BMW i3s | EV Review 2020
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- Опубліковано 6 лют 2020
- Bryan is back for 2020 with the review of the new BMW i3s.
Big thanks again to BMW for lending us this i3s model.
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Besides the fun driving experience there are a few other aspects of this i3 worth mentioning. It's the greenest car made. The factory in Leipzig, GR is a green factory as well. The i3 is made of carbon fiber, making it as strong as steel, but lighter. Plant based as well as recycled materials used throughout. What it's not is a car you would take a long trip with, that was not the design intent. It's a wonderful car for the urban area. It will always look new when it's washed because of the carbon fiber body, In my opinion it's a two person car, the back seats are more for the "just in case situations" or younger kids. It is fun to drive, it has park assist and other features that they were not allowed to offer the North American customers.
Franky Boyle has really mellowed.
Maybe expletives were deleted 😀
Best comment hahah!
Couldn't agree more with your review. My wife and I are on our 3rd i3, but the real deal on these cars is picking them up second hand. The depreciation is incredible so lightly used pre-owned are available for a song!
@Dynamite Kid I prefer the BEV over the REX due to lower maintenance and risk of mechanical issues. Of course, if you need the range you might not have a choice. The only issues that we had were 12V battery replacement and tires both of which are pretty well documented.
Really great and balanced review - one of the best that I have watched and one that really imbues the uniqueness of the i3. I have owned two and now have a 94ah i3s which is an absolutely fabulous car. I’ve been a “petrolhead” all my life and owned many cars - although predominately BMW 3 Series and VW Golfs run as company cars. Downsized to MINI Cooper S’s when moves to rural location and no longer needed as much space (and felt the 3 Series had just become too big for a car with sporty pretensions). Only drove an i3 out of curiosity when MINI in for quick service and was immediately bowled over. Traded up to i3s earlier than I would normally have changed my car but have been surprised at just how much better it drives - it’s handling not quite Go Kart MINI but not far off and much tidier than standard car. Second i3 seems generally better built - really superb build quality and finish - albeit the ride is harder. Sold my Porsche as was not using very much because even on a longer run I preferred the fun and refinement of the i3. Yes, it is expensive and will not suit everyone but for sone of us it is quite unique and well worth the money.
& after 7 years, used CPO inventory available cheaply.
I owned one for a year until I had to trade to a 328ix drive sedan because I moved to a place where an electric short range car was no longer viable. I loved the i3 and really hope I can own one again. I read that Lion Batteries put a 100kw battery in it and gets 435 miles out of it. -> www.autoblog.com/2018/09/06/bmw-i3-100kwh-lion-smart-battery/ But I think the key to this car being more successful is essentially making it more hybridesque, the REX version should have a much bigger tank and charge the car to the point where you can always put in gas and never HAVE to charge. I know, I know they make it an "electric" car by making the electric range higher than the gas range to satisfy electric definitions in states like California. But who you really need to satisfy is the consumer, who wants a car they don't have to worry about being their only car and range anxiety due to the low availability of electric chargers, and waiting in line to charge (which I did). All you have to do is release a post market upgrade that will make the generator in the back effective enough to power the electric engine as much as it needs. And a gas tank upgrade.
Nick's DIY Nick's DIY Count yourself lucky that the REx is still an option in the US - it was discontinued in Europe when the 120ah battery was introduced. I grabbed the very last 94ah REx built for the UK which gives me a range (with full tank) of 200 miles v 160 miles for 120ah Bev. Unfortunately REx now taxes as hybrid rather than EV so my later car is no longer exempt form annual VED (Road Tax) and now have to pay tolls that were being waived for the REx. i3 still suits me better than a Model 3 and IMHO is better built.
Richard Piper agreed, this car is very well engineered and the interior is a pleasure to be in. Yeah that’s why making a car to fit the law isn’t always a great idea because the laws, especially now with climate issues, are changing constantly. I do still see the Rex as an option on the bmw website for the 2020 model in the us at least.
I liked this so much I sold my Porche AND my Vauxhall Astra.
I own a fully jetblack with blue accents i3s for 2 days now.
