BMW 330e iPerformance PHEV - Did we make a smart buy? Part 2

[@asglovere]

I just returned a 2018 330e lease. I was able to go weeks on end without refilling the gas because my work commute is only 5 miles. Saving the gas station time alone converted me to an EV lifer... am ordering a 2021 530e next!

[@QuickShifts]

This is a perfect example of how you can optimize these cars. It all depends on how you use it. It won’t make sense for everyone in all cases. But for some, it works out great.

[@rachelhong5923]

Thank you for this review! It solidified my decision to get this exact one for my next car. I currently own a 2006 325i with over 260k miles so wanted another bmw but need better gas mileage for a long commute. Other reviews only talk about the benefits for short range commutes so this was really helpful!

[@QuickShifts]

Glad to hear it! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 👍🏻

[@davewatro4573]

Nice review. We have the X5 version of the hybrid. I just recently fixed the very problem you were talking about with the car not going into all electric mode. You are correct, there are 3 batteries in these cars now, the high voltage EV battery, the normal 12 volt battery and the auxiliary battery (which is 12 volt, but has a smaller footprint). When the Aux battery starts to go bad, the car doesn't want to go into pure EV mode consistently. As it's dying, you will get EV mode sometimes, but once it is at a certain level, the car will not go into pure EV and the engine will keep running even at a red light and your info screen will tell you that "max eDrive not available" if you push the eDrive button and cycle to max eDrive. I've read that this battery powers things like the steering for lane assist and other things, but I'm not 100% certain. All I know is that when I replaced that battery, our problem was solved. The battery can be bought direct from AC Delco for around $200 and it is easy to install with a little care around the wiring connections (there are some extra connectors that normal old school batteries don't have. Everyone on the BMW threads seem to think that only BMW sells this battery and they charge double what I paid and charge to install it. Being a battery, it is not going to be covered under warranty unless it dies within the 3 year battery manufacturer warranty. Our X5 was a 2016, I couldn't find a date on the battery so don't know if it was the original or not. I hope it was and that we will get 5 years out of the new one. The battery is an LN1AGM 520 Cold Cranking Amps, 80RC, 50 AH and it is the exact size and spec of the one that I took out of the car. I ordered mine form O'Reilly Auto Parts and it was shipped direct to the store from AC Delco (for $16 shipping). I've read that this is a wheel chair battery, but can not confirm. Just a note, there was a lot of confusion on the threads about registering the battery. I can tell you from experience that the main 12 volt has to be registered when it is replaced so the car knows how much voltage (or amps, whichever) to send it, but this aux battery does not. So if you are having the "max eDrive not available" on the info screen and the car won't go into EV mode, buy that battery, put it in yourself and smile at the money you just saved.

[@QuickShifts]

Great feedback and info. Thank you!

[@kiwonjay9232]

just bought mine a few days ago! so far so good since my drive to work is around 5-6 miles ! it just sucks cause my area doesnt have a lot of free charging stations tho, only paid ones

[@QuickShifts]

Congratulations! Now you need to sweet talk your employer to install a charging station. Mine actually did put a couple in after a few of us asked kindly about it.

[@rajvirsanny8592]

Any problems you ran into? I’d appreciate if you let me know your experience

[@kef103]

My 12v auxiliary battery went bad also . Read the manual there’s a motorcycle batter under the hood in addition to the regular one .

[@QuickShifts]

Most cars with start/stop technology have dual 12v batteries now.

[@budcar9040]

Saw it on a rebuild of a 330e engine.

[@fish_bacon]

I'm currently eyeing a 2017 330e M-Sport Shadow Edition, and it's still absolute mint, in that gorgeous blue they have. It's a 50k miler, and I'm soooooo on the fence about it. Been looking around the net for reviews, and yours was the most in-depth so far, that cared about living with it everyday, not about its 0-60. I live on a tiny island in Europe where start-stop traffic is the norm not the exception, and my commute to work is about 15km.

[@QuickShifts]

Thanks for watching and commenting. It’s a great commuter and I loved the challenge of maximizing the efficiency. It is not immune to BMW costs but is also not a car that just brakes all the time. Good luck with your decision!

[@lacmcasares8755]

The best review that I have seen in a couple of days researching about this car. I have a couple of questions: Do you have to charge it every day , and for how many hours @ 120 V, or 240 ? What is better , EV mode or Hybrid mode ? Thanks in advance for your answer.

