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2015 BMW i3 Range Extender DETAILED Review and Road Test - In 4K!
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- Опубліковано 4 бер 2015
- What's the i3 like to live with? How well does the range extender work? What if I don't charge it at night? All that and more!
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Damn, we own the BMW i3 and I can tell you he literally said almost every detail you can imagine. This guy is awesome.
That's the way it's done!
No trunk comfort index, and no frunk comfort index.
i guess Im asking the wrong place but does anyone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly forgot my login password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me.
@Hunter Jamal Instablaster :)
This might be the best car review that I have ever seen. Nothing short of brilliant.
Martin Ottosson I was thinking the same thing. Awesome.
You pack an absolute ton of information into your videos. Really excellent.
I agree.
We have a 2014 BMW i3-REx that came off of lease for $29.9k. It had 6,440 miles and just under four years of manufacturer warranty which addressed infantile problems. We now have 19,000 miles.
We've driven it 700 miles each way with my wife and her two dogs. Using dynamic cruise control following trucks, it took 10 fuel stops. We have it coded and kept 65-75% SOC.
We had one unexpected out-of-gas that happened when a truck stop was closed after midnight. The spare 1 gal can easily got us to the next stop.
Our other car is a Prius Prime Plus and between the two, both are excellent cars. The BMW i3-REx is a pocket-rocket around the city. The Prius Prime is the highway cruiser as I drove 1,200 miles in 21 hrs getting 55.7 MPG.
These might be one of the best used EV bargains around. 2014-15 model years with less than 30K miles are going for $15K. You can get a software update that allows you to hold the battery power and run off gasoline if desired.
Mowcowbell we live near Vancouver BC Canada and last year we purchased a 2014 i3rex lease return with very low mileage, and a load of warranty, for half price. We did the same thing when we purchased our 2012 Nissan Leaf in 2015 and it only had 12,000miles on the clock. We just recently replaced the 12volt battery and installed two new tyres on the leaf after SIX years of regular use, no other maintenance except for wiper blades and windshield wiper fluid. Our i3 has only required the windshield washer fluid. We regularly take our i3 on holidays to a destination which requires driving over two mountain ranges with high passes and have never experienced range anxiety, although the reason we opted for the range extender was in case of a rapid charger being unservicable enroute. I believe buying lease return with low mileage and with a battery showing near new capacity numbers is the best way to get the maximum value for your money. It's certainly worked for us and if we do decide to buy new later on we are still eligible for the Provincial and Federal EV grants. Recently the price of petrol/gas in our area rose to be the highest prices in North America so we are glad we converted to Evs when we did. Lately when we do charge at a rapid DC charger people very often come over and start asking about our i3 and that's when I tell them how cost effective they are. Not only are they inexpensive to power and fully charged every morning, but next to no maintenance costs, which they never considered so is even more appealing to people.
That's the price currently too, lol
Great review Alex. Amazing amount of detail. You clearly love your job. We are taking delivery of one of these in September and have watched many reviews on UA-cam. You definitely win the prize for thoroughness. Good work!
This was/is an excellent review! Very thoughtful and hugely informative- Thank you!
I really appreciate your explanation of the range extender. You make it so much more clear.
Alex, thank you for your review. Your reviews are always great.
Great Video Alex.!! I love the Bay Area Back Roads you were driving on. So this i3 cruises up 17 from Santa Cruz to Burlingame with no problem..!! Thanks!
Very well done as usual, Alex. Thank you for adding the part about the extreme mountain climb concerns. Apparently BMW sales personnel were not good about warning their customers during those early sales.
easily the best review of i3! Nice video. Subscribed!
Alex, this was an exceptional review. Thank you.
Hi
I think this is one of the best if not the best reviews I have seen! It certainly gives all the information one could want with one exception. Nobody gives a test drive from full to empty on either the EV or EVs with ICE engines. It would be nice to see a test drive of the capabilities of the range considering you don't want it to run flat out! For example I live 40 miles exactly from Kaiser in Riverside from Hemet which makes our drive 80 miles. We have about half higher speed driving and half through town and single lane in each direction with I steep downgrade of about 3 miles on the way and then climb it on the way back. This drive is at the limit of most EV only models when NEW and would be out of reach after the batteries degrade. So a normal drive with a few up and downs and half and half driving conditions would help. You mentioned your commute is about at the limit of most EVs also. What about you do that test with each as you get them. Give a starting charge the charge you have when you get to work then if you are in a I3 say when the range extender kicks in. A Volt you could just say when the engine kicks in and what amount of miles you are at.