My former car was a F80 M3.
Didn't even look back at it and felt sad.
The I3s is such such a fun car to drive and still goes like a rocket.
Driving it in comfort with sometimes giving it some beans and still manage to get 270km or 167 miles on a full charge is really awesome considering i do a weekly work/home commute of 124 miles.
So for me charging it with the home charger once a week is enough.
Driving it in eco or eco plus +300 km or 186 miles with ease.
Interesting hearing your comments having come from a car such as an M3. Also, it sounds like you have your charging regime down to a perfect situation. Bryan is running an MG ZS as a long term test car, and he is charging about once a week too with just his local running around.
AutoEV if you get your head to it it is simple really.
Driven enough of high powered cars, time to slow down a bit 😉
Interesting point. Bryan was a car salesman for 27 years, 20 of which he spent with Aston Martin, so can relate to what you say!
God rewue...thanks. There is a trunk under the bonet for gables. i3 It still look fresh modern...love it
A bit late to the party here but one thing often overlooked on the i3 charging at "only" 50kw compared to newer EV's - it will stay at 50kw until 100% whereas nearly all other EV's slow their charging at 70-80% and can often take a lot longer to get to 100%. Worth bearing in mind.
A good point well made James. Thank you for taking the time to watch it and comment.
This is hands down the best review of the BMW i3. You are one of the few people with a clear, concise, and articulate grasp of what this car truly is - it is the best BMW; and as Sandy Munro put it "a watershed moment for the automotive industry." Not only did BMW create a process to put together the worlds only mass produced carbon fiber car, they built it in the most sustainable and recyclable way possible. What takes other manufactures hours and days to do (CF part manufacturing) , BMW got down to mere minutes. This car has no comparison. It is unlike everything on so many levels. You couldn't have been more right when you said the people who buy this car will be doing it because they WANT to. I drove every EV on the market with a few exceptions. I wanted this car - I drove 15 until I found the spec I wanted, and It replaced my Audi R8 V10. My spouse went with the Tesla 3 - its a great car in its own regard, but for completely different reasons - however it is not the one I choose to drive given the option.
We love the i3, and as we (and you) said, not just because of the way it drives, but for the technology it uses in both the car and the construction of it. Interestingly, the factory where it is produced is also self-sufficient and uses renewable energy.
@@AutoEV Yes that is correct, and the Carbon Fibre is made in WA state, using clean hydro electricity
Completely agree - what’s mind boggling is the fact that bmw will ditch the i3, is no longer the company on the cutting edge of innovation.
mysticriv we hear on the grapevine that the i3 will be now be replaced with another innovative i model of similar ilk. We certainly hope this is the case!
AutoEV last I heard they are extending production to 2024 and will do another battery size increase. Sales have only been increasing each year for the i3 and BMW has written off all the production costs so it’s all profit now. Too bad it’s not likely they will do another CF car again
Great car !!! Just something to add : the bmw i3 is the quickest (bmw ) from 0 to 30 ml/h, just flight from Stan still because is so light. Wonderful piece of engineering . Thanks for the video
Excellent review and you really covered the main points. Your conclusion was the key for me, as you spoke what I was thinking. I borrowed an i3s for a day before we went practical and bought another car, but I can't get the i3 out of my system. It was so much fun to be in, be with and to drive and, whilst there are very good practical reasons to buy one (I would also add the build quality and longevity over the Tesla 3), it's your heart that will really make you want to buy an i3.
Completely agree, Chris. Its a great time for the EV market, and manufacturers are now moving away from just making EVs to cater for the environment, and making them for drivers too. We can't wait to get our hands on some of the future models being announced, and not just big money EV sportscars like the Porsche Taycan, but cars like the new Peugeot e208 and MINI Cooper SE!
I love the i3s but agree with your summary, it's one of my favourite EV's to drive and I've driven a few as I work in the EV charging industry.
Definitely best car I have ever owned, it's do much fun too drive, had an 94ah i3 with a rex, just upgraded to 2020 i3s and it's brilliant! It's more planted on the road, grip definitely than the original i3 but otherwise feels like a normal i3. Like having extra range too! 100 percent this is a future classic car! Definitely an investment!
