Why I Chose the BMW i3 REx Over the Tesla Model 3 + Long Term Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- This is a video about how I decided on a CPO BMW i3 REx over the Tesla Model 3, plus a long term review. Check out the Pt 2 video where I answer your questions.
Link to how its made:
• BMW i3 Factory Product...
Last year, I traded in my mini cooper countryman for this, it’s a CPO 2014 BMW i3 with the range extender. I did this for many reasons . One reason is that I have been wanting to make the switch to an EV for a while, and this car fits my needs more so than the other options like the Leaf and the Tesla Model S.
By far the biggest factor when deciding on an electric car is the car’s range. How far can I drive this car and how do I charge it. As it is now, a 35 thousand dollar Tesla Model 3 will get you 220 miles and a 37 thousand dollar Chevy bolt will get you 240 miles on charge. These cars will be less money after the 75 hundred dollar federal tax credit along with other state credits, so count on around 30 thousand after dealer fees and taxes. Of these 2 cars, the clear winner in terms of charging convenience is the Tesla Model 3 as they have a massive proprietary charging network that stretches from coast to coast. The same cannot be said for all of the other electric cars. Their charging stations are cobbled together at odd locations and out of range on many highways leaving many potential EV buyers looking elsewhere for their next car. One thing is true for all purely electric cars, if you plan on traveling out of range, then you have to plan on charging it. A Model 3 will take 45 minutes to an hour at a supercharging station, and that is if one is available. This means that a 500 mile road trip will involve a charging session along the way, a couple of times while your there and another on the way home. I personally don’t take many road trips and don’t think that driving an EV for long distances is a good idea. After looking into my driving habits, I discovered that I only drive 25 to 30 miles daily with some exceptions that took me 60 to 75 miles on rare occasions. Considering these factors, I felt that I wouldn’t use the 220 miles of the Tesla Model 3 that often at all which led me to the BMW i3
The i3 gets about 80 miles per charge along with another 80 miles available via the range extender for a combined 160 miles. The range extender is a 650cc 2 cylinder scooter motor that kicks in to charge the battery when it drops below 4% to extend the range. This seemed like a perfect option for my needs as the range extender can also be refueled when needed. The i3 is also a hatchback which is another advantage over the Model 3 for transportation of my music gear. As I kept searching, I noticed that used BMW i3’s were dropping in price dramatically during this time, especially in California. As I looked into it more, I quickly realized that this car is light years ahead of anything else in terms of its production, including the Model 3. There are plenty of videos about how this car is manufactured, and if you are like me, you will be amazed at this process, there is a link to more about this below, but basically this is a revolutionary, ground up designed car that is made of aluminum and carbon fiber composites as well as recycled materials. Even the factory is wind powered.
So after all of this research, I decided to buy this CPO i3 from a dealer in California as there were none nearby in here Arizona. I paid 18,500 for this car with around 25 thousand miles on it. The MSRP of this car was around 49 thousand with all of the options included when it was new just 3 years prior. The car was delivered in March last year and it has been by daily driver ever since.
I can say that after nearly a year of normal driving, I have not needed the extra range from the range extender at all. I also have never needed to use a public charging station. The car gets charged at home every day or so and I wake to a fresh car with 75 miles of battery life which is more than enough, but it it's nice to know that the extra range is available if I need it. The i3 has about a 19kw battery and my electricity costs about 11 cents per Kw, so it would cost me about 2 dollars to charge the i3 from a fully depleted battery. I only use about 25% of the battery per day during nice weather and charge it every other day. I would say it costs about 15 to 20 dollars a month to keep the i3 charged.
i only hear you on my right ear....
2 years later:
Omg same!!
So many people simply don't understand this car. Thanks for the video 🙂 The most important thing in buying an electric vehicle is your needs. Focus on your needs not the hype. Well done 👍
It was entirely because of your video that I bought an i3. Thanks so much for the introduction to the used pricing on these. Got myself a Rex and loving it.
Nice! Glad to help out for sure, enjoy your i3!
Goooood how he just reminded me how much i like that car. So unfortunate i cant afford it. I really agree on every sentence he said
Do you still recommend it after one year.
a 18k$ used I3 for daily driving(30miles
clear men 007 sadly to say the i3 depreciation is terrible. I returned my 2014 i3 after 2 year lease and it was worth $13-$15k with a sticker of $51k and 30k miles....
Oh I just wish this car would cost that much in my country, but it's more like 30 thousand
All cars loose 50% of there value after 3 years. EVs are even worse except for the model S, it looses about as much value as an ICE Car. Lesson; buy used.
Ezequiel Adames yup. That's why I love my 2016 i3 Rex. It cost me $20k at a certified BMW dealer (warranty until 2022) and its fully loaded. I will probably only lose 6 grand in the 4 years that I will have the car.
Mind sharing some details of your purchase? I'm about to purchase a 2016 Rex at the dealer (CPO). I'd love to know a bit more about what you paid, what features, etc. Thanks!
Totaly agree with you. dislikes expected though there are a lot of tesla fans who just dont want to think about other options
We leased an i3 in 2014 for 3 years and another one in 2015 for two years. Due to low demand, we got them for about $65/month after discounts, federal and state tax incentives. They were good but had some unique problems. After the i3s we got a Tesla Model S and a few weeks ago got our Model 3, so can directly compare.
