Why I've bought a used BMW i3

[@henrystevenson2393]

I've had an i3 REX for 22 months (22,500 miles covered) - it's absolutely brilliant - my favourite car ever and due for its first service next week. I've done the maths - in terms of cost per mile (if I charge at home) it is the equivalent of a petrol car doing 240 mpg. The range extender petrol tank holds 9 litres and gives about 80 miles of range (so running on the range extender gives approx 40mpg) but in 22,500 miles of motoring I've probably only used 40 litres of petrol. Mine is a 2018 model, so around 120 miles on a full battery (about 100 miles in freezing weather and about 130 at the height of a British summer ). At a 50kwh fast charger you can add 100 miles in 30 minutes - although the remaining 20 miles takes another 30 minutes as the car throttles back the charge rate to protect the battery. (Make sure you choose a car with this fast-charging option - standard now, but not on all early i3s as Chris pointed out in this video). It does bring out the worst in you though - there's nothing that can beat you away from the lights - I love the bemused expressions I see in my rear view mirror - especially on the faces of Subaru Impreza drivers!

[@TheAnnoor]

How long does it take to charge plugged into a normal uk socket

[@nortypj]

Having driven the i3 for nearly 3 and a half years now I would say this video hits the nail on the head with its summary of the myriad good things about it and its few shortcomings. Great job!

[@jayc5405]

Peter Norton how's the maintenance on it?

[@aw7425]

Fully agree. Had mine for 4 yrs and love it

[@senorduc5944]

I bought a preowned i3 with 4 other cars in the garage. Anything regular driving that isn’t long distance, we grab the i3 keys first. Looks are subjective but the interior is completely relaxing and modern without being gimmicky. Love it.

[@DutchClawz]

5 cars? Well damn

[@izoyt]

@@DutchClawz that's the problem with electric car. can't do everything, as some regular diesel can.

[@jayc5405]

SeñorDuc how's the maintenance costs?

[@17addidas]

In October 2019 I purchased and got a good deal on a dealer owned second hand - i3 .( 08.2016 REX but 2017 year model with the larger battery) Low milage(15000km)and full of expensive options. I can only recommend this vehicle . The technology. Quality finishes .Comfort ,its interior space and brightness . Truly fun and RELAXING to drive .The downside is the inconvenience of finding appropriate winter tire sizes and at higher speeds ( + 120 kmph) on the autobahn, the ride is a bit wobbly . But for me 75 % of the time its city and country roads at much lower speeds and here the vehicle is at its best -VERY responsive and no complaints on my side. I charge daily at public stations( Im a physician doing house visits) and have used the REX on some 9 occasions so far. Its obvious the car is intended as a city car and not a high speed bullet competing with Porsches ,R.Rovers and the likes .

[@izzard]

I agree about it being relaxing. I really disliked driving before my i3, now I really enjoy it; it has completely changed how I feel behind the wheel.

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

It's those tires that are the ONLY thing that gives me pause about this vehicle. I know they add some range, but it seems from various reviews that they only last about 20,000-30,000 miles (32000 k - 48000 k) and are sometimes hard to find locally. As far as the looks go, I am a big fan: exterior and interior, both. Found a 2017 with the larger 94Ah battery (39.5 kwh) for less than $19000, fairly loaded and spotlessly clean. Those tires, though....

[@izzard]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere I changed my tyres recently. They weren't that hard to find and they weren't massively expensive. They hadn't worn particularly quickly either. I think the issue is that because it's such a quick car, owners like to drive it like a go-cart and burn up every other car at the lights (because you can with an i3).

[@JustWasted3HoursHere]

@@izzard That's good to hear. One i3 reviewer said he loved his i3 that he was leasing so much that he was genuinely sad to give it back but ended up buying one outright. He said he paid $1000 to replace all 4, which I found to be extremely high. But after doing research it seems that number is not the norm (probably got them from his BMW dealer and they raked him over the coals). How's the handling with those tires in rain, high wind, etc?

