2018 BMW i3S Range Extender Review: Over-engineered, underappreciated

[@nixer65]

The family has had a regular i3 since new in 2017 - a 33kWh non-range extender and it will never be sold. It’s probably the best car we’ve ever owned. It is the perfect second car (alongside our XC90). We use the XC90 for the long journeys, but we use the i3 90% of the time for all of the running around. It has a realistic 115 mile range which means that you never reach the limit of the charge for the normal day-to-day use (and we live in a tiny very rural village). It’s super cheap to run (servicing is once every two years) and charging at home on Octopus Go costs 8p/kWh overnight. It’s very comfortable, albeit with a slightly choppy ride, and we will keep it until it dies. This may be some time - battery wear on 41k miles is 1% and given the construction it won’t rust. I suspect suspension may need work when we get to 100k+ miles but it’s been almost completely fault free in 7 years.

[@EcoFP33]

@@nixer65 ditto. Mine is the 22kwh and can't see myself selling unless something catastrophic happens, then I will get another!

[@MrAndyj007]

fuek tank in th front .. what could possible go wrong with that in crash .. that froint end is designed to crumple 400mm .. bloody good idea tho id be sticking it in a un punturable plastic bag tank like they use in motor racing fo safety

[@nixer65]

@@MrAndyj007 I think you replied to the wrong thread 🙂 However, I thought I would mention that the standard Rex has the fuel tank is in the front right hand wheel-well area!

[@philw4625]

Ditto. 67 plate 33kwh rex. Great little car. No real compromises. Fabulous turning circle too! Not planning to shift it any time soon.For us the Rex is also fine - the longest drive it routinely does is 200 miles, so the combination works fine. Jay is right that a pan european trip would be a hassle with frequent stops, but it wasn't designed for that.

[@icb9290]

@@nixer65 similar here 2018 33 kWh, faultless, fun, and has cost us less than £800 to charge over 35k miles!

[@morphyon]

When I first drove the i3 some 7 years ago it felt like the future. When I drove an VW ID4 some weeks ago it felt like a cheap laptop with a broken keyboard. BMW really cared, put effort in it and made a great product. They pulled an Audi A2. i3, ahead of its time and then the times went to worse.

[@im2noob4bronze]

The ID line is an absolute joke isn't it? 😂

[@asdreww]

Agree totally. BMW were pioneers with the i3 & i8. Both great cars and seem completely overlooked no which is a shame. Well good for those looking to buy one I guess.

[@KRAMITDFROG]

To be fair, you are comparing a BMW and a VW. And then there are things like range while building to a price point.

[@morphyon]

I admit it‘s a bit like comparing apples and pears with package, range, weight, technology and price point, but the i3 really showed some traits that could have been evolved or carried over, even by competitors. Yes, range is nice and this drives the footprint. But I feel insulted by the user interface (wheel buttons and the big touchscreen are useless) and the VW has a near identical gear selector as the i3. If the car companies stopped trying to make the lives of their customers miserable, that would be nice.

[@MartininitraM]

Weird how BMW once was a leader in BEV-cars with the i3 and then completely lost the plot.

[@MartininitraM]

By the way, I am a happy owner of a BMW i3 and use it for everything, even long range trips. Small battery no problem when charging infrastructure is as great as in Norway. Even driven it in -34C last winter.

[@pistonburner6448]

A Chinese car manufacturer snatched their whole i3 team apparently. Offered them all so much money that they couldn't refuse. Poof - all that department's know-how and experience gone!

[@howertingsyaboya3789]

@@pistonburner6448 I think that happened after BMW had a change in management who said that it was not going to develop the next round of cars as pure electric cars (strictly modified combustion engined platforms only) and so basically showed the development staff the door. It might actually have been the correct corporate strategy for BMW at the time but the chinese think much longer term with state backing (not sure they have yet made up their minds about the french revolution).

[@carlosandleon]

they should have just went all in into hybrids and range extendeds

[@carlosandleon]

@@MartininitraMBro we don’t all live in Norway

[@V70P3rules]

James, I have an i3 2015 range extender. You are wrong when you state that there is no solution to the small petrol tank. I have converted the frunk space into a tank. All professionally fitted and at the flick of a switch fills the other tank. 24 litres in total. Total installation cost £385. No MOT issues. Fantastic range. Got the idea from another US KZbinr.

[@shadmonk]

hi who can do this in the uk?

[@Wolf-Spirit_Alpha-Sigma]

That's brilliant, mate!

[@V70P3rules]

@@shadmonk Hi there shadmonk. After measuring, I purchased the frunk tank (which turned out to be a jet ski tank), fuel pump, dash 12v switch and hoses from Amazon. Approached my local garage who look after my 225k Volvo V70 D5, and they fitted it. Proper mechanics who know vehicles. You just need to find a proper mechanic in your area.

[@JayEmmOnCars]

Yeah I don't fancy putting a fuel tank somewhere that wasn't design to have one

[@V70P3rules]

@@JayEmmOnCars Nothing in this life is risk free James. Cost plus benefit exercise.

[@Christian-bt6fb]

I love my i3s 120Ah. It has revolutionary materials and design. It’s light, agile and nimble. It is surprisingly roomy inside. Range fits my needs and if I have to travel further, it charges its relatively small battery in 30-40 mins with up to 50kW charging power. BMW should have continued to develop this car but since they didn’t, I will continue to enjoy the increasing rarity of this masterpiece of a car.

[@TheSmallRabbit]

Imagine what the successor to this fantastic car could have been. A tweek on maybe style but same build materials and more efficient battery tech would mean practically a faster charging car with at least 250 miles range from the smaller battery. BMW missed a huge trick here.