Great review. Extra storage is available un boot floor with additional fibre glass os stainless unit available from German supplier .
Think I'm your 500th subscriber. Good video.
I'm 514
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Great video! Thanks for all the info , looking for an electric car for work so this really helped.
That’s our pleasure! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment! If you like EVs, we are also a magazine. You can order via our website, AutoEV.co.uk
i3 is actually a great choice. Recommend looking for upgraded sound system and moon roof as must haves......
Great review. I just got a secondhand i3S (94Ah rex) to replace a mini cooper. It's a fantastic car. Having come from a mini I wanted a smallish fast and fun car and the i3 ticked those boxes with a longer range than the mini SE will offer ( as my only car). Absolutely love the i3S so far, brilliant car.
Hi ... I too came from a Mini One D and also purchased a second hand i3 2017 REX. Its my daily commute and service car( visiting Patients) .. I only have words of appreciation . The bright open interior. Comfort and quality finishes.. best of all Its truly FUN to drive .
Interestingly we are driving the new MINI Cooper SE next week, so it will be an interesting comparison!
Thanks for the review. Very objective
‘Nowhere to store your cables’. Except perhaps the cable storage compartment under the bonnet...
Which isn't recommended as its isn't watertight.
@@AutoEV Your cable may be wet after charging, so it is actually a good idea to not store it in the trunk.
AutoEV They sell an official BMW watertight satchel that fits right in the space for the frunk.
www.amazon.com/BMW-Genuine-Storage-Organizer-Onboard/dp/B015S1Z06O/ref=asc_df_B015S1Z06O/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312158556709&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17559855389876868493&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9010316&hvtargid=pla-567132602613&psc=1
Given the charger comes delivered in the frunk, your comment about nowhere to store is misleading at best. Thumbs down.
Ours didn't. It came in the bag we showed in the boot, but in hindsight, perhaps we should have showed this better. It still wouldn't stop us from recommending the i3 though, as its a great car!
I’m still having trouble finding an i3s, much less that color combo in the U.S. The slight changes they made to the styling make it better looking than the regular i3 to me at least.
Great review.
Thanks great review. I love the i3, but it is very expensive. In South Africa at the moment the i3 is the best choice. We only have the Nissan Leaf (24kwh) and the Jaguar I-pace. Hoping to have the Mini E and ID3 sometime soon in the near future.
The only BMW I would currently buy.
Thoughmuchistaken I would love to buy the i8 🥰 I had a test drive in one and I’d swap my 6 series any day 👍🏻
@@brennenlancashire2465 i8 is great but too expensive :(
Ironic that the electric i3 is RWD but the new 1 and 2 series and maybe even 3 series? is now FWD. To me it's not a proper BMW if its FWD. 50/50 weight and RWD meant the Ultimate driving machine. Electric has the weight down low so it's even better again for balance. The most proper BMW under 50 grand is the electric i3 who would have thought that?
On my second i3..... Best looking EV on market as others are boring!!!! With the REX I have no issues with poor charge networks or machines down. Best commuter on market for sure - and bmw design/quality/ride is off the charts. And you can aftermarket Android for $600 quid with bimmertech.
2020 is the year of the electric vehicle. So many new models to choose from.
The future is electric.
2020 is the year of stay with what you have now if you can, due to corona virus recession. maybe 2021
Global D Yeah I was about to say 2020 is the year of the Coronavirus not EVs!
@@kyliefan7 Sad but true.
in several places in Europe you can upgrade the Bmw i3 battery but in my opinion the best is impexneth from the Netherlands and they have original 120ah Bmw batteries, not foldable and the price is around 6000 eur
Great car great review new ID3 might now give it a hard time, cheaper more roomy and decent boot.
2nd car for small city/town driver. School runs and weekly shopping, for BMW fans.
For 40.000 pounds!
