If I’m being really honest, buying a used BMW i3 isn’t a good choice for most individuals. Yes, it is inexpensive and you can purchase an all-electric, carbon-tipped BMW for a very little cost. But besides having a tiny cabin and a very limited range, it will also see some very severe depreciation. One group of individuals, nevertheless, would profit from having an i3.
I’ll admit it; I’m one of them. Everything I need is within five or ten miles of where I reside. Sometimes, a maximum of 25 miles. I also hardly ever drive if I’m not testing a press car. I can leave my car unlocked for a full week. In addition, my driveway is large enough to house a Level 2 charging station. Therefore, I could always have the i3 charged and only seldom use it, saving a ton of money on petrol. My wife has a small crossover (the Volkswagen Tiguan), which makes things even simpler by providing us with a family vehicle when necessary.
A BMW i3 would undoubtedly come in handy for someone like me who lives in a city or a small town, has convenient access to charging stations, and only travels short distances. A secondhand i3 is unexpectedly an excellent choice for someone like me who wants an affordable second vehicle. For everyone else, however, there would be numerous issues that would need to be resolved, and numerous concessions would need to be made. Which probably makes it a bad idea.
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The standard equipment for the primary trim level includes a sat-nav, heated front seats, rear parking sensors, climate control, a digital radio, a USB port, Bluetooth, automatic headlights, and wipers. However, the Loft interior, which has lighter cabin materials with blue highlights to assist lighten the inside, and the improved Professional sat-nav system with its larger screen are also recommended.
All of the i3’s basic equipment is included in the i3s model, along with 20-inch sports wheels, a second Sport driving mode, an A-pillar and roof painted in high-gloss black, a more aggressive front bumper, a black kidney grille, and—most importantly—sports suspension.
Driving can be enjoyable, though. The later 2019-on i3 offers a respectable 168 horsepower, which can propel you from zero to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds and make it easy for you to keep up with moving traffic. The i3s feels incredibly nimble and is even faster thanks to an additional 13 horsepower, reaching 62 mph from a stop in just 6.9 seconds.
It’s incredibly addictive to accelerate quickly from a stop, and the handling is fairly secure—although, to be honest, it can’t be compared to BMW’s more conventional, sportier products—in that regard. Most of its more contemporary competitors ride better than it does, especially on 20-inch wheels where its ride is a bit firm. If you can, search for an i3 from the 2018 model year because these vehicles underwent suspension upgrades that significantly boosted ride comfort.
Inside, it’s quite modern with an open layout, great visibility, and a razor-sharp screen display in front of the driver instead of traditional dials. Even the coach doors have a futuristic appearance, but because the front door must be unlocked before the rear ones can be opened and because of the high floor, access to the back seats can be a little difficult.
What is the conclusion?
“The best tiny, high-end EV available is the BMW i3. Or until production is permanently stopped.”
The i3 is still the top small premium EV available. Nothing has emerged to unseat it after eight years, which speaks something about both the strength of the original idea and the generally lackluster competitors. Being in and around the i3 is an amazing experience. Although the ride is knobbly, it’s an eager, responsive car to drive since the design still looks new and fascinating, the cabin is light and airy, and nicely constructed from tactile materials, and the driver controls are sensible (VW stole the gear controller idea for the ID.3 and ID.4).
Additionally, it isn’t a lot of money in the overall scheme of things. With a starting price of PS33,820, the Nissan Leaf is comparable to the Honda e, Peugeot e-208, and Mini Electric while costing a little more than a Fiat 500e or a Mini Electric. Eight years after introduction, the i3 still beats all of them.
EV Performance, Power, and Motor
The i3 has a one-speed direct-drive transmission and pulls strongly, smoothly, and linearly. The ride itself is fairly quick. In our tests, a 2017 i3 took 6.6 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Both the standard model and the more athletic i3s accelerate quickly and provide a snappy sensation when driving around town. The i3’s ride is commensurate with its upscale reputation and peaceful interior. Up until the optional range-extending model starts its gas engine, there is no buzzing, unpleasant vibrations, or sound, so the experience is one of solitude. The i3’s suspension easily navigates through bumps, cracks, and expansion strips in the pavement, but to an extent that it feels too detached from the road. The i3’s small dimensions and relatively low weight make weaving through traffic enjoyable, even though the light and numb steering is less than ideal.
BMW i3
It is a four-seat hatchback with rear-hinged back doors that is rear-wheel-drive.
The available two-cylinder engine serves as a generator to increase the range past the original 72 miles to roughly 150 miles.
Charge periods using the 7.4 kW onboard charger are 4.5 hours on a 240-volt circuit.
It takes some getting used to the noticeable slowdown while rising off the gas pedal. In 2017, a larger battery (up from 60 amp-hour to 94 amp-hour) and a slightly larger fuel tank (up to 2.4 gallons) were added to versions with range extender engines.
Both the battery and the range increased in 2019 and are now up to 153 miles.
Is the BMW i3 a trustworthy vehicle?
Is a pre-owned BMW i3 hatchback trustworthy? The i3 placed fourth out of nine electric vehicles in its class, receiving a score of 94.1% in our most recent dependability study. A solid achievement for BMW as a brand, placing 13th out of 30 manufacturers.
The BMW i3 is useful, right?
Don’t be deceived by the BMW i3’s small size; with creative packaging, the inside space is actually rather generous for its size. There’s no escaping the reality that the BMW i3 is a little car because the company chose to construct it from the ground up as an electric vehicle rather than simply adapting an existing model.
Are BMW i3 repairs expensive?