[@mikereeder4337]

James, we have 2 i3’s on our driveway; one each so we don’t argue over it! I can confirm that, as with many other models, the regular cooking version with the smaller wheels does ride more quietly and compliantly. The key to corners is slow in, fast out. They feel nervous on a trailing throttle but hook up surprisingly well with a good boot full. Thanks for a well considered review, as always.

[@soennecken8]

I have had my i3 for over 9 years. Because I was born on the continent, I have never considered your method of cornering. Fast in, fast out works really well too, and despite the super-aggressive stability control, you can get it to skip sideways occasionally.

[@timwest4891]

James, I think you’ve missed the point of the range extender. Its really a get you out of trouble system, not a hybrid drive train. It just takes away completely the terror that you will get stranded with no battery left. A best friend has one of these and rarely dips into the extender but loves the fact it is there.

[@Wolf-Spirit_Alpha-Sigma]

The tank could be twice as big, though. To be fair, what I would do if I had that car, is carry 2 jerry cans full of fuel in the not so big boot.

[@TheImperfectGuy]

​@@Wolf-Spirit_Alpha-Sigmaif the gas tank was larger it wouldn't have been eligible for US EV benefits as it is would've been class as a full hybrid instead

[@Wolf-Spirit_Alpha-Sigma]

@@TheImperfectGuy I realize. Two jerrycans it is then.

[@heiner71]

@@Wolf-Spirit_Alpha-Sigma , I also don't expect the engine to be designed to run 10's of thousands of miles like in a regular ICE car. It's a 650cc generator.

[@chrishart8548]

​@heiner71 it's also really inefficient at tuning petrol into electricity. The MPG is terrible using it that way.

[@bluehacker]

I bought a used BMW i3 120 Ah from 2019 as my first car. After more than half a year of ownership I still love every minute spent driving it! It really is the perfect city car.

[@TheSmallRabbit]

I did exactly the same and got a bargain for £24K in 2021

[@wiselyauto]

Thanks for the mention James! :)

[@DwainDwight]

A friend sold me his after they moved overseas. I love it. roomy, fun, smooth. reliable. and of course, very very economical. I then went and bought an i8.

[@nnnggg5625]

Ooof, I've heard that the i8 is quite low down on the reliability indexes, I'd love one, how has yours been for reliability?

[@DwainDwight]

@@nnnggg5625 owned since new, 2019 model, absolutely no issues. have done 10k miles, so not heavily driven, but have done two road trips to France. absolutely awesome car. love it. will never sell.

[@jmhofmeyr]

My friend had one and I have to admit I made fun of him for having it...until he took me out in it and put his foot down. And everything you said about the interior/exterior styling is true...love them to bits now.

[@mc4130]

You’ve made the day of the i3 forum! Love it! It just makes so much sense! Sad there is not a replacement.

[@davethevicar88]

Daft isn't it

[@DuvJones]

@@davethevicar88 Oddly, it is... the i Project was always a weird one where BMW basically build a skunk-works team for alternate fuels. Then 2008 happened, and in that downturn, the project was basically canned with several important folks leaving the company or laid-off. Irony being that they several showed up at Tesla months later. These days, much like the M division, the i Project seems to be more marketing than substance. Which is sad, because their are several things with the i3 than should have carried over with other production cars like the iX's and i4.

[@Maurice_Moss]

I3s owner here, what's the forum called?

[@CHEEKYlad_lol]

mazda mx30 range extender next closest thing i suppose. even has suicide doors

[@DuvJones]

@@CHEEKYlad_lol Believe or not, that might be even worse. The MX30 doesn't really come close to the i3 in terms of the EV fundamentals (like range), in a time were the market is already beginning to saturate. The i3 has the benefit of time, where BMW very clearly was experimenting.

[@GTXOla]

This is the single most interesting approach to a current technology masterpiece. Why don't all cars use light strong materials, reduce power to match the low weight and use narrow tires? Such a refreshing spectacle it is compared to the fat overweight slugs most normal cars have become. Imagine if you came home late and tired, then coming out to the car in the morning only to realise that you forgot to turn on the charge. Instead of waiting an hour being late, you just use the range extender. And with all that it is still lighter than cars of a similar size. What a performance.

[@jomo2483]

You're talking as an enthusiast. For majority of people a car purchase is very expensive, they don't want something that feels like it is made of light stuff. This is a real human psychology. That's why people overpay for SUVs

[@Loanshark753]

The Tesla model 3 is one of the most energy efficient electric cars, I wonder how efficient it would be if it had narrow magnesium wheels. It would look very funny putting those onto such a big car.

[@rkan2]

​@@Loanshark753Would probably drop 5-10% but the tires would not match the suspension in handling. 😅

[@jamesvdv0]

This summer, I drove to Scotland, then Cornwall and back to Essex. 2,500 miles in total in my i3 94Ah REx. I never let the charge drop below 25% and had zero range anxiety. I only needed the REx to move between the countries and managed the rest on electricity. I was intending to take my 10l metal fuel can (I call it the Range Extender, Extender) but, due to needing the precious boot space, I had to leave this at home. I never missed the fuel can and found the small fuel tank ample. On a steady run, I find the REx can extend the range by up to 100 miles. I have had one of these i3 RExs now for over 10 years and have no plans to change this.

[@andrewpreston5046]

same here with regard to using fuel on longer trips.

[@sdy30]

I leased one for 5 years. Best everyday-driver I’ve ever had. Shame BMW stopped making it. They were onto something!

[@MrDesmonick]

I love my i3, to the point that I actually sold my Porsche 997.2 C4S and kept this as my daily! I have a 2021, 120ah car, so a late production car with the big battery and all the toys. It still looks like it's from the future, and the interior is a lovely place to be.

[@JamesSmith-qs4hx]

A girl's car.

