BMW i3 Review: Is this classic electric vehicle still worth considering? | WhichEV

Read more on our website: www.whichev.net/2021/04/19/bm...
Video timestamps:
00:00:00 Intro
00:00:38 Exterior Design and Options
00:02:36 Interior
00:04:55 Storage
00:06:00 Charging and Range
00:07:00 General Controls
00:08:02 Media Control Unit
00:09:04 Driving and Performance
00:10:23 Safety Features
00:11:10 Overall Thoughts and Pricing
00:12:11 Verdict
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[@savedfaves]

Subtly humour throughout. I love love that the car uses physical buttons and not those stupid touch sensitive buttons the ID3 has.

[@WhichEV]

The design is much older, but it still works well!

[@jeffberner8206]

Here in the United States, a used i3 is amazingly affordable. I purchased a low-mileage 2018 94Ah BEV in January 2021 for 40% of the MSRP. After an unfortunate rear end accident which totaled the vehicle, I bought a similar low-mileage 2019 120 Ah BEV for about 60% of the MSRP. My own personal experience is that the 120Ah battery is at a real sweet spot for the vehicle. That little bit of extra range makes a big difference for more extended trips in the US where we don't have a fully built out charging network. It also doesn't burden the car with more weight and more cost for a bigger battery while providing sufficient range for about town driving without having to be overly concerned with planning ahead for when one will charge it again. Sorry to hear that 2021 is the last year for the i3 in the US.

[@WhichEV]

Thanks for your perspective!

[@Rick_Retired]

I have had my “Litl’ Blue” 2017 BMW i3 BEV 33Kw 94Ah since 01/25/2021. I bought it in showroom condition from an original owner with 24k on the odometer. I’m 75, drive it about 30-100 miles a month mostly to pick up online ordered groceries and to visit the VA clinic. I use a 240V, 16A (3.84Kw) Level 2 charger in my carport routed inside as an alternate to my dryer outlet. I get 13.5 miles per hour of charging, and at home my FPL electric cost is $0.031 per Mile. If there is a more perfect EV out there, I simply don’t want it. I don’t need more range, acceleration, styling, features, reliability, comfort, handling, or value. Litl’ Blue is obviously my Forever Car. Paid $16,500 but was offered $24,000 by Edmunds 3 months ago which tickled my worn out ego.

[@WhichEV]

Future classics, definitely. Or even already classics, like yourself!

[@simonreeves2017]

Journalists seem to have forgotten about the adorable i3 when they talk about EVs. The looks are not to everyone's taste, but driving one sure puts a smile on your face. Also the radical materials construction creates a car that will never rust and is super light weight.

[@WhichEV]

We agree - that's why we revisited it!

[@AdventuresInParadise]

We love our i3 just as many say they do here too... we have a 2018 - no extender, which is what we wanted. We've had nothing go wrong and it's a easy car to live with!

[@WhichEV]

Freudian slip - "love with"? We enjoyed it too. Incredibly fun drive.

[@AdventuresInParadise]

@@WhichEV HAHA - live with!

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

Agree I have tried lots of evs but still think i3 is best FUN but floored 😀

[@WhichEV]

@@buzzofftoxicblog791 Flawed now but to be respected for what it has achieved.

[@ronnyskaar3737]

I have had two of these. It's just that I love it. Not least for the fun drive.

[@WhichEV]

It's a great car! We really hope BMW does a small car again. We will be meeting the Neue Klasse head in a few weeks and will ask about plans in this sector. The i3S is such a fun vehicle!

[@MikeNewham]

Great review. Good pace. No waffle and a bit of wit. 👍🏾

[@WhichEV]

Thanks very much for the kind words!

[@loonymoon1]

I have a 94ah S Rex and currently couldn’t think of anything I’d swap it for. I3S is now better value since the recent price decrease to make them eligible for the grant. If they did a battery equivalent of 50kWh I’d still go for one I love how it drives, its interior (especially lodge which I have) and it’s quirkiness. Despite its age it still feels like driving a futuristic concept car.

[@WhichEV]

Totally agree. We have heard rumours of larger batteries, although where they would put them we're not sure!

