Great review - I have had my i3 (same colour and wheels as yours) for just on 12 months in Australia and driven 7 500 km (4600 mi). I agree with all your comments. I opted for the REX due to distances I need to occasionally travel and have done up to 250 km (150 mi) round trips. Have only used around 50 L (13 US gal) of fuel in 7500 km. Love the car!
Great Review. I have had the car for a year as well. Mine is the REX model with DC charging option. I have put on 13,500 miles. Go to work and back everyday. Some locations I have used the REX, without a problem. Love the car so does my wife, The only expense I had was to install the BMW charging station, the dealer gave it to me at no extra cost. So my savings have been significant on the gas side. I was using $200-250 a month with my other car , with this one I have filled up the 2 gallons tank once $4.8 !!! . Electric bill went up an average of $14-16 a month. And I definitely agree with the highway driving. Otherwise I am on the second year of a three year lease, no question I will be leasing another i3.
First thing I told my wife when I bought my i3.. "Baby, the best part is is that we don't have to use turn signals anymore!" and all I got was rolled eyes.
They don't make it easy and intuitive to use the turn signal for lane changes on BMW and Mercedes cars. I think the world can live without 30 different turn signal interval modes for lane changes.
The "feeling like it's going into neutral" when braking and hitting a bump, that's common with the Prius too. Lightly press the brake pedal to do regen and hit a bump and you're in for a little surprise.
Yes, sticker was $71,xxx I got it 12/25/2014 for 46k with 5,600 miles. Fully loaded Silverstone II with extended red leather. I still would love to own an i3. Im a hardcore technology fan, specially when it comes from Bavarian Motor Works. what kind of solar panels did you go with? Are you storing the energy or feeding it back to the grid?
shanedriveinit Im a Techie and a hardcore BMW fan. I know the i3 is groundbreaking electric car and the other hand…. BMWs 1st time making an M3 with a dual clutch, 8,250 RPM high responsive V8 with a retractable streel roof. These were my main reason., my friend works for bmw and I test drove the i3 it's an amazing car don't let the size fool you. Lol
Okay I see. I like electric cars, especially Tesla P90D but the sound of electric cars, or actually the lack of it is a little off putting in my opinion. Sure, great technology etc but there is nothing better than a throaty exhaust or the sound of V6 or V8 etc.
Spot on reviewer! Having had high performance for many years now, ppl look at me funny when I tell them this is the best. The overall net satisfaction dynamic is probably the incomparable reason it's my fav.
+Nippledozer You mean the kind of guy who needs to tell people he owns a BMW even though the Volt is a superior plugin hybrid that costs way less? Or do you mean a guy who looks like he'd lose a fight with a ten year old girl?
Thanks for the great report! I think BMW did a great job on the i3. I would love to get one but my commute is 140 miles. Opted for Model X instead and I too added solar to my home specifically to offset fuel for transportation.
The "regen loss" when hitting potholes seems to be a common thing in EVs. My gen2 Volt does that. I think it's a means to protect the motor bearings or housing. Since the disk brakes aren't used, hitting bumps during regen would transmit all the stress onto the motor and housing and mount. On a turbo Caliber (CSRT4), this kind of stress is achieved on accelerations if you sustain wheel hop. We've seen a half dozen getrag transmission casings explode to that.
excellent review, thanks for posting.The cross wind sensitivity is caused by the fact that the rear of the car is heavier than the front and the car is light with a large surface (large sail)
After seeing this, it just re-inforced my love for the Chevy Volt. Will be buying my second one this summer. As a freeway car I have been everywhere. No range limitation, no power limitation, and being a heavier very aerodynamic car, I don't experience buffeting in high cross winds. The car is predictable, and handles more like a sports car than a sedan. I know someone with the i3 with REX and he told me it is completely useless for mountain driving because it has no power. Is good enough to get you home in an emergency, but no good for any lengthy trips.
I own an i3 REx. If I want to cross the continental divide, I'll drive my other ICE car. Everyday I drive i3 - much more fun than the old Volt. It drives like a BMW. No FWD torque steering.
You feel unstable with car on higher speed when side wind is blowing because car has very narrow tyres(155/70) but is it also boxy(which i like). Try tyre dimensions on both front and rear tyres with 175/65 R19 with wheels 5.5JxR19 and you will feel no more insecurity with high speed. Mile range will be lower about 2-3%-that is relatively small loss and something you dont have to worry about. Driving is going to be much more fun.