[@diyhell8712]

That is genuinely hilarious - do kids these days still say that ​@@JamesSmith-qs4hx

[@markclow2]

@@JamesSmith-qs4hx You drive a morons car.

[@chrisnewman7281]

@@JamesSmith-qs4hxnot so

[@rkan2]

​@@JamesSmith-qs4hxCarbon fiber body always cooler for me than some random Porsche.

[@hadrienlf23]

I was looking for a commuter car, cheap, fun and interesting. I started to find I3 videos or forum and I have never ever encounter a car with such positive review and happy owners. There isn't a single video of an i3 where 99% of people say they will keep theirs for a lifetime.

[@rbos36]

@@hadrienlf23 Audi A2 has the same kind of happy owners, and it still brings a smile to my face when I drive it :)

[@rbos36]

Aaaaand switched to BMW i3 four weeks ago 😁 Really happy so far! Getting used to an electric car (range vs weather and driving style, and charging it) was a bit harder than I expected, I’m still figuring things out. But I’m starting to get used to it. The car drives absolutely magnificently!

[@henning.a4646]

I love my i3S. Bought one brand new with ALL the options. Fun city commuter and a blast on the b-roads. We have 3 of them in the family.

[@Brendanjosephstudio]

My i3 S is both my first ever vehicle of any kind AND my car for life. So delighted to see you cover it. Gonna watch now and enjoy my coffee.

[@shoestring7]

After several Audi A2s, there's now an i3S REX on my driveway. I must be a sucker for automotive lost causes, but it's a simply brilliant little car for every day use, 100 miles worth of charge is about £4- so it's cheap to run now the six years 'luxury ' VED has finished. However I have both a private driveway and a ICE alternative for longer trips, and I appreciate that not everyone is in the same situation.

[@Mr.Marbles]

Its crazy how much the stories align. A small, well build innovative car that was made for efficiency but didnt sell because of a high price and weird looks.

[@uniqueforeveri3s22]

Great and fair review. I have a near end of line 2022 special edition that I bought as a last chance after having a 2018 Protonic blue i3S rex almost the same as the review car... it was a great car but I just rarely used the extender so decided to go for thebigger battery while I still had a chance of getting one new.. No regrets at all. I loved it so much i recently paid the PCP ballon to keep it. Superb car -often misunderstood but aging like a fine wine and I think perhaps more appreciated now than it was when it was a brand new model. The world just wasn't ready for it.

[@maxtorque2277]

Here's the thing, if you like the i3s ReX, then you would LOVE the i3s BEV! This is because it weighs a significant chunk less, and crucially, it's not just the absolute mass, but where it is, ie all at the back and "up high". Honestly, the BEV i3s is so much better to drive it's not funny! Faster too. Once you've driven one for a bit, you soon learn the "sharp" steering and assuming you are not a clumbsy driver (unfortunately, ime, most modern drivers steer terribly...) the car is so agile it's hilarious. Honestly, i've driven everything in my 35 years of autotive dev, and the i3s (BEV not ReX!) is honestly possibly the most agile yet ultimately stable (very low CofG, very stiff tub) cars i've driven. Yes, certain aspects of the suspension could be better, but most of the poor ride actually is a result of the high H point and low CofG, meaning body motions are interpreted by our brains as lots of jerk and toss. Learn to left foot brake and it gets even better....... my recomendation If you want a long range BEV or ICE, fine get one those but if you want a truely fun local runaround then get an i3. Just make sure you get one with a battery only 🙂

[@Mike_Salmons_Socks]

Go-Kart acceleration - Golf-Cart handling. Had two of these before we switched to Teslas. Really miss the i3, cool, futuristic and fun. The range extender was the perfect antidote to range anxiety where charging options are uncertain. Only ever used the range extender once or twice on long journeys. Thanks James.

[@max99x]

@@Mike_Salmons_Socks how does the Tesla compare?

[@Mike_Salmons_Socks]

@@max99x They are fundamentally different cars with different intended uses - take the i3 to the shops, take the Model Y/3 on longer journeys. I have a model Y Long Range and it is the best motorway cruiser I have ever owned. Decent range, tons of space, quiet inside, good ride. My wife's on her second Model 3 RWD, the first one (2020) was a bit agricultural - in build quality, ride etc...but her latest one (2024), is dramatically improved in all areas and cost £1,000 less that it did in 2020.

[@max99x]

@@Mike_Salmons_Socks Thanks, I've slightly decided to wait till the model Y refresh and potentially lease one through my business :)

[@mikeboy0001]

@@max99x It would probably be my option, was it not for Elon Musk Bought and Love my i3

[@xaviermelendez2639]

The i3 might just be the all time best car for the masses ever made in the 21st Century. The engineers and designers who worked on this absolutely knocked the design brief out of the park! Kudos to BMW for making what may be a forever cult classic!!!

[@GroxMirk]

Price and range makes them out of mass market.

[@paddydaddyo]

I got my one-owner ‘14 BEV i3 earlier this year with only 13k miles on the odometer and am convinced it is the perfect car for me. My daily commute is under 20 miles round trip, my job offers free charging, and I love the agile and quick little city car this vehicle truly is. Real-world max range of 70 miles is no big whoop to me-so much so that I did a 3,000+ mile road trip in it back in the summer. No range extender, no problem. I am actually willing to pay for a battery pack swap when the day comes that it is needed: each month I take the $100 I don’t spend on fuel and sock it away in a separate account.

[@paddydaddyo]

Oh, and I keep the rear seats folded flat all the time, so it’s like a little wagon. The trunk space like this is great.

[@leejones3377]

The thing i find most amazing about the i3 is that no one has a bad word to say about them. Speaks volumes.

