2021 BMW i3 120ah - First impressions. Have I turned into an EVangelist?

[@gibbo916]

If you're getting 4.1 mi/kwh, with a 44kwh battery thats a healthy 180 miles range. Very nice

[@BikesCarsandChat]

That's about right, but a bit less in the winter 👍

[@michaeldproject]

Only 40kWh are usable due to active battery management.

[@clausvandenbrink7955]

I wonder how long these cars will last and how they will age. Really smart car. Because the upper half of the car is light it permits softer suspension that regular ev's with same height.

[@BikesCarsandChat]

All the original cars from 2013 are still going strong, with very little battery degradation. That was another big part of my decision to go i3. And yes, the top half of the car is light, all the weight is very low.

[@bucabrandon]

Congrats. I too picked up an i3 to have alongside the Porsche (a then 987.2 but now a 981) and it’s turned out to be the perfect two car garage. To cycle through the info on the display, it’s the button at the end of the indicator stalk rather than the one you tried on the cluster, which resets the trip computer. Enjoy!

[@BikesCarsandChat]

A great mix! And yes, I realised my school boy error when I watched it back and saw the trip meter zero 🤦‍♂️🤣

[@gap9992]

I've had the same one (different colour) for 18 months and love it. It's small enough for around town and tight UK car parks but easily big enough and comfortable enough for longer runs when needed. It's very nippy and handles well so is a lot of fun to drive. The rear doors are fine but I would prefer to have the standard set up. Very good economy and range for its intended purpose but it charges too slow if you do a lot of longer trips. I haven't spent anything at all on maintenance yet! My only regret is that I bought it 3 months too early as they are a lot cheaper now which just makes them a bargain. I plan to keep my i3 for a long time. It does all our local and medium trips and I have an older, but mint, Honda CR-V for long trips and tip runs.

[@BikesCarsandChat]

I'm really loving this little car, for all the reasons you've said 👍

[@CartanSubalgebra]

Hey mate. So do you think that for trips if around 150 to 250km the charging shouldn't be a problem ?

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Definitely not a problem, as long as you have a reliable charging network. For me, that longer journey took no longer than a petrol car would've done. My stops to charge were the same length as I would've taken normally 👍

[@allmech_BMW_fault_finding]

You know where to go when the PT-CAN 2 rots 🙂 Yes I have had these things in pieces so many times including my own car. Well done - most under rated car that people seem to hate. I love mine.

[@anticat900]

Great video with info as I've just bought mine, 150,000 on it but still 125 miles on a full charge 33 ah battery on eco. An amazing little car 😊

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Thanks for watching and the nice comment! That's some really great battery degradation, they seem to hold up so well! 👍

[@anticat900]

@@BikesCarsandChat the battery is at 78% but i imagine its adding some or all of its spare capacity by now to keep the range so of ok.

[@chrishar110]

A great buy. I have a 20 model too, I love it. I made an one day trip from Wigan to Aberdeen last winter. Temps around or below 0C, very heavy winds, very heavy rain and snowfall, speed at 70mph or at the speed limit, 4 heavy adults (from 90-140 kg) and a big dog. The A/C-heater was blasting all the time and my range was at 100-120 miles. At the worst conditions that I could find in UK I could drive for 1.5 hour and I could charge in 30-35 mins with a city car that was designed 12 years ago. That was my one and only long trip I made, I prefer to fly if I have to drive more than 4 hours. I drive 6-10 hours every day at work, I can't do it at my days off, or holidays. Now in summer, in Wigan or around, at small trips to Liverpool or Manchester I make 4.5 to 6.5 miles/Kwh, in the winter I am at 3-3.5.

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Sounds like an epic trip! I only do 25 miles a day, so it's perfect for that. Pre heat or cool the cabin before each journey, and it charges to 100% overnight on my 'granny' charger 👍

[@chrishar110]

@@BikesCarsandChat It was!!! (I am Greek and my football team PAOK got the win at 94' in Aberdeen). I do 10-15 miles every day plus 40-100 miles on weekends and I charge it two-three nights every week for 7 hours (at 9p/Kwh) with the granny cable at 6 or 7Amps. It is enough to keep it between 40 to 80% I charge it to 100% only once every 3-4 months to equalise the cells. I don't think that charge it at 100% every night is a good idea. Even if it doesn't hurt the battery, I don't feel OK with it. I don't do it with my phone, why should I do it with my car?

[@kimetogo]

Very futuristic looking, and a novel way of opening the door very cool. Cheers

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Considering the concept car was shown in maybe 2011, it's really stood the test of time. The production car was very true to the concept and still looks current to me 👍

[@richardpeddie2060]

i3 is a brilliant car, fold down the seats and it holds more than a Model 3, Carbon Fibre and nippy as you want. Loved mine had it for 5 years, driving a C40 now wouldn't think twice about getting another i3 if it were still made. Worst decision BMW made dropping ithe model, I guess it was down to the carbon fibre and costs of production. A GOOD BUY was a Rear Bumper Protector because sure as fate yoiu'll scrtch it, mine was stick on full width, looked the business

[@BikesCarsandChat]

I'm absolutely loving mine! Thanks for the tip for the rear bumper, I'll search one out now 👍

[@jgore629]

@@BikesCarsandChat I'm in the US and researched those after test driving a used i3 here that had horrible damage to the rear bumper. Apparently a British company makes a custom bumper protector for the i3. Lucky you will not have to pay international shipping like us lol.