[@QuickShifts]

Appreciate the feedback. How often you charges depends on how you use it. If you drive every day, you will need to charge everyday. How long will depend on how empty the battery is. If you are driving around town short trips, EV mode is great to optimize utilization of the battery. If you are going to be driving longer distances, I would leave it in hybrid mode. Again, just my opinions though. Very hard to give definitive answers on questions like these without getting much more input on all the variables involved.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

The simple answer is that you never have to charge it. You should charge it every chance you get, but you don't have to. The more you plug it in and run on EV mode, the cheaper it is to operate the car. If you are the type that does multiple local city driving trips a day, I would definitely recommend you get a level 2 charger with at least 240V/15A capability. This will get the most energy into the car as fast as possible, and keep you running on EV mode. If you are more like one local city driving trip per day, then the level 1 charger is fine. However, its basically an overnight charger. Like 11-12 hours if the initial charge state is 10% or less and its hot outside (active cooling uses energy). With a 240V/15A charger, its like 3 hours for same situation.

[@LeaderVictorious]

Thanks for this review. have you ever tried to drive 90km / h on the highway instead of 100km / h in hybrid mode? With a gasoline engine, this quickly saves 20 percent energy. less rolling resistance, air resistance. Maybe you can test this once for 15 minutes? am curious about your finding. happy BMW driving!

[@QuickShifts]

I no longer have the 330e, sorry. But to answer your question, yes, you would do better at slower speeds. Hyper mile is really difficult to pull off in the city I live in.

[@m.harrison239]

Great video! Very informative. I know this is an old video - but was curious if you still own the car? And also did you have to replace any of the battery cells - if so how much did that cost? I'm looking at a 2018 330e but am worried about the battery replacement cost. I will definitely look at a CPO vehicle to get some sort of peace of mind for buying a "break my wallet". Thanks!

[@QuickShifts]

Sorry, we no longer own the car. It never showed signs of battery deteriorating during our ownership. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@specc132]

These are really great and informative (best) videos for someone who is considering a used 330e. I have few questions. But let me explain my situation shortly. Basically, I am planning to buy a 2016, 330e with the milage below 100k km (60k miles). My work is 13 miles from my place and it has several charging stations. Also, this will be the first car I ever bought myself. If you could give me an advice on the following questions: 1) Is it worth it to get a 5 year old PHEV like the one I am considering? Because I heard that bateries loose significant % of the capacity over the years. Plus i currently live in the Netherlands where the weather tends to be on the colder side. So I am wondering if I could pull 13-14 miles with it full electric. 2) Maybe you addressed this, sorry if I missed it. But when you go for longer trips(driving on the highway mostly), let's say starting with the full tank and the battery. In hybrid mode, after how long does your battery go empty and you have to run it full petrol? Or do you perhaps know what is the total range you could pull with the full tank and battery? 3) Do you have any tips on what to look out for in the 330e when going to different used car dealerships. For example, I will ask to drive it full EV to check the battery capacity before considering it Thanks

[@QuickShifts]

Thanks for watching and leaving feedback! These are not the easy questions to answer as they have many factors to consider.. I will try my best to answer. 1. Yes the batteries do degrade. Is it a huge amount? That can vary from battery to battery and also can be impacted by the cars life and location. Was it always serviced? Was it charged with a slow charger or a high powered fast charger? Was the car kept in a cold or warm climate and was it always garaged? BMW has done a pretty good job with the built in programming that helps maintain the battery. I honestly don’t think you will see huge degradation and you won’t be in a nightmare situation. For the right price, it’s a great buy even in your cooler climate. 2. Hard to answer as driving conditions from weather, to roads, to incline and declines can have a huge impact. If your trip is mostly uphill, your range will suffer big time. But on the reverse route, it will do extremely well. These cars are best under 55 mph. City driving is where they shine. Maintains a constant 45 mph is money! To figure out how to get the most on your route, you’ll have to make several runs and get to know how your car likes to drive it. Yes, it is like a game and you practice to get better scores. Ha ha! 3. Have the dealership or owner top off the battery with a full charge and see what the range says. But be careful because the range will very based on the previous driving and may not be 100% accurate. Previous driver may have never plugged it in and/or didn’t make any efforts to maximize the efficiency. Still worth checking. I would also check the service history. These cars are notorious for the gas cap pressure system having issues. Check to see if it has and if it was corrected. Basics like service history, no fault codes on the dash or in recent history. I would expect to see a couple things, but hopefully they have been addressed properly. Good luck with your search!

[@specc132]

Thanks for the answer!

[@QuickShifts]

@@specc132 No problem!

[@QuickShifts]

@Wooly Chewbakker Congratulations on the pick up. Thanks for watching and commenting! Solid advice also. 👍

[@specc132]

@Wooly Chewbakker Cheers on the new car. Good to hear that the battery is in such a good condition. That could be an option. I will check out the prices also, thanks.