The huge windshields are prone to rock chips and the dealers try to rip you off for repairing them. Due to their unique CFRP construction, you shouldn’t take them to safelite or other 3rd parties for glass replacement. There were stories of people unaware and the repairs damaged the structure, causing the car to become unsafe and totaled. We had to replace one of our windshields due to cracks during our lease term. The dealers all have different pricing so shop around.
The wheels are unique and are the only cars that use these tires. There are shortages since Bridgestone makes them in batches, so often you can not get them except though the dealer. Mounted and balanced they are usually about $200 each. That’s not a crazy price for a high performance car, but expensive for a $18k car. Also treadlife is shorter than most other cars. I only got about 12k miles from our rear tires and since the wheels are staggered you can not rotate them to extend tread life.
The REx will sometimes not kick on when you are running low of power and will cause a drivetrain error. This also happens a lot if you don’t run it very often.
We took a REx on a road trip one long weekend and the tiny 1.9 gallon gas tank was a huge hassle. There weren’t enough chargers along our route so we had to fill up. On a 800 mile trip, we charged 3 times at CCS and at public chargers. The rest of the time we had to refuel 11 times. It didn’t take long, but felt like a big hassle. It’s one of those things where you could do it, but it’s not fun. I doubt people with families and kids will want to stop so often.
I believe due to the light weight, tall sides and narrow tires, the i3 gets blown about by the wind more than usual. You really feel crosswinds.
Our i3 needed a new transmission in the last year we had it. The dealer took almost 2 months to replace it and gave us a fossil 328i loaner. I would not keep the BMW out of warranty, there are too many small issues are are expensive and you can only service it at the dealer. The dealer uses the service center as a big profit center, usually more profit than they make on the car. I read that BMW will probably not make a new i3 with fully cfrp constuction and the iNext will be a mixed material car. Some CFRP, steel and aluminum. This makes me wonder about long term service and repairs.
After our first i3 went back, we got a new “inventory” Model S. It was $68k before tax incentives, so about $10k more than a fully optioned new i3 REx. While a bit more, you get a whole lot more car, a totally luxury experience compared to the spartan i3 and arguably much more classically elegant design. The cabin materials are less eco/utilitarian and more like a conventional BMW or Mercedes with alcantara on the dash and headliner, napa leather on dash, doors and seats. The handling and ride are much better and even our slow 2016 base model (0-60 in 5.5s) is much faster than our i3. The trunk space is huge. The front trunk large enough for a small luggage and is water tight so makes it usable where in the i3 it was tiny and dirty. There is a huge panoramic sunroof and there was no sunroof option in the i3 until recently.
The dealer purchase experience is much better than BMW. The price is the price so there is no negotiation. No finance guy that tried to upsell you. The service department is not looking to make a profit from you.
We picked up our car in NJ and drove it home to Atlanta. The trip wouldn’t have been possible on a i3 BEV and a hassle with the REx. The Tesla supercharging network make it so easy. They are spaced out along the highway at perfect intervals so you can plug in, use the restroom and be done charging enough to make it to the next supercharger. It’s also free with Model S so there is no hassle of getting 3rd party charging cards like evgo, ChargePoint, etc, since they don’t directly take credit card payments.
Our Model s also has autopilot and is light years better than the single camera adaptive cruise on the i3. On the i3 it was gimmick in comparison. It never felt safe and sometimes the i3 would respond slowly or not see the car in front. On our S, we use it everyday in traffic and on highways and it’s great.
After a 2 year wait, a few weeks ago, we got our Tesla Model 3. It is fully loaded and cost $57k so a few thousand less than a new i3 REx. Again, the driving experience is much better than i3 and on a totally different level. It’s actually even faster than our S, but the ride is not as smooth. The handling is extremely sharp and it feels like you are driving a large Porsche Cayman without any engine noise. Road noise is comparable to i3 and louder than our S. The layout is more like a 3 series sedan so no hatchback. The trunk is standard size like the BMW 3 series, but there is also a good size front trunk. The Model 3 also has access to the supercharger network which makes long distance travel effortless. When you select a destination, the nav automatically calculates where you need to charge. It’s not free on the 3, but costs about the same as charging at home.
r2d2c3po Awesome facts, greatly stated. Thanks
Excellent points, Nice to have a comment form someone that has owned both cars.
r2d2c3po very informative. Thanks
As for "autonomous driving" / "autopilot" afaik BMW doesnt declare it as such. Thats because the wouldnt dare.
But according to some studies BMW is actually ahead of Tesla, now that Tesla and Mobileye quit their cooperation.
Teslas autopilot was / or is high level 2, that is already enough for cars to drive alone for a long time.
Though BMW and Co started late (later) than tesla they are now ahead in developement.
But BMW wouldnt dare to release something advertised as autopilot unless they got lvl 4.
Your I3 was from 2015, so basically it is the model from 2013 especially in terms of automated driving. Your Model 3 is second half 2017 release. Thats 4 years later and Tesla WAS ahead in the first years after 2010.
As for price, not even with any gimick available I get the most expensive i3 REX variant over 55k € AFTER VAT (which is 19% here). And that is only if you really pay full price, so i cant imagine it being more expensive than $57k in the US (after VAT).
r2d2c3po wait, what?
