From a Nissan LEAF to BMW i3 REX

After 5 years driving 2 Nissan LEAFs I've bought a BMW i3 REX, and here's why....

[@classic1989mini]

Well done Grant, very in depth video with more issues answered than I could think of. Tony

[@Mustard3000]

Great stuff, I also bought a second hand i3 and picked it up last Saturday. Great car and now we are a leaf and i3 household. Happy all round. Great videos and information. Looking forward to the second follow up video

[@benellisuk]

how much did you pay for a second hand i3 if you don't mind me asking?

[@jonathanwarne3480]

always a good idea to stick to what he is talking about ie cars rather than straying off into random opinions about economics related to Brexit. Bit difficult to cover complex economic issues in a few seconds. Remainers and facts are rarely in the same sphere

[@VSS1]

I drove both the Leaf and the i3. Not to say the Leaf was bad but the i3 was an easy choice. Great car, no brainer.

[@hegel2u]

I've had my 2017 i3 for several weeks now, and absolutely love it, it's just like Grant said in terms of driving enjoyment. I've been using it during this New England winter, and it has been performing well in cold, rain, sleet and snow, the weather has had only a minimal impact on its performance. I have a regular work-related commute of about 130 miles (not every day!), and in below freezing temps I still get well over 100 miles before the range extender kicks in for the last few miles. Every now and then I will drive one of our "ICE" cars (internal combustion engine), and I feel like I'm returning to a Model T in terms of technology and performance. Massachusetts has a pretty good network of DC fast chargers now, and when necessary all I have to do is stop for a quick Starbucks to charge it up.

[@grantjesus9703]

Instablaster...

[@mikekearsley2407]

Good vid, Thanks, Ii have been thinking about buying a used BMW i3. interesting to find out that you have mechanical issues with your i3 and no issues with your 4 years using a Japanese Lief. What is it like to drive the i3 on the REX?

[@jameswilkins8530]

i3 is the bees knees!

[@markgaudie80]

Great video Grant. Couldn't agree with you more on the performance of the i3 over the Leaf. What a cracking car BMW have made. Just wish I had the spare cash to buy or lease one. Maybe in the distant future I could possibly lease one as my circumstances change. I had an i3 for 2 days and I had the most fun I've ever had in a car 2nd to the model S P90D I had the pleasure of test driving too. Just to let you know. I'm test driving the ionic on Monday. Can't wait to see what that's like. Think the only EV I've not test driven is the Kia Soul. Keep up the good work 👍

[@aw7425]

Very helpful Grant. Thanks for your detailed video, Cheers.

[@MandalorianFanboy]

Helpful video...thanks. When is the full review video coming?

[@adrianpike4649]

Hi Grant, thanks for the video. My next car will be electric, but I too am disappointed by Nissan's failure to keep up with the competition. However I like the BMW I3, but I am concerned about their reliability issues. See Shaun Dobbie's videos on KZbin.

[@GrantThomas]

There seemed to be some known issues with charging at a full 7kw and a temperamental fuel filler cap, both were part of the warranty work done on mine in the first week of ownership. They all come with 3 years warranty, thats a whole chunk more than the LEAF......

[@DJREDLINENJ]

Hello, I recently purchased a 2014 Bmw i3 (Rex) (in New Jersey) and I started to do some research on any possibilities in extending range for the vehicle? As you mentioned the battery pack upgrade. I was informed from the dealership that I am not to upgrade my battery pack, and it threw me for a loop because it seems like you can. Would this be an out of warranty thing to do? Also, I was trying to see if it was possible to upgrade my charging setup on the vehicle. It only has the level 2 charging capabilities in which I would like to have the DC Fast charge option. And lastly, my vehicle has the US Standard for the gasoline usage. It does not consume the full tank. The reason is that it's coded that way in the software. European standards allow the use of the full tank. Due to this restriction, the vehicle does 25 miles less range (When Rex is in use). I called the dealership and the technician there told me if the coding was changed, it could void the warranty and the overall reason it's set different in the U.S. is because it would be considered a Hybrid vehicle vs and Electric Car (More range provided by REX). That also threw me off. Would you have any insight on these things? I know I can adjust with what I already have, it's a great car as is, but the possibilities to upgrade seem nice. Any input would be great. Thanks.

[@clivelogan7178]

just to let you no that my first service in April 2017 2 years all the mileage will be 54000 miles not bad Clive

[@RockinJoeDavis]

Guy at the fast charger said he was only getting 85 or 90 km out of a charge on his i3. It was advertised as 160 km.

[@colinharvey1049]

One month on how's it been? What are the lights like? Do you have the led or halogen option lights? What are your thought about it's tyre availability will you be keeping your own spare?

[@m1aws]

Sun visors flip around to the side windows... You didn't know that. Don't forget the motor mounts that work themselves loose as the CF grinds away. Then there's the servicing costs.

[@10cclo25]

Great review. very helpful. I'm binge watching anything on KZbin about the i3 now and have a full 24 hour test drive on Tuesday this week. I'm thinking about taking advantage of their BMW finance deals for business For me currently the i3 is the only viable option as I think the leaf is the most bland saccharine typical Nissan style. I already had a quick test drive with the i3 a few weeks ago and was very impressed with the drive especially the acceleration. I'll be moving from a Range Rover V8 Vogue to to the i3 as lately I've been quite concerned about the amount of fuel I've been piling into it. Plus for the mileage I do it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever I have a huge car like this. just a quick comment on your video why don't you just pull over and stop instead of suffering through the sunlight? plus I'm sure that it would be safer?

