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.
In This Article...
Should you choose the REx or the ordinary i3? What year model?
A 2018 BMW i3 that has been certified as pre-owned is a great deal at half the price and offers great handling, rapid acceleration, and, most importantly, a three-year bumper-to-bumper guarantee.
The starting price of the BMW i3 REx after its makeover in 2018 was $49,300, but used car prices today are much, much lower. This evaluation vehicle, a 2018 i3 REx with the “Giga World” interior and the add-on sunroof, was given by Hendrick BMW Charlotte. Expect to pay a little bit extra because it is the range-extender model, specifically around the low to mid $20s. Prices can drop as low as $20,000 without the range-extender. It is crucial to comprehend the distinctions because the price difference is around several thousand dollars.
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.
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.
Is the BMW i3’s maintenance pricey?
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 distinguishes a BMW i3 from an i3s?
Since the BMW i3 has been available for five years, we have encountered both admirers and detractors of its appearance. There is no denying that the BMW i3 has distinctive styling. This holds true for both the inside and exterior, which both contain fascinating materials and contemporary designs, many of which look natural or repurposed. Additionally, the dashboard successfully combines form and function.
The i3 is slightly shorter than a Fiesta and has a relatively tiny overall footprint (4 meters), but it boasts a very roomy inside with cutting-edge design that is larger than that of a BMW 3 Series. However, the i3 only has two back seats, and in order to access these seats, passengers in the front seats must first unlock the front door. The result is a huge aperture without a central door pillar, however this is less convenient for the typical family with children than other, more traditional electric vehicles. A small compartment beneath the hood can be used to store the charging connections, but the 260-liter trunk can only be regarded as average in size.
The i3s sports a 40mm wider track, a 10mm lower ride height, and 20mm wider wheels than the original i3 (20 inch). 184 horsepower of power and 270 Nm of torque have been added (the i3 has 170 hp) (i3 is 250Nm). There is also a 40% increase in power and torque at high rpms in addition to the peak power improvement. The single-speed transmission is still used in the i3s.
The i3’s floor has a sizable lithium-ion battery underneath its skin, while the body is primarily made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP). Under the boot floor of the range extender being tested is a 2-cylinder, 0.6-liter petrol engine similar to one found in a BMW motorcycle. Until it can be recharged or until the 9-liter gasoline tank can be filled, the range extender can recharge the battery if it runs out of juice. In contrast to a plug-in hybrid, the i3 is always propelled by its battery and electric motor rather than switching to its gasoline or diesel engine when the battery is low.
Can I still get a brand-new BMW i3?
The rear-wheel-drive i3, the centerpiece of BMW’s electric vehicle program, was initially available with a single electric drivetrain or a range extender (REx) drivetrain, which combines a 647cc two-cylinder petrol motorcycle engine and an electric motor. It generated a maximum power of 168 horsepower in both instances and utilized a 22.2 kWh lithium ion battery.
The battery capacity was then increased in 2017 to 33.3kWh. The i3 S, a performance model with wider tracks and 181 horsepower, was added to the lineup that same year.
In October 2021, BMW said i3 production had topped 200,000 units. Officials anticipate that it will have sold more than 250,000 units by the time production ends in July 2022.
The Mini Electric or the future BMW iX1 will ideally fulfill today’s customers who seek a fully electric city car that is tailored for urban driving or a small but roomy vehicle for an active lifestyle. These vehicles will encourage more people to switch to all-electric driving.
“Therefore, the decision has been made to stop BMW i3 production from summer 2022,” reads the statement. “After a decade of establishing the standard in its class and paving the path for today’s generation of electric automobiles.”
Can the BMW i3 handle snow?
The BMW i3 might appear to be terrible in the snow at first glance. It’s an all-electric BMW with rear-wheel drive, so its rapid torque may easily rip the rear tires off. It weighs about 2,800 lbs., which makes it relatively light and prevents it from pressing through the snow and into the pavement like heavier cars do. So it seems sense that the i3 is a little dicey during the winter. The small i3, though, isn’t all that horrible when the roads turn white, as this video from TFLC demonstrates.
In this video, a brief overview of the BMW i3 REx’s performance in the snow is shown when it is equipped with Bridgestone Blizzak winter tires. Winter tires are essential for all vehicles in the snow, especially rear-wheel drive electric vehicles, thus that last sentence is significant.
The tiny i3 is actually quite good in powder when outfitted with those Blizzaks. Acceleration is acceptable as long as you don’t pin the throttle, as said in the video, and it will really take off from a stop with little to no drama. The BMW i3 actually has good braking in the snow. Regenerative braking, which substantially slows down the wheels without actually engaging the brakes, helps the vehicle’s brakes, it is true.
The BMW i3 maintains a remarkable level of composure—even when trying to perform donuts in a deserted, wintry parking lot. You would assume it would slip all over the place and perform careless donuts. Though it struggles, the traction control of the i3 cannot be completely overpowered. That simply shows that the traction control on the BMW i3 will probably save your snowy electric butt if you do slide the car around in the snow by accident.
Overall, the i3 isn’t as horrible in the snow as most people believe. Even though the BMW i3 is rear-wheel drive, lightweight by today’s standards, and boasts quick electric torque, it is surprisingly capable in winter conditions—as long as you have the proper tires.
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.
The BMW i3 is being retired for what reason?
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.
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 (along with the i8 sports car).
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.