BMW i3 & i3S Used Car Review! - A Pocket Rocket For Pennies?
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- Another used electric car review, this time of the pocket rocket that is the BMW i3 & i3S!
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Website: www.ev-man.co.uk
Twitter: / evmanuk
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#bmwi3 #electriccars #carreview
Hi EVM, greetings from Oxford. I’m 58YO, I’ve owned many cars in my time. After much agonising I decided to buy a new BMW i3 in 2019, still have it, still love it. The rear doors are a pain, the ride is too harsh, but other than that it is a great car. I’ve covered nearly 50k miles now, I plan to keep it into my retirement. It will never rust, and the plastic body panels are impervious to car park dings. I love the big panoramic windscreen and the sense of space for front occupants.
I actually think the rear door arrangement is better than standard if you haven't got passengers back there often, it's more convenient for tossing things in the back.
My i3S is the 20th Beemer I’ve owned and I love it. Had 3s, 5s and 7s with the last being a 740i Sport Individual which cost £55k back 2001 and I loved that car too, but it had two engines and represented the best of the 20th century legacy OEMs. But electrification changed that for me and now I love the originality of this car, its design and engineering principles and its originality. Aluminium ladder chassis and carbon fibre tub means it lightweight. Fast, dependable and an utter joy to drive. We just plug it in twice a week at £3.50 and enjoy it. I’ll never sell it.
As a long term standard i3 owner, I feel you slightly missed the point of what makes them so popular with owners. It's not the fact of knowing that it has a carbon fibre tub, or the recycled materials [good though they are].
It's how it all works really well as a package. It is so well-designed.
I think BMW put their A-team on designing it.
The way the controls respond is excellent. One foot driving is so easy and vice-free [unlike some evs]. The blending of the braking likewise.
Things just work in a sensible, easy, simple way. You don't have to wait to get going [like some recent evs I could mention.]
It really can take four adults. Yes the boot is pretty small, but put the back seats down and you get a whole fridge-freezer in - I've seen it done.
And although the standard car isn't quite as stable on a motorway as the 'S', its claimed lack of stability has never bothered me even on long-distance trips. (And I'm used to big family estate cars).
It's just 'sorted'.
Oh BTW, we know of one that has done over 200,000 miles. On the original battery - and still going strong. (And plenty around 100,000.)
The advantage of the REX is for those who drive their i3 beyond battery range. It provides a 'get out of jail' card for when you can't find a working/free/near charger, and on those occasions it is a godsend.
But thanks, guys, you like them, which shows good taste and judgement. :)
You’re right, I love the one pedal driving, didn’t take me more a few hours to rely on it and I love road trips.
@@thumper174788
Best electric city car hands down. Had mine since 2017 and battery shows no sign of degradation. It still looks better than any electric and combustion car out there and probably will for the near future. Timeless.
A friend had a 2014 and let me drive it. Nicest car I've ever driven, regardless of method of propulsion.
Best car I’ve ever owned. So I bought 2!
So did I, an S and a non S 😊😊
Used car reviews are probably more relevant for a lot of car buyers, so would be good to also show how range , brakes etc are still very good.
Loved the three years I had with my i3s. ❤
Enjoy the used car review. Your Seat Mii review pretty much sold me on the VW eUP! I ended up getting in April. Loving it so far.
I agree, I have been driving cars since 1979 and my BMW i3 (2017 model with 100.000 miles) is the best car I have ever owned.
It is so well designed and engineered. The build quality is top notch. My car doesn’t rattle one single bit after 100.000 miles.
Mine has rattles from at least four different places after 22k miles. Still love it though.
@@PhineasPhlob such can happen with people as well
@@cedarcanoe a bit flakey but you still love them anyway? Yup.
Great benefit of the carbon fibre tub (and plastic panels) is no rust problems so barring damage it will always be durable and look good.
I bought mine because it has a flat rear with the seats down for my dog. It is a fantastic car that i will keep it for many many years. With my solar panels at home it costs nothing to run and with the 120Ah battery, 170miles is enough for most long journeys. Nowadays, the charging network is good enough to go anywhere without heartache.
Had my i3 for 6 years. Don't want to ever sell it. Nothing replaces it. Awful winter range for me (70 tops) but within my needs
Revisiting a car is useful. Having a look back at a car especially considering the expanding used car market..
2018 REX. It's probably my favourite ever car. It's great to drive, plenty of interior space. The interior and looks are quirky and special. It's a legendary product.
I only use the REX a few times a year, but I like the fact I don't have to plan charging stops on long journeys.
I might get The i3s as my next car. I've never bought the same car twice in a row but I think that could be a real option for me this time!
More used EV reviews please. It is more in my ball-park (who buys new cars outside company cars these days?)
