As an i3 driver, I'm personally disappointed with BMW for not continuing the groundbreaking engineering and materials used in the i3 with their current line up.
The i3 never really met BMW's own standards for NVH, dynamics, etc. It's incredibly loud with so many huge flaws, it's uncomfortable, and its dynamics are poor on top of all that. The F20 1-series...even the E87 1-series is vastly superior in every way.
The i3 is a no brainer for anyone wanting an EV. Its a supercar at bargain prices at the moment. I paid £24K for mine with 18k miles in 2022 now its approx worth £15K but still has only 23K miles so it will hopefully last 10 years or more. I do not worry about the high voltage battery as I expect it to outlive my use for the car.
I totally agree. My first i3 was a 2017 BEV which I bought in 2020. This past summer it was totaled in a crash. I considered getting a pre-owned Tesla as a replacement, but upon reflection there is no car more perfect for my current lifestyle than the i3. The size is just right for city driving and the cabin is a very comfortable place to be. Martin is spot on with how well the design has remained fresh all these years later. I was fortunate to find a pre-owned 2021 BEV in August and I intend to drive it for 4 to 5 years.
I travel 80 miles (round trip) to Manchester, the M60 is not a great motorway, but the i3S does well on it. It’s OK in bad weather, doesn’t especially get blown around in cross winds. It’s not really right to place it in the same category as a tiny Smart car (I had one!) it’s way, way more capable than that. Much closer to the Golf GTD I had. I’m a fan.
I totally agree!! My wife and I have owned or leased THREE i3s: 2 REX and 1 BEV. They really are great cars as long as you can live with the range, and my preference would be for the BEV model since the range extender adds complexity. Such a shame that BMW was one of the first with such an innovative premium small EV car, but then failed to continue its investment with meaningful updates. We did see some incremental improvements in battery density, and the addition of the i3s model with available sunroof (!!), but no second generation of what I believe is one of the best BMWs ever! I loved the looks on Camaro/Mustang drivers when I would totally smoke them from a stoplight! And with the low center of gravity it wasn't a bad handler either despite the skinny tires. Our only issues with the car were failure of a 12V battery and stubborn stains on the Giga trim seats, other than that it was a great experience!
I’m keeping my 2020 i3 as long as I possibly can as there is nothing on the market that can replace it. It’s a great drive, looks fantastic, is cheap to run, and most importantly at the moment does not rely in touch screen or touch controls to operate it.
Plus its 99% I think non ferrous and does not suffer car park dents ! OMG a car with no rust ever ! I would have never believed this possible when I got my first car in 1978
I love my i3 - it’s the perfect size for what I need it for and that’s a lot of motorway and heavy deliveries all over Germany. Its super reliable and frugal with power - and it still looks great in 2024. there is no alternative that I have found from any manufacturer that exceeds the i3 in its super niche role. Very sad bmw haven’t continued this amazing lineup
I always enjoy your videos and I've learned a lot from them. I leased an i3s three years ago and have absolutely loved it (most enjoyable car I've ever had). Just got to the end of the lease and bought the car as really didn't want to change to anything else
Yup. Test drove one way back in November 2013 at the Los Angeles Auto Show and loved it. In 2020 I picked up a 94ah REx and just switched out to a 120ah s BEV. Can't believe how much I've enjoyed these little cars and really appreciate the content you guys are putting out about them.
We have had our 2014 BMW i3 for 4 years. We bought it used. We drove from Charlotte to Atlanta to get it. This car is incredibly amazing. I love it so much. I don't see ever trading it. The only upgrade I would like to do is when it's time to replace the battery. I hope that BMW will offer battery replacement with more range. I wish this car had a sunroof, but it's the type of car where it doesn't matter that you don't have. The car is such a joy to drive. I've never had a car that I love to roll the windows down and just listen to the futuristic way. It sounds going through neighborhoods. It's just such a blessing to have
I’m looking at one in Atlanta right now - a 2017 BEV (I don’t want Rex) for just $12,500 (60Ah tho). It will be my commuter & errand car, I have an Outback for vacation road trips & if my teens refuse to ride in the BMW 😂, they keep telling me the i3 looks awful but I am obsessed. Hope I’m making a good choice, I keep looking at other used cars (looked at Mach-e, & Lexus NX hybrid, & Venza hybrid). Hard to find those I mentioned under 30k so the i3 really stood out to me. Oh I looked at Mazda MX30 also but it looks a bit plain to me. Anyway any helpful info you have id appreciate it. I have no idea what to ask the dealer but I plan to test drive it Monday🎉
I hope it goes well with getting your i3. We love ours so much as a daily driver. As far as advice on what to ask I would mainly try to get the history of the car to see if it's been in an accident. You need both key fobs, the charge cable/packet to store in the frunk and make sure the display screens have no issues. Also, look into adding a level 2 charger at home because it's worth the investment. Trickle charging works but is super slow. Good luck with your purchase.
I thoroughly enjoy every video Martin does! His ease of going from full on spec reviews and comments, to his little asides, to his ever-so-gentle complaining… very enjoyable and easy to listen to! I’m thinking an i3 might be a really good fit for my teenage son! Thank you for another great video!
Jay! Have an i3 as a company car since early 2020 and I've just extended the lease by a year. After that I'm going to buy it, as there's indeed nothing comparable on the market. And like a fine wine, this car is not for everyone. It really is an acquired taste.
I have a 2022 i3S and grabbed one as a last chance before they went out of production. I love them so much. There’s no other BMW I’d consider as they’re all too big for my needs. Here the i3 is great small car with spacious cabin- bespoke EV and NOT an SUV, very few cars tick those boxes . I would consider a mini again in the future ( had a 3 dr one before) but there will be plenty of aspects of the i3 that I really miss. So when the PCP comes to the end next year I fully intend to pay the balloon and keep the car.
I've driven an i3 for about 7.5 years now. I haven't found out a model I would like to swap it. It offers lots of space, does not rust and has a very small turning circle.
My 2021 i3S Upside: Fun to drive. Very Responsive. Quick (from the lights!) Running costs (Avg 3.9m/kWh@7.5p/kWh= under 2p/mile) Free off Solar in Summer! Quietness Comfort Unique Appearance. Love the 20” Wheels too. Seats are comfortable (Important to me) Zero Tax Proper designed from the ground up EV. No half measures, they did it correctly and it drives like a BMW because it is a BMW! Purchase price was competitive. Downside: Range, but is this a downside? 99% charged at home. It’s probably more like charger anxiety on a long journey, but that turned out OK. 1st Service (in the 2nd year) Cost at BMW Main agent £300+ Not ridiculous, but I’ll be looking for a good independent after 3 years. Conclusion: I won’t be returning to an ICE car anytime soon. Swap it for… Personally there’s nothing good enough yet. Tesla model 2 in 2024? My car ‘gland’ stopped twitching when I bought mine. I’ve looked everything in my personal price range £25K. BMW I3s is quick, affordable and fun.
Excellent list mate, I’m saving and buying a 2022 car next year and can’t wait. I’m 64 and it will last me to the end of my driving days I reckon. I’m going to love trying to optimise the economy, I used to do that in my BMW 740 sport believe or not and averaged 23 mpg over 7 years of ownership. Of course, it was a challenge and not an attempt to save money, why bother when you lose £45k in deprecation 😂
I have had my 2019 i3s for 4.5 years. It is one of the most modified ones in the world. Every option from BMW. AC Schnitzer package. Wheel Spacers, aftermarket steering wheel, custom oak center console. I am on my 3rd suspension setup. Lowered on adjustable BC Racing Coil Overs. Carbon Fiber side skirts and rear diffuser. I replaced my V10 R8 as a daily driver with this car. Been trying to figure out what my next car could be, but I just can't find anything else I enjoy driving more. Granted it has major flaws but it just does some things sooo well. The sunroof is fantastic and with the large windows open it is like driving in a little jeep in the summer. So many cars nowadays have awful aerodynamic buffet with the windows open. Finally test drove a Taycan Crossturismo 4 yesterday to see if it could be a contender as a replacement. Drove it twice actually because I thought i was being too harsh the first time. Did not enjoy driving it more than the i3s, and certainly NOT for $100k more.
@@grrlyrida Yea it is as long as a range rover too. It also has the worlds worst backup and surround view camera making it even worse for parking. Drove a Turbo S variant as well with the all wheel steering, that helps a little bit.
