You did a very good job of explaining why it is good to buy a used one. I just purchased a 2016 i3 without range extender I soooo in luv with this BMW I3 EV . I’ve owned over 20 engine cars wish I had found this sooner. I luv its futuristic look and compactness as for the Tesla to big. I’ve found my happy place owning this car.
I think when discussing the BMW i3 it should be mentioned what the car was built for. It is not a vehicle for long distance driving, although with careful planning it can be done. This is an urban car by design and intent. It has one of the best turning radius of all vehicles, it parks itself, it's running cost is extremely low, and finally the quality is fantastic. The car was designed from the ground up, not an alteration to any existing combustion vehicle and the use of carbon fiber works well for safety and providing light weight. What sold me the most was how fun it is to drive! It has so many features that most sales people don't know about, like holding the lock button down will retract the side mirrors and roll up the windows (all of them). The software is really helpful in saving destinations, giving directions and updating when the next maintenance is needed. (although it would be rare to need any mechanical maintenance) You can download the i3 app and allows you to start the car's heating or air conditioning before you enter. On the con side, the tires wear quickly (about 20K miles) and cost about $700 to replace, and the back passenger doors take some getting use to. Although this car is more of a two person vehicle.
Great overview of the i3. I'm looking to buy one of these used this year as now only me & my partner & our tiny dog. Unlike many I actually love the looks of the i3. My only real concern is servicing costs being a BMW & all (BMW dealer servicing ain't cheap !). But nice review fella 👍
In my research of this car, I've found that the i3 seems to be a bit more reliable than your average BMW. So it does have that going for it. The rex engine, assuming you get that model, is not overly complicated like most of their cars. BMW is known for making much better motorcycle engines. People are putting 100k to 200k miles on these things with nothing more than tire replacements on the BEV, and oil / regular maintenance on the REX. BMW over engineered these vehicles because there where a lot of firsts for them. We'll see how much planned obsolescence BMW bakes into them in the future. But for now, they seem to be holding up very well.
Nice review. Only thing I would add is a reference to the 100% electric version : although it has a shorter range , it’s cheaper to maintain (the generator engine in yours has maintenance of a normal petrol engine), it’s lighter, and it’s quicker. You also didn’t mention another thing: when the range extender kicks in, your power is limited , so if you’re driving let’s say, on a highway, your top speed will be around 60 mph (roughly 100 kph). I’m hoping to buy one of these , because I tried and I loved it, and as of today I’m still divided between the two options : one has longer range , the other is a pure eletric!
John Edwards , in a Portuguese video I saw , the driver fully drained the battery on the highway and he showed clearly that the car wouldn’t go past 100 km/h , so I’m saying what I saw on that video (czcams.com/video/DJ2aJWafcKM/video.html) : around 7:00 he says he’s pressing the pedal to the metal and nothing happened ...
@@joaoreis1079 that's incorrect; it's because he was in eco mode; so it was limiting his power - same happens to any car (regardless if they are electric or not).
I initially thought that was the case, too. After buying my used 2017 REX, I realized there is no reduction (perhaps only if you were attempting max velocity Pikes Peak uphill for 10 minutes non-stop). Rarely ever does any human drive foot-to-the floor constantly (look up Walter Rohrl Rally Portugal video). Even the fastest drivers on earth rarely consume full power, and the i3's REX piles up the charge continuously. I had to see for myself.☺
I have I3s Rex. you can drive as normal with rex going power is not limited. I use rex very rarely, its just a safety net on long journeys.so engine gets hardly any wear and tear so not quite normal petrol engine costs. As more charging options come online need for Rex will disappear. I probably would have bought 120Ah without Rex but 2nd hand it was out of my budget.
cracking video thank you, im seriously thinking of the 90Ah i3 range extender. i have solar panels on my house which will hopefully bring charging the car to next to nothing!!