Hear hear. These cars are now in the realms of people who aren't rich
We've had 5, i3's including 2 S's the last one was traded for an mg4 Xpower so no regrets there but i really won't one as a second forever car its not going to rot, Doesn't seem to have any known common problems and could probably last for a life time if not crashed. Absolutely love these and they just get better looking as time goes by.
More used ev reviews sounds good!👍🏻
I've had 3 i3s cars and loved them all, parts are expensive though someone damaged a wing mirror on mine and BMW charged me £550 to fix and the mirror wasn't even broken. I found the car cold when driving about in the winter although I did like the pre warm up in the morning before going to work.
I paid a lot for my i3s but was lucky enough to sell before the massive price drop.
BMWs are expensive, period. Not just the i3.
We have a 2020 i3S in Red/Black which was bought mainly for my wife. She originally wanted an Evoque but I took a gamble and turned up with the i3. Once she had got over her initial disappointment she took it up the road and she instantly liked it. She likes its looks, the one pedal driving, the manoeuvrability, the fact it's easy to operate but the main thing for her is not ever needing to visit a petrol station. We charge it from home via our solar setup which gives about 200 miles in warm weather and on average it cost between £2~£3 from 30%. One thing to keep in mind if you live in or around London, the range extended versions are not ULEZ compliant.
Great review - I had the standard i3 for 2 1/2 years and loved it. Only issue was the drivers window regulator needed to be replaced. The wokeby boot extender helped with storage. Often had my road bike in the back with the front wheel removed. I ended up changing as the jittery ride became tiresome. It was an itch I needed to scratch and so glad I did.
The REX version is a stroke of genius - it works so well and can extend my range by about 60 to 80 miles and I've used it often. The other interesting thing is that when it first came out there was some criticism of the body styling. However, given what some modern EVs look like these days, the I3S is an absolute beauty in comparison.
I have got a 2013 BMW i3 done over 100k now this year and still going strong, keeping it never going to sell it.
I have a 2016 i3 REx that I have owned from new. This car has now done nearly 100 k miles. I haven't noticed any battery degradation. I'm only planning to get rid of it once the body rusts out. 😉
I adore my I3. I’ve put close to 100,000 km on mine. I’ll probably never sell it. It’s not practical as a family car and the doors I find annoying but otherwise I love it
Buzzed round London in one for several years..easy to park,no problems and nobody would try to nick it.Airfix interior no match for my E39,or the drive,but BMW ahead of the game with this one
yeah - love my i3. Only trouble is some key module has failed and canot now rapid charge. £2k need to fix.
Had my i3 3 years now and still makes me smile every time I get in it, absolute love it..
It's not a carbon fibre 'tub'. It's a carbon fibre bodyshell bonded onto an aluminium chassis. But it is a bloody good car.
Actually, it’s carbon reinforced polymer on top of an aluminium ladder chassis, even the bolts are made of aluminium. Sandy Munro is worth watching, although he hates the aesthetics (I love them) he eulogises over everything else, pure engineering innovation and even new materials science. Just so much fun to drive and it will stand the test of time. 👍
It does not have any metal its all carbon
@@ruxod9002er.... Just visiting Earth, then........!?!?
@@andymccabe6712
There's always someone that tries to prove that black is white. He's probably one of those whom believes the world is flat, and nothing will prove otherwise. 😂
Have a 2020 i3s, exactly the same as in the video.
Fun car but,
Cons, trunk space and range.
Looking forward to the full electric 3 series in Europe.
I think the low running costs worth a mention. Through spring and summer I’ve been getting 5.1 miles/kWh in my i3S which includes trips to/around mid Wales and Cotswolds from London. B roads in Wales showed off the fun side.
the S has terrible suspension for UK roads .. I swapped to a standard car ..
I'd agree - I test drove an i3S before getting our standard i3 in December 2019
I do wonder if these cars will eventually reach classic car status. I love my i3, and have no intention of getting rid of it unless forced to.
One problem is that any damage to the carbon fibre shell makes the car a write-off, as it is so expensive to repair (if that is even possible now).
Me too EVM - I drive BMW i3 in 2017 brought in May 2024 love it every time i go out ❤
Yes, more used EV reviews please 🙏
Other problems are the dust covers on the shocks, and i had to replaceva top suspension mount on the front passenger side at 150000km. Have a 33kwh with rex. Rex is rarely used, but it's a nice get out of jail free card. Still getting 180km range (summer) 140km (winter)plux rex (~100km) Make sure you get the car with a heat pump, heated steering wheel and adaptive cruise. Love the car. Mine is a 2016 and i own it for 4 years.
@@desobrien7357 I didn't think you could specify a heated steering wheel in the UK. Are you on the continent?
There's also evidence that despite the theoretical advantage, a heat pump does not bring much benefit.
@@desobrien7357 heated steering wheel doesn't exist for the i3.