[@QUiNTiNBANKS]

Thanks

[@mrbennetts]

Reminds me how great my 18 year old Audi A2 is. Thank you.

[@WhichEV]

Those were good cars, but you'd now pay £12.50 a day to drive it in central London and soon the whole city inside the north and south circular.

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

Great review. I still think it's competitive even today😃😃😃Love our 2018 i3 thinking of up grade to new i3s or second hand Tesla. The i3 is great fun car 🚗😀👍😊 we do get 3 of us and 3 fold up bikes 🏍😀 we comut 120 miles very happy with our i3 😀.

[@WhichEV]

We really enjoyed driving that car. One of the best driver's EVs out there.

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

​@@WhichEV Thank you for your review agree😁 WHY WE GOT A 2021 i3s We have had our BMW i3 33kw 2018 and love it but time to change our car? Tesla! VW id3 VW id4😁? keep up the good work 😀 Had a test drive in a Id4 lovely big comfortable suv thing no RROUNK! to big and to cosy! so id3 great car love the size and style more involving to. But' We have just ordered our new BMW i3s we had a great deal with BMW and what sold it to us was always makes me smile driving it😁 maybe because its not perfect? Shame BMW (composite construction cool) in the last few years have forgot about there little i3😥. Tesla just out of our beget! Thank you keep up the good work Buzz Knapp-Fisher #BUZZOFFTOXIC #BUZZFORPRIMINESTER

[@WhichEV]

@@buzzofftoxicblog791 Enjoy your new i3s!

[@SeanWalkerSW]

Nice review! I also recognise its East Finchley!

[@WhichEV]

:) Bishop's Avenue. None of the team actually lives there... yet.

[@WhichEV]

And thanks!

[@Bmeri3]

You might have mentioned that the i3 is a great value as a pre-owned EV. All the pluses without the high initial price.

[@WhichEV]

Sure. But you can't buy the version in the video pre-owned yet. That's almost an entirely different video... but a good idea. We may do that!

[@mamadouaziza2536]

@@WhichEV There plenty of used 33kwh and 42kwh battery versions of i3S with or without the REx, 2018, 2019, 2020 start as low as $20k for cars with 15k miles.. The highest I've seen is $32k for a 2020 used.

[@WhichEV]

@@mamadouaziza2536 It is definitely a great secondhand option. We have a feature on this in the pipeline, although UK-focused (we're a UK site) and not just about the i3.

[@bonniedanielsen3309]

Haha! I enjoyed your video! It’s funny 😆

[@WhichEV]

Thanks! We try to keep things engaging!

[@thenextelectriccar6529]

Nice job on the review! In every way, this is one of the best electric vehicles on the road. It only need updated internal technology to remain relevant and somehow reduce the price for this car

[@WhichEV]

We agree but for the time being it looks like BMW won't be making it anymore and we are sad!

[@3n61n33r]

I loved the doors on my RX-8 so someone with no kids mainly driving a 50 ish miles I would definitely consider a 94 range extender version. Found a 16, really high spec for just under 15k, any thoughts? What about managing longer trips, is it really all that bad? I was thinking to carry a 5L petrol canister for that anxiety control - on top of what that small tank can hold (9L). Thx for posting this very informative video.

[@WhichEV]

Thanks! I think the ReX is less of a worry, because you can always just fill up with petrol if you're stuck. It was a stopgap until bigger batteries were available, though. There's someone who has one on our Facebook group and he has no problem with longer journeys. But he is REALLY into charger knowledge, because he works for a charger installation company... :)

[@eauto9152]

Really love the I3s, it‘s a fun car, absolutly.

[@WhichEV]

It really is. Would get one as a second car for sure.

[@eauto9152]

@@WhichEV Have just now bought one, get it in september. 😁

[@WhichEV]

@@eauto9152 Enjoy! An S, presumably?

[@eauto9152]

@@WhichEV Yes, indeed.

[@chrismacdonald.6295]

Love the comment at 5:55, that did make me lol.

[@WhichEV]

Thanks! We should stress that we didn't test this possibility. Our children are too big now.

[@iambean3684]

Dam this car are coool

[@WhichEV]

Yes, we really like it despite the design having been around a while now.