Why I Chose a *USED* BMW i3 REx Over a *BRAND NEW* Tesla Model 3 + Long Term Review
Because you could not afford a Tesla
I actually like the look of it for some strange reason.
Me too! It's an awesome car.
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with this car. I've actually been looking at buying a used i3 for much the same reasons you cited. The opportunity to pick up one of these up for a fraction of the original price is pretty darned tempting. And I'd get spirited acceleration while virtually never buying gas again. Don't know if I'm going to pull the trigger yet, but I do think that anyone who is seriously interested in an i3 would do well to strongly consider buying it used and let someone else eat the massive drop in value in those first couple of years.
That really was a great video. Thanks for that. Good to know that not all Americans think you have to shout into a microphone and not all have annoying voices...well done man.
You make an excellent point. I really like the i3, yes I've always found the looks a bit strange but I wouldn't call it ugly. I think the car is master in engineering. Its very light, very agile and beats most others from a start. Also its very roomy and futuristic inside while having a small form factor. I've tried a model s which I found to be big, heavy and boring inside but I've put in a reservation for the model 3 mainly due to the increased range and pleasing looking exterior. In fact the only reason I never went for the i3 was due to the fact that I live in an apartment with no parking and with its limited range this would have been a problem for me. But the i3 is sooo much fun and I found its interior so much more pleasing than any tesla. In fact it make my audi s3 seem boring.
Thank you for your comment and congrats on your Model 3! Any EV purchase is a win in my book and the Model 3 is an incredible car. If I didn't absolutely need the cargo space, I would have purchased one as well. Cheers
Agree completely. I bought a 2014 i3 in 2016. It was untitled (new), so I got both Federal and State (Pennsylvania) incentives, saving me $9500, and the price I paid was far under the MSRP. During negotiation with the dealer I pointed out that although I liked the car (never look too eager while negotiating with a car dealer!) I couldn't realistically drive it to visit my children who live 400 miles away. The dealer offered me BMW's mobility program as a freebie: for 14 days a year (technically, I don't think they bother to keep track, as long as I don't abuse the program I'm sure I could get away with a few more days) I can exchange my i3 for a gas powered BMW. I've done that several times to take long trips. It's the best of all worlds, until the day comes (not too far off I hope) when long distance travel by electric vehicle will be commonplace.
@Jhon Krasnovskiy yep, I have. Years ago if you bought a Cadillac and got the gold keys, you got stuff like that as well.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience - helped me decide on the i3 W/Range Extender. Loving it.
This video should be titled "Why I bought a used car instead of a new car". There's no way in hell an i3 is worth the $45k-$60K brand new.
A few notes: Use your brakes every now and then to keep them functional. Also, use the extender every now and then for the very same reason.
Kick ass review man. I’ve been looking into my next car for awhile. I’ve been a Prius owner since 2009. It’s time for the EV and you made some really good points. I also average around 25 miles a day. Lots to think about now. Thanks!
I test drive a 2015 fully loaded for 23k. What an incredible experience! The view, it’s really quiet and the speed comes out of nowhere! I’ve found even better versions online for 16k. I’m definitely getting this car.
For me its one of the nicest EVs ever...
All good points. 100 mile range electric cars are vastly underrated. Will they work for everyone? Of course not. Eventually the secret will get out on just how cheap these cars are to operate and buying them (BMW or otherwise) for 10-18 grand is such a no brainer for a majority of household that have more than one vehicle.
A BMW is only a no brainer if it is maintenance free. They are super expensive to maintain out of warranty.
They are already climbing in price.
BMW is no different than anything else. Do the work yourself for pennies on the dollar.
That's a great review of the i3 Rex, thank you.
We own a 2016 i3 Rex and LOVE IT! This little car has a lot to offer.
If you are smart about your Supercharger usage, no stop should take 45 minutes to an hour.
Exactly! Not to mention that 45 minute supercharging is better than being completely incapable of EVER being able to visit Brentwood from San Jose. Both in the Bay Area by the way. lol
Yup! Also the majority of the time you charge at home.
Heck... with an EV that leaves my garage with 310 miles of range every single morning... I visit a "station" maybe 10 times a year. ;)
I would have thought that 30 min max
And you pay at least 4 times the amount of money per mile to do it compared to an electric car. So go you!
356 Tesla owners hated this video
Nice informative video on i3 that I think is a great car, even that it looks a bit odd in the front. What is great with I3 is that the car is designed from scratch as a EV, not just a modified fossile car, only Tesla can compete with that. BMW i3 is the most sold electric car in Norway last year (Yes, VW claim Golf is, but adding in hybrids makes that a false claim) All of them without a range extender because of taxation, only pure electric cars get tax cut.
Tesla is the most sold when you add Model S and Model X, and that even before Model 3 have arrived here. In 2018 Ev's now is close to 50% of new cars sold.
Contrary to the opinions of many people that do not own EV's, we find that range is not very important. We have a 2017 Kia Soul EV, and a home Level 2 charger. The car typically reports a range of about 106 miles after a charge. We drive around town (Tucson) and top off the battery a couple times a week.
Lease payments are less than $100/mo. Total cost to own (with payments and fees) for 36 months is less than $8,000.