I have heard different ones say they get between 90 and 100 out of the Leaf 24 KWH battery but no one shows how it is done. The test should be done in a reasonably comfortable condition for the passengers. The whole test does not have to be shown but what matters are what parts of the drive that either deplete the battery or conditions that replace energy.
I was just a hair away from buying a Ford Focus EV even though it only had a 73 mile range. Then it did not have DC fast Charge and on the Focus EV forum where quite a few were saying that the 73 miles was almost as good as it gets and they were having a problem with the battery degrading I stopped on a dime. They also mentioned Ford considers degrading of the battery as normal wear and tear and not warrantied like the Nissan Leaf I further was glad I did not buy one. So you might want to explain the warranty and how they work and which you consider best.
Thank you
Hank
i received 44 mpg in my Volt when i traveled from Seattle to Spokane in hold mode this holiday.
Shut your bitch ass up!
Great review. Clear, complete, concise information. Thanks.
Detailed review. Such excellent attention to go over the entire vehicle
Just got an i3, this video is super helpful!
Alex, truly exceptional clip. Thorough concise and candid. Rarely find this in vehicle reviews. Thx for your time. I am planning to purchase a used I with extender. Question is would I be able to upgrade stereo? Alarm?
Awesome report you are really good at getting the message across.
@ 2:55 Haha, you silly goose. It's a BMW, they don't have turn signals!
Great review! Eases the wait for my BMW i3 to be delivered :).
Wow amazing review!! Great work.
Great video, most informative one I've seen!
Amazing video full of information I needed - thank you! I drive 135 miles on the highway and it takes me 2 - 2 1/2 hours without traffic. Would the REX get me there without having to charge?
Alex on Autos great video, I've been a fan since the TTAC days. Love your objectivity. We have found the i3 to be a surprisingly excellent car for tall folks-- it has more practical headroom than most cars in its segment.
Wow. Good comprehensive review. It's a rare things these days.
Brilliant review, thank you Alex.
Best reviewer of all time....Wow, great review
Well done this review ! The i3 has a coast mode. Shift in eco pro and hold the accelerator in the middle, it will show you coast.
Love your videos Alex. Best car review channel on UA-cam in my opinion. I have a long commute currently of about 50 miles from Berkeley to Cupertino and am really wanting to get an EV. I really like the i3 but I don't know if the range will work out for my commute. As I understand it I'd either have to charge while at work or fill it with 2 gallons of gas every day correct? I'd love to get the i3 but it's starting to look like Tesla is the only car that has the range I would require. Do you think it would be feasible to own an i3 with a daily commute of 100 miles?
+aquastorm If you are able to charge at work, then most of the EVs on the market would be fine. Something like the Kia Soul EV would be able to make Berkeley to Cupertino and back on just one charge and charging at work would resolve any possible worries. The i3 is cutting it close but the range extender allows you that extra cushion. There are several other EVs coming out soon with longer ranges. The 2016 Leaf gets a 25% bump to 105 miles of EV range, more or less depending on your driving style. GM may also have the Chevy Bolt ready by the 2016 calendar year as a 2017 model year car with a 200 mile range.
YOU r FANTASTIC!!!
G8 review.
Very thorough.
DEFINITELY one of the BEST. ('presenters')
Thank you.
Quality & impartial review...thanks!
Great review. I'm deciding between the BMW i3 (non Rex) and the Audi A3 Etron. Apple vs Oranges, I know, but they both have great features.
So, I got the i3rex a couple of days ago! Totally blown away by the performance. One quirk not mentioned in your reviews: the need to "vent" the gasoline fuel tank before opening the lid. This is done by pressing a button in the car near the hood release. It looks like a standard gas cap unlock button, but it vents the tank and unlocks the lid. The venting can take a few seconds to some minutes, apparently! Can you please explain why this is necessary and what exactly does the venting do?
Superb road test
great review Alex, try to get the new 85D , hope to see the tree house video ending too
Wow, best review ever! Thanks!
Great review!
brilliant review
Can we very long range, if we carry a large container of fuel, and keep topping up the range extender tank whenever it runs low.?