Hello from Ireland buddy. So cool and detailing review. Well done. Thinking to buy one of this I3 which is exact Rex model with 600CC engine(only 29k miles on it 2013 year with full black leather seats which in fact is pretty rare) .So my question is possible to get this fast charging which I can use from home 3pin socket and which how you mention charge the car from 6 to 8hrs,or i have to go every time to charging stations to achieve this result? And my second question is when the battery is fully drained the small petrol engine is turning on automatic or i have to do in this mode myself manually,and what is max speed which i can reach with only Emode and with working petrol kicking mode??? Thank you for your time. Stay safe 👍👍👍
Heya! Glad you liked the review! So you can't get fast charging via a 3-pin socket, period. However, if you buy a home wallbox charger, you'll achieve faster speeds as you'll have access to say a 7kw charger Vs a 2.3kw via your 3-pin. As for the Rex, it kicks in automatically, you don't have to do anything especially if you're set in the right mode.
Quite interesting. I thought your channel was all about audio equipment and such. Good review on the EV though. Will you be creating a new channel perhaps?
I made that mistake back in 09 to create multiple channels - everything I do in terms of reviews will all go on this one :) Tbh, it's tech, and I've always seen myself as a tech reviewer, but one that has specialised in audio visual products. Thanks bud!
@@TotallydubbedHD 👍🏽 Alright. On a separate note, I had a doubt regarding the 1More Stylish TWS. I have posted it on that video's comment section. Thanks.
I'm almost convinced this is the car for me, but if I go electric, I really want to be 100% electric, and the battery range is just too low. I am wondering if getting one of these and then doing a battery swap might be the way forwards though. £5k gets BMW to do a straight swap with its biggest battery. Tough choice. Mabe go for the REX and then upgrade on the next purchase.
@@Jimages_uk might not look as nice, but you considered something like the Seat Mii Electric? FYI, the newer BMWs with the larger battery should suffice - from memory they have a 160+ mile range. But then, I think they're out of your budget
@@GeordiLaForgery as far as I'm aware, the 2013 model can't fast charge, and certainly doesn't have that super charger capability of the modern day ones that charge that quickly!
Guys... All you have to do is look at the charging port to realize it has to be an older model. DC fast charging came standard 2016 and up. This is an EU vehicle, BMW had different packages for the US market. Not to mention, nerfed many features to qualify for California's tax credit.
2013?? Listen, cmon for the love of...if your gonna do a bloody video be factual!...No moonroof or that interior option available in 2013!!!!!!..its either a 2016 or a 2017. So I will be waiting to hear the real story...
@@johnnyzee383 what is your damn problem? the sun roof/moon roof has be available since 2014. At the LA Auto Show in 2013 there were 10 i3's in the parking lot and all of the cars had the sun roof.
If you're interested in all-electric or hybrid vehicles, check out TotallyEV.
Website: totallyev.net/
CZcams: czcams.com/users/totallyev
You did a very good job of explaining why it is good to buy a used one. I just purchased a 2016 i3 without range extender I soooo in luv with this BMW I3 EV . I’ve owned over 20 engine cars wish I had found this sooner. I luv its futuristic look and compactness as for the Tesla to big. I’ve found my happy place owning this car.
Thanks for sharing, glad you liked it :)
Keep us informed of how your i3 is doing.
I think when discussing the BMW i3 it should be mentioned what the car was built for. It is not a vehicle for long distance driving, although with careful planning it can be done. This is an urban car by design and intent. It has one of the best turning radius of all vehicles, it parks itself, it's running cost is extremely low, and finally the quality is fantastic. The car was designed from the ground up, not an alteration to any existing combustion vehicle and the use of carbon fiber works well for safety and providing light weight. What sold me the most was how fun it is to drive! It has so many features that most sales people don't know about, like holding the lock button down will retract the side mirrors and roll up the windows (all of them). The software is really helpful in saving destinations, giving directions and updating when the next maintenance is needed. (although it would be rare to need any mechanical maintenance) You can download the i3 app and allows you to start the car's heating or air conditioning before you enter. On the con side, the tires wear quickly (about 20K miles) and cost about $700 to replace, and the back passenger doors take some getting use to. Although this car is more of a two person vehicle.
