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...
Verdict:
According to my experience with i3s, you should only choose models that have at least a few months of the basic warranty left. I was considering a 2015 REx with 45,000 miles for $12,000 earlier this year. The passenger restraint on this i3 had a problem, and because the standard warranty had run out, it would have cost over $1,000 to have it fixed by BMW.
Older models frequently experience problems like this, therefore I would unquestionably suggest 2016 or newer as it might still be covered by a basic guarantee (if it was a leftover). Add the purchase date to the 4-year/50,000-mile warranty that BMW offers to decide when to exercise caution.
A 2018 Certified Pre-Owned i3, such as this test vehicle at BMW Charlotte, would be a good choice if you’re searching for something a little more pricey. A vehicle like this will have two years remaining on the factory’s basic warranty before receiving the CPO warranty, a one-year, unlimited-mileage bumper-to-bumper guarantee. The four years/50,000 mile powertrain warranty and the eight years/100,000 mile battery warranty are still in effect.
You will have time to find any flaws and piece of mind with almost three years left on a basic warranty. The BMW i3 is a remarkable underappreciated vehicle, and after depreciation, it is a fantastic secondhand deal!
Verdict
The BMW i3 is still stylish and futuristic after several years on the market, and as it was one of the first electric vehicles, it may someday be considered a classic. However, because of their extremely limited range, the very first versions are only somewhat functional (which will have further decreased with age).
Because of this, we suggest the updated model with the 33kWh battery as a daily driver. There are many used i3 computers available, and reliability appears to be solid because the model did well in the UK. Although it isn’t the most affordable choice, it is one of the more intriguing and appealing ways to purchase a used electric vehicle.
Which Car? a purchasing service
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.
Review: A used BMW i3 is the best EV available thanks to steep depreciation.
Given how inexpensive used and CPO vehicles are, the BMW i3 might be the most economical EV on the market right now.
In West Los Angeles, electric vehicles have taken the place of hybrids as the preferred eco-conscious status symbol. A Toyota Prius used to be waiting around every corner; today, a Tesla Model S, 3, X, or Y passes by every few seconds while sluggishly moving through traffic. Fortunately, I don’t have to commute to work, and when I’m not evaluating automobiles, I mostly drive for fun or to run errands—that is, when I’m not on road trips to the desert or to the mountains for ski season.
Although the dual-motor torque and all-wheel-drive combination seem too wonderful to pass up, both the Model 3 and Model Y may get quite pricey pretty soon, which just serves to reinforce my notion that I’ll never own an electric car. But I’ve been interested in the BMW i3 as a city car alternative for a while, so I was thrilled when I recently got to drive one around town on the streets of Los Angeles.
What you may expect to save when purchasing a used 2015 BMW i3
Although the 2015 BMW i3 lacks many of the features included in the 2020 model, it still offers the majority of the features found in the 2019 model, making it a must-see used vehicle. Choosing a used 2015 model won’t be too stressful because the pricing is great and about 60% less than the original price. But without all of the cutting-edge technology, you’re essentially purchasing a BMW electric car without the wow.
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.
Is the BMW i3 trustworthy?
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.
With what does BMW plan to replace the i3?
As a sort of successor to the i3, BMW teases the new electric BMW iX1, which will make its appearance later this year alongside a new ICE X1.
The innovative, if somewhat dated, BMW i3 will likely continue to be sold until 2024, according to BMW. However, they later had a change of heart and announced last year that i3 manufacture would stop in July. But what will take the i3’s place?
Therefore, we need to look at the BMW X1 as the foundation for an i3 replacement. It will be updated this year and will be available not only in ICE versions but also as the BMW iX1 with an EV drivetrain. As BMW’s EVs start to really roll out, any i3 will now be a saloon take on the i4.
BMW has created a teaser sketch (above) to give us a preview of that arrival later this year. Although we already know what it will look like without the need for a BMW insider.
The new IX3 isn’t that dissimilar from the current model, which has a large kidney grille that has been squared off, blue highlights around the grille, and air vents that are likely to be closed off.
Although there are currently no data on the power or battery capacity, BMW claims that the iX1 will have a range of 250–270 miles and share its platform with the ICE X1 vehicles.
In the weeks and months ahead of the iX1’s release, which will happen shortly after the new ICE X1 comes, expect additional information about the device.
The BMW i3 is produced where?
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 (although in the front-wheel-drive configuration). 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.