[@paulmarotta4885]

Been waiting for this video. I brought the exact same car as this in June this year as my daily driver. And i absolutely love it can't drive it enough. And i am a proper petrol head i would say had a number off cars, also have a clio 172cup as well but i haven't really driven it since owning my i3s. I've done 6000 miles in mine already and the cost saving in fuel is massive. Done a couple off 200 miles trip and made it on a full charge and a tank off fuel with ease. This was my first step in to ev cars and my next car will be ev but the i3 will be kept i will never be getting rid off it such a fun car to drive and own. Thanks for the video.

[@312maxon]

I've only had my i3 (2014 Rex) since 10/31/2023, already put 27k miles on it, despite living only 1.4mi from work. It will end up replacing everything in my fleet of European beaters that doesn't see track duty, probably even replacing my tow vehicle.

[@John-FourteenSix]

I nervously traded a rather boring, but very competent Golf GTD for my i3S. Apart from the reduction in range, I prefer my i3S, it has character and at 2p per mile running cost for “juice” home charging is very pocket friendly indeed. 12 month in and I still love it.

[@TheSmallRabbit]

Yep its nice to fill up for about £3 ! empty to full on the 8p tarrif

[@schnaufschnief5791]

I think everyone who has an i3 loves it. Just a nice car to be in. Ours has the light grey interior and the glas roof. That creates a let‘s say“friendly“ atmosphere with the big windows letting in lots of light. But to be fair it‘s not made for long trips. Energy consumption is just to high at faster speeds considering the small batterie. Our other car a ID4 GTX feels big, heavy and old fashioned in comparison. Ok car but nothing you look forward to. Hoping that the new electric BMWs have a bit of the spirit of the i3!

[@philstone3381]

I purchased a 2015 i3 with range extender for my company in 2015; it cost £40,000 and hasn't missed a beat. My partner has a 2021 i3s and she loves it. The i3 is one of the best cars BMW has ever produced. Great Review!

[@oxaile4021]

This was the first EV i ever drove back in 2018. Immediately fell in love with the drivetrain and wanted an EV ever since. Finally early this year i bought a BYD Dolphin and absolutely love it.

[@mynameIan]

You are the best automotive presenter currently working. Kudos.

[@robellis2011]

4 years owning an i3 - absolutely love it. carbon construction so never going to rust. perfectly sized for urban/family use. we have 3 vehicles within the family but this gets used more than anything else. 99% of our journeys are sub-100 miles with 4 or less people so i3 every time. We charge off the solar panels on our roof so for around 5 months of the year its completely free motoring (zero road tax). We have the last iteration with the bigger battery (no range extender complexity) so around 180 miles max, less in the winter/ cold weather but honestly its all you need. We do trips 200-ish miles to the coast in the summer - plan your lunch stop somewhere midway off the m-way with instavolt and it'll be back up to 80-90% full easily in a 30-40 minute sandwich break.

[@Calicarver]

The BMW i3 was one of, if not THE fastest accelerating car BMW sold between 0-40mph. Quite fun to drive. Exquisite interior design and materials. Polarizing exterior. Battery is properly cooled so tend to last longer than other EVs of this era, especially the Nissan Leaf which only use air cooling. The main issue with the range extender is the maintenance. Youre still on the hook for she same issues and liabilities as with a gasoline car: oil changes, belts, gaskets, cooling, exhaust, sensors etc

[@pqvid]

I absolutely agree, the amount of engineering that went into the i3 is astonishing. In addition to the things you have mentioned (well researched by the way, kudos!) - one example is that they covered you for even a dead 12V battery. Basically, what happens if both you high voltage (HV) battery dies, and the 12V (they use a small one, as there’s no starter) also dies? The charging electronics lives off the 12V system, so it’s a deadlock. The absolute genius solution - they use the pilot signal from the charging station (“charging station is ready”) to power the small part of electronics that sends back “car is ready to charge” back to the charging station. Then the charger starts supplying the power, from that power the car’s inverter is engaged, which charges both the HV and the 12V battery. Really genius! If you look up how many EVs stranded and had to be recovered because of the dead 12V battery - I believe it’s easily more than 50% of all EV faults. They could foresee it and found a clever solution. This really gives me trust in modern day engineers. The only condition: those projects should be also run by engineers, not by greedy investors…

[@rusty911s2]

The reason the wheels are so large in diameter yet look so narrow is so that you get a standard tyre-road contact patch in total, but it's turned sideways. Like a playing card going across the car or in line with it. The idea is to reduce drag as you're not punching four wide tyres through the air, yet you still get the grip advantage of a big tyre. Other clever details: under the bonnet, trims are edged in plastic but have fabric centres to save weight. The alloys are (I believe) forged and are amazingly light. The wiper arms are alloy, hollowed out and are cast in a girder pattern to be strong and light. The door trims and dash are made from impregnated plant fibres. The brakes don't affect regen, so remain pure from a driver's POV. Such a shame BMW abandoned all of this, but as the Audi A2 showed, the public often doesn't appreciate engineering, just the cheapest prices possible or the biggest car for their money, irrespective of what they're actually getting beneath the skin. Anyway, i3: clever thing, but be aware can be fussy on the road, a bit twitchy in steering when you first drive, but if you like it, and 'get' it, you'll probably quickly come to love it.

[@ricardosilva-xz1yt]

Just in case some missed that. APC Armoured Personal Carrier.

[@nnnggg5625]

I have a 69 Plate BMW i3 42KwH pure electric in red/black with the top of the range wheels, Harmon Kardon and it hasn't missed a beat. Quick, quiet, beautiful to drive (mostly local miles). Octopus Intelligent home charging at 7p/KwH (2.80 to totally fill the usable 38KwH battery. Cheap as chips!! I've parked it at various places and there's usually a gang of poeple/families/kids crowding round it, looking inside and marvelling at the car. I've used a rapid charger at 50KwH speeds and it took about 18 mins to charge to 80%. People are amazed when I tell them it has a carbon fibre body. I can see these being a future design classic.