We were surprised the heat pump in the Soul EV cools the car down in hot weather faster than an gas car with A/C. Reason, the heat pump can run at full capacity with the car stopped, while an ICE vehicle has the A/C slowed down by an idling engine. The Soul EV has ventilated seats, making A/C less needed.
We had a Honda Element a few years ago and loved it, but those reverse swing doors are terrible in a parking lot.
augsburg Sounds like a perfect car for you and I couldn’t agree more about the AC, the i3 has the best cooling of any car I’ve owned by a long shot. That 106 range would cause anxiety for me as this is my only car and there have been more than a few times that I rolled home just before the REx would have kicked in. It’s great to know that another Tucsonan has made the EV switch, cheers!
My right ear really liked this video
The i3’s tiny gas tank is not designed to be refilled on the same journey as your statement about it implied. If you did so you would have to stop for gas every 60 miles or so You also neglected to mention that the i3’s performance is limited when running on the range extender. I have an i3 now. I live in a cold climate. Range drops to a mere 46 miles in cold weather. My i3 has the 22 KWHR battery pack I made 2 short trips of just 50 miles and 25 miles one way this weekend and ran out of battery 3 times and had to switch over to the REX. There is not one DC fast charger, at this time, in the state of Iow where I live. There are 5 Tesla super charging stations in or at the borders of Iowa. BMW has failed to release an i3 with a 200+ mile range for 2018 or even announce one for 2019. What a disappointment. My next car will be a Tesla or a Bolt.
I can't wait till the BMW i3S is on sale.
Cool. Keep the i3 videos coming
I came to the same conclusion as you and ordered a BMW I3. Only difference it'll be an I3s without the rex, since I don't travel further distances too often and skipped the extra weight for that matter.
I've had my 2014 i3 for a month and still am loving it. Like you, the i3 is perfect for my needs and I'm sure it would please me and my wallet for years to come.
a great review of this amazing and so heavily underappreciated i3!
Good explanation for why this met your needs. It highlights the different desires for car buyers. I was surprised that you didn’t mention how it drives at all. I’m curious if you drove both of them before you decided to buy?
Great review...I live in Scottsdale, AZ, and never had any issues with the warm weather. I leased my first i3 REX, as I wasn’t sure if the i3 would have enough range. I liked the car so much I traded my 2016 BMW M3 for a i3, which I picked up used with only 15,000 miles for $20,000. With the warranty of 8 years from the dealership I couldn’t go wrong. Love this car!
Nice! These cars are hidden gems that people either love or hate and its nice to hear of another i3 fan here in AZ. This has been my favorite car by a long shot as well.
When i started to look for a replacement car I didn't go beyond the first picture of an i3, it appeared so ugly. But then when looking at the topic a bit more closely the looks, not only outside, but especially inside strangely grew on me...
Now I like it a lot, and I love the openness and slick design of the cockpit. I would no longer want to be buried by the ton of instruments and having the driveshaft tunnel beside me up to my elbow... It's well designed and I smile every time I walk up to it.
I am thinking of going to California to get one of these used as well. Can you talk a little bit more about the 8 year warranty? Is that something offered on the used i3.
salocin911 Most of the CPO i3’s that I found when looking a year ago were sold at BMW authorized dealers. This adds another 2 years to the factory 4 year warranty. The battery warranty is 8 years regardless if it is a CPO
I take many road trips in my EV. 25,000 miles just from road trips on weekend vacations with friends and family with less than six months of ownership. The quiet and smooth ride and help with driver assist on long distance roads, taking rests for a quick charge and to stretch you legs for a look around in some vistor/scenic/shopping/picnic locations can make for a great fun adventure. I have done road trips before with ICE vehicles, but I couldn't do it nearly as long without my current EV. From all my cars to choose, I reserve my EV for my long distance driver for those long pleasurable rides and adventures. Even my passengers seem to like the ride a lot more than typical cars on long drives.
Interesting. I had a similar starting position and also opted for the same model with a similar price. I had 5 series and X5 before and I knew the outstanding quality and reliability of BMW cars. For everyday use on short and medium distances, this car is ideal and even long distances are basically no problem.
Although I do not have to carry a drum set ;-) I have a 240L Fat Max Stanley Box with my 501st Darth Vader costume. Despite initial doubts, it fits in prefect, even with enough reserve for other things.
This car has surprised me positively in many ways and I'm more than happy with my decision.
This is the first review of the BMW i3 I've seen. Nice review. When I was looking for an EV to replace my wife's car, the i3 never even showed up on my RADAR. I was looking at the Nissan Leaf, due to it's low price on the used market. I never actually got to the point of test driving one though, because, I found a Chevy Volt that I could simply assume the remainder of the lease on. I always liked the basic premise of the Volt being a "Series" Hybrid vs: a "Normal" Hybrid (a Series Hybrid is always powered by the Electric Battery/Motor while a Normal Hybrid uses both the Engine and Electric Motor to propel the vehicle [simultaneously].) When you are buying an EV you need to take a look at exactly how you drive and how far on a daily basis to determine the range you actually need vs: the range you "think" you need. For example: our Chevy Volt is my wife's car and it is her Daily Commuter, her commute is within the all electric range of the Volt, Consequently, we only drive it on Electric and almost never use the "Range Extender" Gas engine (it actually pisses us off if we have to use the gas engine for a couple of miles from time to time).
