The anticipated depreciation over the following ten years is shown in the figure below. These outcomes apply to cars that travel 12,000 miles annually on average and are in good condition. Additionally, it counts on a new-car selling price of $52,097. Enter the purchase price, anticipated length of ownership, and yearly mileage estimate. We can estimate the BMW i3’s anticipated resale value using our depreciation calculator.
In This Article...
Share
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.
BMW i3s and i8s are incredible bargains thanks to horrendous depreciation.
BMW’s two i-cars are displaying a depreciation that would make a millionaire weep despite having only a few years and little kilometers on them.
Depreciation can be a pain. Additionally, it appears to be striking the two BMW i-cars quite forcefully. For owners of the intriguing i3 and captivating i8, a quick search in the classifieds reveals some terrifying numbers (neither of which BMW is directly replacing, we learned this week).
Before hearing that four-year-old electric i3s with minimal mileage are now being sold for less than half that, anyone who purchased a PS33,000 model new would need to take a seat. What trade-in values are like is easy to imagine.
This one even includes PS4000 worth of options and is for sale in the English North East. Let’s pretend that this is a PS37,000 BMW with only 14,000 miles that is being offered for sale at PS15,490. Wowzers. On its specification sheet, among many other things, are fast-charge readiness, rear parking sensors, automated windshield wipers, and Bluetooth. Additionally, it screams “BARGAIN” from every angle.
It will accelerate to 62 mph in a speedy 7.2 seconds thanks to its 170 horsepower and plenty of available torque, but it feels fast up to 30 to 40 mph. In the actual world, you’d want to get roughly 90 miles per charge. And given that the most recent electric vehicles are approximately PS10,000 or more more expensive than this barely-used i3, we believe it to be a fair bargain.
It appears that i8 values are still crashing. As soon as the PS112,000 sports car’s price fell below PS60,000, we covered it. Three months later, a somewhat leggy (for an i8) model costing PS47,995 has surfaced. Comparable examples have continued to decrease in price by roughly PS 1000 per month since our previous discussion.
Even though it has only been driven for two and a half years, our pick has only traveled 55,000 miles, which is not too many. The majority, according to the seller, is highway mileage. The i8 has received options, just like the i3 above. Evidently, it is equipped with the Pure Impulse Full Equipment Pack. It is all choice combined into a single package.
That includes features like head-up displays, 360-degree cameras, and external design modifications. The BMW warranty is still in effect on the vehicle, which has had two owners. Why wouldn’t you purchase this beautiful i8 for the same cost as a 430d with modest options?
Why the i3 isn’t worth the sticker price, according to Doug DeMuro
Even for hip and unusual vehicles like the i3, the American auto market is competitive. In fact, the small electric car is perhaps the quickest depreciating car sold there because of how tough it is.
We all know that Americans adore their SUVs and pickup trucks, but surely there isn’t room in the world for a cutting-edge electric BMW? That’s incorrect, as seen by the i3’s resale values.
The standard variant of the i3, without the larger batteries or the range extender, has a sticker price of $44,450. For the “s” variant with a range-extender internal combustion engine, the cost rises to $51,500. Of course, the states provide substantial incentives, but they are unable to make up for the i3’s high price given its size.
We shouldn’t compare it to the Tesla Model 3, a car that Doug DeMuro is a great supporter of and which is currently scarcely built in any appreciable quantities as Tesla consistently misses production targets. Comparing it to the new Nissan Leaf, which has a basic price of $29,990 in the US before any government-funded subsidies, is a good idea.
Nissan bragged that the price, after a federal tax credit, could be as low as $22,490. This $22,490 is equivalent to 18,790 euros for our viewers in Europe, which is around the cost of a basic VW Golf. What do you think of those apples?
You could argue that we selected the least expensive vehicle available, similar to what Doug did in his video, which isn’t always the best decision. However, there are at least a dozen instances with pricing that are roughly $15,000 above the asking price. For a four-year-old automobile from a premium brand with minimal miles, that represents a depreciation of 65%, which is significant by any measure.
The i3 is not a bad car as a result; rather, it is just too expensive when compared to its rivals. Simply have a look at the video below and let us know whether you concur with Doug DeMuro.