Hey, great video! I play bass too and it's cool to know that the 3/4 fits in there. I was hoping to see the internal dimensions for that exact purpose and you guys conveniently had a bass in there. Very cool, thank you
I rented a i3 for three days and I have to say it was hard returning it. It was the most amazing car I've ever driven. And I don't understand the people that say it's the ugliest car, I just don't see it. To me it's like looking at the future. Where cars are awesome.
As a Prius driver, who bought the same car twice ( Prius III Winter Grey 2011 then again 2014) I must say that this is the first time I considered cheating on my Prius w this car after seeing ur vid. I think Im in love:)
I've noticed the same behavior in our Leaf.. when the battery is full, there is no regen. Sometimes it takes me by surprise. Our Volt never has that issue, though.
+8-Bit Keys That's actually because the Volt never fills the battery past 80% (and never drains it under 20% I recall) to preserve the life of the battery. Nobody's had either a Leaf or a Volt long enough to really see if that's been an issue though, and Nissan has replaced less than 1% of the batteries in use, even including stupid hot places like Phoenix.
This car has been my number 1 on my non-Tesla electric car for quite a while. Now with the 2016 Nissan Leaf's 30kW 150 mile range battery, they might be challenging that position. Energy density in batteries is improving and getting cheaper. So I hope that the next gen i3 get more range. Offer this with a 30kW and you got a very compelling car. Just if we could get more rapid chargers where I am at.
Nice !!! subscribed to your blog. Seriously considering a CPO i3 as soon as VW buys back my TDi VW. My daily commute is only 12 miles roundtrip and we own a large SUV for family outings.
I'm currently looking at getting a 2016 CPO i3 REx. Great info, especially on the one pedal driving, and on that especially the hard bumps stopping it. Very good info all around. Thanks.
@@bmwblog Hey man thanks for the reply. I actually got a super good deal on a 2015 Rex Mega, it has some options installed like backup camera with sensor things (I think that was an option), DC fast charge and a few other things. 28K miles on it. Got it for $16.6K USD. I'm waiting for them to install a fuel tank temp sensor as part of some TSB so I couldn't take her home last night. But I SHOULD be able to go finish up the paperwork and get it here in an hour or three will a full tank and battery. Cheers!
Pretty good. Rear wheel hop effects a lot of cars with all the electronic traction control. Hopefully they can fine tune the programing or improve sensors. The regenerative braking difference with full battery is another obvious oversight. A well thought out regenerative system should not be noticeable regardless of battery charge. Nice little E car though.....clean up the software, cut the cost and add some E range.
The regenerative braking is disabled in the cold not because it can't handle the electricity from it, no. The regenderative braking is disabled in the cold to prevent the car from sliding and crashing, it is for your safety.
Why does the car park itself all the way in the 'front' of the parking space? In both instances I saw in the video, it pulled all the way forward. Leaving that much room behind you can cause a problem when the car behind you leaves, and the next person parts right on your rear bumper (like the i3 does....).
When the wheel loses a little grip every other electric car including my prius hybrid and Tesla S will do the neutral thing and not brake. It's a scary sensation but I'm sure future cars will fix this. As it is, it's the best car and you utilize 9/10ths of it's potential on the road and the interior is such a nice place. It's compact on the outside but huge on the inside, and weighs only 2900lbs, with extended range version. You should have added the Fast Charging option as that will allow you to drive long distances w/o too long of a wait. Also, not sure where you're at, but in CA we can get HOV stickers for faster travel. I drive mine everyday to SF and skip all traffic. It easily overtakes cars on the road, and you forgot to mention its insane turning radius making U- turns and parallel parking a snap. I fit my bike, my entire office supplies all in the back, and the ride's sublime, just as supple as a Porsche Cayman, maybe a little floatier due to longer suspension travel. I definitely love mine and plan to buy it when lease is up.
Why not a Tesla ? I do like the i3 but the range is the problem. I drive Tesla and I am very happy with it. I have driven it from Sweden to Italy Rome and no problems with SC.
I'd totally consider one. There are deals on used. And frankly great lease deals on new. But living in snow belt I'm just not willing to spend a couple of grand on a set of snow wheels or $1400 on a set of snow tires. I've been driving various CUV/SUV vehicles with AWD and all season, and that works fine. As much as I'd like to consider electric for a secondary vehicle, these tiny thin tires, and the advice to buy special snow tires, puts me off completely. I'm being asked to exchange the convenience of fewer service visits, for the annoyance of switching tires twice a year and having a place to store them, as well as the expense. Not to mention the hassle factor if I want to drive out of town.
