is always a wiser choice the short-sighted leasing
@@mbradea I bought my i3 2nd hand and I am super happy with it
2nd hand is the way to go
At 98k miles now on our 2017 REx (2nd owner).
Have had zero items fail so far.
Maintenance is annual oil change (takes 15 minutes DIY) since generator rarely fires up.
Sandy Munro called i3 "The Model T of our time.
He was so impressed with Cybertruck, he just labelled it "the i3 of our time" for its radical innovation.
Hope you keep i3. Sure to be a future cult car.
@Horatiu, did you get used to sitting so far back from windshield?
I'm also tall and when I adjusted the seat I almost felt like I was sitting in the back. Not sure if that feeling goes away after a while.
Also how much did you use the range extender?
And I wish they had a smallish EV or hybrid, the new X1 is as big as a fairly recent X3.
I got used to it. I actually like it. I only used the rex 1-2 max a month. Some months none.
Sandy munroe have called it our times Ford A. shame the did not continued with new versions after the 42 kWh.
I love my i3 especially with the drive’s assistance package, getting stuck in LA traffic is less stressful.
I will grab the i3s.
Completely agree with you, I too was a huge fan of BMW’s philosophy when they invested in the i sub brand. The strategy had environmental and efficiency credentials and IF they taken one more step with a car more like a 1 coupe or a 3 salon, they would have seen traction for sure. But this would have been at the expense of their ICE versions. But still, it would still have been worth it in the long run and they’d be sitting right behind Tesla now if they had. Legacy OEMs have all been in a difficult position really, they’re always going to incur lost opportunity costs during the transition to full electrification. I’ve been on the cusp of buying a 42kwh S for a while now and intend to finally make a purchase. I think they’re going to be a classic just like the Z1 being utterly unique and wonderfully engineered.
I have the 120ah Rex with the exact same specs you had. I plan to sell mine and upgrade to a larger screen and the Terra World interior. I looked around for another EV, but I didn't think any were as nice as the i3. I use my for long distances and for city driving. It does everything I need. I live in Southern CA, so we have chargers up and down the coast and we have a temperate climate. My dealership tried to get me into an i4, but I just don't like the grill or sedans.
Trust me, the i3 is a wonderful car. I like the modern tech of the i4, but the i3 is special. If I can ever find a Galvanic Gold i3, I might get one
@@bmwblog I agree with the galvanic gold. That's my dream color. Now if I can find that with the specs I want...Galvanic Gold is a unicorn.
It is a unicorn. My friend Chuck has one.
They got 18 of them:
ruclips.net/video/Jjcc0ODqOfs/видео.html
Perhaps some can be imported into the USA.
Hmm never opened the Frunk? How do you fill your windscreen washer bottle?
He uses leaves.
I love my 2016 i3 94ah. owned it 4 years and drove it 70.000km. the car has driven 130.000km. battery only degraded 5%. We also use it as family car with 2 child seats. it's great. except when you park in tight parking spaces is difficult with suicide doors. we also have a petrol Ford Mondeo estate as main car, but the I3 drives 20.000km a year and the Ford 10.000km, because the I3 can do most trips fine and it is much cheaper. It is also the perfect commuter car for me. I have 60km on twisty country roads a day, and this car is so much fun on twisty roads! so stable and fast. especially on 195/50-20 tires! only replacement for this car for me would be a 120ah I3s! maybe a VW ID3 or Renault Megane electric would be OK fun Hatch, but they are still 4-500Kg heavier!
Impressive amount of kilometers
I’m looking to buy a used one this weekend. It would be my first electric car and bmw. Would you be able to educate me on what I should look for before I buy? I would be very grateful.
You don't use screen wash liquid? If you use ....how do you refill it if you never opened the bonnet?🤔
The dealer refilled it when I took the car in once a year. Never went through the full thing.