[@ashrafismayilli2736]

Hi mate. Is it real 2 l / 100 km on Auto electric mode? I mean only city drive, mostly on traffic jam. Thank u in advance

[@QuickShifts]

I can attest to what I stated that I actually got. There are a lot of factors that can impact it. I’ve seen others that claim better numbers, but those were my real world results. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@fldashxam]

How is it now? Currently have a 2006 BMW X3 with over 140k now. Definitely want to get something more efficient and I’ve been eyeing the 330e in particular and doing research. Thanks for the review!

[@QuickShifts]

It was great while we had it. We have since moved on to a RAV4 Hybrid and are very happy with it. Definitely not BMW finishes but you get Toyota Quality. Much more room then a small sedan.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

@@QuickShifts Ouch, you got Toyota quality. That's a pretty far fall, my friend.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

Reality check. If you want something cheap to own, operate, maintain, and repair, over say a 5-year ownership period, get a Chevy Spark or similar. Just because the author of this video did not recognize it, I will say that this particular vehicle in its current offering (with the bigger battery that came in the mid-cycle refresh), is a part of an elite group of vehicles. Its a not cramped luxury sport sedan that is comparable in performance to the Tesla Model 3 (base) and yet is cheaper to own, operate, maintain, and repair, than a Tesla Model 3 (base). The 330e is far more luxurious, but let's just leave that alone. This group is rare. Mercedes is taking a whack at it this coming model year with the new C300 PHEV, but they sacrificed some performance to get better all electric range. Which is fine. But the 330e and Model 3 (base) pretty easily outrun that car. Realize that after rebates and tax incentives, the 330e is $7000 cheaper than a Tesla Model 3 (base). That buys you a whole lot of electric and gas miles. Ignoring the 175k or whatever free electric miles based on the price delta, the 330e costs about half cost per mile to operate and maintain than the Tesla Model 3 (base). More cars like these are coming to market in the next couple of years, though not all sport sedans. The RAV4 prime is an example. Very quick, very efficient, $40k-ish, plenty of all electric range for local city driving, none of the drawbacks of the all electric car on a road trip.

[@QuickShifts]

@@KungPowEnterFist I did a full year and just under 30k miles in the RAV4 Hybrid. Averaged over 41 mpgs on 87 octane. Was never in for service once, just proper maintenance which was covered by Toyota. I paid $35k for it and didn’t have to take advantage of a tax credit that may or may not benefit me at the end of the year and may or may not still exist. This 330e was in a couple times for warranty issues. It is much smaller than a RAV4 interior. It’s hard to compare apples and oranges. But I stand by my opinion. I can’t tell you what’s best for you, I can only share my experiences and opinions. To each, their own. Yes, when it comes to quality, Toyota is on the top of the list. Facts are facts.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

@@QuickShifts Umm, yeah, no, the 330e is far cheaper to operate (energy cost per mile) than the Rav4 Hybrid. Now, the Rav4 Prime may be a different story. I think Toyota is going to have a real winner there. Not quality fit and finish, etc., like BMW, Mercedes, etc., but on performance/economy, it looks solid on paper. We shall see. At the end of the day, though, it will still be a Toyota and not a BMW, Mercedes, etc. And those are the facts. You may not believe in the tax incentives, but that is ok. They don't believe in you either.

[@flipkoofx1137]

Can you charge this thing at home without having to install any special charging equipment? Thank you for a very informative video?

[@QuickShifts]

Yes, it comes with a level 1 charger that you can plug into a standard socket in your house. It will be a slower charge then a level 2 like you find in parking garages etc. I had a level two already installed in my garage from my Chevy Volt I previously owned. They aren’t terribly expensive to buy and I would recommend one.

[@flipkoofx1137]

@@QuickShifts thanks so much!

[@KungPowEnterFist]

@@flipkoofx1137 The included Level 1 charger will work, however, it will leave you for wanting. Its basically an overnight charger, and can take 11-12 hours if your ebattery if its hot outside (because the active cooling may come on, which uses energy) and initial charge state was under 10%. I keep it in the trunk in case I am away from home and where I park there is a 120V/15A outlet that I can use to get some charge overnight. Spend the $200-$300 and get a Level 2 charger for home.

[@mircea5013]

It's a 2l engine.

[@QuickShifts]

yes sir! Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@kohchungsoon6361]

Does this car have any alignment issue? I have this model in Malaysia but the car is steer towards the left all the time. Bmw malaysia claims is like that as they said the alignment reading is right.

[@QuickShifts]

No, it didn’t have any alignment issues.