I love the way the I3 drives. I love the light weight of the car. 80 miles is just not a useful range. The Volt is a much better alternative. It is much cheaper and wile it only has a 50 mile electric range you have 210 mile gas range. For most people 50 miles is fine. You don't have fear of running out of a charge.
+ghd67ik2887218 It makes sense. If the battery is full there is nowhere for the energy to go. A possible solution would be to have a large resistor (heater) that could accept the energy so that you have the same driving feel regardless of the battery state of charge.
oisiaa no, it doesn't make sense for the usability that the same pedal movement create different deceleration randomly. if the battery can't take the regen energy the computer should brake accordingly with the disc brakes
to me this is a design flaw, the primary purpose of regen is to simulate engine breaking of IC engine, without it when you cut power to the electric motor the car would free-wheel.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience of 'living' with your BMW i3 for one year! This confirms to me a couple of things: FIRST: the car should adapt to the driver, not the other way round. I find quite unpleasant that when the battery is completely full the regenerative braking is working differently, the electronics should handle that, not the driver. SECOND: when you lift your right foot, the car slows down immediately as if you were willing to brake. I tested it, and I found it VERY unpleasant. This is not adding anything to the mileage the car can drive, it is simply wasting energy. I guess that when someone will have the time and money to demonstrate it in a formal way (by driving the car in a close circuit with and WITHOUT this 'right foot lifting automatic braking') this will become more evident for anybody. By the way Tesla Model S lets you choose 3 levels of regen power, and it is much smoother and pleasant to experience :-)
As far as I remember this is still the first and only electric car that is NOT overweight for it's size and range. Right now it looks like as if they don't strongly profit from this advantage yet, but let's make range tests in mountain locations with much elevation difference, especially up, and I am sure it will show for instance against the Tesla Model S carrying twice the weight. And as if to pronounce this aspect of "less overhead", they made the car even quite short, like a modern city car for less than perfect parking lots..
I would say that inconsistent regen affecting "braking" is a major safety issue and liability attorneys around the world should most definitely use this information. It is definitely a deal breaker for me.
If the EV drive train can not handle a strong regen, then a a resistor bank should or the brakes should be applied so that the feel is more seamless to the driver. In the winter, the heat could be used to heat the cabin.
Question. You say that its winter range is affected. I live in Canada, where it can get to -40F. Any idea how it would perform (or not perform) in that kind of weather?
***** Corrosion isn't just rust. Even aluminium, dural, magnesium and others (materials used in car/motorcycle industry) can corrode. The corrosion can get so far, it can even compromise the integrity of the material.
I have a 2016 M4 Convertible and a 2016 i3 REX. While I love the M4, I also really enjoy the i3. The back seats are really usable and it's a hell of a lot of fun to drive. Charging is a pain in the ass sometimes but I do have a Level 2 GE charger in the garage, another at work and a DC fast charger a couple of miles from my house. On another note. I did put an ///M badge on the back of the i3 just to look like a moron.
I'm curious...now that BMW has improved on the battery for 50% of range will u be turning yours in for the new one to get that estimated 200 miles of range or is it possible to have BMW switch out the battery since the batty enclosure size has not changed.
I wonder how much the presenter's enthusiasm is due to the i3 itself and how much is due to finding out that small cars are actually extremely good these days. For example, has the presenter owned a small car previously?
Why do electric cars have to look so odd ? Why couldn't BMW take the 328i and just make it electric. If they did that, I would buy an electric car in a heartbeat.
Would you please make a video discussing how 440V charging works or at least comment on your experience with 440V charging. Can you exceed the 150 mile total range by refilling the 1.9 gallon fuel tank? Did you buy or lease your i3 and why? If bought aren't you concerned about low resale value due to technological obsolescence? For snow driving would you prefer the i3 to have front wheel drive? Does the i3 come with a service comparable to GM's OnStar? When it was 5F were you able to get the cabin warm, if willing to sacrifice range to do it?
Nice video, and the car is impressive. Do you have another car for long trips, though? That's still the main issue with most electric cars as far as I can see - great if you're a 2-car family but perhaps not yet practical for long trips. Hybrids are an intermediate technology as far as I can see, due to the cost of having two types of motor in the car, and their claimed mpg / emissions figures are a joke as soon as the normal engine kicks in. I'm fairly sure my next car will be electric, but for now I've just ordered a new petrol car (Audi A4 Avant).
if i were in the market for a electric car I would go with the i3 but for now gas is cheap and it's best to experience gas engine cars while they're still around.