[@izzard]

@@JustWasted3HoursHere I paid 356 GBP which is about 413 USD. They handle absolutely fine. (The car is a bit twitchy is very high wind, but then it's a light, high-sided vehicle so it's not surprising. It has a low centre of gravity though, so it feels very solid the rest of the time :P )

[@stephenaustin8781]

This is a really nice review. You’ve got a nice flow and good voice and tone for it. Thumbs up from me 👍

[@BoopSnoot]

Its actually just an infomercial. He failed to tell you that the i3 has horrific material quality, its the only EV of its kind to get rather bad crash safety rating, and again likewise because they went to such extremes to make the chassis light it also flexes like crazy which means that a used i3 feels like its falling apart with squeaks and rattles galore which you don't see in modern stiff chassis vehicles. I wanted to love the i3 for its weirdness, but its clear they went too extreme and a LOT of sacrifices come with that. And before you get excited that they are cheap, know that cost of ownership is not with the most expensive battery packs in the entire industry and with so little part sharing that every part you buy for it comes at an exorbitant markup. Its a BMW that costs more to repair than it does to buy.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

@@BoopSnoot Which small ev do you recommend?

[@jdear97]

I like your thinking, my Daughter and I fight to drive our i3. After 18 months and 24000 miles it has been all smiles and light. I too was worried about the tires, bought an inflatable spare and jack that I carry in the boot. So far I have never used the spare, and only one tire has needed to be repaired when I picked up a nail. The back tires wore out after 20000 miles, it looks like I will get about 30000 miles from the fronts. I hope you have as much fun as we have had.

[@markparker5585]

Had mine now for just over 4 years, and it's been great. If you haven't already, I'd highly recommend you bind the "hold state of charge" function to the 8 key (closest for RHD cars) on the control panel. It makes manually toggling the Rex on/off very quick and easy. It's also safer, as you don't have to use the iDrive and menus whilst driving.

[@17addidas]

A Great and Practical suggestion ! thank you .

[@jayc5405]

Mark Parker how's the maintenance on it? I'm debating on getting a used one but have heard horror stories.

[@simonreeves2017]

The i3 has evolved over time. After much debate, I bought a new i3 in September 2019. This has a 42.2 kWh battery, no REx in Europe anymore, LED headlights are now standard - and superb! Nearly a year of ownership and 10k miles later, I really enjoy this car. At less than 1p per mile (charging at home, overnight, on Octopus Go tariff) my daily commute savings on fuel go a long way to the monthly payments on PCP, so it has not been as expensive to switch to an EV as the purchase price might suggest. The interior is lovely, fresh, different, practical. I used to drive estate cars, and worried the i3 would not be practical enough, but seats down it will take a washing machine upright. The electric drive is so relaxing, power when you need it, so easy and smooth in queuing traffic - without the stress of burning fuel whilst going nowhere. Combustion cars now seem so old-fashioned, noisy, smelly, polluting, inefficient, expensive to fuel and maintain. I would not choose a combustion car as a daily driver again. All this and knowing I am not polluting the air.

[@choddo]

You've pretty much nailed that (apologies for puncture pun) after just a couple of weeks. I've had one 5 years (same small battery, no Range Extender) - one thing about that boot - you can get a bike in the back with the seats down, they go nicely flat.

[@Oli_Hudson]

Interesting video. Looking forward to your updates. Love your A2

[@JakobusVdL]

Thanks Chris, that's a really great review. You have been very clear on why you got the car and its pro's and cons. Two years on I'll need to check out your other videos to see what living with the i3 has been like and what else you have learned about it.

[@mattshifu]

That was a really great review. Thank you.

[@tangalooma7257]

Great video, one of the few genuine ones that talks sense and balanced opinion - none of this “oh, it looks amazing” when the real world wants to know how is it to live with. Thank you. Keep ‘em coming.

[@JeroenTrappers]

I have a "premium selection" BMW i3 with extended warranty. It has needed an engine and gearbox replacement as well as a airco compressor replacement. I was lucky to have warranty, otherwise this would have been a disaster. They say electric vehicles have less moving parts, but that does not help when everything that moves brakes.

[@zolikoff]

Number of moving parts is completely irrelevant to maintenance. What determines component lifetime is first of all no flaws in design, and also proper maintenance procedure. A reason why car manufacturers keep certain components for a long time is if they find a good, flawless design for something they don't want to change it.

[@67daltonknox]

Next time buy a Prius?