KW charging speed is not so relevant. Charging speed In km/hr is. The I3 charges faster than Jaguar I-pace from 20-90% SoC in km received per hour. I3 has excellent charging curve and drops of at 87% and not 50-60% like most EVs. Also, it will not rust like most cars. Carbon fibre and aluminium is expensive compared to steel. Proper battery management system with liquid cooling prevents rapidgating like many EVs have and will make the battery last for a long time. Excellent town car!
The Samsung SDI battery in the i3 has an excellent track record. 4600 0-100% charge cycles before it reaches end of life (80% of original capacity) That is almost 1.2 million KMs based on the 260km range of the 120AH pack. The i3 is also exceptionally good at balancing between the battery cells
One of the nicest cars I've ever driven.
Didn’t that test range suffered because the comfort mode was being used all the time?
I’ve watched some i3 owners showing that they could in fact go further than announced maximum range (but surely not in comfort mode, ie sport mode).
Just love this car, just buy my second one :) Range is not an issue, but as to fit daily use ;)
5:15 - Actually, if you have 3-phase power at home you can charge the i3 at 11kW AC with a suitable 3-phase wallbox
Paul Martin that’s right. But for 11kw you need at least an 80 amp dedicated circuit
@Samuel Tolentino No, 3-phase means 3 separate circuits into the single EVSE with each being 30 Amps. That’s the whole point of *three phases*...
And it takes about 3 hrs at home. It works perfect with a 3 phase connection.
nice review with an awesome accent!
Thank you!
Great 2nd car if you have an ICE car.
I've owned this car and loved it. I agree it is the coolest and most brilliant car. It does need a less polarizing design. The coach doors need to go, it needs to be way more aero dynamic and have more range, keep the REX and they will have an amazing following. I think the biggest mistake that BMW will make is start putting batteries in their regular models and get rid of the i3 completely in 2025.
As much as I like the doors they not as practical as you might think. Getting my 6 year old son into the back in a busy car park meant opening the driver door, the two of us squeezing into the small trangular space whilst opening the back door which has an odd extension at the bottom that smacked him in the shin before he could get in. Once we got them in the kids loved it but as a whole we decided it didn't work.
Any advice, on what year to buy a used i3.
The newer, the better in our opinion, that way you get the benefit of the larger battery and trim updates. The i3S is a great car to drive, although the standard i3 has a slightly better ride quality with no real disadvantage other than the fact the 'S' looks brilliant. I'd suggest making sure you have the Professional navigation as the bigger screen is much better, and looks less like an afterthought. Differing views on the Rex (Range Extender) so I'd take some advice from some of the i3 owner forums on the internet. However, we've been fans of the i3 since its launch, and it still remains one of the very best EVs on the market, even after all this time. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
Love the i3 but these new models do not look as good on the outside somehow....have they made cha he's because the older ones just look better to me, have they made the front shorter?
There has been a mild restyle, and thats when the i3S was introduced. There are now the black accents on the front bumper, and I think that changes the front end design somewhat. Its not any shorter though.
I am looking to replace a lovely but emission belching Disco Sport. No longer tow a caravan and family have flown the nest . Looked at other EVs but none inspired me , looked at Cooper SE phev but have realised that at the same price or less I can get a mint used i3. The i3 shows where cars can go if we forget about ICE technology. Really want one , just have to persuade my OH that it isn't ugly lol
Good luck Chris. We think the i3 is a great looking car, and it is very different to the MINI Electric in drive, despite using the same motor. The i3 is more innovative, and dare we say, much more "forward-thinking" as an EV, whereas the MINI is a proper little hot hatch with EV powertrain. Bryan has been very much swaying backwards and forth on this debate as he loves both cars, and if he were to be abel to afford either a new MINI Electric, or used i3, he'd be having many sleepless nights! He has always said that the i3 is one of his absolute favourite cars of all time, not just EVs. When you really get under the skin of the i3 its a difficult car to argue against. The looks will grow on your o/h; JUST DO IT! Watch our used car guide beforehand though, and the head over to www.autoev.co.uk to browse our classifieds section for lots of i3s for sale!
I so want to want one of these.
One question I do ask myself is why on earth don’t manufacturers wrap the engineering in a sexier body. Sales would go through the roof, surely.