Thank you for the comment and yes, its a good idea to get a realistic overview of your driving habits before looking into getting an EV. It sounds like an EV is a perfect option for your wife when the lease on the Volt expires and used Leaf's are an excellent value. A CPO 2015 Leaf is going for around 11k! I looked into the Leaf, but felt that I needed a bit more range and versatility as this is my only car. Take care and good luck!
Ive owned a 2014 Rex for a year now. No issues until recently. Was quoted $987 to repair the charging cable lock mechanism. Since it’s out of warranty, I’ll be working on upgrading to a Tesla soon.
Now, this is what a real review looks like from a real buyer with mostly great things to say. I've always felt this would be a killer EV if it was mated to the Chevy's Bolt battery.
Your experience with the REX seems common; it's main role is to reduce worry but it's hardly ever needed.
Congrats, I hope you like your car. I got an M3 and I love it. Personally, the style for this is right up there with a Prius for cars I don't like...But to each their own.
thanks for the video. Pretty informative about this cool, brave car!
Something not often realised about the i3 is how thermally efficient it is. There is no major thermal mass in the passenger cell so the AC doesn't have to work hard to cool it down or keep it cool/warm.
Thanks for the tube - after 3 years your points are still valid - and even though the competition has picked up pace since, also the i3 has depreciated so rapidly that one can get used units on the cheap. Therefore I think it's even better value for money today!
(The only downside to the video was the audio track playing solely on right channel - I thought that my headsets were broken. 😬)
The model 3 normally takes between 19 minutes to a 1/2 hour to charge at a Tesla SuperCharger due to their advanced battery chemistry and next-gen onboard charger. An hour to charge at a Tesla SuperCharger would be quite rare.
You can now get some bolt under or low 20k make. Same range as entry Tesla model 3 and like half the price.
Richard L Yes! You still have the poor charging network however, but the value is great. I’ve driven the bolt and the quality (interior and manufacturing) is nowhere near the i3. If you don’t need the range and want a luxury ride, the i3 is where it’s at!
Thanks for the video. The I3 with the price brake you got is very attractive solution to get into an EV.
On the subject of road trips - as the world transitions from petrol to electric, and they become more and more affordable, I see many 2 car families (which probably covers most households where I live) will keep buying a larger internal combustion vehicle for those road trips and family/load carrying duties, but will replace their small runabout car with an electric car.
And then, as people realise how awesome they are, and technology continues to advance, adoption rates will increase exponentially.
Add a aux 5-10 gallon aux gas tank mod and you'll get plenty of miles with the bimmercode mod. I'll probably never use the "trunk," and thinking of building a customized f1 kevlar/nitrile gas tank that I leave empty until I go on a long road trip. My daily commute is about 44 miles. With heat and ac on, I am only expecting about 40ish miles on my 2014.
Design is the least thing to concern when battery and range are the most important thing to consider.
I advise anyone who wants to buy an electric car to pull out a map and put a 📍 in all their favorite places. I was surprised when i was within range of major cities and just had to charge before coming back. It's really not that bad. Im loving my i3.
It looks kinda cool :)
I personally think the model 3 looks sleeker.
Thomas Miner Personally I'd wait for the Model Y
Kirivan Yam yeah but the model 3 is probably way more affordable than the model y
*Sexier
Yes, definitely better looking. With that being said I've owned 2 i3's and have a deposit on a Model 3.
Yea and it 5 times as safe
superb video, great content - i am in the market for a rex and your footage and audio is a great help to me.
Very honest and fair review. Suites your needs well.
My '15 i3 has been a great asset. With Rex option I could care less about charge network; which is horrible in US with many stations down...
I'm not sure why but I get no sound on this video. I've double checked other videos and they have no problem.
The sound is only in the right channel for me.
BRUH SAME I FREAKED OUT HAHAHAH
Yah... I have a TV as monitor setup without sound running through the TV and get the same issue on youtube here n there.
I love my i3 with range extender, just in case you don't find a public charger. Totally recommend unless you need to drive over 70 miles a day.
Good to hear you love it - the range extender removes the anxiety of all electric.
it is very important to use the REX at least once a week, ( bring it up to operating temperature over a 10-15 km range ) to keep it lubricated, rust free and burn off any moisture in the engine oil, a natural occurrence from moisture, engine and never good if left un-run and over time will not function well.
I am renting an i3, waiting for my model 3, and I agree that the BMW is a fantastic car. On the other hand, the "BMW connected" app is a disaster : it hangs, crashes, asks you to go through the registration again and again, the license agreement is in German, the remote orders often take ages or fail. It seems Tesla has understood something that BMW hasn't.
Curiously, he did not mention test driving the Model 3. It's easy to make a decision on an EV if you haven't had a test drive of all the other models.
Issue with i3 for me is tyres and where I live it's pothole hell literally they are all over and some you can not dodge
Just ordered one of the last ones. Here in Germany there is currently very little difference between the price of a new one and the price of models that are a few years old.....end of production is July 2022 unfortunately.