[@johnkellett7797]

I too currently run an Audi A2, bought for its technical ability (215,000 miles, 50+mpg over those miles, never broken down and no rust). I will need to change/update soon but as an I-Pace is outside my socket range I am tempted by the i3 and will keep an eye on your updates.

[@johnkellett7797]

John Edwards , circumstances have changed so I’m keeping the A2 till it dies. Along a similar line of thinking to that which applies to buildings: the greenest car is the one that exists. The embodied carbon trapped in the A2 is very high.

[@boomerang2]

Fantastic well balanced review, you picked up on a few points I've not seen considered in any other i3 review, and I've watched plenty on KZbin! As a prospective i3 owner (2nd hand 42kw I think) I look forward to your future updates

[@lucasbarton1773]

Love you A2! A great car!! I think they are bringing a new one out too! Also don’t listen to people that say you cars rubbish because it not it brilliant!!!!!

[@nixer65]

I have a 94Ah (33kWh) BEV version with almost the exact same extras (and the same colour); I really recommend the reversing camera if you can find a car with it. It has been a really big surprise just how good it is - to the point where it’s the car I prefer to take unless it’s a long run. I’ve heard some of the early ones had a few problems (although mostly resolved under warranty), but the later ones are fine - I’ve had mine for two and a half years and done around 22k miles with the only issue being a wheel where the lacquer failed in a couple of places leading to a cosmetic issue (cloudy patches on the wheel). No punctures, but have just replaced the rear tyres, however I think that’s mostly down to my leaden right foot (the acceleration is really quite compelling). The 33kWh battery gets me 100 to 110 miles in winter and 120 to 140 miles in summer. I totally agree with your assessment of the downsides and would add the “it’s only a 4 seater”, but none of them are big enough to detract from the pluses. I highly recommend them.

[@gazzaman28]

I've got a 64-reg i3 Rex in pretty much the same spec as yours. We've put 10k on it already in the last 5 months and the Rex has proved invaluable for long journeys as well as for getting us out of trouble when we've not been able to use a rapid charger or charge at home. We don't have a drive and can't guarantee we can always park close enough to the house to use the granny charger (3 pin charger). I also own an A2, although ironically I only got that 3 months ago as a winter commuter (my wife has stolen the i3 for most of her travel and I usually cycle to work). But yes, both cars are awesome!

[@lindasims7130]

Sitting in the back I could open the back door by myself if the front door was ajar, but you are right the two doors are locked together when the front door is shut. It is counter intuitive but you can push the handle away from yourself. I have just bought a used one and I love it! ( with Range Extender). I have a 22 year ol Audi A4 with no frills so the BMW is luxury.

[@djmgmm]

Looking forward to future updates. Great video.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Nice and informative and thank you for presenting it in a normal voice and manner and not trying to be a comedian or David Attenborough!

[@nigelbell4604]

We've a 2015 i3REX, 80k miles so far, virtually trouble fee and a load of fun to drive. Charged at home courtesy of our solar panels so fuel costs literally zero, although we always carry a few litres of 4 star, just to avoid theoretical range anxiety. Oh, and it eases my conscience alongside the Land Rover we use for longer trips and pulling the caravan. Brilliant car, but make sure you get the REX, if you can find one.

[@paoloquirici5975]

I had over the last 20 years 10 A2s. Finally the time has come for me too buy a new car and as for you the i3s is my choice. I still have and will probably keep an A2 1.4 petrol with today 47000 km. Both of these cars are very fun to drive and are so far ahead in time even they are both stoped for production, the A2 in 2005 and the i3 in 2022. Enjoy the road.

[@gegwen7440]

The spiritual connection with the A2 (dear o lord)

[@smallik81]

I had an i3 94ah model (non REX) for 3 years . Probably overall the best car I've owned. Gave me 150 miles in the summer, 120 in the winter. Great acceleration 0-40mph, and great driving feel as it was rear wheel drive. About £3 to charge fully from a standard 3 pin socket at home. Kids loved it, but it only had 2 seats in the back, and we needed a bigger car as the family grew. I've since got a Kia e-Niro 4+ and its a very similar car but bigger. Had it been rear-wheel drive, it would have been its spiritual big-brother. Still love my 3 series and Golf R mind you, but wouldn't hesitate to get another i3 if BMW every update it with longer range and 1 more seat! edit: as well as the fuel savings (about £250 per month), there were also significant savings in terms of congestion charge and parking in Westminster over those 3 years...