A legend !!, I did own one from new in 2018 to 2022 and love it since I saw the car reveal in goodwood festival of speed in the uk. What a car I always say that if I did have a lot of money I would buy another from new and keep it forever because I’m 100% sure is gonna be the classic of Evs in the future. So ahead of the time and I really thinking to buy one again, I hope bmw do something similar to replace it but the i4 is too pricey for me and a different car in terms of size etc. thanks for the video 👏🙏✊
I don't think we will see an i3 like car ever. We might see an i1 hatchback, but not the i3 style
Nice report. How was driving the I3 in the Chicago winter with its rear wheel drive?
I used winter tires, with the exception of last winter which was very mild. So using Nokian tires, it was fantastic!
@@bmwblog Thanks. Tires make the difference. I live in Chicago area too. I had a rear drive 7 Series with Michelin X-Ice and never had a problem. Good luck with your ride. I like the color combo.
Winter tires are a must I think. Not sure I wanna risk it with the all seasons on the i4. Will test it for sure then see.
I have an I3S REX with Blitzak winter tires and it’s a nice little snowmobile here in NE WI. Range is significantly less in cold weather, however it still suits me ideally as a commuter. Exclusively home charged with 120v outlet. No regrets, brilliant car.
I have 52k on my '16 i3 and I will probably upgrade to a i3s one day, Galvanic Gold of course! I've owned a lot of cars and the i3 is only one I haven't sold after 2 years. I charge at home, work from home so I put very few miles on it. Once you own one doing errands around town is exciting and taking the long way home is enjoyable. Completely agree with you on how BMW dropped the ball on not continuing to produce similar electric cars on this platform.
BMW wanted easy money from consumer and also don't want EV like the i3 impact on their other lineups. Thats why they streamline all there Petrol, Diesel and EV cars. For example. the 4 series, they make the same car in petrol, diesel and EV. You paid more for the i4 for less parts. In theory BMW can sell their EV cheaper like Tesla but they don't want the EV lines to impact there petrol/diesel car sale.
If you find a Galvanic Gold one, let me know. They are unicorns :)
I’m looking to buy a used one this weekend. It would be my first electric car and bmw. Would you be able to educate me on what I should look for before I buy? I would be very grateful.
Hi I’m brand new to EVs and am trying to find out how this car does in the extremely hot southeast weather? About 4-6 months here it can be terribly hot and if I drive this to work it would possibly be parked in full sun at times. Plus parking lots get steamy.
Also - how does this car handle something happening like a standstill on the interstate? I plan to avoid interstate driving if I can help it but if I can’t what would I do - half the year here I really need AC so would I have to shut the car off to conserve range in the event of a standstill on the Hwy?
I have not driven it in extreme warm weather, only cold. But you should assume that using the AC, will reduce the range by 10-15%. Other than, it should work fine. Depends which model, if you get the i3S, then you have better handling on the highway since it's wider in body and in tires. When it's windy, you do feel it in the car. As far as the AC, in summer Chicago, I usually drove with windows down and no AC. But again, it's different than your heat
I did exactly the opposite to your approach as I knew from the start that I would keep the i3s. Due to the high leasing instalments, the residual value is relatively low. I also paid part of the purchase price in advance with a deposit payment.
In addition, the vehicle wasn't brand new (a BMW press vehicle with 7000km) so I didn't have to co-finance the depreciation in the first year.
So after 4 years I will buy the BMW as there is no better vehicle for my requirements.
But it's not just my requirements, in my opinion this car is a compromise between individual mobility and environmental protection.
We live on the outskirts of a large city where public transport is already very poor and journeys into the surrounding area are impossible. We don't want to carry the weekend shopping home either.
The BMW i3 is the ideal means of transport where public transport fails, the bicycle is unsuitable but a normal car is too big and too expensive.
At the moment I still have a company car for long journeys, but once our children have left home, I could well imagine travelling with the little BMW.
I think it could be a nice holiday even with the low range if you make the journey to your destination and use the charging stops for sightseeing. There are people who cycle across the country for a fortnight. Even if it's not quite as slow-down, but even with the i3 you can experience a new slowness that might be quite nice.
I am now 54 years old and it is becoming apparent that driving will be less and less fun in the future.
So why put a lot of money into a lot of car that you can't drive anywhere properly? I think the BMW i3s will be my last car.