Thanks for sharing.
Great overview of the i3. I'm looking to buy one of these used this year as now only me & my partner & our tiny dog. Unlike many I actually love the looks of the i3. My only real concern is servicing costs being a BMW & all (BMW dealer servicing ain't cheap !). But nice review fella 👍
Cheers! And yes that's true :o
In my research of this car, I've found that the i3 seems to be a bit more reliable than your average BMW. So it does have that going for it.
The rex engine, assuming you get that model, is not overly complicated like most of their cars. BMW is known for making much better motorcycle engines.
People are putting 100k to 200k miles on these things with nothing more than tire replacements on the BEV, and oil / regular maintenance on the REX.
BMW over engineered these vehicles because there where a lot of firsts for them. We'll see how much planned obsolescence BMW bakes into them in the future. But for now, they seem to be holding up very well.
Nice review. Only thing I would add is a reference to the 100% electric version : although it has a shorter range , it’s cheaper to maintain (the generator engine in yours has maintenance of a normal petrol engine), it’s lighter, and it’s quicker. You also didn’t mention another thing: when the range extender kicks in, your power is limited , so if you’re driving let’s say, on a highway, your top speed will be around 60 mph (roughly 100 kph). I’m hoping to buy one of these , because I tried and I loved it, and as of today I’m still divided between the two options : one has longer range , the other is a pure eletric!
John Edwards , in a Portuguese video I saw , the driver fully drained the battery on the highway and he showed clearly that the car wouldn’t go past 100 km/h , so I’m saying what I saw on that video (czcams.com/video/DJ2aJWafcKM/video.html) : around 7:00 he says he’s pressing the pedal to the metal and nothing happened ...
@@joaoreis1079 that's incorrect; it's because he was in eco mode; so it was limiting his power - same happens to any car (regardless if they are electric or not).
I initially thought that was the case, too.
After buying my used 2017 REX, I realized there is no reduction (perhaps only if you were attempting max velocity Pikes Peak uphill for 10 minutes non-stop).
Rarely ever does any human drive foot-to-the floor constantly (look up Walter Rohrl Rally Portugal video). Even the fastest drivers on earth rarely consume full power, and the i3's REX piles up the charge continuously.
I had to see for myself.☺
I have I3s Rex. you can drive as normal with rex going power is not limited. I use rex very rarely, its just a safety net on long journeys.so engine gets hardly any wear and tear so not quite normal petrol engine costs. As more charging options come online need for Rex will disappear. I probably would have bought 120Ah without Rex but 2nd hand it was out of my budget.
@@colintwyning9614 thanks for sharing!
Beauty
cracking video thank you, im seriously thinking of the 90Ah i3 range extender. i have solar panels on my house which will hopefully bring charging the car to next to nothing!!
Glad you liked the video! Sounds like a plan :)
Hello from Ireland buddy. So cool and detailing review. Well done. Thinking to buy one of this I3 which is exact Rex model with 600CC engine(only 29k miles on it 2013 year with full black leather seats which in fact is pretty rare) .So my question is possible to get this fast charging which I can use from home 3pin socket and which how you mention charge the car from 6 to 8hrs,or i have to go every time to charging stations to achieve this result? And my second question is when the battery is fully drained the small petrol engine is turning on automatic or i have to do in this mode myself manually,and what is max speed which i can reach with only Emode and with working petrol kicking mode??? Thank you for your time. Stay safe 👍👍👍
Heya! Glad you liked the review!
So you can't get fast charging via a 3-pin socket, period. However, if you buy a home wallbox charger, you'll achieve faster speeds as you'll have access to say a 7kw charger Vs a 2.3kw via your 3-pin.
As for the Rex, it kicks in automatically, you don't have to do anything especially if you're set in the right mode.