You call it Warm Hatch performance but is it not the fastest production BMW to 30mph? That’s a stunning pub boast! 😁
But don’t forget the road tax.
If the new cost is over £40k (easy to do), the all electric will cost £320 from year 2-6.
The hybrid version is £455.
It may well offset against the fuel costs if you drive many miles but it’s a hidden cost.
£455 would be a massive shock if you weren’t expecting it.
Good review, well-presented. I love this car, but it's simply too small for my needs. Just a small question... why no mention of the MG ZSEV in the 'other cars are available' overview?
We didn't mention the MG as, like we allude to in the review, there isn't really a lot of genuine rivals for the i3. The MG is much cheaper, bigger, and is a family-orientated crossover. The i3 is smaller, and drives more like a warm hatch.
New i4 should address size issue.
I had the same door setup on our 2004 Honda Element, and did not like them. Those rear doors are a royal PIA because of the problems they create when the car is parked next to another car or anything close by. Plus the design of the doors means the front door must open for a rear passenger to get in or out. The doors (plus the limited range) are the reasons we crossed the i3 off our list to replace our 2017 Lia Soul EV+ when the lease expires later this year.
Interesting how the doors divide opinion. Bryan's wife isn't keen on them for the reason of having to open the fronts first, but Bryan sees it as being a bit more of a 2 door car that has easier access to the rear, just like the Mazda RX-8 as he alludes to.
@@AutoEV In my opinion the rear doors are the most impractical ever. Not that the front door has to be opened first, but in tight carparks the rear doors cannot be opened at all. My another different opinion is the seats, they offer less side support than a 70's Dodge, maybe I'm just too skinny at 90kg. But I love my i3, it's so much fun!
@@AutoEV In my opinion the rear doors are the most impractical ever. There simply is no acces to the rear in tight car parks. Opening front doors first is not a problem. Another divided opinion is the seats, for my 90kg torso they offer less side support than a 70's Dodge. But I love my i3, it's so much fun!
In what circumstances will you start charging from 0%? I'm on my second i3, and have never been below 20%.
Some people do, so we always state those charging times. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
I can't wait for the i4 with over 500hp!!!
Auto Apex & Ugly is included at no extra charge!
@@kyliefan7 well it's a particular taste, I quite like the futurist style although the BMW vision iNext is over the top it's just hideous.😬
I had a i3 for 5yrs in its original iteration. It drives brilliantly but would not buy one outright again esp for i3s for over 40k. I stored the cables in the front for the whole time with no issues. I agree with all your points but it is not a big enough improvement for 2020 with such limited range. Fine for people who don’t travel far regularly. BMW are scared to make the equivalent 3 series electric car for fear of destroying their usual customer base. That’s what I want and will be buying a TESLA model 3 who are streets ahead in charging infrastructure.
Rumour has it that part of the future BMW "i" Range will be a 4 door saloon in the same mould as the 3 series/Model 3.
AutoEV I’ve heard this rumour for a while now but would love some concrete evidence before I order a Tesla model 3
going to test drive a new i3s tomorrow.. is there any other electric vehicle, same sort of performance but more updated i should be looking at?
@JonnyCrash, in which case, you are going to watch our new video coming in Tuesday! It features the i3S with a potential rival!
@@AutoEV can you not tell me now b4 I buy one lol I don't have time to wait for the ionic5 or that new Renault. I need donething now I'm afraid
@@snakes301271 well, we pitch a used i3S against a new Mazda MX-30. The Mazda has a poor range admittedly, and of course is down on power, but if you don't need the miles, you'd be surprised how close these cars are. And the MX-30 range starts at just under £27k. The new video is worth a watch....
@@AutoEV why thank you sir I shall look into this now
No reference to great regen braking of i3.
Agreed Philip, the i3 does have great brake regen. We try to cover as much as we can, but Bryan did get carried away with the actual driving!
It's a pity BMW dropped the ball back in 2013 and didn't go on full steam to develop other mainstream EVs. They had a clear lead here with the i3 that was up there on par with Tesla back in 2013 (in a different class of course). Now all they can do is try and play catch up.