[@futbol1972]

I am debating between leaf, volt and i3bmw to use it pretty much in town. work comute is about 50-60 miles every day round trip...the thing is that I don't have space in garage to park car. It will be park on driveway. Iam wondering how would I charge Nissan leaf or i3 BMW. The volt can be charge on any regular outlet in about 12 hours cause of smaller battery. I wonder if I can use extension cords for leaf or i3bmw if I park it in driveway?? Maybe install charger in the back or on the side of outside of garage and run cable from there to charge EV in driveway?? However I first need to know which car to get. I will be trading my 2009 Prius do to catalic converter getting stolen all the time here in California. I added a shield but that's just a deterrent

[@Choice777]

love the quality of the video.. are you recording with a phone's front camera?

[@jarule8065]

Tesla price going up should't be considered Inflation. Local economy cars (some uk built ford etc) prices going up can probably considered inflation - at least in my opinion. Brexit will help UK in the long term - at least in my opinion. :)

[@paulpugh___3946]

What are the Bmw i3s like on the motorway? As I'm thinking about buying one.

[@ram64man]

Actually grant bmw have said that the i3 will be refreshed by 2018, so the 94ah will be the only battery that can be retrofitted, from what the leaks have said it's due to get a style change that looks more mainstream 4 proper doors with power windows, the next gen Samsung batteries that will com from Hungary that naturally have a capacity bump I believe to 45kw then the Rex will take over,

[@ram64man]

In regards to Nissan I totally agree, it's a shame they have waited to see just what the competition do however I still feel that there is more to this delay than meets the eye. After looking at different hint and comments made in Japan last year I get the feeling there will not be just one type of leaf anymore, let me explain with the announcement that the next gen will be 60kw a direct replacement will be coming but from the Nissan Renault alliance a new small size platform is also being developed, also with the change of the quahqui being developed I wouldn't be surprised if an SUV crossover is abounded taken from the new Mitsubishi alliance with the same 60kw battery or with a Rex optional add-on using the e-power power plant from the Japanese note this will then give Nissan the option of saying we can go anywhere your heart desires but also to take into account of the new emissions zones in Europe, take the burden from high speed motorway I also believe part of the delay comes from the charging system, we may see a variable rate 11kw charger with a 150kw rapid chadamo support that was recently announced fingers crossed the first announcement comes in Genova to combat opals eampera rollout

[@richardsedorski1206]

Very interesting vid.

[@brucekendall52]

nicely presented,thks.

[@martinlacey5985]

So fuel costs will rise due to the uncertainty of the times and you buy an i3 REX after having a full EV?

[@GrantThomas]

Yesssss...... The i3 REX goes as far as my 24kWh Nissan LEAF in fact I can exhaust ALL the battery without getting stranded. I now charge fewer times, prolonging the battery life and have an option of doing RARE long journeys without the ball ache of Public Charging at Rapid Chargers where cost of charge has no relation to cost of kWs dispensed. The BMW i3 is BY FAR the best electric car on the market today (unless you can afford the £100k for a Tesla)

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

The Leaf is a nice car but imho the I3 Rex is more fun to drive. Got a Peugeot 1007 1.6 at the moment and might consider an i3 rex as a future car. Small and zippy.

[@josemanuel2244]

What about when you have tiempo replace some part of the I3?

[@josemanuel2244]

If you have to repear carbon fiber?

[@pol1250]

I love my boring reliable leaf !!! now 55k km on the clock and it was never at the dealer !!! Anyway they know shit about Evs and so I decided not to go ...

[@clivelogan7178]

2 years old

[@paguliukas]

Maintenance vise u will loose a lot of money with i3

[@EastMontana1]

Well, I tried the I3 BMW and I can tell you that quality on the car Nissan still very good and higher. BMW felt like plastic ! Everything around it and under looked and felt fragile. Battery wise nothing changed in the last 5 years! They all have the same range as my leaf. And all that talk about the engine that makes you go farther. Well, it will give you 20 miles that you will eat in five minutes going up hill.... So trade my Nissan 2012 for a 2017 I3 not very wise at this time. When the range of these batteries go up maybe.... worth it but for now..... nope

[@cmpmeridian1]

Marc Guima it’s called REX, leaf doesn’t have this

[@hutchcraftcp]

My only concern is the faults that seem to come with all BMW cars. They just are not trouble free like most Japanese cars.

[@chillout1109]

All cars have their fair share of troubles, whether they be Japanese, Chinese or German. Don't believe everything that people "moan about" on the internet. People have a tendency of exaggerating problems. BMW may have faults here and there. But aren't Japanese cars being recalled now in their hundreds of thousands due to faulty airbags? There is no perfect car.

[@m1aws]

No Leaf recalls.

[@josemanuel2244]

Primium car, primium repair

[@markwilliams5654]

we have fiat fractional money and acts that are not laws that's the problem not trump

[@dobbiesmith8314]

MAGA

[@andrewpound9612]

Jeeez, full of guff! get on with it! stop waffling

[@dobbiesmith8314]

MAGA. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@karlp8484]

Could I profer an opinion? Stop blaming the light conditions and get a proper Vblogger camera as opposed to your smart phone,

[@blackterminal]

How about you give the guy a break. Hows that for an option.

[@themadplotter]

what and do bs jump cuts and add hard techno? Camera is fine get a grip

[@JrVaporgas]

He keeps talking about the light and we could care less because he’s just driving the car and there’s nothing to see but his head! The rest of the information was good but pay attention to the road and who cares about the lighting!!!