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Reminds of of original 2002 built to 21st century electric standards, fun to drive, doesn't look like anything else on the road & quirk 4 days!

[@meryuk]

Good luck with the car! Safe journeys!

[@l0k]

I bought a new 2018 rex since my commute is a bit longer and I don't like cutting it close. So far I'm sitting on over 19000 miles and only had to fill the tank once. No issues aside from a recall that took a couple of days last week, and apparently my oem tires are still at around 40%.

[@l0k]

​@John Edwards About 26 miles each direction. Occasionally have to do longer trips of about 90 miles round trip. I can charge every other day at work, but lately I've been just plugging in when I get there at around 55-60%. My commute is majority highway so I don't get a ton of regen doing 70+ mph unless the gods of traffic decide to intervene. Staying in comfort mode most of the time, if I have to do a long trip it's eco pro and set adaptive cruise to 67-70mph.

[@300rivers7]

I got mine just over a year ago and really like it. It's not a long distance winter road tripper, but I don't do many of those anyway, and when we do, we have two other cars to choose from.

[@DougsCars]

I, too, bought a used 2015 i3. BEV for me though...and that range is tiny. But I can’t see living without it now. Enjoy!

[@nelson1525]

Leased a 2015 rex for 30 months. When it was running it was great, but, like my previous 325i, it had problems. Electrical problems. Now, BMW always fixed it being under warranty but the i3 will be my last BMW. Those pizza cutter tires are twitchy, especially in windy conditions. No punctures but rears wear out quicker, replaced at 14K. I liked sitting higher, made ingress and egress easy. Comfy seats. Suicide doors got old, fast. Was glad to give it back. Was fun, when it was working. Oh, the back up camera quit working, none in stock, had to wait a month for Germany to send one. None anywhere in the states?...typical BMW. Good luck buying used.

[@LateNightViddys]

Good info! Those BMW issues you mention reminded me of my '15 BMW 4 Series gran coupe. What did you go to after the i3?

[@DiscoR53]

Wonderful, I found my i3 in the US through the carGurus app.

[@paulcfyeung]

Nice! The A2 still looks like it's a good shape although the headlights need polishing badly, it'd make a huge difference!

[@edstratton]

I bought a two year old i3 from a main BMW dealer with a 1 year warranty, and it had every single optional extra on it that BMW had offered, with 14,000 miles on it. It was exactly like buying a brand new car, as the condition of that car was almost flawless cosmetically, and totally flawless mechanically, and yet, I paid exactly half of what it had cost the first owner, saving myself over £20,000!!! That's the way to do it! Why on earth would you buy a new one?!

[@VSS1]

Hi Ed, how long ago did you buy it?

[@edstratton]

@@VSS1 I bought it in January 2016. It had been purchased brand new by the previous owner in late 2013 so it was just over 2 years old when I got it. I do realise the market may have changed by now in terms of availability, specs, demand, and therefore pricing and values (I have not been keeping tabs on any of that).

[@edstratton]

@@VSS1 I bought it in January 2016. It had been purchased brand new by the previous owner in late 2013 so it was just over 2 years old when I got it. I do realise the market may have changed by now in terms of availability, specs, demand, and therefore pricing and values (I have not been keeping tabs on any of that).

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

You did well. The only way id touch a new car is if i was leasing, or if i was very wealthy, i suppose.

[@seanh5648]

Why buys a new car? You are better off leasing.

[@marklola12]

I want a I3 thought pcp finance on a used one is still a lot a month compared to what spec normal car you can get, I test drove a leaf and it was horrid and the fact that Nissan chose to not let you alter how close the steering wheel is to you made it horrid for me, the interior of the I3 is the best for me too

[@adriansmith3116]

We’re relaxing to watch ,great reviewer

[@antoniopalmero4063]

Nice review 🇬🇧

[@Rico-ly2mz]

I own a i3S. It looks much better in my opinion than the normal i3 (a bit wider, lower and bigger tires. I absolutely love it. Its so agile and sporty.

[@Rico-ly2mz]

John Edwards thats not my point. And i have mine since 2017. There was no model 3 back then.

[@Rico-ly2mz]

John Edwards and btw, what car do you drive?