Other EVs seam boring affter driving the i3S heart ❤ over head traded our 2018 i3 for a 2021 BMW i3S love it 😀 could be faster chassis brilliant 👏 😀
Totally agree!
Could I get used to the looks, yeah I think so. It's a ground up electric car and that means it's designed properly. Range is just about good enough that the slow charging is not too much of an issue. Overnight charging is ok. Not often I drive over 100 miles maybe 3 times a year. Then again if car had 200 mile range it would still not cover the trips either. Only a Tesla would.
A decent review, but there's a couple of strange anomalies: no mention of the frunk as the obvious storage option for the charging cable (that's where mine goes, in a dry bag, together with another dry bag full of breakdown/spares goodies), and a strange over-emphasis on the charging rates/times (no real EV driver undertakes daily motorway rapid charging - at a decent, though relatively expensive, 50 kWh - and we all charge at home, off-peak and wake-up every morning to a fully charged car). The average UK commute is ~20 miles and so the ~150-mile range is not an issue for 99% of people, 99% of the time. We are a two-car household and our 2019 i3 is used by the person that has the longest commute (100 miles roundtrip) and the other car - an Audi TT - does the shorter commute (50 miles) and is also our long-range alternative for the once-in-a-blue-moon long-distance motorway hike. That way we are using the least fuel, most efficient option, and can cover every eventuality. Would I love to see a mid-life battery upgrade option to give the i3/i3s another 50+ miles, taking it genuinely over the 200-mile mark (and with 100kWh+ DC charging), absolutely, but until then, we're doing just fine.
Fair comments Robert. Bryan has always said that the i3 is the car he would buy with his own money if we paid him enough to afford one. But as he works for coffee and shortbread, its a little way off for him.
A lot of innovative tech went into this vehicle at the time it was released. Carbon fibre, safety etc. What I have a problem with is what the reviewer alluded to. When the i3 came out it only had a couple of EV competitors - Model S and Nissan LEAF. So Nissan LEAF basically nothing has changed apart from pack size. As a value prosition it’s lagging behind from lack of investment. Still the same basic tech with minor facelifts. BMW i3 - same story. Meanwhile Tesla has improved the Model S almost out of sight. Longer range, improved charging and lots of little but important things mechanically and in the form of software updates. Sure, cosmetically it looks the same, but a vastly different car. And they made the Model 3 which drives just as well as the i3 in a bigger form factor. I really wish BMW had continued to invest in this car. But they’ve gone down a different route. Doesn’t mean it’s not a fun little hatch, just could be a lot better. Another comparison. Similar sized car - the Zoe now has a 50kWh battery, a range of over 200 miles and CCS fast charging. Sure it’s not a BMW but at least they’re making it a better value proposition.
Interesting viewpoint, and on the face of it, you are correct that BMW have never invested heavily on continuously improving the car. In fact, the real fear was that they would switch over to the same generic SUV style that Mercedes and Audi have and stop being innovative. However, from what we hear, the next "i" cars will be a small compact saloon like the Tesla Model 3, a small SUV, and (fingers crossed!) they will be replacing the i3 with a similar style of car soon. We hope that BMW are playing the long game and just waiting to unleash a raft of new EVs with the same individuality as the i3 and i8 had when they were first launched.
AutoEV BMW are losing so many customers because of this wait to bring out a electric saloon car.iX3 seems to be their next big hope.
As good as the car was with the Rex mk2 was the decision to go just bev with a worsting range plus little changes in its 7 year life bar bumper and light changes can’t detract from the fact that its polarising e.g. daft rear doors, aging design, price and other models stealing its thunder that something needs to be done with the i4 around the corner a true mk2 with traditional technology frame and proper doors on all corners are needed just please please please don’t make it an suv
No-one buys an i3 at anywhere near RRP. Brand new discounts of £6-7k can be had from BMW dealers on i3s and you can get 1 year old i3s with 2k on the clock for £28k. BMW have to discount this car because at full RRP it's the same price as a Tesla M3 which is in a different league.