[@HrV147]

I worked for a BMW retailer for 3 years in service and hands down the i3 is the best car they have made this century. Unbelievably reliable, never need anything, I even had one customer who had their first set of rear brake pads after 90k miles. They are so cheap used aswell. Worth every penny

[@andrewsalmon100]

Love my i3 rex. Went to ikea yesterday. Plugged in there. Charged. Drove home, quietly comfortably and with a smug feeling of driving a super cool car. There was no way the technology could be viable for a small special car in 2016 in Australia but I love my i3. Still surprised how many I see.

[@craig8638]

You can pick these cars up for pretty cheap and I know a few people that have them and love them. They pick them up secondhand for a low price and use them as their daily drivers.

[@pistonburner6448]

Funny how no-one ever mentions their biggest difference to 'normal' cars: the fact that the i3 is massively noisier and hugely less comfortable. Kind of a big deal!

[@petec2583]

@@pistonburner6448 Depends what you're used to, doesn't it. I currently daily drive a 2005 BMW R53 "Mini" Cooper S. There's absolutely no way it's noisier and less comfortable than that! The Mini has concrete poles for shock absorbers, for a start.

[@pistonburner6448]

@@petec2583 The i3's structure resonates far more and its horrible body-on-frame construction and cheap, compromised suspension make it far more uncomfortable and noisy than a Mini. They don't have that material figured out. There's massive howling of the roof and B-pillar area at higher speeds from the wind.

[@petec2583]

@@pistonburner6448 Have you ever driven a 1st generation BMW Mini?

[@pistonburner6448]

@@petec2583 Yes.

[@patrickfaleur6346]

I looked at one of these in 2020 and also the Honda e. The Honda won, and 4 years later I still love it!

[@gazzaman28]

The iX1 is apparently the successor, and it's lovely, but it's absolutely massive in comparison. I have a 2015 i3, it's done 121k miles, it's still fab, I love it dearly.

[@gzy4407]

I bought a pre-owned 2020 BMW i3 last year and LOVE it!!!!!!!

[@prestoniap3838]

Have the i3s 120Ahr and it’s excellent . Cheap to run. Space inside is great and its sharp. Around town unbeatable. It is firm suspension. Steering is sharp and excellent turning circle. Wife loves it so we are keeping it. Now for the bad news …it’s a second car it is not a family saloon and we have an X5 for long runs. Do not regret buying it.

[@ThrottleBody]

I3 is sort of a spiritual successor to the Audi a2. Very well packaged, innovative and ahead of its time.

[@zedsdeadbabyo]

I have it’s bigger brother, the i8, similar concept, carbon, small engine and electric motor. Still looks like a space ship 10 years on, what a car for the money. Was thinking of getting the i3 for my wife who will only drive small cars. She has an i10

[@EricTheBlue61]

I have an i3. Standard version 120 Ah battery, not the S. I adore it. It has its flaws (getting a puncture 150 miles from home was a bit of a saga) but I adore it. Such a delight to drive. It's a pity BMW chose to phase it out as I'd be keen to upgrade to one with faster charging, a slightly bigger battery and Android Auto etc. As it is, I might just keep it until it qualifies as a classic car!

[@tonycarman5078]

I drive my i3 Rex to London and back from Newcastle. I just keep putting petrol in and carry on regardless. It gets 50 mpg and no stoping to charge. Service it regularly.

[@RogerHaefele]

You are right - this is the EV for petrol heads. I consider one with an Alibaba 54 KWh battery upgrade from CATL to bring it to 400 km range plus range extender. Costs about 7000 quid on top. With two extra 8 liter cans you can get around 900 km autonomy between charging stations.

[@hendrikbock]

@@RogerHaefeleCould you please share a link on where to buy this battery? Thanks a lot in advance!

[@Nicknamed13]

Been watching your channel for a while and I always felt you'd appreciate this one. It's one of those cars that for some stupid reason... it works. As a city car it is fantastic. Those seats may not have a lot of support but they are easy to get in and out. Not a low riding hatch but not as high as an SUV. Good view angles from the drivers seat. The interior is built to handle rugged use and easy to clean. The doors are a pain if you use the back seat for people but you can fit a lot of weirdly shaped stuff in the back including a large sized dog. It is nimble, it accelerates very well up to 80km/h (crap after 100km/h), great throttle response but not the most rewarding car to throw in corners. The Rex is perfect for when you need those extra miles to get you through the day (never bothered on longer trips; for that I got another underdog car you reviewed and you REALLY liked it). It's a really good workhorse. One thing you didn't mention but it might be important is that the i3 (especially the S) overheat very fast when you give it hell. So it will go fast but can't handle sustained thrashing. Funny story. Towed a small SUV through hillside as he broke down and needed a "lift". He was shocked at how well it pulled his 1.6tonne car up the hill and asked if it's "one of those 2lt turbos". Ahm... not quite my friend.

[@izzard]

My i3 is the best car I've ever had. It's maddening that BMW stopped making them.

[@mikaelcronholm]

The i3 may become a cult car. We love ours. Never do any long trips, just within the range, so we only charge at home. It will never rust... except the brake discs, especially in the back. Do a hard braking once in a while! The battery holds up really well. If it stays unused for a while, just keep it hooked up to trickle charge it. Ideal for people who spend extended time away from home. If we don't use it for a while, we don't feel that we need to service it. Hence, it's a keeper! Between a Porsche Cayman S and a Skoda Superb wagon, it finds its relevance. Those three are perfectly complementing each other.

[@LightTheUnicorn]

These were forward thinking in much more than just looks, always cool to see one on the road. Smaller, clever, cool and safe cars are what a lot of us actually need.