+jump oricakle There isn't that much to experience, and they'll be around for a couple decades more, at least. But the electric experience is something worth trying.
Nice review. My next car (not for 5 or 6 years) I am going to consider electric cars as there should be a few to choose from. With my work commute this car's range just wouldn't work especially considering I live in a cold climate. From what I've read so far the Chevy Bolt or Tesla 3 may be feasible but we'll see when they comes out. The one thing about the i3 that struck me odd was the cost of winter tires. Over $1700?? Why so expensive? Was it the rims they are mounted on?
Hello, thank you for posting a very informative video. I'd like to know you experience with battery degredation now that it's a few years later. We are considering getting an i3, but battery life is a huge concern.
Great review....looking for a work vehical, as I do a lot of driving. One major question, maintenance....BMW's are known for high cost for general maintenance. Pls answer, it would help a lot. Figuring no oil changes, that's big...
Fair enough it is a really strange looking car but, I think the should of made look a bit less flat on the back + that sloping window on the side but apart from that I don't mind the design hopefully the next model will look a bit better!
Bought my wife a REX a year ago and I bought myself a 2016 M3. I just traded my M3 in for a BEV last night. Love the car...awesome!
Blasphemy lol!!!! My wife has the i3 and ill just steal hers instead ;)
Bought my bmw i3 last week, the dealership was putting on new tires and cleaning her up, and I get to drive her away today!!
I’m super excited!
Let us know how you like it!
Great review - I have had my i3 (same colour and wheels as yours) for just on 12 months in Australia and driven 7 500 km (4600 mi). I agree with all your comments. I opted for the REX due to distances I need to occasionally travel and have done up to 250 km (150 mi) round trips. Have only used around 50 L (13 US gal) of fuel in 7500 km. Love the car!
Great Review. I have had the car for a year as well. Mine is the REX model with DC charging option. I have put on 13,500 miles. Go to work and back everyday. Some locations I have used the REX, without a problem. Love the car so does my wife, The only expense I had was to install the BMW charging station, the dealer gave it to me at no extra cost. So my savings have been significant on the gas side. I was using $200-250 a month with my other car , with this one I have filled up the 2 gallons tank once $4.8 !!! . Electric bill went up an average of $14-16 a month. And I definitely agree with the highway driving. Otherwise I am on the second year of a three year lease, no question I will be leasing another i3.
I'm about to buy a pre-owned 2014 i3 and needed more information to secure my decision. Thank you for the great review.
For a channel called "BMWBLOG", I'm seeing a lot of turn signal use :/
First thing I told my wife when I bought my i3.. "Baby, the best part is is that we don't have to use turn signals anymore!" and all I got was rolled eyes.
They don't make it easy and intuitive to use the turn signal for lane changes on BMW and Mercedes cars. I think the world can live without 30 different turn signal interval modes for lane changes.
lol
roflmao
@@askhowiknow5527 yes
What a Beautiful car! I love how it looks!!
Me too!
The "feeling like it's going into neutral" when braking and hitting a bump, that's common with the Prius too. Lightly press the brake pedal to do regen and hit a bump and you're in for a little surprise.
Almost boughtan i3, but went with a 2011 E93 M3...Love your review. Thank you and good luck with it!
+Jose A Thats a great car and Im sure you got a good deal on it but it will keep its value well!
Yes, sticker was $71,xxx I got it 12/25/2014 for 46k with 5,600 miles. Fully loaded Silverstone II with extended red leather. I still would love to own an i3. Im a hardcore technology fan, specially when it comes from Bavarian Motor Works. what kind of solar panels did you go with? Are you storing the energy or feeding it back to the grid?
+Jose A how did you change your mind? i3 and e93 M3 are completely different cars (!)
shanedriveinit Im a Techie and a hardcore BMW fan. I know the i3 is groundbreaking electric car and the other hand…. BMWs 1st time making an M3 with a dual clutch, 8,250 RPM high responsive V8 with a retractable streel roof. These were my main reason., my friend works for bmw and I test drove the i3 it's an amazing car don't let the size fool you. Lol
Okay I see. I like electric cars, especially Tesla P90D but the sound of electric cars, or actually the lack of it is a little off putting in my opinion. Sure, great technology etc but there is nothing better than a throaty exhaust or the sound of V6 or V8 etc.
Spot on reviewer! Having had high performance for many years now, ppl look at me funny when I tell them this is the best. The overall net satisfaction dynamic is probably the incomparable reason it's my fav.
Great review, I had one for 24 hours and couldn't agree more! Cheers
agree with it all. my range hits the pooper when cold, but I'm happy with my purchase. sweet spot overall driving is anywhere from 0-50.