Brilliant review 😊
Alex, Thanks again for an excellent review. :-)
ur reviews r good man
Thank you for this. I know nothing about cars, and am considering buying an i3.
GREAT REVIEW! Specially when you talk about GIGA and TERA World.
WOW loads of info ..far more then any other car researcher/reporters, GREAT! TA!
Great review! Thank You!
Very thorough. Thanks!
Alex loved the review ! I'm in the market this year for new vehicle . I'm very interested in EV's in general . I'm thinking of the 2016 Chevy Volt or the BMW i3 Rex . My daily commute is 62 miles round trip on average . What's your thoughts on using this vehicle for this ?
I wish you could explain the BMW 360 program that's available with the i3 such as a BMW loaner vehicle for longer trips up to 4 times a year I think and so on ?
Thanks
Joe
TechExplorer If you can't charge at either end of that 62 mile commute, then the Volt is really the vehicle designed for you. It's not that the i3 won't work, it just won't be as efficient. The BMW programme is just as you described and somewhat similar to what other car companies are doing with the exception that not all BMW dealers are participating. You would need to ask your dealer if they are participating.
Nice review...
I very detailed review. thank you sir.
as always, great review. any chance to get a mustang GT for next review?
That shirt is absolutely psychedelic in 4K!
I love your videos. But, just a correction. Suicide doors can be opened individually. What this car has are clamshell doors. Which means you have to open the front door before you can open the back door. Keep up the good work.
Best review ever!
Hey Alex, nice review! What is the windy/mountain road you drove on this review!
flashwaver Most of my drive sections are shot on Alma Bridge Road, Old Santa Cruz Highway, Summit Road, or Soquel San Jose Rd.
Loved this: "it kinda sounds like there's a motorcycle hanging out in your left quarter panel."
There might be a software modification that allows you to turn on the gas motor through the i-drive unit and hold the battery at, say 50%, as you said is possible in Europe. Euro mods are usually available in the U.S. it just takes having a friend at the dealer, going to a tuner, or the know-how (and software/hardware) to do it yourself. Definitely something to check into, it seems like it would make the vehicle even more versatile.
I was told with the Prius Prime to run the gas engine on highway once in a while to make sure it cycles through the fluids. Wonder if you need to do that with this once a month??
Searching for an electric vehicle. This review is very informative.. 🦅🦅🇺🇸 very best.
Alex: Did you find the suspension and ride to be brittle? I'm considering the i3, but am apprehensive of this car on Michigan's rough roads.
mikern10 yes it can be, but it is more civilised than I had exp cited given the size of the tires. The 2017 model gets a much bigger battery really making the i3 an attractive option
Can you review the newer i3?
what about the volt?
There is a coast mode indicated by the efficiency gauge on the instrument panel, just let off on the accelerator enough to center the pointer and the car will coast almost forever. Using this feature can add big range gains where no power is used to drive the car and is a favourite feature.
alex did you notice if you the hazards or parking lights on, when you open the hatch the rear fog light i think light up?
Tech Defender I had the parking lamps on.
Did you uncoded your i3 yet
Best i3 video
Does the battery have a temperature regulation system?
i3 owner here .... yes it does
everyone share this channel this guys deserves it jesus
The only EV with a range extender? what about Chevy Volt? granted... no longer made but they were when you posted this video. I've had one since 2014... absolutely LOVE it! Sweet to drive; no issues; Still drives like new at 48,000 miles.
But since they are not making the Volt anymore sadly it is only an option for the used market now.
can do that with bimmercode app too get the hold function.
There is a coast ability actually. While you're driving, if you press on the accelerator pedal just right (about 10% application) the car will coast. You'll know you're doing it correctly because the power/charge meter gauge in the instrument cluster will be right in the middle position.
2:55
"These tires look awfully narrow... that is because they ARE narrow" lol
Interesting ! I didnt know that it used premium gas instead of regular, what if if I have been using regular ?
I have a burning question with the BMW i3 Rex I heard the battery only ver has a heat pump have system and the Rex ver used a resistive heater system in place of the heat pump because the fuel tank took up the location where it would be installed , have not been able to get this information verified ? The heat pump is a must for better EV range in the winter
Thanks
Joe
TechExplorer I was told that they both use heatpumps and they both have resistvie heaters to augment the heat pump in extreme cold. The REx version will never use engine coolant to heat the cabin (for reasons nobody understands).