[@andrewpreston5046]

Had a red 2018 i3s, REX, for two years , much buzzing about , a fab trip around Scotland. Wanted a drop top thoroughbred sports car with ev benefits, so impressed with BMW's EV tech, bought an i8 Roadster (no lack of substance there James, these car's have more in common with a Porsche 918 Spyder than you may realise, indeed they rightly claim Top Gear's , best of the best of best of 30yrs auto development. The i8 Roadster has inspired 22K miles of touring using 1/2 the fuel of a 911 and is next level of quick doing it. It really is BMW's ultimate touring machine). For buzzing about with more than one kiddy, I realised just how fab the i3s was so bought another. My partner has new Volvo EX30, nice ride but for the £ the i3s REX , is simply an amazing (more roomy) efficient, quick and versatile EV with no range anxiety issues ever. THE REX bit is great, rarely used ( we charge at home with PV's) but mindset is, we can go as far and as fast as we like with the REX, so lets go to the Alps. This we have done transporting two 25KG ebikes and loved the experience, a few stops to charge or fill up on route. The tank is not a big , big problem. You can, coming back from the Alps have 100 miles each top up ( especially useful if ev pumps have a queue) A rex version is way more valuable because you can do such longer trips without much or any inconvenience and still enjoy all the EV benefits for use around home. It isn't a problem it nicely ( without inconvenience) extend the capabilities of the car making it easy to use for longer journeys. PS you are spot on re the handling, those big gyroscope wheels certainly have an effect! All the best.

[@Knackebrot]

Goes on the cool wall

[@bluesteve124]

I currently own what appears to be the exact same car (excepting the exterior, color and it's LHD). Every day I feel like I'm driving a street-legal go cart, and I'm sure it gives me the most ridiculous grin! I think you touched on every detail that gives me pride of ownership, and while new vehicles will always turn my head (like their new Neue Klasse!) I don't think I will ever willingly give this one up.

[@SingleTrackMined]

I hear you. I'm shopping for a Chevrolet Volt right now. Great car from the past.

[@davethevicar88]

Have one for 4 yrs been on once for module reprogramming that's it used hevra excellent

[@simonreeves2017]

Hi James, greetings from Oxford. I got my i3 new 2019, still have it, still love it. The looks are not fantastic imho, but on the inside it’s awesome for front passengers, large panoramic windscreen, open and roomy. The power train is well balanced including the fixed level of regen. Circa 50k miles and five years later my running costs have been one new set of tyres (at 37k miles) and two new sets of wiper blades. No hint of battery degradation so far. Planning to keep it as long as possible to prove a point, and also because I don’t see anything else on the market that feels like a significant upgrade.

[@hbullock]

I’ve had 2 i3’s for the last 7 years, both with REx. Loved them both, and still have the second one. No plans to sell. Range challenged, yes, but otherwise excellent. I have the i3S, which gives the otherwise very boxy shape just enough curves. And my play car is a Porsche 718 spyder. A match made in heaven.

[@animal355]

Probably one of the best engineered electric cars, it would be one of the only EVs to tease me out of my ICE cars. Great review Jay

[@Daz_Stap]

Great video, and one of the few electric cars that I would be interested in. I can't be the only person who was hoping for the usual JayEmm rear bumper exhaust camera shot, but with silence and no exhaust note!

[@lepod]

Great fun to drive those i3s. We hired one for a road trip in the North Island of NZ and it was excellent.

[@takkr1979]

great review! had a i3 REX for years. Small fuel tank is designed on purpose, the range extender functionality is not for continuous use. We used it as the 2nd car for the family and it served perfectly. We barely used the range extender (actually after a longer period of inactivity - i believe 4 weeks or so - it kicks in by itself during the drive, independently from the state of charge of the battery pack). Kids and the entire family loved the car, it served perfectly our needs, i can not imagine any better car to use inside of cities or in the suburb area. Regarding the boot capacity: You can also put all the charging cables, etc to the frunk so the entire trunk capacity will be available for daily use.

[@tubaman66]

Appreciate that the range extender range is small but at least it takes away the issue of range anxiety as you always be able to get to the next charging point or the next petrol station. A very nice solution and a real shame they stopped making it.

[@Weaseltube]

I love the i3 and I still hope to own one eventually. A future classic for sure. As with all great things, we largely fail to appreciate it in the moment so here we are now limited to expensive, heavy, long-range BEVs that we can't really justify. The i3 and the Chevy Volt (another future classic) were ahead of their time. I expect manufacturers to circle back to these kinds of range extender PHEVs before long. People are ready.

[@nizm0man]

range extender/generator is being used by current Nissan hybrid (e-Power).

[@SFVec3F]

It's unique. It wouldn't surprise me if this becomes a cult classic, like the Isetta.

[@ElectricPetrolhead]

We've had our 44kWh i3 since new in 2019 and love it. 50k miles so far which considering we've had Teslas etc alongside it for long journeys is good. My daughter will be 17 in 6 years and pretty sure we'll still own it then for her to drive.

[@Cyberdyne-kg8ku]

I was be behind one the other day. I thought it would get in my way. Boy, was I wrong. Whoooosh, he was gone.

[@_rhapsodist]

Finally!! I was waiting for you to review this ❤

[@josephkelly4893]

I’ve always liked these little beauties. Rich from the channel ‘Rich’s Rebuilds’ has fixed the problem by putting a fuel cell in the front boot, if I bought one I’d probably do the same, of fill the boot with Jerry cans of petrol. Great review again James. Peace

[@berttroubleyn3475]

Test drove an i3 once in wintery conditions. The combination of RWD, very strong regen and a short wheelbase means very snappy lift-off oversteer, which is then ruled in by a very blunt stability control. Same rule applies to swift lane changes while going off the throtle pedal, for example when someone cuts you off on a highway in the last instance and you do an evasive maneuver. Just a small warning for whoever would think about buying one.