You did a great job with the content and editing. My situation is similar I nearly bought a new I3 in 6/17 I'm so glad I did not I got a BMW executive used 2014 which provides an extended warranty. I am a lifelong tree hugger so I was drawn to the BMW ethos there is no car made more environmentally conscious. I really like it but, a few things bug me I don't think the heat or a/c are up to snuff. All e-cars have the problem of cold temps dropping range but, mine drops from 76 to 58 that is dramatic.
The Tesla's which I also looked at have bait and switch down to an art form. Does anybody honestly want a Tesla absent it's most famous feature the auto-pilot? What does that add to the price $15k?
The carbon fiber construction is impressive, but the Rex gas tank is tiny at only 1.9 gallons, giving it only around 75 additional miles range on gas until it has to be refilled. This might be OK in emergencies, but would be tedious on a long trip. A less fancy alternative is a Chevy Volt, which can be had for less than $20k NEW after all incentives, has a battery range of 53 miles and gas range of over 350 miles.
Unfortunately the design/look is one of the ugliest on the road. But personal taste I guess.
It looks weird, sure, but on the plus side it gets that BMW build quality. Tesla's is... well, Tesla. Half inch door misalignment in a $54,000 car.
zolikoff "BMW build quality" is that the same as BMW reliability? The Germs are expensive to maintain...
Teslas are much less reliable, they just have a very convenient (for the consumer) warranty deal that makes Tesla constantly worse off economically speaking as they constantly take back faulty cars to fix them at no cost to the consumer.
A BMW will not very likely fail catastrophically after barely 1000 miles driven. Not even when it's a more complex IC car. Maybe one in a million, I don't know, but it's certainly not what you hear very often. A Model 3 will - with barely a few thousand sold there are already dozens of reports of critical service after not even 1000 miles. This is what happens when you want to do mass manufacturing but don't have the expertise.
Looks way better than a Model 3 lol
selig stoney Model 3 looks way better than this ugly i3
Congrats ! Great video ! Some of those CPO i3 are being purchased by Canadians and driven home ..much easier on ReX than BEV ..we love our i3 !
I'm curious how you came to the conclusion it was easier than a BEV. Which BEV are you comparing it to?
You can't say easier than "BEV" there are several out there now, a BEV isn't a single vehicle, unless you are talking about i3 Rex vs i3 non Rex.
Captain Crunch yes we are.. And driving 2000 miles from southern US to Canada would not be practical In gen 1 bev i3.. Hence most go for Rex.. We have fewer level 3s up here
OK, that makes perfect sense. I was curious as my neighbors drive from Toronto to Miami and back again every year in their Tesla, and they say they love the trip and have zero issues.
That would probably be quite a bit more difficult in a i3 without the Rex I would imagine.
Captain Crunch i3 ain't no Tesla lol
No, but my neighbors have one. It is an interesting car, a love it or hate it kind of car. I have a Model S myself, but I like electric cars in general, so I definitely see why people who can make them work for them like the i3's.
If the Model 3 becomes more available, I think BMW needs to step up their i3 game a bit however. It is more expensive than a LR Model 3 now with a much shorter range, so they definitely need to give it an option at least for a longer range.
A key factor to keep in mind in Arizona is the Vehicle License Tax. EVs, and NOT hybrids, are all but totally exempt from the VLT. This can make a four figure difference PER YEAR. By adding the Rex, you really increase your tax liability (on top of the maintenance requirements of the engine and its associated components.
Aaron Tindall Good point and definitely something to consider
I’m not surprised that the resale price for this dork-mobile dropped like a rock. It looks like something a child could drive around in the showroom while parents wait for their gas powered cars to be serviced.
You sound mature
I don't get a) the low prices you get on a really special car produced in Leipzig, Germany even if it's used. In European countries without subsidies you pay 25.000-27.000 € for a 3 years old i3 Rex b) the low cost of electricity/gasoline.
that's a very smart choice if you can buy one of these for only 18k. the cheapest used i3 I can find will cost me at least 40k AUD. Australians don't seem like environmental friendly cars, sigh...
Also... if we are talking about new cars, the i3 costs about the same as a long range Model 3. So we should be talking about 310 miles of range on the Tesla. Not 220.
Not sure if you were replying to me... but my point is that the i3 does not compare well to the Model 3 at the same price-point. So if you are referring to the i3 as the ugly POS that isn't safe, you might want to reply to someone else.
Wow that's all you guys talk about , ugly ugly , do you hear and see the purpose for this car I can name a ton of ways the i3 beats a model 3 many ways , most of you haven't even seen a i3 in your life either that's even more sad
Alright. Let's play that game then. Before we begin, I see i3s once every few days around where I live. Looks like a pug that ran into a wall to me. And this is coming from a guy who loves BMWs and currently owns three of them ('03 325xi Touring, '72 3.0cs, '72 2002). BMW knows how to make beautiful cars. The odd proportions of the i3 make it seem more like a compliance car than something BMW actually wants to sell. Now, let's begin.
Model 3 advantages over BMW i3:
Much Quicker acceleration (0-60 4.8s vs 7.0s, both as measured by Motor Trend. 1/4 mile 13.4s@104.9mph vs 15.8s at 84.7mph)
Much better handling (0.87g vs 0.75g, Figure Eight 25.7s vs 28.1s)
Better braking (60-0 119ft vs 125ft)
Much more efficient (130MPGe vs 124MPGe... and the i3 only achieves this if it stays within its short electric range)
No need to reduce efficiency in order travel long distances (Supercharger Network). Yes, the i3 can drive long distances without using the REX... but oh boy, what a pain that is.