Alex on Autos TechExplorer Hello Alex ... i ordered a BMW i3 BEV some weeks ago. The dealer told me that ONLY the BEV version does come with the (optional here in Germany) heat pump which i opted in. The REX version does not have it and you cannot order it either. Cause (so i am told) the heat pump fits right where the REX has it's gasoline tank. So REX only uses resistive heaters. BMW claims that the heat pump can get you another 30% range if the heater is used all the time.
That is very odd, I asked BMW PR and they said they both got the heat pump, I'll have to see clarification on that.
Please review the 2020 i3!!!!!!!!!!!
What is the milage or life of 650cc engine by itself 50k miles?
Excellent review. I commute in a Volt and hate it. It's fairly comfortable and gets a comparable 40mpg from its 1.4L 84hp 4-cyl while the engine is running but the regenerative brakes are horrific! Thank goodness I have a 3rd car for non commute driving. I'd consider this for commuting but I can't get over the styling.
If you aren't sure about the styling, book a test drive. The car looks much different in the marking materials than it looks in reality. It is much bigger and less weird in person. (Also different colors make a huge difference, probably because of the two tone exterior.)
Did you confuse the height adjuster for the recline? because they look exactly the same.
dennisscipio I didn't, but I sort of expect the recline to be the farthest rearward
oh never mind then, I'm used to height adjustable controls that are longer in length, If they're not power actuated.
You fit in the back seat. I did not hear how tall you are. I'm guessing 5'8"?
Are they coming out with an i5 and an i7?
Jerkamie No word yet, but I sort of hope so.
There is a question mark over BMW'S medium term commitment to the i range. A rumour at the moment but a fairly strong one www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/bmw-i3-and-i8-might-not-be-replaced. No i5 or i7 then but I believe BMW'S commitment to EVs remain. We are still going ahead with our 3 year lease on an i3 in September, but I wouldn't fancy running one post warranty. I think they were partially experimental vehicles. They haven't sold brilliantly, BMW have clearly made a loss with the I range. I love the i3 though. Their loss is our gain!
Alex, great review as always! One suggestion: stay away from striped shirts because the moire effect is very distracting!
William Paxton I agree. I keep telling myself that when editing and yet when filming day comes around, there's the stripes again... Darn it.
All you need is small plastic fuel canister with integrated nozzle. If you really really run out you just stop and refill. Keep fuel in the frunk :)
The camera angle in the beginning makes the i3 look huge haha
+The Asian Tomatoe it is fucking huge
I was about to say that. It looks like a mountain on wheels hahaha
Hi Alex, could you please change the color of your menu background (especially that right side panel)?
Because blue light is harmful and stressful to the eyes, that's why LG, BenQ, and Eizo have low blue light modes for their TVs and monitors.
I believe I'm not the only one who view your video on a large TV screen, and for extended period of time, that blue menu can be quite annoying.
@alex: at 0:55 you make it sound like it would be a bad thing that the gasoline engine has no connection to the drivetrain. I have to point out that the petrol engine in the i3 is way more efficient BECAUSE of the fact it only charges the battery/and or pushes the electricity directly to the electric motor. Reason being, the petrol engine can operate at the optimal rev range (which gives around 40% efficiency) instead of behaving like a normal car engine does and giving only 15-20% of efficiency. That said, I really don't think it is fair of you to make this fact sound more like a handicap than an asset for this car. all in all still a good review, keep it coming ;)
It may sound unintuitive but this is not correct. BMW, Toyota, and General Motors engineers have all said that a direct mechanical connection is more efficient. This is why the fur economy of the i3 is well below the accord hybrid or Prius when in range extending mode and it is also why the volt and accord hybrids have parallel hybrid modes where the engine powers the wheels directly. According to BMW and Toyota there can be up to a 20% loss in the generation to traction motor conversion.
the range extender works fine on flat land,I live on Maui and while starting from seal level to 2000ft elevation with the bat.level at about 15%,by the time I got to the 2000ft level the extender came on but the car stopped in its tracks, no indication, I almost got rear ended,no coasting,stopped. BMW needs to provide away of controlling the function of the extender by the driver before the 6%...