[@limacom]

As a proud owner of 2018 i3 ReX, I find it a perfect car with one glaring exception; no blind spot warning for side view mirrors.

[@lentab7031]

The Volt/Ampera has a 1.4litre range extender that it drives normally on... So electric 40mile commute most days and 300mile+ petrol range on the odd day that you need it... Perfect if that suits your usage, which is the key thing - choose the tech solution that fits your useage (and no road tax etc yet)

[@smurf9857]

They are great cars. My wife got one new in 2017 and it’s the daily school run, local trips car that compliments my Q7. At the time it was cheaper to buy new due to all of the incentives on offer. It’s been reliable, cheap and good fun to drive. It’s definitely a bit lively on bumpy roads and the ride quality isn’t great. Think of it as a 1 tonne go kart that goes v v well up to 30, has a turning circle better than a cab and rear wheel drive - I drove it like I stole it most days. Ace thing We got the leather trim (only available in dark brown and it’s been a good choice with the kids. Bigger satnav screen is worth it, upgraded stereo isn’t great but is an improvement Being able to prewarm / precook it from your phone is great. Recommend.

[@MattEMaddock]

Absolutely love our i3. One of the best cars we’ve ever owned. Had it for 6 years and 88,000 miles now and will not change it. That’s not normal, I usually change my car every 6 months!! Others have come and gone but the i3 stays. A truly brilliant car for every day local trips, easy to park, surprisingly quick, costs next to nothing to run, never breaks down!

[@markrowcroft2890]

Can I ask how your battery is holding up at 88k miles?

[@MattEMaddock]

@ exactly the same range as when we first got it.

[@Guitarist789]

Love our i3S after moving to it from a Tesla. Nice to go back to tactile buttons. The coach/suicide style doors have worked really well for us and our family, much easier to get kids and child seats in and out of than other cars we’ve had.

[@georgeholloway3981]

I had an I3 without range extender and it was perfect for 90% of my needs.

[@robertp.wainman4094]

Always liked these - as I think electric vehicles should look 'different'! Especially like the range extender version.

[@RobertoKraschitz]

I had in 2017 a BMW i3 REX with converted frunk space into an additional fuel tank in a complete reversable way. In winter, despite the narrow tyre size, there are some traction problem, caused ultimatly by the traction control that don't allows you to spin the wheels a bit. The narrow tyres are quite scary when you have a full brake and on the highway the steering is very sensible to sidewind. But I recons that the car on city or country roads is a pleasure to drive. Sadly once I had an issue with 80000 Km lifetime, the official dealers incompetent network couldn't find the cause and fix my car (they didn't even try seriously). I gave them the car back and this was my last ever BMW since my first '70 3.0 CSi.

[@tbone9405]

Thank you for really great video about the I3. I just purchased one with low miles. I found a one owner 2019 i3 Rex model with Tera world interior, in us terms. The most fun I’ve had in while.

[@cedarcanoe]

I own a 2nd hand 2017 i3. Best car buy I ever did (fyi: I have driven cars for 45 years now). Not a single crack is to be heard when driving it. It will never rust (no steel is used on this car) and the batteries, although early battery engineering, are performing brilliantly. Where is the BMW EV now?? I will keep driving this until it finally dies one day, it is that good.

[@AdrianMcDaid]

I owned 3 BMW i3's and really loved the cars.

[@Keyko5150Estrada]

It is definetly growing on me slowly as I learn about it

[@longtailgt]

Even though I initially disliked the styling of this car (it has grown on me quite a lot since), there's no doubt in saying this car was ahead of its time. I really like it! As a city runabout, especially for people who don't want to ride a scooter/ or as an alternative to a scooter, it does the job so well. I think the main problem for the i3 was that - it was too expensive for the sort of people who needed it, and those who could afford it, went and bought pointless 2 tonne SUVs instead.

[@Jimages_uk]

The only problem for me is the unusual tyre sizes, I would prefer the largest battery without the engine. I don't know anyone who has owned one that didn't fall in love with it. Definitely a future classic.

[@ckm-mkc]

I have one of these and it's an amazing car. It's the perfect city/urban car and I live in the endless American suburbs..... I have several other cars, including an always broken F-Pace, but the i3 gets by far the most use. The 10 year warranty on the drivetrain has been brilliant, replaced all the electronics & drive motor. We like it so much we may buy a newer one. We hacked the software to "allow" a larger tank and on-demand range extender.

[@upturnedkangaroo]

I remember the first time I drove one of these potato-looking dumpy beemers. It was lovely inside, and shocked me with how fast it went!

[@Maurice_Moss]

Love my i3s. One of the only interesting EVs IMO. Handles way better than you'd expect, a massive improvement over the standard i3 (which I have driven many times). Stops better too. And you can even make the back end step out in the wet! How did the owner get android auto upgrade for £35?????

[@hegilento]

I have 17 plat I3 , same proton blue , LOVE IT !!

[@PhineasPhlob]

I love my i3s but you are bang on with your assessment of the ride and handling. A very fair review.