[@gallitron7803]

Waiting for the 2020 model. Coming soon...

[@choddo]

Rumoured battery bump again...

[@choddo]

@John Edwards No they didn't

[@choddo]

John Edwards There is no 2020 model. They’re still making the 120Ah.

[@michaelwright2986]

How's the ride on that one? We took a test drive in one with 19" wheels, and were dead set to buy it until we got onto a long bridge, and the oscillations from the road surface made me worry about keeping my lunch (and I do not get car sick). Then we drove it round the not so good (but not so bad) roads in our part of town, and it was really hard, the jolting was definitely uncomfortable, and you don't buy a car like that to be uncomfortable. With regret, we decided it was not for us, and we got a nearly new Nissan Note e-power; much less glamour, but also much more practical.

[@michaelwright2986]

@John Edwards I guess that's it: the acceleration is definitely into warm hatch territory--and that's why I was wanting to buy it, at first. If I were 40 years younger ....

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

Bought a Volt(Ampera) but I wanted an i3 REX, just couldn't find one that was in the same price range at the time.

[@Kopfkirmes55]

You might want to stickig to the Volt until you can switch to a BEV instead of getting the REX, because you get a similar fuel mileage to the Volt in the i3 running on gas and the i3 is significantly more expensive. Also the Volt is not a bad commuter.

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

@@Kopfkirmes55 For me the added range of the i3 would have eliminated the need for gas most of the time compared to the Volt, and annoyingly the Volt runs its engine regularly regardless of charge in winter to heat the system. But at this point I'm planning on probably buying a Cybertruck to replace both my Volt and my pickup.

[@The__ASH]

I recently considered the i3 but the relatively high used values of the 94ah REx version made finding one harder and wanting to keep it for 10 years mostly without a warranty made me wonder what could go wrong... the main worry seems to be the massive technical complexity of the thing, biggest haunting possible failure being the ‘drivetrain failure’ message. Of course the biggest upside is not having to pay a kings ransom in tax every time you charge the battery but that might be wiped out if/when it goes wrong.

[@VSS1]

What happens with the drivetrain failure message? Eek.

[@The__ASH]

Depending on the severity (yellow⚠️ or red warning symbol) the car could just refuse to move AND because of the type of drive it can’t be towed... needs a flatbed.

[@robertpryor7225]

Reliability is a legit concern, but way less complex than a gas engine.

[@The__ASH]

I can fix an infernal combustion engined car (most of the time) but for now EV’s electrical and electronic bits and pieces are a bit beyond home repair. Of course BMW would love to be the only port of call for repairs but I’m sure time will change that.

[@richardstamper5630]

Like you we have been an A2 fans for many years and currently run one of the last production 90 Sport models. It's been with us 9 years and we are never going to sell it. To me (and seems to you), the i3 is like an electrified A2, both are innovative compact cars with their own smattering of genius. My wife and can't see any real benefits in buying an i3, after all, the Audi gives 50~60mpg, it's got more boot space, the rear seats can be removed in 2 minutes turning it into a small van, it's fast, it's quirky and it's made of aluminium and plastic. We are I suppose looking at the i3 as part of our home fleet but really, we cannot justify the need. On the other hand, if it could do 300miles on a charge then we would be first in the queue.

[@kpnut59]

The rear door system is a direct copy of the rear doors that Mazda fitted to the RX-8 Rotary, the difference being that on the Mazda the windows could be opened, albeit only by a couple of inches by useful all the same to get some fresh air in. That said, I'd buy one not for any 'Planet Saving' BS reasons but purely because most of the journeys I do are less than 15 miles.........

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Same,we bought a small ev for every reason except the ‘green’ one because ev’s arn’t green! (Apart from no exhaust fumes for others to breath in)

[@Mycryptospaceuk2127]

Awesome content thank you!

[@garyhoward4064]

Do the same upgrade as I recently did in my Rex, having the 120 aH battery fitted in and the car becomes nearly perfect..

[@markspoor4663]

Great review. Thanks. A link to the difference between generations would be helpful.