Calculator for depreciating a BMW i3.
When brand-new, we calculated that BMW i3 cars depreciate by an average of 44% in the first three years. 92 percent of us are confident in our estimate.
Months:
If you want to estimate the value loss for a new or used BMW i3, use our depreciation calculator. We can calculate the car’s future value using our depreciation models by providing some information, such as the purchase price, the age and usage of the vehicle, and the length of your ownership.
Our calculations are based on the predicted depreciation for the first three years. We do market research on the automotive industry to find out how much each car depreciates on average over the first three years after purchase.
We can predict the car’s future value using the first three years’ depreciation curve, and we can make a comprehensive table that details each month of ownership, the subsequent depreciation, and the car’s new value.
This calculator will help you make decisions when you’re thinking about buying a car.
You grant us permission to set and utilize cookies by using this site. Visit our cookie policy for more information on these cookies and instructions on how to remove them.
Before making any decisions, we expect you to get complete professional guidance from a whole of market counsel. We have offered guides, tools, and a selection of deals (lowest rate and/or costs).
Because we are not offering advice and mistakes can happen, use the material supplied at your own risk. Since the calculations on the website are estimates, they may occasionally include assumptions or approximations. We are not liable for any errors and cannot accept responsibility for them.
Holds the BMW i3 in value?
Do BMW i3 EVs depreciate with time? Owners of BMW i3s are unlucky because the EVs have a poor value retention rate. Owners of the BMW i3 can anticipate a depreciation of up to 60.4% in the first 36 months of ownership, according to an iSeeCars analysis.
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.
Why do BMWs lose value so quickly?
Because they are more expensive to begin with and a large portion of this additional cost is attributable to the “intangibles” that come with luxury automobiles, luxury cars degrade faster than regular cars (i.e. the prestige associated with owning a car from a brand like BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz).
The extra amenities and performance of a new luxury car aren’t worth the price premium over a basic car, according to the great majority of car buyers. For instance, a new BMW 5 series is probably not worth twice as much as a Toyota Camry to the majority of automobile buyers (although this may surprise petrolheads). For all practical considerations, the Camry is equally as capable of serving as a daily driver; the additional performance and badge status are largely subjective. In fact, because the Toyota has a solid reputation for dependability, many regular car customers prefer it to the BMW.
The gap between new consumers and those who buy used products is fairly wide, which puts downward pressure on prices even though the new buyer may find real value in the intangibles that come with buying a new luxury.
The adage “the bigger they are, the harder they fall” has probably been heard by you. This holds true for the cost of luxury cars as well, particularly luxury sedans.
What does the BMW i3’s future hold?
The manufacture of the BMW i3, BMW’s first I brand EV, will end later this summer after nine years and more than 250,000 sold units. Even so, the eccentric little compact can depart with pride since the electric future it foresaw has come to pass.
Along with its I stablemate, the BMW i8, the BMW i3 debuted as a concept in 2011 and was boldly futuristic. The recently introduced I brand projected a futuristic image of a world filled with electric vehicles. It was a future that ultimately never materialized because our current reality is superior. Almost all new cars in this future are electric, yes, but they are the standard.
According to the Electrify America ad campaign, EVs are now commonplace. In 2011, a year before the first Tesla Model S vehicle left the factory, they weren’t normal, and the BMW I vehicles didn’t even make an effort to be normal. Even with the i3 equipped with Rex, they were happy to be unusual and even avoided being labeled as hybrids.
There won’t be a direct competitor to the BMW i3 that utilizes the same high-end, expensive, lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber structure. Instead, the iX1, an all-electric version of the BMW X1 crossover that sits just below the iX3, and an electric version of the next-generation MINI Cooper will subtly replace the i3.
BMW executives agree that the brand’s new EVs will benefit the i3’s followers. The Mini Electric or the future BMW iX1 will be ideal for today’s customers who want a fully electric city car that is precisely fitted for urban driving or a small but roomy vehicle for an active lifestyle, a BMW UK spokeswoman told Autocar. The BMW Group will have six BEV cars available on the market by the end of this year, and 13 by 2023.