You can download software to enable "hold" mode like the European models.
And stopping in your tracks doesn't sound like any reviewers ran into that. I hope you took it in to BMW.
Actually it is fitted with a 2.5G fuel tank, but because of the crazy laws in Crazyfornia BMW had to limit user access to 1.9G (via software). The car will run out of fuel and die even when there is plenty of fuel left! Thanks California! insideevs.com/u-s-bmw-i3-rex-actually-has-2-4-gallon-gas-tank-but-clever-software-limits-fueling-to-1-9-gallons/
That's all those big government liberals for ya...big government control and intervention....this is just one crazy example out of a million.
Jesus Faith Big government also made this vehicle possible in the first place. You gotta take the good with the bad sometimes.
You can reprogram it to consume all the fuel and also go into battery hold mode.
For me the 114 mile EV range is okay for range anxiety. The car is way out of my price range though. I won't buy one but it does look nice, has an interesting interior, looks like the electronics are good. No spare tire = no sale for me. The range extender is an interesting option to kill range anxiety.
Drain holes on the floor of the trunk also mean that they are filling holes when parked in a high level puddle.
***** Not if there aren't holes under the cabin.
20:16 Pleading the 5th, eh Alex?
Alex, in Europe the i3 and the VW e-Golf are direct competitors, why not compare those? The e-Golf is cheaper in the US, there are many owners who chose the e-golf over the i3 for many reasons.
+JAEGERTECH The Mercedes B class is a better competitor
+cameron-scott smith the b class is also way more expensive for the same amount of range....
JAEGERTECH It's cost less than the i3 where are you getting your information from.
+cameron-scott smith ok the b class 'starts' at 41,400. The I3 'starts' at 42,000.... And both go well over 57,000 fully loaded.... E golf starts at 28,000 and 36,000 fully loaded
JAEGERTECH Exactly so don't you think it'd be smarter to compare to cars of the same price range? Made by companies that are one of the biggest competitors in the car industry?
This car would make a whole lot more sense to me with a 5-6 gallon gas tank. Does BMW get additional credits for such a small tank?
Nick Scott In a nutshell: yes. The small tank allows them to get a full ZEV credit in California to comply with the California Air Resources Board ZEV mandate.
Thanks for the very informative video!
Does anyone else think this looks like an AZTEK?
Pontiac Aztek? Good heavens! Of course not.
;)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Aztek
You can get VGATE OBD2 plug in and download bimmercode app pay for it and can get full 2.6 gal for gas tank
Great vid Alex. I see you're a Charlie Puth fan! Sweet.
Also you can re-program your I3 to make it more "European" and enable the "Hold Charge" mode by purchasing a software mod from DVDinmotion.
Why do you say 4 miles per kwh is better than the volt? That's exactly what I see on my volt...
This is literally the best review of anything ever made. I know more about this vehicle now than BMW does lol.
Based on your experiences is this a practical option for a commute that consists of 89 miles each way. Purely freeway miles in California (i5 to 580 to 680) I have a level 2 charger at my office and would install one at home. Just getting mixed reviews from BMW sales people. They do not seem to know their own product or maybe it is just bad luck.
LCE Systems If you get the REx model, yes. If you get the EV model, no.
The Mountain Garden I was planning to get the REx model, but I was told by a young (new) BMW sales guy that when the battery runs out and it kicks into gas it limits your speed to 55mph and therefore would not be a good choice for my commute. Is this true? Realistically with the REx model how much total mileage could I expect to get on a single charge with a full tank? I could always keep some gas in the frunk in case of emergency.
LCE Systems There is quite a bit of misinformation about this, I go into detail in my review., but no, you are not limited to 55. The limit is more nebulous. On level roads it is around 80 MPH or so. Driving aggressively on I-580 you will end up with limited power but how much that is depends on the incline, speed, etc. So it really depends on what your charge is when you hit 580. If you're crossing it on battery, then you'll be fine, if you cross it on the REx, then you may be in the right lane with the trucks. In traffic of course you'll be going so slow it won't matter anyway.
Alex on Autos I should be able to make it past the altamonte and to 680 on electric. I am coming form Lodi to San Jose. My main draw to this is that it is eco friendly, I can use the carpool lane, and its very affordable. I am just trying to see if it really makes sense and the young guys at BMW want to sell me a M3 lol