[@mrjosephDJ]

I'm going through hell right now with BMW. On New Years Eve my i3 shut down. Battery completely dead. This happened just when my warranty ran out. It's been 3 weeks now and BMW don't know what's wrong with it. After several hundred calls to BMW I got the following email: The situation with your vehicle is that when diagnosing the vehicle we have been unable to deactivate the high voltage system and BMW UK Technical department are assisting us in resolving this. What is causing this problem is what we are looking into and cannot confirm what the cause is at present. Unfortunately due to this being an electric vehicle and the high voltages involved in the battery, we must for our own safety know that the system is isolated before we can continue diagnosing the vehicle. With the electric vehicles we have to seek technical support from BMW UK Technical department during the diagnosis process. [end] If you want my honest opinion about the i3 don't buy a used one. It's like buying a used iPhone 4

[@MrChadder007]

Trevor Joseph I’m hoping they tried replacing the 12v battery at least to make sure it wasn’t that. The car can do some weird things when that is bad.

[@mrjosephDJ]

@@MrChadder007 yeah they did that. Still dead. After 2 years I'm done with electric cars.

[@CSAFMedia]

@Trevor Joseph can you add this experience to the i3 forum to enlighten other prospective buyers - www.mybmwi3.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=16399#p60862

[@Reddylion]

Money pit bmw stay far away from it. Buy Tesla or Kona EV.

[@jameswhite2792]

I had a similar experience with BMW when mine was crashed. Took them over 6 months to sort it out. The BMW bodyshop and dealer was clueless and it was an awful experience.

[@brainwashingdetergent4322]

I wonder how the batteries would do where I live being that the winter lows are -40° F and it’s not uncommon for temp to not break 0° F (-17.8° C) daytime high during the month of February…

[@humphreychiu]

If Audi is not busy building pointless SUVs for every size and segment then they might have some resources to build a proper new A2! The A2 was almost space age! You are right, the i3 is as close to an A2 successor as it gets. The A2 has aluminium space frame and a sandwich floor holding its lower boot and fuel tank where the i3 has a carbon top frame and aluminium sandwich floor holding its batteries!

[@arguestreet]

I love my used I3. But heed my words!! Tires are an issue! They're expensive and more importantly if you need winter tires they're cripplingly expensive! You need new wheels and the tires and that's going to set you back $3200.00 Canadian!! Beware!

[@17addidas]

Completely agree with you . But I see more advantages than disadvantages as I just wrote here . Best wishes from Germany

[@robertpryor7225]

Check tirerack.com if you can do that in Canada

[@김동준-t9p]

Thought you could get a set of rim and winter tires for

[@grahammcrae4277]

김동준 over 3.. sadly

[@philiptata3607]

Thank you for such a straightforward review. You pick up on a lot of the key issues. Although it looks great and I love going in my sisters i3, The main problem is one of reliability. Perhaps this will improve, but to date, apart from things like punctures, this car has been showing below average reliability. Still, BMW should be applauded for having been so bold and they have certainly contributed to the newfound competitiveness in the electric car world. For the same money, there are several newer options that off a few are compromises and considerable peace of mind e.g. a seven year warranty on a Kia. Let’s see where it all ends up.

[@johnnyzee383]

INCORRECT...Consumer reports says this has above average reliability. Just because you have had issues doesnt mean thats the average. Every car has something that is negative, I put 22000 kms on my 2015 with no issues.

[@rahulshah1408]

I absolutely loved mine.

[@KBeadle]

How funny. Just bought exactly the same car a week ago. Same colour, same year and same model!

[@blxtothis]

I was so tempted to buy an i3 after I drove one soon after they launched in the UK, what a revelatory car, and quick to 30mph, apparently quicker than an M3. I too am a massive fan of the little Audi A2, the much later A1 just can’t compare, despite being a decent drive it’s a hopelessly compromised and tiny thing. The A2 though would have been a brilliant EV had the technology been better in the early 2000s. Weight in EVs is something not mentioned enough, the Tesla battery accounts for nearly half the dry kerb weight of their models, lugging all that weight obviously compromises battery range, imagine how good EVs will be when Battery mass is developed to a stage where it’s weight is massively reduced. To be honest, carrying 2 motive sources in one vehicle is stupid though as there is even more weight involved let alone a contradiction of intent.

[@pocketfella5176]

Are they safe so light can’t imagine how it would preform in a crash ?

[@Reknilador]

So let's say you buy a 3-4 years old i3, how much can the battery degrade? Also, in normal conditions what is the mileage, can anyone with experience tell me?