One of the hardest things for long-time GAS vehicle drivers struggle with is to stop saying "GAS pedal" when referring to the Accelerator.
I'm not saying this as an offense, but this guy looks exactly like I imagined a bmw i3 owner
lol
+Nippledozer
You mean the kind of guy who needs to tell people he owns a BMW even though the Volt is a superior plugin hybrid that costs way less? Or do you mean a guy who looks like he'd lose a fight with a ten year old girl?
+Larry Smith I mean the guy who owns every product Apple has put out in the last decade
+Nippledozer Haha true.
hahah
Thanks for the great report! I think BMW did a great job on the i3. I would love to get one but my commute is 140 miles. Opted for Model X instead and I too added solar to my home specifically to offset fuel for transportation.
Finally a good thorough review from someone who isn't annoying. Thanks for putting this video together
I will never understand the people that think this car is ugly.
+Message Man I will never understand the people that think this car is NOT ugly.
+Message Man Post a picture of your wife and we'll get an idea of what you think is attractive.
Larry Smith Definitely don't have a wife.
+Message Man LOL. Great answer! 😀
+Leonardo |-/ yes it is absolute beauty
cdn.bmwblog.com/wp-content/uploads/bmw-i3-bass-fit-14.jpg
I love it
I too love the i3, Really cool review! I need to do a similar one on my i8
+DoctaM3 You're on every car video I click on!
+JAyy781 we must like the same cars!
I wish I had the money for an i8!
DoctaM3 and hni
DoctaM3 wassup man!!! love your channel!
The "regen loss" when hitting potholes seems to be a common thing in EVs. My gen2 Volt does that. I think it's a means to protect the motor bearings or housing. Since the disk brakes aren't used, hitting bumps during regen would transmit all the stress onto the motor and housing and mount.
On a turbo Caliber (CSRT4), this kind of stress is achieved on accelerations if you sustain wheel hop. We've seen a half dozen getrag transmission casings explode to that.
Oh no, now i want a BMW to. Never tought i would feel this... Cool car. BMW knows their stuff !
excellent review, thanks for posting.The cross wind sensitivity is caused by the fact that the rear of the car is heavier than the front and the car is light with a large surface (large sail)
thank u so much for ur video,u do so many things better as any other guy reviewing the car,u are precise and cover a lot of details!
Ok now BMW needs to make an e34 electric car with carbon fiber chassis =D
After seeing this, it just re-inforced my love for the Chevy Volt. Will be buying my second one this summer. As a freeway car I have been everywhere. No range limitation, no power limitation, and being a heavier very aerodynamic car, I don't experience buffeting in high cross winds. The car is predictable, and handles more like a sports car than a sedan.
I know someone with the i3 with REX and he told me it is completely useless for mountain driving because it has no power. Is good enough to get you home in an emergency, but no good for any lengthy trips.
I own an i3 REx. If I want to cross the continental divide, I'll drive my other ICE car. Everyday I drive i3 - much more fun than the old Volt. It drives like a BMW. No FWD torque steering.
Saying the i3 isn't good on long trips is like saying a bikini isn't great in the snow. It's not what it's made for.
You feel unstable with car on higher speed when side wind is blowing because car has very narrow tyres(155/70) but is it also boxy(which i like). Try tyre dimensions on both front and rear tyres with 175/65 R19 with wheels 5.5JxR19 and you will feel no more insecurity with high speed. Mile range will be lower about 2-3%-that is relatively small loss and something you dont have to worry about. Driving is going to be much more fun.
its beautiful. i would love one. great review
Hey, great video! I play bass too and it's cool to know that the 3/4 fits in there. I was hoping to see the internal dimensions for that exact purpose and you guys conveniently had a bass in there. Very cool, thank you
We have a 2017 all electric i3 and, like you, someone's always driving it. It's superb. We have three cars and the i3 is used for 80% of our mileage.
I rented a i3 for three days and I have to say it was hard returning it. It was the most amazing car I've ever driven. And I don't understand the people that say it's the ugliest car, I just don't see it. To me it's like looking at the future. Where cars are awesome.
Thank you very much for your very interesting review. I actually think about buying one as my "everyday-car".
As a Prius driver, who bought the same car twice ( Prius III Winter Grey 2011 then again 2014) I must say that this is the first time I considered cheating on my Prius w this car after seeing ur vid. I think Im in love:)
lovely car
I've noticed the same behavior in our Leaf.. when the battery is full, there is no regen. Sometimes it takes me by surprise. Our Volt never has that issue, though.
