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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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.
Are BMW i3 repairs expensive?
A BMW i3’s annual maintenance costs $1,173. Costs for repairs and upkeep vary according on age, mileage, location, and shop. There are no known issues with the BMW i3.
Will there be a BMW i3 in 2022?
- The i3 eDrive35L, a new electric 3-series from BMW, is being made specifically for the Chinese market.
- The i3 boasts a 66.1 kWh battery that offers 327 miles of range on China’s test cycle, along with 282 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.
- The i3 eDrive35L will go on sale in China in May 2022 and features a wheelbase that is 4.3 inches longer than the conventional 3-series.
The BMW i3, however, is not what we previously thought it to be. The new BMW i3 is an electric version of the venerable 3-series sedan, not a tiny hatchback with concept-car appearance and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic body. BMW’s most recent EV, the i3 eDrive35L, is only being produced for the Chinese market, therefore it won’t be sold in the United States.
The i3 shares a powertrain with BMW’s most recent electric models, including the i4, iX, and the iX3 (which is also unavailable in the US). BMW did not release information regarding the i3’s electric propulsion system, but given that the i4 eDrive40 is rear-wheel drive and BMW promises “sporty driving dynamics,” we would anticipate the i3 to have a single motor on the rear axle, which the provided cutaway image appears to support. According to BMW, the i3 has 295 pound-feet of torque and 282 horsepower. The i3 can reportedly accelerate to 62 mph in 6.2 seconds thanks to this. According to BMW, the i3 can go 327 miles on a 66.1-kWh battery and can be fully charged from 0 to 80 percent in 35 minutes.
You may have noticed the L added to the end of the name; this indicates a wheelbase that is longer, with 4.3 inches more space between the i3’s wheels than a typical 3-series sedan. Luxury sedans with long wheelbases are popular in China, where using a chauffeur is more frequent than it is in the United States. The i3 will go on sale in China in May of this year, and BMW Brilliance, a joint venture with Chinese automaker Brilliance Auto, will construct it in Shenyang. BMW may ultimately introduce an electric 3-series to the United States, but for the time being, the i4 is the only electric sedan available.
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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.
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.
How far can a BMW i3 travel?
The EPA estimates that the BMW i3 has a range of 153 miles. The electric-only range is reduced to 126 miles when the two-cylinder gas engine range extender is added, but the overall range is increased to 200 miles. The Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt are still ahead in terms of battery-electric automobiles.
A BMW i3 will it rust?
Your bolts, nuts, rotors, calipers, springs, and every other metal component on your BMW i3 will ultimately rust out. You shouldn’t be concerned about the automobile as long as there is no surface rust on the plastic, carbon fiber, and glass components.
Can the BMW i3 just operate on gas?
Why might that therefore be better? Well, keep in mind two points we have discussed:
- The i3 REx relies on the battery charge and never uses gasoline.
- In some circumstances, your car will use more electricity than its range extender can compensate for.
Consider returning home over a difficult uphill climb and a stretch on the highway. Perhaps you are aware that will drain 10% of your battery’s power.
Before the range extender kicks in to get you home in the US, your battery can deplete to 3%. What if, though, your i3’s electric motor requires twice as much power over that last leg? You’re in trouble, to put it nicely.
You’ll probably exhaust your remaining 3% battery charge in addition to the range extender’s offset of the same amount. However, that only amounts to 6% of a battery’s capacity, which is far less than the 10% you required. So eventually your i3 will either stop entirely or trudge along at an uncomfortable rate to cling on to its last reserves.
Imagine being able to hold the battery charge as soon as it drops below 30% by foreseeing the future. That slope back to town suddenly doesn’t seem as terrifying;)
How long will a battery for a BMW i3 last?
Battery life for 2021 BMW i3s ranges from three to five years, although it might vary depending on factors including driving style, weather, battery type, and more. Keep your car indoors, away from sharp changes in temperature or climate, to extend the life of your i3 battery.