The BMW i3 is a fantastic choice for individuals seeking a more environmentally friendly vehicle because it is an all-electric vehicle. However, compared to more conventional BMWs, the i3 will need slightly different upkeep, which will cost owners an average of $1,173 a year.
The most common fault with the 2017 BMW i3 is that the adaptive cruise control does not function well, despite the requirement for more specialized maintenance. Despite this, the i3 remains one of BMW’s most dependable cars. Electrical issues are also reportedly occurring. There haven’t been enough reported problems, yet, to calculate an average repair cost. The i3 has also been subject to recalls, the most recent of which was for the 2019 model year due to a potential crash-causing unexpected power shutdown.
What vehicle will succeed the BMW i3?
After nine years of production, BMW has declared that the i3 is no longer being made, putting an end to the inventive and long-lasting little electric car.
Just a few weeks after the model reached a production run of more than a quarter of a million, the final i3 came off the production line in Leipzig, Germany. Ten units of the i3 HomeRun Edition, an ultra-exclusive special edition model with the company’s “Frozen paint finish,” have been ordered to commemorate the event.
The i3 was originally seen by the public in concept form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011, and when the production vehicle was introduced in 2013, it substantially resembled the show-car design.
The upright proportions, glass tailgate, two-tone paint job, and dipping shoulder line all deviated from the typical BMW design cues that customers had grown accustomed to. It launched BMW’s new “i” sub-brand, which was one of the factors contributing to the bizarre appearance.
Rear-hinged doors are always interesting, and they undoubtedly contributed to the i3’s personality, along with the interior. The technology was updated over the course of its existence to keep it feeling modern. The interior itself featured a low dash and window line for a light and airy atmosphere.
A custom platform made of a combination of aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber is positioned below the i3 to keep weight at just over a tonne. Due to the lack of weight, the vehicle’s ultimate fully-electric design had a maximum range of 190 miles.
The UK’s police, fire, and ambulance services all adopted the i3 due to its popularity with emergency services.
There won’t be a direct replacement for the i3, and a completely electric version of the 3 Series saloon is anticipated to receive the i3 badge. The iX1, an electric variant of the new X1 SUV, will be the company’s entry-level EV model.
What is the lifespan of a BMW i3?
The typical battery lifespan of a 2021 BMW i3 is 3 to 5 years, but this might vary significantly based on the battery’s type, size, weather, and driving habits.
Why is BMW ending production of the i3?
It is extremely heartbreaking to see BMW discontinue its little electric hatchback after nine years on the market given how great it was.
In 2011, as interest in electric vehicles increased, the BMW i3 was first unveiled as a concept car. The design was later evolved into a working model that was released for purchase in 2013 as a 2014 model. The BMW i3 has enjoyed considerable success since that time. The compact electric hatchback from BMW has sold over 250,000 units and was named the World Car Design and World Green Car of the Year winners at the 2014 World Car Awards.
Unfortunately, all wonderful things must eventually come to an end. BMW terminated the i3 in all markets in July 2022 after ceasing manufacturing for the US market in July 2021. The company cited consumer demand for larger-than-the-i3 electric automobiles as justification for the withdrawal. Another reason is that the manufacturer wants to move away from the i3’s distinctive appearance and produce electric vehicles with more traditional styling. The BMW i4 and BMW iX models are taking the place of the i3 as a result. We are sad to see the i3 depart, but there are other reasons as well.
Where is BMW i3 produced?
After eight and a half years and 250,000 units produced, the production of the BMW i3/i3s has ended.
The BMW i3 was created in the BMW Group facility in Leipzig, Germany, and distributed to more than 74 nations.
It was a ground-breaking vehicle for the business as it was one of the first standalone all-electric models to hit the market and the first series battery-electric model from BMW.
A passenger cell built of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) and an aluminum chassis made the BMW i3 a distinctive vehicle.
The business also marketed a REx (range-extender version) of the i3/i3s, which has a small gasoline engine for emergency use, in addition to the 100% electric i3/i3s (sporty version). The car’s battery capacity increased over time, from 21.6 kWh in the first iteration to 33.2 kWh (27.2 kWh useable) and 42.2 kWh for up to 307 km (191 miles) of WLTP range.
According to BMW, it is also the most popular electric vehicle in the world in the premium compact sector with 250,000 units sold worldwide.
BMW i3 production ceased at the end of June 2022. The last 10 are unique BMW i3s HomeRun Edition models. The completion of the automobiles in the assembly hall was open to customers.
HomeRun Edition trim for the BMW i3:
- Frozen Dark Grey or Frozen Dark Red II are two new BMW Individual paint colors.
- Double-spoke light alloy wheels measuring 20 inches in diameter
- a glass roof that is electrically powered
- solar-controlling glass
- LED headlights that can adjust
- Vernasca Dark Truffle leather upholstery, a leather instrument panel, a leather steering wheel with galvanized detailing, a Carum Grey roof lining, ambient lighting, and the welcome light are all examples of the high-quality interior design of the suite.
- The Comfort package, Driving Assistant Plus, Professional navigation, wireless charging for phones, a Harman Kardon hi-fi sound system, and online entertainment with music flat rate are all included.
Some BMW i3/i3s electric vehicle components, such as battery modules or drive units, were also utilised in other EVs. The MINI Cooper SE specifically uses e-drive components. Additionally, battery modules can be found in Torqeedo electric motorboats, Turkish Karsan electric buses, and Streetscooter vehicles used by the German postal service.
Due to the planned release of the next-generation fully electric MINI Countryman, the BMW Group Plant Leipzig will become the first BMW Group facility to produce both BMW and MINI vehicles.