I paid full price for one. With the 9% negotiating room from BMW It ended up $1k more dollars than our model 3. Cars are totally different but complete each other well, But guess which one was the nightmare purchase experience and big headache when dealing with repairs (yes one has been in multiple times already)
Hopefully picking my one up tommorow. List price £37500, I'm paying £30500 for a new (ex showroom) i3 loaded with extras.
Price isn't tricky issue. I got mine less than 1 year old, 6000miles on clock for £21K from BMW direct approved used. Bargain !
nice! im sure it was not the S model but still a great car for a good price.
You should try the outgoing e-golf. Some fantastic deals can be had on it atm due to the arrival of the newer id3.
We had our name down for an e-208. But for a laugh we test drove the golf while waiting. We cancelled our order for the 208 and purchased a fully loaded e-golf ex-demo with 1800 miles on it for 24k.. The golf has more than enough range for most people including myself.
Good idea! We are already doing Used Car Buying Guides, so we do plan to feature the e-Golf as a used car, but maybe a new review is also a plan.
Yes 👍 ones of the most useful bits on the Brilliant i3 front storage 👏 Till Tesla modil 3, i3 was the most fun we have had our i3 3 years do high milage a plucky little car 🚗 😀 Just wish BMW developed it 3 "motors"😉 wow that would be fun😆 next car i3 or Tesla 3 the i3 is so good I have to think which one that's how good it is. Shame BMW has not developed it but understabily make there tin old ice look crap😃🤣#buzzofftoxic #ClimateChange #BMW
Hate the taxi looking bonnet also the doors aren’t practical try getting them open in a supermarket carpark, I also hate the cheap nasty recycled dash board and door trims. But above those it really is annoying that they don’t include a fast charge cable and you have to buy that as an extra. Having said that if they sorted those issues out I would buy one.
So, have you seen the i4 Concept? BMW have played it a little bit more "safe" with that one and it will be more like a regular 3/4 Series style car.
I keep all my cables in the frunk. A 10m three phase 32A type 2, a granny charger and my 10m 3pin extension cable for emergencies. Plus the tyre repair pump so you are giving false information here
As we have said, we know there is a storage space in there, but its not absolutely watertight, so we can't recommend keeping the charging cables in there. However, perhaps we should have mentioned it in the video so that people were aware. Fair point.
AutoEV the cables get wet when charging the car in the rain, and this is not a problem. It’s even less of an issue for the odd drip of water that might get into the ‘froot’.
The ID.3 will be the nail in the coffin for the i3
2015 i3rEX range unlimited..........
Looking at one in the middle of a BMW showroom surrounded by conventional BM’s it looks like Citroen have sneaked one of their cars into a BMW showroom, if BMW were to put an M3 v8 engine into the i8 they would of at least quadrupled their sales. Just saying
Great accent
Bryan says its all natural!
The front wheels are narrow to stop this tall narrow car turning over if you swerve as with the smart car for two....BMW don't advertise this ..... oh put the cables in the front boot...
Thin tires deal breaker on i3
Bolt on some fat ones then
The i3S tires are more performance style and are almost twice as wide and have staggered sizing for the front + rear. They make a lot of difference. Add 15mm spacers and its even better.
I love this car except it's a bit funny looking.
Even the steering wheel is on the wrong side...
Not from where we are sitting.....which is in the driving seat.
Just a shame that they plan to put this car to pasture soon.
But we do hear on the grapevine that they are considering a direct replacement, so fingers crossed Martin!
@@AutoEV 2020 being the year when ev ownership is about to explode, they would be wise to just hang on a couple of years, because I think volume wise this could be it's best year sales wise.
Nope... With the upsurge of interest in EV''s, BMW have had a change of heart and have now sensibly decided to continue the i3 for the foreseeable future
@@David-bl1bt Makes perfect sense.
What language is he speaking?
The Queen's English.
Scottish
@@AutoEV and nicely done...I'm sure her majesty would approve
Complains about range but doesn’t use eco pro +
We didn’t use Eco Pro+ because, as you know, it is really just to maximise range, and does so by shutting down a lot of the car’s systems and limiting its speed. Which is fine if you are trying to eke out that last mile to get you home, but not something that we feel should be necessary in normal driving. Also, it doesn’t increase the range by much, so our findings stand, the range should be better on the car in normal driving. All of that being said, we still feel the BMW i3 is one of the very best EVs out there to drive, and its certainly the driver’s choice.....so far!