@@grrlyrida The cross turismo is as long as my Hummer H2 with way worse visibility and the worlds worst backup camera. I actually sat in the new Hummer EV SUV after swearing I wouldn't consider another big vehicle but I was so thoroughly impressed I will probably test drive one next. With all the removable roof panels it is like having a convertible for the summer, the practicality of a massive truck and the acceleration of a Taycan Turbo. I am telling myself I would just keep the i3s then if I went that route
Another point: as a result of it's body architecture the i3 seems to wear it's miles very very well indeed. My first small battery i3 was just over 6 years old when i traded it in for a i3s, and it looked pretty much like new. The soft plastic panels hung on the carbon / alluminium frame seem to resist stone chips incredibly well, the interior was unmarked, and with a good wash and polish it could have simply been put on an non age related plate and would have looked like a new car in the showroom, especially as, imo, the styling looks modern even today ;-)
I still love the i3 and would love to have another one one day - the only thing that worries me is the maintenance/parts costs as they get older - appreciate this is probably the case with any bmw!
We have a 2017 i3 REx that I have driven over 30,000 miles in the last two years and absolutely love it. Recently got a 2018 Tesla M3. If I could only choose one, it would be a very difficult decision. The i3 truly is in a class by itself. I had an i4 loaner for a couple of days while the i3 was in the shop having the 12V battery replaced. It's nice, but way too large and heavy for my tastes. I would not consider any of the current BMW EVs. I'll be leaving on a 400 mile round trip in a couple of days and can't decide which car to take, they are both so much fun to drive.
After selling our i3 94Ah + Rex 7 months ago, and driving an MG4 since, we gave it back and got a very nice i3S 120Ah. It feels very familiar, yet subtly drives better, with a little more oomph in Sport mode, and a significantly better handling, especially against wind, which is frequent in our regions. We don't really feel the supposedly firmer ride, although we have 20" wheels. A great car that we will keep for the next 3 years.
We have a 2018 i3, which we’ve owned from new. Heat pump, HK stereo, wheels like the one in this review and lounge interior. My wife absolutely loves it (she was thinking of a Zoe and I suggested the i3), it’s her favourite ever car and she’s never owned a car for so long. She had a Golf before and would have changed it after a week if it wasn’t for the 3 year lease. As for me, I love the design, especially the barn doors and the interior. The one pedal driving is an amazing feature/driving experience. As for the rest of it, I’m less keen. I should caveat that by saying my current car is a Volvo XC70, as was my previous car and before that I had a Discovery 4. From my car choices, you can see that sportiness isn’t a priority for me, so I find the ride harsh and the steering very twitchy and nervous compared with the vagueness that I’m accustomed. I also find the seats extremely uncomfortable, making the range a blessing and I don’t think I’ve ever owned a car with such a truly awful stereo, I dread to think how bad the standard one would have been (gramophone with a dog sitting next to it). We never purchased the car with the intention of making journeys that wouldn’t allow us to charge at home and have only miscalculated once requiring a public charge and that was a few weeks ago. We do both agree that we would never make a journey that would require stops on route due to the time it adds to the trip. Living in Cornwall and having parents in London, the ability to drive without stopping (if chosen) is invaluable and the return journey can be made on a single tank of diesel. So in summary, my wife is a massive fan and for the reasons we chose it I feel it’s ideal, but for a long journey I would never entertain using it to the point I would hire a car, or take the train if we had to go to London and we couldn’t use our other car. Edit: I do feel the i3 has the potential to be a classic car in the future, especially having been designed as an EV from the start and it’s really unique design and build. As for the comment in the review about what other BMWs would be a consideration, for me, none of them regardless of their propulsion as (IMHO) recent BMW design is awful.
I drove my 2014 i3 120000km and loved it! It was damaged in a small crash, and because of the parts prices, sadly it got wrecked. We also have a 2nd gen Leaf, but i still miss the i3 and prefer it over the Leaf in every aspect.
Great quality content, as always. Very assertive and unbiased. Me and my wife are indecisive between a 94Ah with REx and a 120Ah w/o REx. It will be our first EV and won't be our only car. We have an Aston Martin V8 and a Land Rover Discovery diesel 7 seater that can do 1000km on a tank, and we love it and use it for big adventures. The i3 should serve the purpose of doing short journeys 2-3 times a week of a maximum of 50km, sparing the health of our Land Rover that does not even reach its operating temps on trips to the shops and such daily rides... So, 94Ah with REx or 120Ah without, for a first-time EV owner? Also, we are pretty much decided on the i3 because we value cars that are purposeful and have character :) Thanks to anyone in advance for the advice.
I just bought a second hand i3 mostly because of your videos In my situation the car does not leave Milton Keynes its an awesome little car its a 67 plate with 15000 miles an absolute steal and so cheap to run I will never go back to a petrol or diesel car the only thing thats a bit scary is the insurance mine doubled with this car spot on videos keep up the good videos😁😁
Love your videos, Martin and love the i3. Yes, I'm sure it was bonkers expensive for BMW to manufacture - CFRP tubs aren't cheap... just ask McLaren...! But, boy what a crackin' efficient, suitably-sized EV - commanding driving position without the oversized, resource-wasteful, aerodynamics-of-a-brick SUV shape. I've just done a long-weekend-away, 230 mile trip in my 94Ah Rex - got an average of 4.8 miles/kWh on the battery, plus, from what I've calculated, about 45mpg-equivalent on Rex power. What an incredible piece of kit... 😎
Mate, your videos are always on point and so well made - I really enjoy your enthusiasm and love towards the i3 and you’re not alone. Keep them coming. Cheers. P.S. we have both an i3S and a TM3 and the formal will continue to be a permanent member of the family.
Great video . Our 2022 i3s has now covered 16k miles. It’s just so easy, and the quality is superb. It’s the ‘big little car’, swallowing four adults easily, and a reasonable size boot for luggage / shopping. It does ride on the hard side, and gets caught a little by strong side winds on motorways however, it’s still a gem of a vehicle. Real life, we see 140 - 150 mile range, and I love the fact it charges at full 50kW speed until around 92% so a stop from low battery power normally takes no more than 30 minutes. For most people, the i3 is probably all the car they need, 95% of the time. .
I just got my first i3; a 2015 unit I got for a steal. Upgraded from a first gen Volt, and I'll say, there's a lot of things I miss from the old volt (the chirp [low volume horn on the left steering column stalk], the ability to coast and activate regen manually, and the good amount of storage compartments inside the cabin); but all in all, after just a few days of ownership, I'm loving this car and can honestly see myself upgrading into a newer model year in the future. I currently own the highest trim (Tera World) REx, with full leather interior (while I would, 100% prefer the "lodge" interior of the Mega World), 10.25" screen with android auto MMI, Adaptive cruise control and all the good mods from Bimmercode), I would definitely upgrade to a newer model with the same options.
I do not know of a car with such an affectionate and loyal following. You only have to read the comments to Martin’s video to note that many owners, including petrolheads, can never get the i3 out of their system - to the extent of coming back to the car after drifting off elsewhere or just never being able to part with their drive. I suspect that many dismiss the i3 as an odd ball car based on its quirky looks. It is definitely a car you have to drive and sit in to experience how futuristic and clever the design was 10 years ago and which is still the iconic EV against which new EVs have to be measured. Owners definitely benefit from the € billions that BMW sank into its design and development. Just sad that very little of the innovation was carried forward into other BMW models. I think it is a bit of a misnomer to describe the i3 as a city car. It was designed as a Mega City car so capable of commuting quite a few miles from the suburbs to city centres. I wonder whether the s variant was developed in response to BMW discovering that the car was being driven longer distances than they originally foresaw and the i3 was being bought by those who were fond of hot hatches. I fear we will never see the like of the i3 again. A pity perhaps that a clever Chinese company did not try to copy the design concept, and build materials but with more range and more up to date tech. Another thing often overlooked is the i3 is probably the easiest and least stressful car to driver ever. Fantastic one pedal driving, great visibility, unbelievable steering and turning circle and the wonderful iDrive system which is far easier to use than a fiddly and often unresponsive touch screen.
someone who mentions drivetrain tuning - we totally agree! We own many EVs as a carsharing company in switzerland and we didn't find a car that handles starting/stopping as smooth as the bmw i3 (not shure how it works in the new i4)...
I’m on my second i3, absolutely love the car and driving experience. A colleague test drove one for an extended weekend, when comparing it to his Mercedes, he said “it was like getting out of a spaceship into a tractor “ so he naturally bought one!!