Try before you buy, these are very uncomfortable...Rear passengers or prisoners as they are often referred to, can't even open the windows.
Very nice review.
thanks! :)
Quite interesting. I thought your channel was all about audio equipment and such. Good review on the EV though. Will you be creating a new channel perhaps?
I made that mistake back in 09 to create multiple channels - everything I do in terms of reviews will all go on this one :)
Tbh, it's tech, and I've always seen myself as a tech reviewer, but one that has specialised in audio visual products.
Thanks bud!
@@TotallydubbedHD 👍🏽 Alright.
On a separate note, I had a doubt regarding the 1More Stylish TWS. I have posted it on that video's comment section. Thanks.
I'm almost convinced this is the car for me, but if I go electric, I really want to be 100% electric, and the battery range is just too low. I am wondering if getting one of these and then doing a battery swap might be the way forwards though. £5k gets BMW to do a straight swap with its biggest battery. Tough choice. Mabe go for the REX and then upgrade on the next purchase.
What range are you looking for? And what's your budget?
@@TotallydubbedHD My commute is 45 miles each way, all motorway with a budget of around £15K
@@Jimages_uk might not look as nice, but you considered something like the Seat Mii Electric? FYI, the newer BMWs with the larger battery should suffice - from memory they have a 160+ mile range. But then, I think they're out of your budget
@@TotallydubbedHD I will probably go for the REX as most of the time I would never use it, but it is there to back up the range.
@@Jimages_uk fair enough
How is it compared with the Tesla model 3?
Used i3 ReX vs new Model 3, is that what you're asking?
Can you control the car via an app?
Don't think you could on the 2013 model
@@TotallydubbedHD Are you sure?:/
@@thedatroxde think so, but cannot remember. Check it up online to be sure :)
Damm bro can you review my girlfriend?? Liking the variety 👍
My fiancée says I can't do short or long term loans on those, sorry 😂
@@TotallydubbedHD 😂
What the hell? This is not monitor...
Welllll technically, I did give a mini review of the monitor inside the car :p
What do you not review? 😆
Apple products 😂
Cool car but I can't charge unless I leave a long ass wire across the pavement for people to trip and sue me.
I presume you mean at home :D?
@@TotallydubbedHD Yeah xD. This 2013 model doesn't have rapid charge? I heard modern EV's can do 80% in 30mins.
@@GeordiLaForgery as far as I'm aware, the 2013 model can't fast charge, and certainly doesn't have that super charger capability of the modern day ones that charge that quickly!
@@GeordiLaForgery rapid charge was a $700 dollar option in 2013/2014, it became standard in 2015.
This a 2016 or 2017. The Deka interior wasn’t available in 2013.
it's a 100% a 2013 model. I've got the owners receipt to prove it haha + see the number plate at the beginning!
totallydubbedHD They didn’t bring this interior trim to the U.S. until 2016-2017, but it was probably available in other regions first.
@@michaeldproject could be the case - this car was designed for the UK market :)
Guys... All you have to do is look at the charging port to realize it has to be an older model. DC fast charging came standard 2016 and up.
This is an EU vehicle, BMW had different packages for the US market. Not to mention, nerfed many features to qualify for California's tax credit.
2013?? Listen, cmon for the love of...if your gonna do a bloody video be factual!...No moonroof or that interior option available in 2013!!!!!!..its either a 2016 or a 2017. So I will be waiting to hear the real story...
It's a 2013. Look at the number plate....
@@TotallydubbedHD Im from Canada...number plate??..how bout the vin...
@@johnnyzee383 Google it: 63 reg, United Kingdom
@@johnnyzee383 what is your damn problem? the sun roof/moon roof has be available since 2014. At the LA Auto Show in 2013 there were 10 i3's in the parking lot and all of the cars had the sun roof.
@@mamadouaziza2536 Settle down...lol....In north America this was NOT and I repeat, NOT an option in this year!, perhaps in Europe ok.