+8-Bit Keys That's actually because the Volt never fills the battery past 80% (and never drains it under 20% I recall) to preserve the life of the battery. Nobody's had either a Leaf or a Volt long enough to really see if that's been an issue though, and Nissan has replaced less than 1% of the batteries in use, even including stupid hot places like Phoenix.
This car has been my number 1 on my non-Tesla electric car for quite a while. Now with the 2016 Nissan Leaf's 30kW 150 mile range battery, they might be challenging that position. Energy density in batteries is improving and getting cheaper. So I hope that the next gen i3 get more range. Offer this with a 30kW and you got a very compelling car. Just if we could get more rapid chargers where I am at.
I love my i3 and it’s a coincidence that you’re in KC. I really like the color of your car too.
EV is the future.. this car is really really awesome.. like to own one right hand drive.. tq bro.
Thís is a proper review. Not some "We have it for 2 weeks and know everything" Review. ;-) Thanks!
Well I'm glad it can definitely handle all types of weather 😂😂😂
Thanks for the info, got a good overview of the car
Glad it was helpful!
Nice !!! subscribed to your blog. Seriously considering a CPO i3 as soon as VW buys back my TDi VW. My daily commute is only 12 miles roundtrip and we own a large SUV for family outings.
I love i3 engine growl!!
This is my dream car😍, but I want it in all black😍😩
I'm currently looking at getting a 2016 CPO i3 REx. Great info, especially on the one pedal driving, and on that especially the hard bumps stopping it. Very good info all around. Thanks.
Thank you! You will enjoy the 2016 i3 also, since it's probably very affordable.
@@bmwblog Hey man thanks for the reply. I actually got a super good deal on a 2015 Rex Mega, it has some options installed like backup camera with sensor things (I think that was an option), DC fast charge and a few other things. 28K miles on it. Got it for $16.6K USD. I'm waiting for them to install a fuel tank temp sensor as part of some TSB so I couldn't take her home last night. But I SHOULD be able to go finish up the paperwork and get it here in an hour or three will a full tank and battery. Cheers!
Pretty good. Rear wheel hop effects a lot of cars with all the electronic traction control. Hopefully they can fine tune the programing or improve sensors. The regenerative braking difference with full battery is another obvious oversight. A well thought out regenerative system should not be noticeable regardless of battery charge. Nice little E car though.....clean up the software, cut the cost and add some E range.
The regenerative braking is disabled in the cold not because it can't handle the electricity from it, no.
The regenderative braking is disabled in the cold to prevent the car from sliding and crashing, it is for your safety.
I'm just as impressed with your garage as I am with the i3
Excellent review. And credible which to me is valuable. Thanks.
Why does the car park itself all the way in the 'front' of the parking space? In both instances I saw in the video, it pulled all the way forward. Leaving that much room behind you can cause a problem when the car behind you leaves, and the next person parts right on your rear bumper (like the i3 does....).
Thanks for the comprehensive review
When the wheel loses a little grip every other electric car including my prius hybrid and Tesla S will do the neutral thing and not brake. It's a scary sensation but I'm sure future cars will fix this. As it is, it's the best car and you utilize 9/10ths of it's potential on the road and the interior is such a nice place. It's compact on the outside but huge on the inside, and weighs only 2900lbs, with extended range version. You should have added the Fast Charging option as that will allow you to drive long distances w/o too long of a wait. Also, not sure where you're at, but in CA we can get HOV stickers for faster travel. I drive mine everyday to SF and skip all traffic. It easily overtakes cars on the road, and you forgot to mention its insane turning radius making U- turns and parallel parking a snap. I fit my bike, my entire office supplies all in the back, and the ride's sublime, just as supple as a Porsche Cayman, maybe a little floatier due to longer suspension travel. I definitely love mine and plan to buy it when lease is up.
Wow, just realized this is in KC!!!!! western auto sign, dance hall, and then world war monument..... respect.
Why not a Tesla ? I do like the i3 but the range is the problem. I drive Tesla and I am very happy with it. I have driven it from Sweden to Italy Rome and no problems with SC.
I'd totally consider one. There are deals on used. And frankly great lease deals on new. But living in snow belt I'm just not willing to spend a couple of grand on a set of snow wheels or $1400 on a set of snow tires. I've been driving various CUV/SUV vehicles with AWD and all season, and that works fine. As much as I'd like to consider electric for a secondary vehicle, these tiny thin tires, and the advice to buy special snow tires, puts me off completely. I'm being asked to exchange the convenience of fewer service visits, for the annoyance of switching tires twice a year and having a place to store them, as well as the expense. Not to mention the hassle factor if I want to drive out of town.