[@kead6636]

Would you recommend to get it used in today's market? Or are there better choices now? (used market)

[@WhichEV]

Yes. Remember the older ones had shorter range, but if that's okay then it's still an awesome car.

[@egilandersen1844]

Nice video :)) The unique building prosess of i3... Carbon-fiber Reinforced Plastic. Its manly used on sportscar and formula 1 cars. This is one of the reasons of its higher price compare to other EV. A light weight car 1270 kg inkl battery. Love iT. :))

[@WhichEV]

We hope they develop it further. It's quite efficient so a 50-60kWh battery in that could give you close to 300 miles of range.

[@WhichEV]

And thanks for the kind words!

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

Agree one good reason love them we exchanged our 2018 33kw for a i3s had a great deal to!

[@WhichEV]

@@buzzofftoxicblog791 The i3s with it wider wheel arches looks much more badass.

[@scoobdoo2008]

Watching this from the United States and seeing the streets and the driving I'm like wait whoa y'all in the wrong side of the road!! I'm going to this car

[@WhichEV]

The UK isn't the only country that drives on this side. Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia... there are actually quite a few countries that drive on the correct side.

[@freedomm]

I want to buy one even though it's being discontinued. Will it continue to be available after production stops in July 2022? Will support and service be a challenge? Will spare parts be impossible to find?

[@WhichEV]

Support and service or spare parts will not be a challenge. However, the car won't be available new once all units in the channel are sold.

[@freedomm]

@@WhichEV Thanks. Is it fair to expect the price of a new unit to decrease after production is discontinued?

[@WhichEV]

@@freedomm Probably not. The way cars are going, there won't be many around for sale new after production has ceased. Most cars are sold before they are manufactured.

[@rupertmayo99]

I loved this video and am sorely tempted to trade my BMW 120i for this model. Plenty of references to this being a City Car. What’s it like on A roads or motorways? My daily commute is 35 miles, but on pretty fast roads. Anyone out there know the answer ?

[@WhichEV]

Should be great. You may need to charge quite regularly with a 70-mile round trip, but the i3 is great one for motorways and A-roads. It's probably best suited to cities, but having driven it on some fast A-roads it's also loads of fun there. If you're going over 50/60 much, you should get close enough to the WLTP. If you can have home charging, though, no worries!

[@WhichEV]

Also thanks for the kind words about our video! :)

[@rupertmayo99]

@@WhichEV Not sure what you mean by WLTP in this context?? I reckon on a 100 mile round trip to include most contingencies and would have a home-charging kit. I need to work out the savings in fuel compared to the heightened costs of (a) insurance and (b) installation of the charging kit at home. I am not too concerned about depreciation because I would be looking for a second-hand i3 (12-18 months old).

[@WhichEV]

@@rupertmayo99 WLTP is the stated range - up to about 190 miles for the i3, depending on model and options. You never get that in the real world, usually more like 80% on a normal drive and possibly a bit less if you have lots of motorway sections at 70mph.

[@XcaliburReborn]

The bmw salesman was dead set on offering a wall charge box. I kept reminding him I only drive maybe 30 miles a day tops so I'm fine with the 3 pin. He got so frustrated in the end he just thanked me and walked off? They that stubborn they're willing to lose a sale over a wall charger? Went with a hybrid in the end as most other EVs weren't what I was looking for and they fudged up selling me the i3 already

[@WhichEV]

That's a real shame. The i3 is a great drive.

[@mubbasherniaz8082]

Love the exterior and it has decent acceleration for a small car but I feel some of the interior from the seats back just needs refinement

[@WhichEV]

It's in need of an update.

[@erichancock4618]

lol the interior is the best part of it!

[@savedfaves]

I’d like if it had smaller wheels to increase comfort.

[@WhichEV]

Some versions do. The S is the "performance" model.

[@industryexposed6243]

Can it be taken for road trip and is it reliable ?

[@WhichEV]

It doesn't have the best range. More of a city car. People do use them for longer trips but you have to be careful you know where to charge on your route.

[@industryexposed6243]

@@WhichEV ok

[@industryexposed6243]

Is it reliable ?

[@WhichEV]

We think so. It has been around for some years.