Almost 9 years, over 150k miles and going in my 2015 i3. Still love it and I’ll be replacing it only with a newer year i3 when needed. I don’t plan on changing to another car until I literally can’t only have an i3 (I may still keep one as a secondary grocery getter even in that case). I don’t think it was quite worth the 45k or so original MSRP, but it’s awesome as a used car.
The i3 indeed is an awesome EV. I love my 2017 94Ah one. Upgrade to i4/iX you ask? I am not attracted by the current EV-strategy by BMW. I have no plans for another i3, but if, I would look at Tesla.
We purchased a new EV, but....let me start from the beginning: we were getting ready to trade in our 2014 i3 REX with over 133K miles. However, we decided to keep our i3 because it's such an awesome little car for getting around town. Like you said, it's small on the outside, but big in the inside. It fits everywhere, and has great power! We have had no mechanical or electronic issues. The expected replacements have only been 4 sets of tires, the 12v battery twice, and the TPMS Sensors once, oil change and cabin filter once per year, and we've never needed to do the brakes, not even the headlights have needed replacing. The only complaint we have is with the the built-in infotainment and NAV systems. On such an iconic flagship vehicle, why didn't BMW include Apple CarPlay (or Android Auto)??? This is the only thing that dates this vehicle. The built-in NAV is useless. Wisely, maybe you can make a video about how to upgrade the infotainment system. Our new EV choices included the XM, the i4 M60, and a few others. We had a very long list of needs and wants. And yes, we did find one EV that met ALL of our needs and wants. Wisely, ask me and I'll tell you what we purchased. Or better yet, I'll give you our list and you can figure out what EV matched our list all. (Hint: there are a few surprise 'wants' we were looking for, and found) 😉
My new 2020 i3s is my second i3. Love it. I intend to keep it for a long time (not usual for me), because I can't think of anything with which I would want replace it! It's a shame BMW didn't continue and revise the line.
Great video on the i3. I would love to go with bmw again after my i3 is used up. But they currently make nothing similar. Converted ice cars or heavy suvs are not for me. Small, fun, lightweight nothing like the i3 exists.
I have had a 2018 REX for over a year now. The trouble is with it is that I get bored and want to change it but I can't justify doing so. It's that good, especially in 20mph Wales. It's like driving a dodgem.
We've had our i3 for nine years and we still love it. Martin you ask about best replacement- to my mind the only one with engineering innovation to match the i3 is a Tesla. We run the perfect duo of an i3 for short distances and a long range Model 3 Tesla for longer journeys. A perfect combination!
I used your tyre review and went for the Continentals, cheaper than the Bridgestones though still not cheap, but reckon they'll last a whole lot longer. 👍
I have had i3s since the beginning and am now on my 4th and last. I honestly don't know what to replace it with The Volvo EX30 looks promising. I think the EX30 is gong to be hit and will make BMW regret not keeping the i3 current. The only downside to the i3 that I can see is the tires. Here in the US Bridgestone has a monopoly and they are very expensive and poor tread life. I don't drive crazy at all but only get about 12k miles and they cost around $1500 a set out the door. That is outrageous. Hankook? You listening?
Very tempted by one of these. I’ve got a 66 plate 320d Msport Touring auto, also a 66 plate Mini Couper S. My Mrs Golf GTI is 2009 and quite leggy (175k) and 2017-18 i3’s are in our budget and radar.
I currently own an i3s and have recently given an ix1 a test drive while my car was being serviced and I also sat into an i4 and Hade a poke around. The ix1 was very refined on the road but is quite a bit bigger. The i4 is very much a traditional BMW. My overall impression of both was that they are very nice cars but they are compromised by virtue of being designed primarily as combustion engines cars and so there is a lot of wasted space. The interiors also seem a bit boring after the funky i3 internal styling. Also, why has headlining now become black in general as it makes the interior seem much more gloomy?
I have 2018 I3s rex and it is great. I love everything about it. Most of my driving is around London so a short car, good turning circle and high driving position suits me. Also i do a school run and the with no tunnel its easy for kids to slide across so either way always exit onto pavement. I like the look of the VW ID3 but If i upgrade it would be a newer I3/s. My one critisism is Occasionally i would like to carry 4 passengers, particularly 3 kids in the back, there would be plenty of room.
I'll stick to my i3 from 2014 as long as it's possible to keep it running. It's an amazing car, and the materials it's built from are into the future. But why don't BMW continue this, and why doesn't all car manufacturers do like BMW has done with this car? We have no rust in our car, we have had very little repairs though it has done 128.000 km, and it has always been very reliable, more than any ICE car I have ever owned - and I have now at the age of 68 owned quite a number. Brilliant car, best I've had, that is until we changed our holiday car to an ID Buzz, now I'm not sure which is best, but then they are very different beasts.
Traded my 94AH Rex for an MG4, which is a great car, but doesn't have the character and agility of my old i3. It was like a gocart and really fun to drive. You always had the Rex as a backup to avoid paying for rip-off public charging on a long run. The i3 still looks great even after all this time. Plus, how many other cars have a carbon fibre tub?
One small note the i3 does "zero speed hold" not using the friction brakes but using the traction motor, ie it will actively apply torque to the drive motor to prevent it spinning in the opposite direction to the drive direction selected (ie won't roll backwards in D, won't roll fowards in R) Because it isn't using the friction brakes and torque is still being reacted into the motor there is no suspension wind up (dive/squat) so it's very very smooth and can hardly be felt as it does it. I often wish it would actually have a mode for zero speed hold in both directions, ie be able to come to a halt and hold at zero speed irrespective of drive direction selected. This would make it even more relaxing to drive in traffic when there is a positive (ie forwards) graident, where currently the driver must apply a small amount of brake pressure to prevent the vehicle creaping forwards at very low speed
My appreciation for i3 has grown further since I changed mine to Cupra Born a couple weeks back. i3 has near perfect drivetrain (no creeping, superb throttle control and motor braking), ergonomics and controls, great visibility, agility in city, etc. BUT why I simply had to get rid of it was horrifying driving experience in certain winter conditions (though it does great most of time), and stupidly low boot area. Rear doors are a bad experience for family car, but I that I could have tolerated if it was the only problem. Also it is hard to understand why suspension is *this* uncomfortable on bad road conditions, meaning bad condition dirt roads or packed snow.
Mine has a problem with the ac charger and is about to cost me £1800. Taken the shine off a bit. The mechanic commented on how corroded some of the connectors were at the rear.
Very enjoyable production values. Happy to subscribe. Lots of wrecked i3's in Texas..... Lets glue one together! Longer, maybe. How many Englands fit in Texas??? What about the German fix for extended REx mieage....any problems? Peace. Lawson of Texas
I am very happy I grabbed a 2021 i3 with low mileage. I plan to use it until it really falls apart, because as Martin said, there is no other car like it. Definitely nothing as efficient, spacy inside and compact on the outside. Especially not from BMW which is rather sad: They clearly decided that their margin is more important than industry leadership. Good for the shareholders, bad for the planet.
I love my i3. I'm not sure if I will ever get another BMW, I certainly do not expect that I would get anything that BMW offers today. Everything is big and heavy, resulting in poor efficiency. On i3 forums, people are often looking for an i3 successor but rarely is any BMW mentioned - the BMW vision circular concept looked interesting but it's just a concept. The Volvo EX30 looks enticing, but I am interested in one covert BMW, the new Mini EV with a larger battery.
Can everyone stop saying how great i3s are please? I won't be in a position to buy one for another six months (when my current lease ends) and I'm worried the prices will go up before then :)
Love my i3 but needed more range, didn't like the other BMWs dont like Musk one jot so went with a Mach E. Still think the i3 is a lovely drive and so very good around the city.
I've owned my 2022 120Ah and i really like it, but the way market is going my PCP final payment will be way higher than what the car is worth. Might have to hand it back. i4 could be an option but it's very expensive compared to some rivals.
I have an i3s maxed out with all options. But i need a car for longer distances with my family so i would love to get a Tesla Cyber Truck or an iX as second Car - but cant afford at the moment 😢
Although not an owner, I love the i3 but the available electric range has always held me back from buying - even with the 38kWh cars though these were quite pricey when I was looking. Given the trade-offs between motorway speed, range and recharge time, I thought you might have opted for a slightly lower cruise speed ?