If being green is your thing... choosing to go fully electric and dropping petroleum altogether eliminates the REX as an option (this isn't necessarily me... but it is true for a lot of people who are moving to electric vehicles.)
As a BMW fan, the Tesla is far, far more desirable to me, because it comes very close to an e46 M3 in performance while being the second most efficient car currently in production (only Hyundai Ioniq Electric beats it efficiency-wise... slightly).
chubstheclown No it’s 220 if you pay for base model
Samuel Yuan Your taste is off. Looks like a good looking car to me...
Thank you for sharing your experience with the i3 REX. I’m seriously thinking about getting a CPO now. The price is right.
Todd Nicholson Thanks for the kind words, you will love the i3, take care!
Great review, you mentioned you had a Mini Cooper. My wife currently has a Mini Cooper S and I’ve been looking at the i3 as a replacement. How do you like the i3 compared to the mini? She really likes the mini just hoping she would like the i3 as much.
The problem for me about the i3 is the rear door, why do you need to open the front door first which make the practicality of getting out and in of the rear door take much longer time. Then there is the small knee room and head room in the rear seat.... And of course the styling of it, I don't seem to like the concept of it, as many other people too
No need to explain. You want to buy a car to drive. Not wait in line for a reservation which constantly gets pushed back from overconfidence and shoddy build quality. I'm all for EV motoring but not these problems.
Honestly Tesla is grossly overrated and their owners are worse than GT-R fanboys. The i3 is a great choice.
RAHUL SAINI Lolololol. You mad.
I paid $10k for my i3 and i think I can get the used federal $4k tax credit. 55k miles
Having been in a tesla 3 on a long trip where the range estimate was constantly too long meaning we had to charge two times instead of stopping once or even not at all, this seems great. It appeared that the battery pack did not have the stated capacity.
my right ear loved ths video
I appreciate this review, as I've been going back and forth between these exact 2 cars - do I use my model 3 reservation and spend that money, or spend significantly less for the lower-range i3? Thanks for putting together this video with your thoughts.
thanks for your review. I will look into getting one very affordable
now that you have had it for this long, would you still recommend and has there been any issues you would warn potential buyers? im looking at a 2015 Rex with 42k miles. but there's no consistent info on reliability. some folks have issues with the fuel door. some have issues with airbags. would love your take.
my right ear liked the sound
This is like comparing a 220i active tourer to 330i. The model 3 is not just another boring car, it is quite fast.
Nice review!
In summary: The i3 costs more than the Model 3, is slower, and has far less range.
Because of this, it's resale value sucks, and you can buy a 3 year old i3 for the same price as a bag of Skittles.
BMW WINS!
libertarian4323 It wins if you don’t want an $800 month car payment and a reliable, well built and troubled free daily
That is some BRUTAL depreciation...
well, somehow our 4 year old CPO is priced double the money over your north boarder
Hi Justin. I know you posted this a few years ago but I have a question. How have the 20 inch wheels worked out for you? Thanks for the great review!
Thanks Dennis, the 20” wheels are great, no complaints other than having to replace them after 25k miles or so
@@superhostingtucson3302 Thanks Justin. I'm looking at a 2015 REX that is loaded for 16K with only 25 thousand miles.
I REALLY LOVE MY RIGHT EAR BEING TICKLED BY HIS VOICE
Try putting your phone in pocket for a whole new experience. Spoiler alert....its going to get a lil weird.
I want to buy a used I3, but I just don't like the tire.
Awesome review, can you link those bags pls amazing how you pack it up, also can the rear seat be folded down? Thx and keep on safely!!
Attila János Nagy Thanks for the kind words, the drum bags are by a company called Protection Racket and the seats are folded flat so that I can get all of my gear in
Prefer the Tesla 3 or even a Chevy Bolt over the i3. I looked at all 3 and I’m going Tesla ... overall better value and handles better than the i3. The i3 was lightly used and maybe it was the specific run-flats, but it rode very stiff and jarring. The Tesla & Bolt are much smoother and less quirky.
You can't really say you chose this over a model 3 when you paid half the price and bought used...
Giovanni Gomez Hi Giovanni, price wasn’t an issue when deciding as the model 3 would only be about 11k more when all said and done or about 140 a month more in car payments. There are also license registration tax savings in an all electric EV to factor in. It really was between this an the Model 3 as I would never get a non Tesla EV as my only car, the Blink charging network is just too unreliable. The REx was a better option because I know I can at least make it home in a pinch if needed. If the Model 3 was more versatile, then I would have purchased it.
The doors on the i3 aren’t to everyone’s taste. I personally hate the fact that you can’t let passengers into the rear without opening the front doors first. Makes picking up and dropping people off a massive inconvenience.
Various used car publications I've seen indicate that the I3 quality and used car reliability is excellent, but they don't say the same about other BMWs--or Teslas for that matter. One national used car publication mentioned numerous problems with every other BMW and Tesla they reviewed--in contrast to used I3s they they claim are typically highly reliable. Are they on the right track--or do they not know what they are talking about?