I'm thinking about getting one with 100kmiles for around 10k. I'm a bit skeptical about how much longer the battery will last.
You can check the battery capacity. We have a video on that
@@bmwblogthanks i will look for it
Hi Al, I understand your reticence about getting a high mileage EV, it’s a new technology, and no one wants to buy a basket of trouble. I have owned an i3 since 2019, the only issue I have had in that time was a 4 new tyres at 36k miles. I have seen a video of a guy who had just over 200k miles on his i3. I personally would avoid the REx version, and go for the later model with 120Ah/42kWh battery pack.
An amazing, revolutionary car! I drove one in 2013 at the LA Auto show, and spoke to BMW EV engineers there, expecting that BMW would produce a coupe version (for me). Instead, new CEO Harald Krüger decided EVs weren't a thing and shut down BMW's EV program. Such a disappointment! Hoping the Neue Klasse platform comes close to the i3's after 10 years of neglect (but I'll keep my Model Y).
Hoping the same. Agreed, they should have made a bigger i3 immediately after. Tons of sales
I’m looking to buy a used one this weekend. It would be my first electric car and bmw. Would you be able to educate me on what I should look for before I buy? or if you can recommend a trustworthy video. There is just so much I don't know where to start, I would be very grateful. its a 2017 94h with 78,000 miles. Battery capacity is at 23.2. Please and thank you.
Is it a regular i3 or the one with range extender? How many miles per day do you drive? You need to see if the 23.2 kWh battery is enough for your daily range. Can you charge at home? I would also ask them if they ever changed the 12V battery. It tends to go bad quite fast. Other than that, it's a pretty simple car, but I would still drive it to make sure all looks good.
@@bmwblogit has a range extender and I usually drive about 20-30 miles per day and the small battery was replaced 2 years ago. Im just nervous about buying an electric, discontinued vehicle. But your video made me want to purchase it.
Wait you have a 120ah rex ?. Also whats that whining noise while driving ?
Pedestrians regulations sound. It's on below 18 mph
@@bmwblog but 120ah and rex?
@@ELGee1yes
@@bmwblog wow they did not sell them like that did they ? You need a 94ah rex and upgrade the battery pack ?
@@ELGee1 They sold the 120ah and REX in the US. I have a 2019 one.
Do these cars depreciate fast ? How is maintenance cost
They didn't depreciate for a while but now they do. I had zero maintenance issues in 9 years across 4 cars. Granted, I kept them at most 3 years
The I3 just makes sense. It's a shame it was discontinued. My 2018 i3s is still favourited over our Volvo S60 T8 full option
Old tech though. Would have been tough to keep it fresh with a new battery because of the platform's limitation
I’m trying to decide on getting a 2017 i3, a local dealer near me (Atlanta) has one for just $12,500. Unreal. It’s the smaller battery tho & not Rex. I don’t need or want Rex tho. And the small range would be fine for my commute & wkend errands. I also have an Outback as a 2nd car for long trips/backup. Just hoping I don’t end up w/ a dud that has something major fail & cost more than it’s worth. I also don’t have a level 2 charger in my garage so I’d need to price one of those. This is all new to me eek! But I’m obsessed with this car lol. I’ve researched nonstop for weeks now & for the price I just don’t think I can find anything comparable. I’ll be trading in my 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia that just rolled 30k miles and tho I adore her, the long term reliability worries me plus they’re expensive for maintenance, tires etc. Am I making the right call? My 3 kids are teens now so this i3 just seems like something fun I can drive for 3-4 yrs (hopefully) before deciding on another option.
What is the kWh for a 2017 94h i3? 33 or 27.2? Please and thanks.
27.2 useable
@@bmwblog thank you so much for your response. is a 2017 94h with 78,000 miles at 23.2 kWh considered decent?
@@jonathancruz9024 So it's about 20% lower than before. I guess not the best, but not worst either. If you can get 4mi/kWh then you get about 100 miles of range. Can you splurge for an i3 with the 120Ah battery? The range will increase by quite a bit.
Horatiu riding around my old neighborhood!