Coming to the end of my 2020 lease. So sad. Nothing replaces it. Big car quality in a super manoeuvrable package. The range is consistently surprising, with negligible degradation after 30k miles. I also have lodge trim. Wool is under-rated. Seats 4 adults comfortably. The only mistake I made was choosing the base-model audio. Just too quiet.
The I4 and IX series feel older, more traditional compared to I3. I3 stands out as a more modern and practical design compared to them. So we're staying with the I3 cars :)
Hello, i have recently gotten very interested in buying a BMW i3 in no small part thanks to your videos and i wanted to ask - is there any issues to look for specifically in an I3s as opposed to an I3? I wasn't originally looking for an s but due to circumstances might end up easier or cheaper for me to get an s with high mileage than an older lower mileage normal one. Also how susceptible is it in real life to cobbled or lower quality roads seeing as i will be mostly driving it in Prague? :D (sorry for multiposting i thought i would post it both to the videos where it is the most relevant but old and the newest one if possible) For more context i was originally looking at some lower mileage older 2014/2015ish prefacelift 60Ah REX BMW i3 and now i will be going to look at two BMW I3S 94Ah REX from 2018 one beautiful dark with quite high mileage over 100k miles and another not so beautiful but around 60k which should still be in battery waranty i guess? And the price difference shouldnt be tooo big.
I have a 2015 I purchased to try an Ev and a commuter car. I want to know are you using the my bmw app to see the charging on your Phone. If not what app if so do you have to purchase the bmw that service in order to see the charging?
Nope I would not buy another BMW EV other than the i3. They are too big look ugly and are just ICE cars with an electric motor. The i3 is a supercar. Its super advanced engineering and light and efficient. Shame they stopped this range as I would have bought a newer model if they made one using the same concepts. All this car needed to be a 2023 EV killer is maybe a 50kwh batt with 800v architecture and 200Kw charging. Update the software and some features and its not only still relevant in 2023 as it is but it would be brilliant. Needless to say I love my i3 its so practical and now cheap to buy.
Shame that they (BMW) invested SO MUCH technology/research/development into this particular EV ONLY to shift focus onto their more EXPENSIVE LUXURY LINES i.e. SUV's, Sedans! An improved battery range and a few tech updates would have made this car an easy front runner to compete with the array of New EV's coming out in the future! The newer EV's battery range is NOT that much better than BMW's I3's which is testament to how advanced BMW's R&D was when they debuted this model!
Only EV....actually perhaps only car these days...that reminds me of a proper 80's hot hatch. Fun, easy to drive, light, addictive. Today's cars have none of those qualities anymore.
The i3 never really met BMW's own standards for NVH, dynamics, etc. It's incredibly loud with so many huge flaws, it's uncomfortable, and its dynamics are poor on top of all that. The F20 1-series...even the E87 1-series is vastly superior in every way. Compared to the i3 the F20 1-series feels like a Rolls Royce in comparison comfort-wise and like a sports car dynamics-wise. No, even though of course the i4 etc. are far superior to i3 I would absolutely not buy any modern BMWs. I went back to full ICE as it's more environmentally friendly and also won't bankrupt our society and hurt people at a massive scale with the horrible costs and inflation. I went for a lightweight Italian sports car (which now isn't even in production anymore...as is common with all the best cars).
Agree with every point. Particularly your praise for the i3 throttle mapping and regen implementation. It took me all of 10 minutes during my first test drive to adjust. Now it seems so intuitive, I can’t comprehend why other manufacturers don’t just break out the xerox. I’m convinced paddles, B mode, etc. are marketing gimmicks to win over drivers who only know how to drive with an automatic’s creep. But I’m also very biased. I’ve been watching development, waiting for production, and finally happily driving the i3 since I saw the Megacity Vehicle concept at the 2011 LA Auto Show. I purchased a ’21 BEV as my third i3 after leasing ’14 and ’17 cars. If disaster struck, I’d probably look to the used market for a fourth i3. I was thinking about replacing our other car, an E90 3-series with the i4. Until I drove one. Even in M50 trim, it’s kind of boring once you let off the accelerator. The iX surprised me by being the more interesting of the two. Still it’s much too large for my needs. I’ve decided to keep the E90 as our “range extender” for now. Maybe the 2025 Neue Klasse sedan will be worthy of joining the i3 in our garage.
The iX is a worthy successor, but it is a beast for UK roads, with a strangely small boot. The price tag of £100k+ in the UK for a decent spec is just too much.
I've had my 2020 i3 for a year and love it. I decided to buy one based on your reviews and have zero regrets. Well one regret - wish I had bought one a few months after I did because prices have dropped significantly. But that just makes them really good value now, It's fun to drive. Plenty quick enough. The perfect size for a local car that can also easily handle longer trips. Well built and well equipped. Costs virtually nothing to run. I plan to keep it for a long time and I usually chop and change cars a lot. In the size range there is still nothing I would rather have
You're right to enthuse over the i3, and you demonstate its advantages well. I think BMW missed a trick in not developing a small, light and fun replacement with innovative engineering and fresh styling (like the i3). None of BMW's current designs appeal half as much. I have bought a second ev to replace our larger car, and chose the Ioniq 5, as I felt it offered interesting styling outside, and the closest approach to the i3's lovely interior. What I really wanted was a larger, longer range i3! The Ioniq does a lot of things well, but I'll always go for the i3's keys, given the choice. Thanks for another great video.
@@KentBuchla The Mini’s a whole different beast and platform. That one is based on the petrol Mini platform and remained FWD. There’s something appealing about the i3 with its unique RWD layout with skinny tires. It would be a very appealing EV today had they just updated it with newer, denser battery to give it 200+ miles of range.
@@KentBuchla Sadly, it misses out on many of teh i3's plus points, (I will say it handles better, tho) Yes, we know BMW own mini, but it makes no difference.
I have a 2017 94Ah BEV model with quite a few extras but the basic interior (sunroof, front sensors, camera, large screen MMI, heat pump, 20" alloys) which I have owned since new. It's still brilliant and I have no intention of replacing it.
As an i3 driver, I'm personally disappointed with BMW for not continuing the groundbreaking engineering and materials used in the i3 with their current line up.
😅
I get you but I think the car was not profitable enough to manufcture especially with cheap competition from China around
The i3 never really met BMW's own standards for NVH, dynamics, etc. It's incredibly loud with so many huge flaws, it's uncomfortable, and its dynamics are poor on top of all that. The F20 1-series...even the E87 1-series is vastly superior in every way.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if anything breaking in it didn't implode and cause a 5k bill.
Still impressive and quiet in 2024
The i3 is perhaps the best machine I've ever bought, of any kind. If I had to replace it, I'd look for another one!
.e three Even better Wisley should develop a battery replacement program with upgraded range for the future
exactly. probably the best modern car for the common people
I’m happy to read this, this was the comment I needed to justify my upcoming purchase!
The i3 is a no brainer for anyone wanting an EV. Its a supercar at bargain prices at the moment. I paid £24K for mine with 18k miles in 2022 now its approx worth £15K but still has only 23K miles so it will hopefully last 10 years or more. I do not worry about the high voltage battery as I expect it to outlive my use for the car.
I love my I3 even dealing with the range issue. I purchased it for what it was designed for ...
I totally agree. My first i3 was a 2017 BEV which I bought in 2020. This past summer it was totaled in a crash. I considered getting a pre-owned Tesla as a replacement, but upon reflection there is no car more perfect for my current lifestyle than the i3. The size is just right for city driving and the cabin is a very comfortable place to be. Martin is spot on with how well the design has remained fresh all these years later. I was fortunate to find a pre-owned 2021 BEV in August and I intend to drive it for 4 to 5 years.
I travel 80 miles (round trip) to Manchester, the M60 is not a great motorway, but the i3S does well on it. It’s OK in bad weather, doesn’t especially get blown around in cross winds.
It’s not really right to place it in the same category as a tiny Smart car (I had one!) it’s way, way more capable than that. Much closer to the Golf GTD I had.
I’m a fan.