[@skyearthocean5815]

2013 was before Tesla was a thing? I'm not sure I agree 100% with your police work there Lue. Tesla was already producing the Model S back then, and it had also produced the Roadster from like 08 to 2011 ish (forget the exact dates). I bealive that was also the year they announced the Model X. I did get a chuckle out of the "I didn't taste the seats to confirm this" line though! LMAO!

[@WhichEV]

"Being a thing" is a very loose concept. Remember we are in the UK and we didn't get the Model S until 2014. There were already over 10k BMW i3s in Europe by then, and more Nissan Leafs. At that time Tesla was a novelty, and nobody was expecting it to be as big as it has become.

[@skyearthocean5815]

@@WhichEV Valid point about it not being in the UK yet, wrong again to say nobody was expecting it to be as big as it became, I was following Tesla closely then and expected it to go far. Sadly, I was deep in student debt and not in the habit of buying stock, so I missed the boat, otherwise I might be living on a yacht in Tahiti right now! lol

[@WhichEV]

@@skyearthocean5815 I wish I'd spotted it too! I remember the Roadster being on Top Gear around that time and it was treated as a joke. I personally didn't go along with that but it was the general feeling about Tesla and EVs in general at the time in the UK.

[@skyearthocean5815]

@@WhichEV Top Gear treated it as a joke, and actually got sued for slander as they misrepresented its capabilities. I still remember the first time I was driving thru LA and say a Roadster in Santa Monica, I followed it a couple blocks! Like ten years later I got a Tesla of my own. :)

[@WhichEV]

@@skyearthocean5815 They drive the market now. Only a few foresaw this in 2013.

[@buzzofftoxicblog791]

SHAM BMW DID DEVELOP THE i3 or will they? Love i3' dream of developing the small light i3 to a Tesla challenger A.w.d 2 motors 370bh hot hatch or i3M 3 motors 545hp. Go cart i3 is fun! what ever 😁​@UC4JMU7SIKBaCcjltpe1QyoQ Thank you for your review agree😁

[@WhichEV]

We really hope they continue to develop the i3. They seem to have no plans of cancelling it, at least, unlike the i8.

[@JWard2]

190 miles of range? WTF? How does it get 190miles? Does it have a bigger battery than we do in the USA? 120ah is the biggest battery we got.

[@WhichEV]

It could just be the way our WLTP tests compared to your EPA. You do tend to find that EPA mileages are a little lower. You guys do more highway miles than we do in Europe, and your test reflects this.

[@JWard2]

@@WhichEV ah yes! This must be it

[@WhichEV]

@@JWard2 You won't get such good range if you're driving 60mph compared to 30mph. Over 70mph really drops EV range.

[@JWard2]

@@WhichEV this makes very much sense now as here in USA we very often go above 60mph. I wish the company Lion Smart would release the 435 mile range battery pack upgrade for the i3. They debuted it working in 2018

[@WhichEV]

@@JWard2 That would make it a whole different vehicle!

[@67daltonknox]

In my market the i3 has the second highest depreciation of any volume production car (BMW 7 series is first). Throw in the fact that a Prius (a much better car, more reliable and much cheaper to maintain) is half the price of an i3 with range extender and I can't for the life of me think why anyone would buy one.

[@WhichEV]

Which market is that? The range extender version doesn't make much sense anymore. The battery versions are better on every level and they have stopped selling the Rex.

[@DabutCHeR3000]

Range extender is necessary in US. From my house to my families house is 200 miles and no chargers in-between. This is common in the US

[@jeshsilva6944]

@5:58 I think I have a small enough child for that

[@WhichEV]

We are going to report you to Child Services :)

[@smk6469]

'TeSS-La', not 'TeZLuh'.

[@Commentator541]

Great description overall. But! The outfit has to go. You need smaller pants and a jacket to better present yourself. Great narrative voice so you got yourself a subscriber but please dress better as to appear competitive

[@WhichEV]

Ouch...

[@YourMajestyTheKing]

Bugger off

[@franciscocabrerabrito5945]

He's probably trying to avoid stupid people like you to be subscribed. Love your outfit and humbleness man. Not a single "ehhmm" or doubt when you speak ass well...keep rocking with these videos. Next time wear a top with "ugly outfit" letters on it in your video so I'll subscribe in 1 second.