[@andrewholland1390]

Great video Jay, totally agree with you on your criticisms of the range extender! Having owned smart fortwos since 2006, I was intrigued by the i3 and had a 48 hour test drive of an i3 REx back in the summer of 2019. I live in Greater Manchester, so the natural thing to do with this test drive is take the car to the Lake District for the weekend. Range anxiety got in the way of enjoying the experience of having the car and I too discovered how quickly that tiny tank is drained when you're having to use the car on the motorway. We ended up opting to come back part of the way via A-roads so as to burn less fuel. The interior in the car I had was kinda wood-based IIRC and some of the materials didn't exactly feel durable, even if they actually might have been. The suspension setup/ride in general was harsh, crashy and unforgiving, and that surprised me even though I'm totally okay with cars with firm riding traits as a long-time smart owner! The reason I had that test drive was because I had outgrown the fortwo and needed something bigger, yet still utterly a city car. I thought the i3 might be the answer, but sadly no. In December 2019 I got a great deal on another car, 800 miles on the clock at 2 years, 3 months old for just £10,500 from a marque dealership and finally said goodbye to my 2nd-gen smart fortwo after 146k not exactly trouble free miles! The replacement was not a BMW and not a smart forfour, no (though I had considered that also, but ruled it out as too cramped and poor value, not even having DAB fitted as standard!). I bought a Suzuki Ignis automatic, and Jay, this is a car you really should do a video on (if you've not already - don't think I've seen one from you!). A truly impressive piece of packaging and engineering, it's a car that Suzuki really hasn't understood how to market correctly because as a city car, there's really nothing to beat it in terms of size vs practicality. It's a doddle to park yet spacious, decently kitted out, and yet not overly complicated or over-engineered, and - at 7 years old and having owned it for 5 years - utterly and solidly reliable. No regrets in not buying an i3, the Ignis has served my needs as well as it would have, if not better. Given the Ignis has now been discontinued in Europe, I really do think you should do a review of one, go on, please!

[@philipsykes4413]

Great review James and pretty fair. I have a 2019 i3s 42kwh BEV (battery only) with a smattering of AC Schnitzer trim and wheel spacers. Needless to say I love it. Two things viewers might be interested in. - you mentioned the Bridgestone tyres, for the i3s they are the only tyre available in the correct size and at over £700 a set are a significant cost over what is otherwise a cheap car to run. Non S versions have a few more options for tyres at more regular prices. Secondly the handling. I’m an old school BMW diehard who likes a bit of throttle provoked oversteer and the i3S can provide this as in its ‘Sport’ mode it allows a little more rear movement before the stability system intervenes and if you turn off the stability system (I have it set on one of the menu shortcut buttons) then you can play with the rear quite pleasingly. Great review Thanks James

[@howertingsyaboya3789]

There are tyres by Tracmax and Tourador that are the correct specification for the I3s (rear tyres particularly) that are quite a bit cheaper than the Bridgestones - not as good in some respects but you pays ya money.....

[@stevecballard]

I have the i3 rex and i8.roadster two of the very best cars I've ever owned 200 mile journeys in the i3 are easy, use electric until 75% charge ie 30 miles, then use the 80 miles of petrol and you will get to your destination empty, or 100miles round trip and recharge at home. with regard to the tyres, mine are 20 inch, and skinny, but that gives the same contact patch as a smaller wider tyre, but is more aerodynamic and thus efficient

[@buffalobob121]

I really enjoyed this video, and thanks. I'll have one as soon as I have a place to park it.

[@JacanaProductions]

Fun fact, the carbon fiber for the chassis was shipped to the US and made there due to lower energy costs. Went on a fun tour of the Leipzig factory a number of years ago.

[@archiegoodwinjr]

That's my car (different color though). Thank you for your point of view.

[@archiegoodwinjr]

PS: I "filled" the gas tank once (during one excursion, I was unable to find any charging stations anywhere in an upscale part of California, the 3 charger location apps I had were inaccurate, the little dash screen indicated 0 miles of charge remaining, then I spent nearly 10 minutes trying to interpret what the manual was telling me about how to open the filler cap--I admit to banging on that cap several times) and was surprised the tank would only take 2.5 US gallons and that indicated a range of 75 miles. I was easily able to make it back home (to the hotel where the car is kept). That 2.5 gallons was the only time I ever had to "power up" the car because the hotel has always kept it charged up for me.

[@DahleJohannes]

There are about 30000 of them here in Norway. My parents had one for a few years. What a car. It slides too.

[@damirbajic4579]

Ah Norway. Country so cold it was not ment to be for EVs but you still buy them like crazy for no reason. Also a Country that sells more gas and crude oil than any European country but fights for EVs and "clean" air ax if you have invisible border protecting you from the rest of us. God bless you😂😂😂😂

[@DahleJohannes]

@@damirbajic4579 People buy them here because petrol and diesel cars are expensive, and comparatively, EV's are affordable. The oil and gas export is needed. There is a demand for it. Pretty simple really. Should we offer our gas and oil to a market who wants to buy it and use a lot of the money on lowering emission through things like subsidizing EV's, or should we leave the oil in the ground and let Saudi or someone else fill that gap in the market? You sound jealous and god doesn't exist. You don't need to believe in him over here. Real life is good enough.

[@damirbajic4579]

@DahleJohannes OK, let's break it down. 1. Off course you shoud sell your gas and oil to the highest bidder 2. EVs work for people with houses and short commute, otherwise they are more expensive to run and impractical not to mention worse for the environment (to make). Also majority of electricity is acquired by burning coal and fuel so they are not ecological 3. Jealous? MF, I am from Croatia. I live in Opatija. Google it and find out. Today outside was sunny, 21 degrees and sea was 21. We went on a beach, had a lunch, and now we are chilling in the garden. Believe me, there is no amount of money that would make me move and I have been everywhere (including your beautiful country). 4. Is there a God? Have no idea, but we will find out some day. Have an amazing day my northern brother and may peace be upon you.

[@WainwrightWalksWiaLocalLad]

Probably the most underrated car since the turn of the century!.... Sadly it's neither 4 wheel drive or big/butch enough for the school run. Usual high standard video James 👌

[@S0me0ne_S0meWhere_SaysHi]

The i3 and i8 are the best BMWs for a looooonnnngggg time by a looooonnnngggg shot! Even compared to more recent models.

[@philiptyson4000]

I remember seeing the carbon shell in the window of park lane bmw , they certainly put a lot into it !