@@John-FourteenSix Wheel spacers are the single best improvement to the car. Makes a difference for highway stability
I totally agree!! My wife and I have owned or leased THREE i3s: 2 REX and 1 BEV. They really are great cars as long as you can live with the range, and my preference would be for the BEV model since the range extender adds complexity. Such a shame that BMW was one of the first with such an innovative premium small EV car, but then failed to continue its investment with meaningful updates. We did see some incremental improvements in battery density, and the addition of the i3s model with available sunroof (!!), but no second generation of what I believe is one of the best BMWs ever! I loved the looks on Camaro/Mustang drivers when I would totally smoke them from a stoplight! And with the low center of gravity it wasn't a bad handler either despite the skinny tires. Our only issues with the car were failure of a 12V battery and stubborn stains on the Giga trim seats, other than that it was a great experience!
I’m keeping my 2020 i3 as long as I possibly can as there is nothing on the market that can replace it. It’s a great drive, looks fantastic, is cheap to run, and most importantly at the moment does not rely in touch screen or touch controls to operate it.
Plus its 99% I think non ferrous and does not suffer car park dents ! OMG a car with no rust ever ! I would have never believed this possible when I got my first car in 1978
What’s the most expensive repair these might have? I’m thinking of getting one but not sure about maintenance costs.
@@tony_lopez not sure really. I have had a service for £140 and 2 new tyres
Totally agree
I love my i3 - it’s the perfect size for what I need it for and that’s a lot of motorway and heavy deliveries all over Germany. Its super reliable and frugal with power - and it still looks great in 2024. there is no alternative that I have found from any manufacturer that exceeds the i3 in its super niche role. Very sad bmw haven’t continued this amazing lineup
I always enjoy your videos and I've learned a lot from them. I leased an i3s three years ago and have absolutely loved it (most enjoyable car I've ever had). Just got to the end of the lease and bought the car as really didn't want to change to anything else
Yup. Test drove one way back in November 2013 at the Los Angeles Auto Show and loved it. In 2020 I picked up a 94ah REx and just switched out to a 120ah s BEV. Can't believe how much I've enjoyed these little cars and really appreciate the content you guys are putting out about them.
What’s the most expensive repair these might have? I’m thinking of getting one but not sure about maintenance costs.
We have had our 2014 BMW i3 for 4 years. We bought it used. We drove from Charlotte to Atlanta to get it. This car is incredibly amazing. I love it so much. I don't see ever trading it. The only upgrade I would like to do is when it's time to replace the battery. I hope that BMW will offer battery replacement with more range. I wish this car had a sunroof, but it's the type of car where it doesn't matter that you don't have. The car is such a joy to drive. I've never had a car that I love to roll the windows down and just listen to the futuristic way. It sounds going through neighborhoods. It's just such a blessing to have
Maybe buy a battery pack from a scrapped car?
I’m looking at one in Atlanta right now - a 2017 BEV (I don’t want Rex) for just $12,500 (60Ah tho). It will be my commuter & errand car, I have an Outback for vacation road trips & if my teens refuse to ride in the BMW 😂, they keep telling me the i3 looks awful but I am obsessed. Hope I’m making a good choice, I keep looking at other used cars (looked at Mach-e, & Lexus NX hybrid, & Venza hybrid). Hard to find those I mentioned under 30k so the i3 really stood out to me. Oh I looked at Mazda MX30 also but it looks a bit plain to me. Anyway any helpful info you have id appreciate it. I have no idea what to ask the dealer but I plan to test drive it Monday🎉
I hope it goes well with getting your i3. We love ours so much as a daily driver. As far as advice on what to ask I would mainly try to get the history of the car to see if it's been in an accident. You need both key fobs, the charge cable/packet to store in the frunk and make sure the display screens have no issues. Also, look into adding a level 2 charger at home because it's worth the investment. Trickle charging works but is super slow. Good luck with your purchase.
do you roll down your rear windows....
I thoroughly enjoy every video Martin does! His ease of going from full on spec reviews and comments, to his little asides, to his ever-so-gentle complaining… very enjoyable and easy to listen to!
I’m thinking an i3 might be a really good fit for my teenage son!
Thank you for another great video!
I’ve done over 100k in mind over the last 4 years. It drives like new.
I’m now looking to buy another but low mileage S version.
Jay! Have an i3 as a company car since early 2020 and I've just extended the lease by a year. After that I'm going to buy it, as there's indeed nothing comparable on the market.
And like a fine wine, this car is not for everyone. It really is an acquired taste.
I’ve had mine for three years. It is 7 years old and I hope it lasts forever!
I have a 2022 i3S and grabbed one as a last chance before they went out of production. I love them so much. There’s no other BMW I’d consider as they’re all too big for my needs. Here the i3 is great small car with spacious cabin- bespoke EV and NOT an SUV, very few cars tick those boxes . I would consider a mini again in the future ( had a 3 dr one before) but there will be plenty of aspects of the i3 that I really miss. So when the PCP comes to the end next year I fully intend to pay the balloon and keep the car.
I've driven an i3 for about 7.5 years now. I haven't found out a model I would like to swap it. It offers lots of space, does not rust and has a very small turning circle.
We feel the same way we left this car and don't really fully understand why BMW ended its production. It is incredible.
My 2021 i3S
Upside:
Fun to drive.
Very Responsive. Quick (from the lights!)
Running costs (Avg 3.9m/kWh@7.5p/kWh= under 2p/mile) Free off Solar in Summer!
Quietness
Comfort
Unique Appearance. Love the 20” Wheels too.
Seats are comfortable (Important to me)
Zero Tax
Proper designed from the ground up EV. No half measures, they did it correctly and it drives like a BMW because it is a BMW!
Purchase price was competitive.
Downside:
Range, but is this a downside? 99% charged at home. It’s probably more like charger anxiety on a long journey, but that turned out OK.
1st Service (in the 2nd year) Cost at BMW Main agent £300+ Not ridiculous, but I’ll be looking for a good independent after 3 years.
Conclusion:
I won’t be returning to an ICE car anytime soon.
Swap it for… Personally there’s nothing good enough yet. Tesla model 2 in 2024? My car ‘gland’ stopped twitching when I bought mine.
I’ve looked everything in my personal price range £25K.
BMW I3s is quick, affordable and fun.
Excellent list mate, I’m saving and buying a 2022 car next year and can’t wait. I’m 64 and it will last me to the end of my driving days I reckon. I’m going to love trying to optimise the economy, I used to do that in my BMW 740 sport believe or not and averaged 23 mpg over 7 years of ownership. Of course, it was a challenge and not an attempt to save money, why bother when you lose £45k in deprecation 😂
I have had my 2019 i3s for 4.5 years. It is one of the most modified ones in the world. Every option from BMW. AC Schnitzer package. Wheel Spacers, aftermarket steering wheel, custom oak center console. I am on my 3rd suspension setup. Lowered on adjustable BC Racing Coil Overs. Carbon Fiber side skirts and rear diffuser. I replaced my V10 R8 as a daily driver with this car. Been trying to figure out what my next car could be, but I just can't find anything else I enjoy driving more. Granted it has major flaws but it just does some things sooo well. The sunroof is fantastic and with the large windows open it is like driving in a little jeep in the summer. So many cars nowadays have awful aerodynamic buffet with the windows open.
Finally test drove a Taycan Crossturismo 4 yesterday to see if it could be a contender as a replacement. Drove it twice actually because I thought i was being too harsh the first time. Did not enjoy driving it more than the i3s, and certainly NOT for $100k more.
I thought about a Taycan too, until I realized it's as wide as a Range Rover! Definitely not a car that's practical for the city.
@@grrlyrida Yea it is as long as a range rover too. It also has the worlds worst backup and surround view camera making it even worse for parking. Drove a Turbo S variant as well with the all wheel steering, that helps a little bit.
@@grrlyrida The cross turismo is as long as my Hummer H2 with way worse visibility and the worlds worst backup camera. I actually sat in the new Hummer EV SUV after swearing I wouldn't consider another big vehicle but I was so thoroughly impressed I will probably test drive one next. With all the removable roof panels it is like having a convertible for the summer, the practicality of a massive truck and the acceleration of a Taycan Turbo. I am telling myself I would just keep the i3s then if I went that route
Another point: as a result of it's body architecture the i3 seems to wear it's miles very very well indeed. My first small battery i3 was just over 6 years old when i traded it in for a i3s, and it looked pretty much like new. The soft plastic panels hung on the carbon / alluminium frame seem to resist stone chips incredibly well, the interior was unmarked, and with a good wash and polish it could have simply been put on an non age related plate and would have looked like a new car in the showroom, especially as, imo, the styling looks modern even today ;-)
I still love the i3 and would love to have another one one day - the only thing that worries me is the maintenance/parts costs as they get older - appreciate this is probably the case with any bmw!