AutoEV thanks for the reply. But you miss the point. Full range or close to advertised range, would be achieved only in eco plus pro. But you said that you didn’t bother to use it. So it can’t say that it wouldn’t make much difference if you never used it.
@@campbellreither550 Got it the 1st time...
You have a point in that manufacturers always quote the very best miles per gallon/range in absolute perfect conditions, so that will involve using Eco Pro Plus mode in the i3. The point we were trying to make, perhaps not very well, is that in this mode, the car shuts down various things such as audio/infotainment/HVAC and so we wouldn't use it unless in extreme situations where we had to eke out the last mile. Bryan reviewed the standard i3 in issue 2 of the magazine, and used it coming back from that photoshoot late one night after failing to find a usable charger, so we have experienced it. But we take your point on board.
I thought the same as well. Range should be tested in all modes before bashing manufacturer's numbers.
The i3 is way lighter than most competitors. It's also carbonfirbre, so it will last a long time. It was a easy choice for me. I would only want more power, 210hp would be perfect.
We have to say that the power of the i3S was plenty enough for us, but let's see if BMW give more power to a replacement!
@@AutoEV it's the same motor as in the i8, so it's got plenty more to give.
Torque is more important
@@LemonySnicket-EUC well power and torque is directly related, so I don't get where you are going?
@@sjoroverpirat you almost get it.
I love it but it's already 2 years behind. For that reason im out.
Like we reference, it is a fast-paced world, the EV market. Are we seeing the automotive landscape becoming more akin to mobile technology? Interesting point.
It will never be behind. It will always be one of a kind. Probably not likely to see another CF mass produced car again.
Great car but it should get a new generation not just a restyling after 7 years...Interiors looks a bit dated compared to new EV's and those screens are tiny and ugly as hell...Battery should also get bigger and a new more likeable design aswell...
That's not what this car is about.
interior is nicer than all the other electric cars. Only the cyber trucks interior is cooler or maybe the Honda E
Sorry un is under boot floor
Too expensive new and EV cars are not something I would buy used. Automotive makers will have to bring out something better.
Interesting. What would put you off a pre-owned EV?
@@AutoEV Mostly, battery status. I know how to diagnose an ICE but if batteries are not charging/discharging properly there's literally no car. I see them quite more finite than regular engines.
@ all of that technology is available for batteries.
the batteries are made to last...
I really like this car, however they depreciate far worse than all the other EV’s.
I have an identical model and it is very good, however very very ugly and very very expensive. BMW has lost the plot with BEV their cars are too expensive and therefore irrelevant….
… i regret my brand loyalty, I won’t make the same mistake again…
Oh, interesting perspective Lee. Agreed, it is an expensive car, but I do love the looks (which isn't something I say very often about modern BMWs!!). We are waiting to drive the new iX3, i4 and iX, so it will be interesting to hear your thoughts after that as a BMW owner. Keep in touch, and thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.
Great product wrong price.
But what a great used buy! Have a look at our Used Car Buyers Guide to the i3, and then head over to our website, autoev.co.uk and look at what is available on our used car locator.
AutoEV but when I asked BMW for the larger battery they did not help me upgrade.
What about a range extender?
AutoEV never a ICE again. We have two Tesla Model S cars that are just great 5 and 6 years old now 200.000 - 250.000 km on each.
We have ordered a e UP should arrive soon and a Cybertruck that will take awhile.
The BMW i4 will outdo the i3 with an even uglier EV!!! Oink oink!!!
There is no reason to buy this over the model 3, it also looks hideous
Build quality?
Chris Hyde I’ll take minor issues over driving that ugly thing
I disliked it when it first show roomed and I still dislike it as its not worth the cost BMW are charging, so would I drive one even if it was given to me - Not a Chance in Hell - Not when there are better, more productive ranges out there and coming in '22. Like the ORA Cat for instance.
Franky Boyle has really mellowed.