[@BikesCarsandChat]

@jgore629 thanks, I'll have a search for that 👍

[@justice4g]

I'm getting one for the same reason, most my trips are so short my petrol cars don't get a chance to warm up, won't be as nice as that though.. there's only a dozen for sale in my country.

[@BikesCarsandChat]

It's perfect for my commute, plus on cold days you can't beat getting into a warm car!

[@CarlosChaconCR]

Congrats! Great and unique car. Love it too ;)

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Thanks! 😁

[@simonbealing]

Yeah a funky looking thing and more than a bit of money I'm sure but nice things are nowadays. Thumbnail confused the hell out of me btw! Ride safe:)

[@BikesCarsandChat]

😂😂 Yeah, I can see that! 😂

[@Gillibrand65]

I had an i3S and absolutely loved it! I sold but I still miss it…

[@BikesCarsandChat]

I've yet to hear from anyone, or see a post from a previous owner, who didn't love their i3!

[@bobbralee1019]

I've got a I3 and I love it great little car and also like you I'm into bikes too

[@BikesCarsandChat]

They really are superb! I'm loving mine 👍

[@bobbralee1019]

@@BikesCarsandChat I bought a 2017 Rex 4 years ago and it now has 50,000 miles not a single fault and I still enjoy driving it. Plus I fitted Solar panels to the house so most of the year it’s free to charge

[@BikesCarsandChat]

That's the way to do it!

[@BikesCarsandChat]

BMW set the car to not charge to 100% even though it says it is. They recommended leaving it plugged in all the time, so I go by what they say 👍

[@decisionsdecisions8906]

Great colour combination always loved the car wish they did it just a little bit bigger

[@BikesCarsandChat]

For me, as a commuter car it's perfect. But if it was your only car, then it's probably not family friendly. But to be fair, it's actually pretty roomy if there's only two of you 👍

[@GrrMeister]

*Gyles Brandreth had one and states in the Telegraph Paper **_Breakfast is a boiled egg, half an avocado, tomatoes and cheese when I’m on a low-carb diet..._** Say no More !*

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Can I have an ounce of what you're smoking 🚬 🤣🤣👌👍

[@bobble1476]

top video dude

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Cheers, much appreciated! Even if I did get a few things wrong 😂 There will be a follow up when I've done some more miles, including a 400 mile round trip 👍

[@topgazza]

Why not say what you paid ?

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Because it's almost instantly out of date, and many people could be watching this in the future. Plus, as an English man, speaking of money is vulgar 😂

[@topgazza]

@@BikesCarsandChat Fair enough 😂

[@BikesCarsandChat]

@@topgazza or also, the wife would find out 😉 🤫

[@topgazza]

@@BikesCarsandChat Now we’re getting to the real reason 😳

[@paulhartmann926]

the colour of the Eucalyptus doesn't match the rest of the interior!

[@BikesCarsandChat]

@@paulhartmann926 it matches the Lodge interior perfectly 👌 I love it 😉

[@paulhartmann926]

@@BikesCarsandChat All I can see is that the Eucalyptus panels are much lighter in colour than the seats? Surely it would look a bit better if the wood matched either the leather or the wool fabric of the seats???

[@BikesCarsandChat]

@paulhartmann926 maybe the colours aren't perfect on the video, but in the flesh, I think BMW got it right 👍

[@BikesCarsandChat]

😂😂😂😂

[@Sirikazy]

very ecological, recycled fabric and hemp on the doors.... Carbon fiber chassis.....

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Apparently the carbon is also part recycled? I've no idea how though 🤔

[@GrrMeister]

*Ideal if you only do short journeys and have a home charger and don't mind the risk of a Thermal Runaway Fire and being turned to Ashes in Seconds with no means to get out your Coffin !*

[@GrrMeister]

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Keep on reading the Daily Mail 😘

[@nicksutton2964]

Please enlighten as to how you know such revelations

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Which revelations would that be?

[@davefitzpatrick4841]

Ice cars are 20-60 times more likely to catch fire !

[@GrrMeister]

*Landfill in less than 10 Years as no Scrap Yard would touch it Good Luck !*

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Well, the current 10 year old cars are still going strong 😉😁

[@justice4g]

There are some expensive parts on these that could write off the car but I think a real car guy would make good use of this super light carbon shell somehow.

[@BikesCarsandChat]

Plenty of people now sell motors and batteries for these cars, much like used parts for ICE cars. The used spares market is catching up, no need to write a car off over a dead battery cell these days 😉

[@GrrMeister]

@@BikesCarsandChat

[@justice4g]

@@BikesCarsandChat true I forgot they can switch out cells in these cars rather than entire batteries and 2nd hand parts won't be too expensive, I'm still going to put a v8 in the back some day though. :)