Tim Huggins Bmw invested billions into the “I” program and tested the I3 extensively before production. Plus it’s a very simple car, no combustion engine or cooling system for that engine, no transmission etc. Tesla is still a very new company compared to BMW but they have a lot to learn from each other! I’ve had my I3 for 3 years and it’s only been in the shop for software tweaks.. under the CPO warranty :)
Justin, I am just starting to look at used i3s and I am also located in Tucson. Glad I found your video. How do you deal with the summer temps here? What kind of things do you do to protect the battery from the high temps in the middle of the day? You make use of the battery pre-conditioning? Have you noticed a hit in battery capacity after making it through the hot summer. Winters here in Tucson should be no big deal for the i3 but the summer temps concern me.
Ryan Hammerel Hi Ryan, thanks for your questions. The i3 has a heating/cooling system for the battery that keeps it at ideal temperatures, even in our hot summers here, so I did not notice any loss of range at all after last summer. The first thing I did was tint the windows with 3m crystalline and get a heatshield sun shade to keep the interior cool. I schedule a departure time in the mornings so the car cools down while it is plugged in, this saves battery range because the car is not working as hard to cool the cabin while driving. I always find a shady spot when parking, even if it’s far away because the ground is cooler. The i3 has the best AC that I have ever experienced because it does not use an engine to power the compressor but rather an efficient heat pump that works just as well at idle. All in all, I think the freezing winters are worse on batteries than our hot summers are and BMW spent years testing this car in every scenario. Good luck finding your i3, I am sure will love it!
No way is it worth almost $50 k with such a short range. However, because it has one of the worst (largest) depreciation it means a used one is actually a good deal. But buying new would be a waste odd money.
Considering the economic and environmental costs of making a battery, which scales linearly with battery size, it is the right choice to choose an EV that has just a big enough battery to fit your personal daily needs. Having a 220 mile range car that you almost never use more than 30% of its range, is a huge waste.
When you have a battery to serve your daily needs and a combustion engine to serve the rare longer range, your car is much more economical than a pure EV with a bigger battery.
It is a trade off, either get a larger battery or haul around a gas engine you may hardly ever use, making the fuel go bad and dragging down the battery range in the process.
You are already carrying around a 33kWh battery. Is another 17kWh really that much of a disadvantage compared to a gas engine in the Rex?
Brillant, thanks
This seems like an excellent car for you. You know what else the 13 is? The most unreliable car BMW makes. By far. It is not like BMWs have a class a act for reliability anyway. At least for the next 2 years you will be covered bumper to bumper by BMW. The battery is covered for 100,000 miles. Running the i3 on gas is something I would not wish on my worst enemy. You should try it. Top speed of 70 mph and you can only re fuel one time. Then you have to charge? Sell when your warranty is up. If you are lucky you may get 9 grand. I understand that it is nice to own an almost new BMW for 18k. The Volt is an MUCH MUCH better car. The Volt is rock solid reliable and its 40 mile range used ( 56 miles new) meets your 25 mile average. In the Volt you can go as far as you want to on gas at the 100 mph top speed if you wish. You can buy a clean low mile Volt for 18k. Unlike the BMW the Volt resale value is holding the line after that point. No way as practical a car room wise. In every other possible way the Volt is a far better transportation tool. In truth in 2018 an 90 mile range electric car that holds a 2 gallon gas tank with a scooter 2 cylinder back up is completely obsolete in 2018. Hell you can lease an spanking new Bolt for $220 a month. Instead of having to charge every day you can charge 1 time per week. You can charge an Bolt just like you can charge an I3. The Tesla 3 is just so so far above the I 3 it is not even worth justifying a comparison. On the Tesla 3 you can charge 130 miles 50kw and 170 miles 75 kw in 1/2 hour. You drive for 2 to 4 hours then stop to charge for 1/2 hour if you do go on a a long trip. You have an excellent car for your situation. For most Americans in 2018 the I3 is almost useless. That is why a 2 year old 50k car is 18k.
fatboy19831 Thanks for your comment, I looked into the Volt, but didn’t want a hybrid, the point was not to need gas at all. The i3 is 1k pounds lighter and designed as an EV from the ground up. The Volt is 25%EV and 75% traditional car, perfect for those who do a lot of freeway driving. I didn’t find any reviews on the i3’s unreliability. Also not a fan of leasing a vehicle. When the battery goes, I hope to replace it with the higher capacity version. I would have got the Model 3 if it was more versatile as it only would have added about 140$ a month overall. I didn’t even consider a non Tesla as a sole EV car because of the terrible Blink network charging situation. The i3 fits my needs perfect and I hope the video sheds some light on why.
Superhosting Tucson, Both the Volt and the I3 REX are extended range electric cars ( I think the only two in the United States). They both have one speed direct drive like most electric cars. The car is driven by an electric motor at all times. The gas engine is only to recharge the battery. The Volt has better performance on gas simply because it has an more powerful gas engine and a larger gas tank that can provide more current for the battery. A hybrid is an gas car with Electric assist. Even a plug in Hybird has an multi -speed transmission and all the things that come with an conventional gas car. Many Volt owners almost never use gas. Better charging systems are coming. Other automotive manufactuers wont keep letting Tesla run away with their charging advantage.
fatboy19831 I don’t get what you mean ‘can only re-fuel once’ are you saying on a trip you can only gas up once ?