[@nigel.w]

Congrats! Enjoy!

[@XcaliburReborn]

Waiting for silicone batteries. John goodenough got the Nobel for it last year, should be gaining traction soon enough. Safer, more robust, quicker charges, stores more energy per cell.

[@MarkyB1]

We've owned the exact same A2 and I'm on here thinking about buying an i3 funny enough.

[@diesel1able]

Love that car , the more you drive it the more you realize How smart it is . And you can’t go back to Gaz cars

[@izzard]

I agree; there's no way I can go back.

[@nosoupforyou425]

Only EV that actually deals with range anxiety and poor charge networks. And a smashing interior !

[@MetalVII]

60-70 mile range? Wow. I couldn’t use that to travel the country...I’ll stick to my 520d.

[@MetalVII]

John Edwards of course but these fully electric cars (unless you’ve got a Tesla) are shackled to your local area unless you want to add another 2-4 hours on a 6 hour journey. I am looking forward to going electric but not at the cost of additional hours and money to do so. However if you are staying local then yes, these things make a good amount of sense providing there are quick chargers around (if your car is capable of fast charging) or have your own garage.

[@zolikoff]

Electric cars with shorter ranges and engines/generators will actually become the dominant electric car market, it definitely won't become anything bizarre.

[@djdesigns81]

Great car. The only downside to these cars so far is the tires. They wear out fast.

[@4N2IN0JA]

I noticed you can open the frunk with your keypad. The U.S version doesn’t have that, I wonder why 🧐

[@urbanfireblade]

So do you still need to have service intervals on the petrol engine in the rear? Done at a garage like any other petrol engine car?

[@yarpos]

or done at home like any other petrol engine for some

[@nitramluap]

The REx makes sense in this version of the i3, but not for any produced since 2017... and the 2020 model will have even more range. It's a great car.

[@hitchjack]

The Audi A2 was an awesome car!

[@lfcmarkeb7124]

nice for those that can afford a 2nd car let alone a 2nd premium electric (hmm electric/petrol) car,for shopping trips and the like.

[@JackKing12.]

I3 any good for motorway driving?

[@alexl53]

I drive it on the highway every other day. It's enjoyable just as any other BMW. It gets jostled around a little bit by bigger trucks when you're near the front half of the truck, but during those moments it's just like driving on a windy day. The i3 actually feels more stable than my older 3 series did.

[@VSS1]

Not ideal but not terrible. It's comfortable enough. It's just skinny tyres and slab sides make it prone to be caught a bit by gusts of wind. However, the shape gives you remarkable interior space too.

[@JackKing12.]

@@VSS1 thanks. I need to take an I3 for a test drive.

[@christopheremmanuelM7UAE]

Hi, Just watched your video. I have noticed your car is a REX. The rear tyres look like 155 size. Really should have 175 on for weight. Unless you are just using these wheels as a winter setup. just FYI

[@unixbash]

Speaking of punctures got one on my i3 REX last night in the rear left tyre and had to be towed :(

[@stuarthall2523]

Do you think the I3 will last as long as the A2? How long will the battery last, and what is the cost of replacing? A lot puts me off electric cars.

[@stevewheatstone1856]

I did consider one but I couldn't find any options for putting a couple of bikes on the roof. Are they any?

[@ahmarchitecture7157]

why did u buy the one with halogen lights, they suck and looks disgusting on the futuristic car

[@fabulously695]

Lol Hei maybe he didn’t want to blind people at night with painful led rays

[@hectorheath9742]

'Look disgusting'...blimey they're only headlights, mate. Maybe you're opinionated?

[@ahmarchitecture7157]

@@hectorheath9742 yeah i guess, car looks good anyways

[@yarpos]

why would tyre width be related to punctures?

[@krystalgazer5196]

Had my A2 5y. Miss it like mad. Time to change my B class. Had this 7y. Been great. Don't fancy the i3. Excellent vid

[@Nichen]

Hehe guess you got inspired by the review you did for the Telegraph back in 2013 :)

[@unowen-nh9ov]

Punctures? Aren't they runflats?

[@MILKYBAR1969]

I think the i3s has run flats or maybe the ones with optional 20inch wheels have.