[@amranali1617]

Strange I also have the same issue on my 330e I'd recommend tracking realignment at your nearest garage

[@solschwarz5169]

You mentioned that you had the Volt. How would you compare the 2 for mpg?

[@QuickShifts]

Very similar in gas mileage actually. The volt was better in that you got more EV only range. I was able to go an entire year without adding more gas in the Volt. But the BMW is so much nicer inside and ride wise.

[@farhanshafiq9621]

What happens if the electric battery run out ? Can I start or drive can on gas ?

[@QuickShifts]

Absolutely, the car is smart enough to not let the battery go completely dead. That being said, even at its lowest charge, the car will still start and run. It will run on the gas motor without a problem.

[@MSH3423]

Can you tell me about how you much pay for and when you sold it? Looks liek quick flip and curious

[@QuickShifts]

We paid around $23k and owned it for six months. Would have owned it longer but we wanted a bigger vehicle. Details are in the video. 😉

[@casperkyle95]

I do 140 miles every week on the motorway 70 on a Sunday there and 70 on a Friday back and then through the week I don’t really drive unless it’s to the supermarket to do a shop which is like 20 mile there and back I don’t know if this is the right car what do you think ? I can also manage to charge the car at night during the week and I’d have it charged before I left for work on a Sunday

[@QuickShifts]

Really it’s a personal choice. You appear to be driving lower miles which would allow you to make good use of the PHEV. But if you don’t like the style or effort it takes, don’t pursue it. I suggest making a list of the pros and cons and comparing them. Good luck with your choice.

[@IsDitGerben]

Bruh, that red car is hardcore leftlane hogging 10:37 - 13:08

[@QuickShifts]

Haha! Sure was!

[@kef103]

Wow lots of incorrect info here . Car is almost 50/50 weight it has a rear weight bias of several percent. , engine is a 2.0 liter . Battery is 7.6 kilowatt . And the 3rd battery is a motorcycle 12 v battery which is an auxiliary battery

[@QuickShifts]

Thanks for watching! Always looking for positive feedback and editorial inputs. I learn more all the time, I do my best to get it right, but sometimes I make mistakes. You’ll just have to forgive me I guess. Have a blessed holiday!

[@Daniel-Condurachi]

those BMW plug-in hybrid cars have 3 batteries, 2 12V and one high-power one. Here is a video about the one you were facing issues with HOW TO REPLACE AUXILIARY BATTERY IN A BMW 330E HYBRID kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHnMfmOmnrhga9k from a fellow youtuber

[@QuickShifts]

Appreciate the input and feedback. Thanks for sharing! Love this community!

[@dippy7409]

hey man im looking to buy a 2017 330e with 100k kms on it, should i be worried about the hybrid battery going to die anytime soon?

[@QuickShifts]

I wouldn’t be too concerned, but you should do a thorough review before you buy. test drive it and make sure everything is in proper working order.

[@dippy7409]

@@QuickShifts ive noticed around 90 percent of the battery i only get around 9km of pure electric. The battery charges fast and also drains fast. could be a bad 12v battey? or the hybrid battery

[@QuickShifts]

@@dippy7409 the system really shines when you let it drive in hybrid mode and do its own thing. The 12v shouldn’t have an impact on it.

[@gordongross9900]

Wondering what is the acceleration if you punch the throttle to floor. is it similar to a 330 in terms of acceleration when you drive it hard?

[@QuickShifts]

It is quicker. The electric motors give you more instant torque right off the line so it feels more punchy.

[@kaneiii3342]

What happens if u run out of battery ? Do u still get the same bhp ?

[@QuickShifts]

The battery maintains enough charge to allow for full bhp in small burst, like to merge into traffic.

[@KungPowEnterFist]

If you are in sport mode with Xtraboost, you can basically never run out of edrive battery. The ICE alternator will smartly charge the edrive battery on the fly enough to always make sure Xtraboost (ICE plus electric motor HP/Torque) is available for the next sprint. In hybrid mode it depends, but generally the car will make whatever HP/Torque is needed available. In electric mode, only the electric motor HP/Torque is available.

[@MSH3423]

Im thinking of doing the same!!! Humm

[@QuickShifts]

There are worst ideas out there... just saying.

[@aryeyeshuamartin1212]

Its a 2.0 not 2.7

[@QuickShifts]

Thanks for the catch!

[@dr.khaledobeidat9476]

2017 33e vs c350e ?

[@QuickShifts]

I haven’t driven the C350E, I have no input. Sorry.

[@nabeelkubba]

kilohertz? :D

[@QuickShifts]

⚡️⚡️⚡️ Thanks for watching!

[@imtiazkhan1057]

Auxiliary battery

[@QuickShifts]

Thank you for watching and commenting!