:) A good one
Ive always loved the 4 series but the new giant kidney grill throws me off but it looks good on the bmw IX because of the dimensions. I'm going to stick with my 2014 i3 rex and wait another year and get a newer model with the 120ah battery, black leather seats ,and range extender.
I'm Currently at 120K and still not one repair just tires and replaced my front windshield .
Nice
top video😁
Thanks 😁
I have the 2014 REX version, I am keeping until it becomes a classic, best car I have ever owned.
How's the range still on it?
@@bmwblog I am getting 60 miles on battery and a combined amount of 130 miles. Winter time 40 miles on battery with a combined amount of about 80 miles. Not much but I work local and can always pull up in a gas station. 🙂
What’s the safety on it if it is carbon fiber
Never tested it, fortunately :) But I guess carbon fiber is quite strong, the safety ratings seem good on the i3. The only issue with a carbon fiber chassis is the inability to repair it. So a crash could be a total damage
@@bmwblog Thanks
@@bmwblogdamn .. so you need full coverage insurance..
At 1' 18" you are talking about the i3's CFRP bodyshell [you say chassis., but never mind] but the picture on the screen is NOT an i3!! If you're that ignorant or deceiving, I'm not interested in anything you say. For one thing, the i3 doesn't have a B pillar!!!
out of all my i3 concerns that kept me from buying one over the years - the suitability for a large dog who likes to ride with windows down is my biggest concern. Could you speak to that? We also do a lot of rural driving and highway driving.
Have not tried the dog thing in the car. But yes, the window thing would be an issue.
@@bmwblog thanks. Yeah it would be fine, but it is really a key feature to put windows down; another large dog owner was selling and said it wasn't ideal.
I'm not even sure I'd want an EV if it weren't for the REX
REx is great! Saved me a few times
There are no electric seats for the i3 / i3s you should really know that xD BMW can not build another i3, the fired the whole team. Part of them tried to start Byton which failed horribly.
I guess I should have known. For some reason I thought they offered them.
Tell them to make cars better. Improved quality. The autotopnl video shows a defocused mark on the steering wheel of a fifth-series car. Shock!!! Let them not abandon the internal combustion engine. It's still early. Let them increase the power of M versions
Lots of things to ask for huh?
@@bmwblog About what is necessary. If you don't want the Chinese to crush you.
why not just give your car back and guy buy a $15k i3? sounds easy enough? you keep saying "my wife and I love this car....but we're getting rid of it. why didn't you try to negotiate with the dealer? they probably would sell it to you for less?
I tried. The dealer wanted to sell it to me for $26-27K. Wasn't worth it. Sure, I could spend the time to find the right spec, but unfortunately, I don't have the time.
You should just get a used one and just keep it.
I should have, but I didn't have the time to chase one. One day I can revisit the i3. I still like it
hahaha totally forgot the Nissan LEAF in EV pioneer history. Bro! how dare you!?
you know how much I love the radiant heat of my old gas SUV clunker dog mobile? I drive to get warm! The heater aspect of EVs , in a cold, damp climate - where car interiors can be pretty uncomfortable without heat...it's something that's always went unsaid in my love of driving. Like I really love the heat, I just turn it all the way up and if it's like a sauna, good, I crack the windows. It's good for an old gas car, doesn't hurt efficiency at all. Never going to go 93mph lol? I'll mostly be driving at 80mph - another reason maybe I shouldn't do this.
I really wish you would keep your hands on the steering wheel and I find it difficult to watch considering that you carry children in your car I understand it’s an electric car but it doesn’t drive itself.
So please don’t put your self or your children in danger.
KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL.
Understood, but there were no kids in the car at this time. if they were, I would likely not film a video.
Suck and Congrats? We have 2 more mos to decide what to do w/ our i3s.
Keep it! You have the perfect color!
I’m looking to buy a used one this weekend. It would be my first electric car and bmw. Would you be able to educate me on what I should look for before I buy? I would be very grateful.
Sound like nobody keeps cars that long. All review are short ownership. Now your gas car is for years and paid for. Sound like money saving to me. But you can keep spending..
Unfortunately this car was not paid off. It was a lease. So the pay off amount was huge compared to the value of the car.