Honestly, winter tires should always be a must. Same as all Europeans are forced to put them on.
Oh my god!! I love your garage!!
I love the i3. Wonderful car.
I love the way the I3 drives. I love the light weight of the car. 80 miles is just not a useful range. The Volt is a much better alternative. It is much cheaper and wile it only has a 50 mile electric range you have 210 mile gas range. For most people 50 miles is fine. You don't have fear of running out of a charge.
the range is 310km with its gas motor in the bmw?
If 50 miles is enough why isn't 80? Your contradicting yourself
so the breaking effect of the regeneration changes with the state of the battery? that's a big usability mistake
+ghd67ik2887218 It makes sense. If the battery is full there is nowhere for the energy to go. A possible solution would be to have a large resistor (heater) that could accept the energy so that you have the same driving feel regardless of the battery state of charge.
oisiaa no, it doesn't make sense for the usability that the same pedal movement create different deceleration randomly. if the battery can't take the regen energy the computer should brake accordingly with the disc brakes
Inherently unsafe at any speed, if the deceleration performance is unpredictable. Especially for non owner driver !!!
to me this is a design flaw, the primary purpose of regen is to simulate engine breaking of IC engine, without it when you cut power to the electric motor the car would free-wheel.
Braking. You don't want a "breaking" effect.
Hi, thanks for sharing your experience of 'living' with your BMW i3 for one year!
This confirms to me a couple of things:
FIRST: the car should adapt to the driver, not the other way round. I find quite unpleasant that when the battery is completely full the regenerative braking is working differently, the electronics should handle that, not the driver.
SECOND: when you lift your right foot, the car slows down immediately as if you were willing to brake. I tested it, and I found it VERY unpleasant. This is not adding anything to the mileage the car can drive, it is simply wasting energy.
I guess that when someone will have the time and money to demonstrate it in a formal way (by driving the car in a close circuit with and WITHOUT this 'right foot lifting automatic braking') this will become more evident for anybody. By the way Tesla Model S lets you choose 3 levels of regen power, and it is much smoother and pleasant to experience :-)
As far as I remember this is still the first and only electric car that is NOT overweight for it's size and range.
Right now it looks like as if they don't strongly profit from this advantage yet, but let's make range tests in mountain locations with much elevation
difference, especially up, and I am sure it will show for instance against the Tesla Model S carrying twice the weight.
And as if to pronounce this aspect of "less overhead", they made the car even quite short, like a modern city car for less than perfect parking lots..
I have a 2015. Love it. If it’s as great as it is and reliable as it is, why is the resell value possibly the worst of any car produced today?
I would say that inconsistent regen affecting "braking" is a major safety issue and liability attorneys around the world should most definitely use this information. It is definitely a deal breaker for me.
Very informative review! Thank you.
Very interesting video. Constructive feedback
Looking forward to the i5 coming out
when? lmfao
If the EV drive train can not handle a strong regen, then a a resistor bank should or the brakes should be applied so that the feel is more seamless to the driver. In the winter, the heat could be used to heat the cabin.
I wonder if a battery heater like RV’s use Tank Heaters so they don’t freeze maybe that would help.
I see BMW are now offering a lease for $199 plus taxes for the i3 w/range extender. Seems like a great deal.
Question. You say that its winter range is affected. I live in Canada, where it can get to -40F. Any idea how it would perform (or not perform) in that kind of weather?
Kayla W get the range extender model because you can loose up too 40 percent of range if you park out side if you park inside you’ll lose 20 percent
Awesome Review. BMW have started testing it in India last week. Now I must say Good Luck Tesla!!
Great video, thanks!
love the car. when i got the money, ill buy one.
He did a great job with this video.
Agreed, very informative
Thanks for the video. Very useful
No problem, glad it helped
All the white stuff on the alloy parts of the suspension is corrosion.
+Philip Cooper b-b-but rust is only orange guys!!!!
***** Corrosion isn't just rust. Even aluminium, dural, magnesium and others (materials used in car/motorcycle industry) can corrode. The corrosion can get so far, it can even compromise the integrity of the material.
I was sarcastic. :
***** Yes, I know, that is why I gave you +1 :)
+Philip Cooper Aluminium is 100% corrosion resistant !