We have a 2017 i3 REx that I have driven over 30,000 miles in the last two years and absolutely love it. Recently got a 2018 Tesla M3. If I could only choose one, it would be a very difficult decision. The i3 truly is in a class by itself. I had an i4 loaner for a couple of days while the i3 was in the shop having the 12V battery replaced. It's nice, but way too large and heavy for my tastes. I would not consider any of the current BMW EVs. I'll be leaving on a 400 mile round trip in a couple of days and can't decide which car to take, they are both so much fun to drive.
Is anything better than an i3? Yes; 2 x i3’s! We have one each so no arguments about who gets to drive it!
After selling our i3 94Ah + Rex 7 months ago, and driving an MG4 since, we gave it back and got a very nice i3S 120Ah. It feels very familiar, yet subtly drives better, with a little more oomph in Sport mode, and a significantly better handling, especially against wind, which is frequent in our regions. We don't really feel the supposedly firmer ride, although we have 20" wheels. A great car that we will keep for the next 3 years.
Our i3 is now 7 years old. Never missed a beat, battery seems not to have lost any capacity at all. I think we'll keep it forever.
We have a 2018 i3, which we’ve owned from new. Heat pump, HK stereo, wheels like the one in this review and lounge interior.
My wife absolutely loves it (she was thinking of a Zoe and I suggested the i3), it’s her favourite ever car and she’s never owned a car for so long. She had a Golf before and would have changed it after a week if it wasn’t for the 3 year lease.
As for me, I love the design, especially the barn doors and the interior. The one pedal driving is an amazing feature/driving experience.
As for the rest of it, I’m less keen. I should caveat that by saying my current car is a Volvo XC70, as was my previous car and before that I had a Discovery 4.
From my car choices, you can see that sportiness isn’t a priority for me, so I find the ride harsh and the steering very twitchy and nervous compared with the vagueness that I’m accustomed.
I also find the seats extremely uncomfortable, making the range a blessing and I don’t think I’ve ever owned a car with such a truly awful stereo, I dread to think how bad the standard one would have been (gramophone with a dog sitting next to it).
We never purchased the car with the intention of making journeys that wouldn’t allow us to charge at home and have only miscalculated once requiring a public charge and that was a few weeks ago.
We do both agree that we would never make a journey that would require stops on route due to the time it adds to the trip.
Living in Cornwall and having parents in London, the ability to drive without stopping (if chosen) is invaluable and the return journey can be made on a single tank of diesel.
So in summary, my wife is a massive fan and for the reasons we chose it I feel it’s ideal, but for a long journey I would never entertain using it to the point I would hire a car, or take the train if we had to go to London and we couldn’t use our other car.
Edit: I do feel the i3 has the potential to be a classic car in the future, especially having been designed as an EV from the start and it’s really unique design and build.
As for the comment in the review about what other BMWs would be a consideration, for me, none of them regardless of their propulsion as (IMHO) recent BMW design is awful.
I drove my 2014 i3 120000km and loved it! It was damaged in a small crash, and because of the parts prices, sadly it got wrecked. We also have a 2nd gen Leaf, but i still miss the i3 and prefer it over the Leaf in every aspect.
Great quality content, as always. Very assertive and unbiased.
Me and my wife are indecisive between a 94Ah with REx and a 120Ah w/o REx. It will be our first EV and won't be our only car. We have an Aston Martin V8 and a Land Rover Discovery diesel 7 seater that can do 1000km on a tank, and we love it and use it for big adventures. The i3 should serve the purpose of doing short journeys 2-3 times a week of a maximum of 50km, sparing the health of our Land Rover that does not even reach its operating temps on trips to the shops and such daily rides... So, 94Ah with REx or 120Ah without, for a first-time EV owner? Also, we are pretty much decided on the i3 because we value cars that are purposeful and have character :)
Thanks to anyone in advance for the advice.
I started doing Door Dash in my i3, very efficient. Less miles now that it's colder but no problem, I just top off the tank and away I go!
That’s what I thinking about thanks 😊
My 20’ plate i3 is up there with my favourite ever product that I’ve bought.
I just bought a second hand i3 mostly because of your videos In my situation the car does not leave Milton Keynes its an awesome little car its a 67 plate with 15000 miles an absolute steal and so cheap to run I will never go back to a petrol or diesel car the only thing thats a bit scary is the insurance mine doubled with this car spot on videos keep up the good videos😁😁
Love your videos, Martin and love the i3.
Yes, I'm sure it was bonkers expensive for BMW to manufacture - CFRP tubs aren't cheap... just ask McLaren...!
But, boy what a crackin' efficient, suitably-sized EV - commanding driving position without the oversized, resource-wasteful, aerodynamics-of-a-brick SUV shape.
I've just done a long-weekend-away, 230 mile trip in my 94Ah Rex - got an average of 4.8 miles/kWh on the battery, plus, from what I've calculated, about 45mpg-equivalent on Rex power.
What an incredible piece of kit... 😎
Mate, your videos are always on point and so well made - I really enjoy your enthusiasm and love towards the i3 and you’re not alone. Keep them coming. Cheers.
P.S. we have both an i3S and a TM3 and the formal will continue to be a permanent member of the family.
Great video . Our 2022 i3s has now covered 16k miles. It’s just so easy, and the quality is superb. It’s the ‘big little car’, swallowing four adults easily, and a reasonable size boot for luggage / shopping.
It does ride on the hard side, and gets caught a little by strong side winds on motorways however, it’s still a gem of a vehicle. Real life, we see 140 - 150 mile range, and I love the fact it charges at full 50kW speed until around 92% so a stop from low battery power normally takes no more than 30 minutes.
For most people, the i3 is probably all the car they need, 95% of the time.
.
Yes, I have a i3 from 2019 120 Ah and I am keeping it 😊
I just got my first i3; a 2015 unit I got for a steal. Upgraded from a first gen Volt, and I'll say, there's a lot of things I miss from the old volt (the chirp [low volume horn on the left steering column stalk], the ability to coast and activate regen manually, and the good amount of storage compartments inside the cabin); but all in all, after just a few days of ownership, I'm loving this car and can honestly see myself upgrading into a newer model year in the future. I currently own the highest trim (Tera World) REx, with full leather interior (while I would, 100% prefer the "lodge" interior of the Mega World), 10.25" screen with android auto MMI, Adaptive cruise control and all the good mods from Bimmercode), I would definitely upgrade to a newer model with the same options.
I do not know of a car with such an affectionate and loyal following. You only have to read the comments to Martin’s video to note that many owners, including petrolheads, can never get the i3 out of their system - to the extent of coming back to the car after drifting off elsewhere or just never being able to part with their drive. I suspect that many dismiss the i3 as an odd ball car based on its quirky looks. It is definitely a car you have to drive and sit in to experience how futuristic and clever the design was 10 years ago and which is still the iconic EV against which new EVs have to be measured. Owners definitely benefit from the € billions that BMW sank into its design and development. Just sad that very little of the innovation was carried forward into other BMW models.
I think it is a bit of a misnomer to describe the i3 as a city car. It was designed as a Mega City car so capable of commuting quite a few miles from the suburbs to city centres. I wonder whether the s variant was developed in response to BMW discovering that the car was being driven longer distances than they originally foresaw and the i3 was being bought by those who were fond of hot hatches. I fear we will never see the like of the i3 again. A pity perhaps that a clever Chinese company did not try to copy the design concept, and build materials but with more range and more up to date tech. Another thing often overlooked is the i3 is probably the easiest and least stressful car to driver ever. Fantastic one pedal driving, great visibility, unbelievable steering and turning circle and the wonderful iDrive system which is far easier to use than a fiddly and often unresponsive touch screen.
someone who mentions drivetrain tuning - we totally agree! We own many EVs as a carsharing company in switzerland and we didn't find a car that handles starting/stopping as smooth as the bmw i3 (not shure how it works in the new i4)...
I’m on my second i3, absolutely love the car and driving experience. A colleague test drove one for an extended weekend, when comparing it to his Mercedes, he said “it was like getting out of a spaceship into a tractor “ so he naturally bought one!!
what a well made video, filmed in 4k , can`t improve on that, well explained and easy to follow, well done .