[@peterkirton4580]

For people doing short journeys that is cheap motoring, after you have bought the car which is expensive, but fast forward a few years when many more are driving them and it will become expensive as the government rack up electric charge prices and/or introduce road pricing. Unless you have off road charge facilities at home you are screwed which I am sure is the governments intention as they want more people to walk,cycle and use public transport

[@WhichEV]

You may or may not be correct on that. At the moment even with public charging EVs are much cheaper per mile.

[@rdeh1678]

Not here in bc canada, going ev is what they are pushing tons of charge stations everywhere , electric charges are cheap plus our power is from hydro dams

[@WhichEV]

@@rdeh1678 Governments will tax EVs somehow eventually but only once the transition has happened.

[@justice4g]

just wish it wasn't a BMW, any issues and you're up for a fortune

[@pablomartinpereira6440]

Talk in km to man

[@WhichEV]

Why? We use miles in the UK.

[@pablomartinpereira6440]

@@WhichEV So you know with KZbin you reach the whole world!, amazing. I think outside the box (or the island) 😂

[@WhichEV]

@@pablomartinpereira6440 But our two main markets are the US and UK, both of which talk in miles. Should we also speak Spanish instead of English?

[@pablomartinpereira6440]

@@WhichEV I can see now. Saying miles and KM will allow to access other markets and won’t hurt I guess….surprisingly other people outside the UK & USA explore new options in English. I can see you got very defensive so wish you good luck with your “markets”

[@WhichEV]

@@pablomartinpereira6440 A lot of what we say about prices etc are only really relevant to the one market. A lot of people in the UK won't understand if we talk about km. As we make videos in English, the majority of English native speaking areas are in miles. Sorry if you feel that excludes you, but the focus of the channel is primarily the UK. Cars are not global. You can't even buy the ID.3 in the US, for example.

[@694069406940]

there was a weird ugly thing called a i3

[@WhichEV]

This version looks much better.

[@stevenaziz]

I can’t imagine why anyone would buy this. It’s more expensive than a Tesla and with less range and tech. The fact that they charge for literally every feature is just an insult added to the injury of this car’s MSRP. I find this car so offensive I’m never going to consider BMW ever again. This is highway robbery.

[@WhichEV]

But a lot of people have and really loved their purchase. It's a much smaller car than anything Tesla makes (yet) so if you want something smaller it makes some sense. Also, the second hand market for i3 cars is very healthy.

[@stevenaziz]

@@WhichEV if it wasn’t for the outrageous pricing. Also, there was another option in the German compact electric car market in the form of the Volkswagen e-Golf which has retained its value much better than the i3 and cost less to begin with! Sadly it was discontinued in 2019. There’s always a Chevy Bolt.

[@WhichEV]

@@stevenaziz The e-Golf was great. We gave it a very positive review and one of our team owned one in the States. He loved it!

[@stevenaziz]

@@WhichEV I don’t know what BMW was smoking when they thought up the i3. A strange looking and ridiculously expensive little electric car with no real performance measures to brag about. It’s baffling.

[@yungamurai]

I genuinely think these are the ugliest cars ever made, especially the ones with the blue grilles. Don’t get me started on the ridiculous bicycle tires.

[@WhichEV]

Each to their own... we like it!

[@mamadouaziza2536]

You sure took the time to view a video and comment on a car you find ugly? Obviously you are intrigued by the i3.

[@yungamurai]

@@mamadouaziza2536 I wanted to see a review from someone who likes it, I personally am not in the market for an EV and out of all of them I find the i3 least appealing.

[@mamadouaziza2536]

@@yungamurai Have you seen the Mitsubishi i-MiEV? Chevy Spark EV? Smart for4 EV? Renault Zoe? Fiat 500e (2014 to 2019)? Kandi? Mini e (2019)? Nissan Leaf (2011 thru 2018)? You find the i3 less appealing than the cars above? And when you say you don't find the i3 appealing, you mean visually? I can tell you now the i3 drives and handles like a BMW should.

[@frederik3326]

I think it's interesting, that these tires were all that slim 30 years ago. They are more economic, and even break better on wet streets