I have a 2016 M4 Convertible and a 2016 i3 REX. While I love the M4, I also really enjoy the i3. The back seats are really usable and it's a hell of a lot of fun to drive. Charging is a pain in the ass sometimes but I do have a Level 2 GE charger in the garage, another at work and a DC fast charger a couple of miles from my house. On another note. I did put an ///M badge on the back of the i3 just to look like a moron.
My first time ever seeing this car,and I think it looks really nice.There are a lot of people saying it looks ugly,I don't get that at all.
211 is a lot for a tire mount ballance because even if the tire was 150 dollars thats charging as much as a mount for all 4 tires
Great review, thanks.
Thanks
I'm curious...now that BMW has improved on the battery for 50% of range will u be turning yours in for the new one to get that estimated 200 miles of range or is it possible to have BMW switch out the battery since the batty enclosure size has not changed.
Now they improved it again :)
I wonder how much the presenter's enthusiasm is due to the i3 itself and how much is due to finding out that small cars are actually extremely good these days. For example, has the presenter owned a small car previously?
I Just Love your garage. Nice car also..
Why do electric cars have to look so odd ? Why couldn't BMW take the 328i and just make it electric. If they did that, I would buy an electric car in a heartbeat.
Sir Galahad because the 328i wasn't made to be an EV
Would you please make a video discussing how 440V charging works or at least comment on your experience with 440V charging. Can you exceed the 150 mile total range by refilling the 1.9 gallon fuel tank? Did you buy or lease your i3 and why? If bought aren't you concerned about low resale value due to technological obsolescence? For snow driving would you prefer the i3 to have front wheel drive? Does the i3 come with a service comparable to GM's OnStar? When it was 5F were you able to get the cabin warm, if willing to sacrifice range to do it?
Nice video, and the car is impressive. Do you have another car for long trips, though? That's still the main issue with most electric cars as far as I can see - great if you're a 2-car family but perhaps not yet practical for long trips. Hybrids are an intermediate technology as far as I can see, due to the cost of having two types of motor in the car, and their claimed mpg / emissions figures are a joke as soon as the normal engine kicks in. I'm fairly sure my next car will be electric, but for now I've just ordered a new petrol car (Audi A4 Avant).
Can reduce the cross-wind sensation by lowering with H&R or Cobra springs.
if i were in the market for a electric car I would go with the i3 but for now gas is cheap and it's best to experience gas engine cars while they're still around.
+jump oricakle There isn't that much to experience, and they'll be around for a couple decades more, at least. But the electric experience is something worth trying.
I was thinking of getting it to travel to work, 40 miles both ways highway driving. Now, I am not sure, thanks to your review.
The self-parking example was hilarious ... could have parked a tank in there manually.
Nice video and great review; thanks! :-)
id let the car park itself....if all spaces were as giant as that one you parked in lol that's massive
See how woman parks on YT, specially Russian! LOL!
He was so informative. And easy on the eyes haha
Glad you liked the review
5/7. So, like, a week? Seriously though, this car is the perfect city car, especially with the improved range.
Good assessment,thks.
Nice review. My next car (not for 5 or 6 years) I am going to consider electric cars as there should be a few to choose from. With my work commute this car's range just wouldn't work especially considering I live in a cold climate. From what I've read so far the Chevy Bolt or Tesla 3 may be feasible but we'll see when they comes out. The one thing about the i3 that struck me odd was the cost of winter tires. Over $1700?? Why so expensive? Was it the rims they are mounted on?
Hello, thank you for posting a very informative video. I'd like to know you experience with battery degredation now that it's a few years later. We are considering getting an i3, but battery life is a huge concern.
Great review....looking for a work vehical, as I do a lot of driving. One major question, maintenance....BMW's are known for high cost for general maintenance. Pls answer, it would help a lot. Figuring no oil changes, that's big...
the i3 is probably really practical and maybe even somewhat fun to drive, but i think it is pretty ugly for a BMW...
I thought that at first but looking at it I front of your own eyes it actually looks quite nice
i saw it with my own eyes already in a parking lot, didn't like it at all...
Fair enough it is a really strange looking car but, I think the should of made look a bit less flat on the back + that sloping window on the side but apart from that I don't mind the design hopefully the next model will look a bit better!
+muh1h1 Almost all recent BMW's are ugly. Mk5 and Mk6 3 series and the new 7 series look okay but BMW made a styling mistake a while back.
Hamish Goldsworthy
i don't agree... I think the most beautiful BMWs are the E30s, but i like even tthe most recent ones, apart from the E3.
I thought this vehicle is pure electric. If it is pure electric, the word GAS should not be mention in this review.