Almost 9 years, over 150k miles and going in my 2015 i3. Still love it and I’ll be replacing it only with a newer year i3 when needed. I don’t plan on changing to another car until I literally can’t only have an i3 (I may still keep one as a secondary grocery getter even in that case). I don’t think it was quite worth the 45k or so original MSRP, but it’s awesome as a used car.
The i3 indeed is an awesome EV. I love my 2017 94Ah one. Upgrade to i4/iX you ask? I am not attracted by the current EV-strategy by BMW. I have no plans for another i3, but if, I would look at Tesla.
As Citroen Ec4 owner, I like this BMW a lot. I like all your I3s guys!
I’m a huge Citroen fan! But I’m in the US. i3 is the next best thing :-)
We purchased a new EV, but....let me start from the beginning: we were getting ready to trade in our 2014 i3 REX with over 133K miles. However, we decided to keep our i3 because it's such an awesome little car for getting around town. Like you said, it's small on the outside, but big in the inside. It fits everywhere, and has great power! We have had no mechanical or electronic issues. The expected replacements have only been 4 sets of tires, the 12v battery twice, and the TPMS Sensors once, oil change and cabin filter once per year, and we've never needed to do the brakes, not even the headlights have needed replacing. The only complaint we have is with the the built-in infotainment and NAV systems. On such an iconic flagship vehicle, why didn't BMW include Apple CarPlay (or Android Auto)??? This is the only thing that dates this vehicle. The built-in NAV is useless. Wisely, maybe you can make a video about how to upgrade the infotainment system. Our new EV choices included the XM, the i4 M60, and a few others. We had a very long list of needs and wants. And yes, we did find one EV that met ALL of our needs and wants. Wisely, ask me and I'll tell you what we purchased. Or better yet, I'll give you our list and you can figure out what EV matched our list all. (Hint: there are a few surprise 'wants' we were looking for, and found) 😉
I love my i3. Now on my second one. I will stick with it.
My new 2020 i3s is my second i3. Love it. I intend to keep it for a long time (not usual for me), because I can't think of anything with which I would want replace it! It's a shame BMW didn't continue and revise the line.
Great video on the i3. I would love to go with bmw again after my i3 is used up. But they currently make nothing similar. Converted ice cars or heavy suvs are not for me. Small, fun, lightweight nothing like the i3 exists.
I have had a 2018 REX for over a year now. The trouble is with it is that I get bored and want to change it but I can't justify doing so.
It's that good, especially in 20mph Wales. It's like driving a dodgem.
We've had our i3 for nine years and we still love it. Martin you ask about best replacement- to my mind the only one with engineering innovation to match the i3 is a Tesla. We run the perfect duo of an i3 for short distances and a long range Model 3 Tesla for longer journeys. A perfect combination!
Liking the video seems insufficient Martin. I’m saving for an i3 and love watching and learning how to road trip with a modest battery with your vids.
I used your tyre review and went for the Continentals, cheaper than the Bridgestones though still not cheap, but reckon they'll last a whole lot longer. 👍
I have had i3s since the beginning and am now on my 4th and last. I honestly don't know what to replace it with The Volvo EX30 looks promising. I think the EX30 is gong to be hit and will make BMW regret not keeping the i3 current. The only downside to the i3 that I can see is the tires. Here in the US Bridgestone has a monopoly and they are very expensive and poor tread life. I don't drive crazy at all but only get about 12k miles and they cost around $1500 a set out the door. That is outrageous. Hankook? You listening?
I think it gets over looked they were doing this in 2013. Why ahead of the game. The i3 is still ahead of its time.
Very tempted by one of these. I’ve got a 66 plate 320d Msport Touring auto, also a 66 plate Mini Couper S. My Mrs Golf GTI is 2009 and quite leggy (175k) and 2017-18 i3’s are in our budget and radar.
I currently own an i3s and have recently given an ix1 a test drive while my car was being serviced and I also sat into an i4 and Hade a poke around. The ix1 was very refined on the road but is quite a bit bigger. The i4 is very much a traditional BMW. My overall impression of both was that they are very nice cars but they are compromised by virtue of being designed primarily as combustion engines cars and so there is a lot of wasted space. The interiors also seem a bit boring after the funky i3 internal styling. Also, why has headlining now become black in general as it makes the interior seem much more gloomy?
I have 2018 I3s rex and it is great. I love everything about it. Most of my driving is around London so a short car, good turning circle and high driving position suits me. Also i do a school run and the with no tunnel its easy for kids to slide across so either way always exit onto pavement. I like the look of the VW ID3 but If i upgrade it would be a newer I3/s. My one critisism is Occasionally i would like to carry 4 passengers, particularly 3 kids in the back, there would be plenty of room.
Seriously debating getting rid of my diesel for an i3 , they look decent vfm and would probably suit my driving very well
I'll stick to my i3 from 2014 as long as it's possible to keep it running. It's an amazing car, and the materials it's built from are into the future. But why don't BMW continue this, and why doesn't all car manufacturers do like BMW has done with this car? We have no rust in our car, we have had very little repairs though it has done 128.000 km, and it has always been very reliable, more than any ICE car I have ever owned - and I have now at the age of 68 owned quite a number. Brilliant car, best I've had, that is until we changed our holiday car to an ID Buzz, now I'm not sure which is best, but then they are very different beasts.
I love my I3s because it still looks ultra modern and it's just BMW quality. You love this car or you hate it. I love it!
Yup. .. I have NC Miata, W204 C63, E36 328is, G26 i4 M50, 95B Macan S and my daily is always I01 I3 REX...
2015 Rex and I’m contemplating doing a 2019 Rex or a Mustang Mach E… I love the i3 way too much
Traded my 94AH Rex for an MG4, which is a great car, but doesn't have the character and agility of my old i3. It was like a gocart and really fun to drive. You always had the Rex as a backup to avoid paying for rip-off public charging on a long run. The i3 still looks great even after all this time. Plus, how many other cars have a carbon fibre tub?
Maybe a comparison with Mini EV will be a good content for your line up.
One small note the i3 does "zero speed hold" not using the friction brakes but using the traction motor, ie it will actively apply torque to the drive motor to prevent it spinning in the opposite direction to the drive direction selected (ie won't roll backwards in D, won't roll fowards in R) Because it isn't using the friction brakes and torque is still being reacted into the motor there is no suspension wind up (dive/squat) so it's very very smooth and can hardly be felt as it does it.
I often wish it would actually have a mode for zero speed hold in both directions, ie be able to come to a halt and hold at zero speed irrespective of drive direction selected. This would make it even more relaxing to drive in traffic when there is a positive (ie forwards) graident, where currently the driver must apply a small amount of brake pressure to prevent the vehicle creaping forwards at very low speed
You are indeed correct! About both the stopping and we also wish it could regen all the way down to 0 and hold down hills (in D) as well.
My appreciation for i3 has grown further since I changed mine to Cupra Born a couple weeks back. i3 has near perfect drivetrain (no creeping, superb throttle control and motor braking), ergonomics and controls, great visibility, agility in city, etc. BUT why I simply had to get rid of it was horrifying driving experience in certain winter conditions (though it does great most of time), and stupidly low boot area. Rear doors are a bad experience for family car, but I that I could have tolerated if it was the only problem. Also it is hard to understand why suspension is *this* uncomfortable on bad road conditions, meaning bad condition dirt roads or packed snow.
Mine has a problem with the ac charger and is about to cost me £1800. Taken the shine off a bit. The mechanic commented on how corroded some of the connectors were at the rear.
Very enjoyable production values. Happy to subscribe. Lots of wrecked i3's in Texas..... Lets glue one together! Longer, maybe. How many Englands fit in Texas??? What about the German fix for extended REx mieage....any problems? Peace. Lawson of Texas
Great video Martin 👍👍
Love my i3s , they are fantastic and for a 150 mile range EV yet to be beaten? They feel special .
Absolutely loved my i3. I had the range extender version though which whilst useful on longer journeys, I despised whenever it kicked in.
would you rather it just stopped...
I am very happy I grabbed a 2021 i3 with low mileage. I plan to use it until it really falls apart, because as Martin said, there is no other car like it. Definitely nothing as efficient, spacy inside and compact on the outside. Especially not from BMW which is rather sad: They clearly decided that their margin is more important than industry leadership. Good for the shareholders, bad for the planet.
I agree. It is in s class of its own.
How do u think your 3.9 and 4.4 Kw/ p Hour usage was? Im trying to judge my 2013 REX.