[@robertpryor7225]

No, they have a pump & sealant

[@vauxhallmadnessuk5923]

I'll never get over those wheels 🤣

[@Dave5843-d9m]

Can the tyres be used with in tyre sealants like PunctureSafe. It won’t seal sidewall holes but works well on nails etc through the tyre treads

[@marklola12]

can I ask how tall are you, just I am just about 6 ft 3 and you look shorter than that but your head is pretty high so I am wondering if driver head room is worse than other cars, the only downside for me out of all those is the tyres being so thin and they will not handle potholes as there are tons near me, I would see about getting a later version that comes with the normal wider tyres

[@robertpryor7225]

Your height is no problem, they don't make with normal tires. I recommend the 19s over the 20s

[@gillywash1487]

How do they grip? just by looking at them the wheels look so skinny which is great for mpg I’m sure but does it effect getting the power down, cornering and braking?

[@fouroakscrafts7240]

How do you feel about the overall safety of the i3? I can't seem to find crash data on these cars. Are they generally pretty safe or are newer models safer than older models?

[@davidrumming4734]

This is the REX version of the i3. Its a sorta hybrid.....so in time it will be banned along with regular petrol, diesel, + other hybrids. The fuel tank is also tiny. I believe bmw are in the process of axing the REX version of the i3, just leaving the pure electric version.

[@boomerang2]

When is the next update vlog?

[@67daltonknox]

In my market, a Prius is half the price of an i3 and arguably a better car - certainly in terms of running costs and durability. There are loads of Prius taxis out there with 400,000+ miles on the original drive train and battery. No BMW is going to get anywhere near that.

[@izzard]

I don't think you can drive a Prius for 1-3 pence per mile though.

[@67daltonknox]

. If you take in repair and depreciation costs over 200,000 miles, the Prius will be far cheaper than an i3.

[@simontaut2748]

Audi ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@MILKYBAR1969]

She might not be the prettiest but hell she is a whole lot of fun lot of fun.😉

[@robertpryor7225]

I thought they were the ugliest, changed my mind, love it!

[@borinvlogs]

BMW borrowed me for a day when i car was in for service. First i thought what an ugly POS. I jumped in and slammed on the accelerator and was blown away by it's initial pulling power which i did not except from a boxy city car. 😂

[@samusaran7317]

@@borinvlogs Pretty easy to spot a slave in your comment.

[@LetsTakeWalk]

If battery tech improves (Like, there are batteries that have 5-7 times the charge than current batteries in development), smaller cars and electric motorbikes will be very much improved.

[@jdear97]

You would be surprised how easy the i3 is to live with day in and day out. 60 to 70 miles of range can easily equated to 120 miles of electric driving with a small amount of planning. When time doesn't permit, the range extender carries the day.

[@drewsmith6066]

It's better then a lot i have seen : ) ...saying that it is a BM

[@USUG0]

that's how all PHEVs should be made, instead of ICE cars with a battery strapped on. An EV with an enough large battery for everyday runs and a range extender. Which should be correctly dimensioned though, which is not the case in the i3. As the motorgenerator has to function at high revs to generate enough electricity at motorway speeds. Clearly, an afterthought in engineering the car.

[@ryeellz9967]

Is insurance for a 25yr old expensive on this car?

[@glennmartin6492]

If an electric car with an electric drivetrain, regen braking and a petrol gasextender had come out at the same time as the model S then it might be the most popular car design right now. No range anxiety. Minimal expensive batteries so the price would be more comparable to ICE cars. 80% less gas use, Simpler and cheaper maintenance. The road not taken.

[@bigdraco7617]

I’m think of buying a 2014 i3 should I it has 40,300 miles please let me know before I make a purchase I will regret 😢

[@apollian]

Hybrids just don't work for me, they claim to do 75 miles per gallon, but none of them are doing that. My BMW 640 gran coupe is giving me 36mpg. I'm looking at an Audi Etron sportback right now.

[@samusaran7317]

Hybrids are good if you get away from shit luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes etc etc.

[@samusaran7317]

@John Edwards Im aware how the rex works. But currently hybrids are better suited for long trips compared to EVs.

[@andrewmccullough9334]

60/70 mile range? How is that remotely useful unless you do

[@1979dieselman]

Can you give me the model of your tires?!