Cute car, enjoy!!!;)
I love my i3. I'm not sure if I will ever get another BMW, I certainly do not expect that I would get anything that BMW offers today. Everything is big and heavy, resulting in poor efficiency.
On i3 forums, people are often looking for an i3 successor but rarely is any BMW mentioned - the BMW vision circular concept looked interesting but it's just a concept. The Volvo EX30 looks enticing, but I am interested in one covert BMW, the new Mini EV with a larger battery.
Would you still recommend in 2024 as a used purchase the full EV one facelift ?
Because of the timeline,I reckon some E38 E39 engineers were involved befote retirement,I use one as a commuter car since 2017 and has been faultless
Can everyone stop saying how great i3s are please? I won't be in a position to buy one for another six months (when my current lease ends) and I'm worried the prices will go up before then :)
Love my i3 but needed more range, didn't like the other BMWs dont like Musk one jot so went with a Mach E. Still think the i3 is a lovely drive and so very good around the city.
I totally agree....
I've owned my 2022 120Ah and i really like it, but the way market is going my PCP final payment will be way higher than what the car is worth. Might have to hand it back. i4 could be an option but it's very expensive compared to some rivals.
I have an i3s maxed out with all options. But i need a car for longer distances with my family so i would love to get a Tesla Cyber Truck or an iX as second Car - but cant afford at the moment 😢
2015 VW e-golf regen is excellent in D-ECO+, but my next car will be a BMW i3.
I agree, i just sell my 2018 and buy a 2022 i3 :)
Are you paying for the electricity charges at these stops. If so, how much?
Although not an owner, I love the i3 but the available electric range has always held me back from buying - even with the 38kWh cars though these were quite pricey when I was looking. Given the trade-offs between motorway speed, range and recharge time, I thought you might have opted for a slightly lower cruise speed ?
Thoughts on the Chevy bolt?
Not available to drive in Europe
Coming to the end of my 2020 lease. So sad. Nothing replaces it. Big car quality in a super manoeuvrable package.
The range is consistently surprising, with negligible degradation after 30k miles.
I also have lodge trim. Wool is under-rated.
Seats 4 adults comfortably.
The only mistake I made was choosing the base-model audio. Just too quiet.
The I4 and IX series feel older, more traditional compared to I3. I3 stands out as a more modern and practical design compared to them. So we're staying with the I3 cars :)
I am considering changing my 330e for an i3 it is likely to be a used i3 would you recommend a used i3
Hello, i have recently gotten very interested in buying a BMW i3 in no small part thanks to your videos and i wanted to ask - is there any issues to look for specifically in an I3s as opposed to an I3? I wasn't originally looking for an s but due to circumstances might end up easier or cheaper for me to get an s with high mileage than an older lower mileage normal one.
Also how susceptible is it in real life to cobbled or lower quality roads seeing as i will be mostly driving it in Prague? :D
(sorry for multiposting i thought i would post it both to the videos where it is the most relevant but old and the newest one if possible)
For more context i was originally looking at some lower mileage older 2014/2015ish prefacelift 60Ah REX BMW i3 and now i will be going to look at two BMW I3S 94Ah REX from 2018 one beautiful dark with quite high mileage over 100k miles and another not so beautiful but around 60k which should still be in battery waranty i guess? And the price difference shouldnt be tooo big.
I have a 2015 I purchased to try an Ev and a commuter car. I want to know are you using the my bmw app to see the charging on your
Phone. If not what app if so do you have to purchase the bmw that service in order to see the charging?
Nope I would not buy another BMW EV other than the i3. They are too big look ugly and are just ICE cars with an electric motor. The i3 is a supercar. Its super advanced engineering and light and efficient. Shame they stopped this range as I would have bought a newer model if they made one using the same concepts. All this car needed to be a 2023 EV killer is maybe a 50kwh batt with 800v architecture and 200Kw charging. Update the software and some features and its not only still relevant in 2023 as it is but it would be brilliant. Needless to say I love my i3 its so practical and now cheap to buy.
Shame that they (BMW) invested SO MUCH technology/research/development into this particular EV ONLY to shift focus onto their more EXPENSIVE LUXURY LINES i.e. SUV's, Sedans! An improved battery range and a few tech updates would have made this car an easy front runner to compete with the array of New EV's coming out in the future! The newer EV's battery range is NOT that much better than BMW's I3's which is testament to how advanced BMW's R&D was when they debuted this model!
Only EV....actually perhaps only car these days...that reminds me of a proper 80's hot hatch. Fun, easy to drive, light, addictive. Today's cars have none of those qualities anymore.
The current lineup of BMW electrics have ZERO appeal to me. They're all boated and WAY oversized for my needs.
The i3 never really met BMW's own standards for NVH, dynamics, etc. It's incredibly loud with so many huge flaws, it's uncomfortable, and its dynamics are poor on top of all that. The F20 1-series...even the E87 1-series is vastly superior in every way. Compared to the i3 the F20 1-series feels like a Rolls Royce in comparison comfort-wise and like a sports car dynamics-wise.
No, even though of course the i4 etc. are far superior to i3 I would absolutely not buy any modern BMWs. I went back to full ICE as it's more environmentally friendly and also won't bankrupt our society and hurt people at a massive scale with the horrible costs and inflation. I went for a lightweight Italian sports car (which now isn't even in production anymore...as is common with all the best cars).
Agree with every point. Particularly your praise for the i3 throttle mapping and regen implementation. It took me all of 10 minutes during my first test drive to adjust. Now it seems so intuitive, I can’t comprehend why other manufacturers don’t just break out the xerox. I’m convinced paddles, B mode, etc. are marketing gimmicks to win over drivers who only know how to drive with an automatic’s creep.
But I’m also very biased. I’ve been watching development, waiting for production, and finally happily driving the i3 since I saw the Megacity Vehicle concept at the 2011 LA Auto Show. I purchased a ’21 BEV as my third i3 after leasing ’14 and ’17 cars. If disaster struck, I’d probably look to the used market for a fourth i3. I was thinking about replacing our other car, an E90 3-series with the i4. Until I drove one. Even in M50 trim, it’s kind of boring once you let off the accelerator. The iX surprised me by being the more interesting of the two. Still it’s much too large for my needs. I’ve decided to keep the E90 as our “range extender” for now. Maybe the 2025 Neue Klasse sedan will be worthy of joining the i3 in our garage.
The iX is a worthy successor, but it is a beast for UK roads, with a strangely small boot. The price tag of £100k+ in the UK for a decent spec is just too much.
I've had my 2020 i3 for a year and love it. I decided to buy one based on your reviews and have zero regrets. Well one regret - wish I had bought one a few months after I did because prices have dropped significantly. But that just makes them really good value now,
It's fun to drive. Plenty quick enough. The perfect size for a local car that can also easily handle longer trips. Well built and well equipped. Costs virtually nothing to run. I plan to keep it for a long time and I usually chop and change cars a lot.
In the size range there is still nothing I would rather have
You're right to enthuse over the i3, and you demonstate its advantages well. I think BMW missed a trick in not developing a small, light and fun replacement with innovative engineering and fresh styling (like the i3). None of BMW's current designs appeal half as much. I have bought a second ev to replace our larger car, and chose the Ioniq 5, as I felt it offered interesting styling outside, and the closest approach to the i3's lovely interior. What I really wanted was a larger, longer range i3! The Ioniq does a lot of things well, but I'll always go for the i3's keys, given the choice. Thanks for another great video.
It’s called the Electric Mini. Mini is owned by BMW
@@KentBuchla The Mini’s a whole different beast and platform. That one is based on the petrol Mini platform and remained FWD. There’s something appealing about the i3 with its unique RWD layout with skinny tires. It would be a very appealing EV today had they just updated it with newer, denser battery to give it 200+ miles of range.
@@KentBuchla No, that's a different car altogether. Doh!
The i3 is like driving a F1 go cart at times. Such fun
@@KentBuchla Sadly, it misses out on many of teh i3's plus points, (I will say it handles better, tho)
Yes, we know BMW own mini, but it makes no difference.
I have a 2017 94Ah BEV model with quite a few extras but the basic interior (sunroof, front sensors, camera, large screen MMI, heat pump, 20" alloys) which I have owned since new. It's still brilliant and I have no intention of replacing it.
Heat pump?
@@Eatcrowoptional - the standard was a resistive heater
Love my i3. If I were to change it I would look at a different manufacturer as current BMW offerings are way out of reach and un-inspiring to me.