@@johnbb99 In Ireland. Assumed you could get one. You learn every day
@@pilotandthecity8527 You live and learn. Thanks
@@desobrien7357 But it's even milder there than the UK! ;)
I thought maybe Norway... :)
I’m on my second i3, best car I’ve ever had!
Bear in mind that the later 'standard' i3 has a wider stance at the rear (different tyre size), which improves the handling over the earlier versions.
I’ve had two i3’s - a 60ah REx followed by a 94ah s REx. Absolutely unique - fun, lovable, easy to drive and live with. Quality and reliability at least the equal of several generations of my previous 3 Series. iDrive easier than touch screen although tech no longer the best it is simply to use. Biggest gripe is the hard/jittery/ bouncy ride on the i3’s. Although I now have a second EV my 94ah is a keeper because I suspect this will be the easiest and safest car to drive in my last driving years.
On my 2nd EV with way better specs. Yet still love to own an i3s. Sooo cooool.
Still got it then? Loved the three BMW i3 I have owned. Last one was i3s was great fun car.
David Tracy who writes for the “Autopian” has two i3’s the one of them had a replacement battery it was free due to a California law on range extenders.
On the charging point, while only charging at 50kW’s the charging curve is excellent, it doesn’t slow down until well after 90% SOC
Yes, please review e-Golf.
Ours is the same, Black i3S, same interior. I have had loads of performance cars over the years but this is my favourite ever.
My mom bought one kislux and she loves it. It had been there for over 10 years when she went out with it.
I picked the 120Ah standard i3 over the S version for that bit of extra comfort on UK roads - it's only a bit better but that was more important to me than the benefits of the S. I have zero issues with stability on the motorway and whilst the ride is a bit firm that just makes it brilliant to drive. The only thing I don't like is the rear doors - which are excellent if you are parked at the kerb but a pain when in a parking space. I think it would be annoying if you were getting young kids in and out a lot?
I can easily get 200 miles range in the summer, but a fair bit less in the winter of course
I bought mine just before prices crashed so it has cost me a lot in terms of depreciation but I will just keep it for a long time.
We also have a Model Y and I always take the i3 when I can because it is so much fun to drive and much easier to get around our narrow streets and car parks. I'm 67 and the i3 might be my favourite ever car - and i have owned a LOT over the years.
I'm 6'0 and I find there's plenty of room in the back if I push the front seat just a tad forward from where I normally have it, it's not like a Mazda 3 or something designed for people with no legs.
I got a used Jag Ipace in March with a 20K budget. I3 was an option but wanted something bigger.
So far no problems and has been great
boot floor space is exactly the same as an auudi a4 as the rubber mat I had in the audi fits exactly!
get the rex, ev with no downside
Interesting video EVM but I think you failed to mention a significant point. The use of carbon gives you a 1200kg weight, which you commented, which in turn gives you greater efficiency. There are very few EVs that will match an I3 for miles/kwh. I get around 4.5 miles/kwh in the summer and 3.9-4 in the winter with normal driving and use of the heats etc in my I3s. This is way higher than most EVs, only Teslas’ seem to get close. Other minor point is actual price compared to list. My 22 I3s new with good spec cost just over £30k rather than the £40k mentioned.
Hyundai ionic will get 5kwh in winter and 7kwh in the summer
@@fractalofgod6324 isn’t an Ioniq a hybrid rather than a pure ev? Surely without any petrol assistance the efficiency will be worse due to the weight of the ICE? I haven’t seen any videos or reviews to substantiate those figures. In fact, I have never seen any evidence of those kind of values for any electric vehicle in normal driving. If you are achieving those figures then well done to you!
EV Man - love all your CZcams content, very informative and accessible too, great stuff indeed I currently have a 2022 Fiat 500e 42 kWh and a 2016 B200 diesel Mercedes. The Mercedes is a great car for any distance with 4 passengers, split rear seats fold flat for transporting students and all their kit to Uni or to hold oodles of stuff on trips to the tip for example. It's economical to own and apart from the diesel engine makes the car ideal for me but I'm guessing it won't last forever... so... I am mad keen to change it for an equivalent fully electric car with 200+ miles range but have a critical need to also add a towbar - not for towing - but to hold a cycle carrier for 2 e-bikes (about 65Kg weight). Is there any car out there either in the new or used market that I should be considering? The 500e, as well as being eye-catching and amazingly good fun to drive, is the perfect small runaround/commuter/second car but obviously lacks range and internal space to be the everyday 'family car'.
With the rear seat folded down I can get my 2 emtb's into/onto my 2017 i3. Wheels off and slide the first into the boot, then use the suction cups to hold the Handle bars onto the roof of the car whilst resting/fixing the saddle against the rear of the tailgate in another suction cup. I also use a strap on a thin threaded bar from inside the top of the tailgate to the handlebar clamp just in case the suction cups should fail. Hasn't happened yet though, after a lot of transporting. Rassine Suction cups.
Didn’t BMW go to town and use titanium bolts too, to reduce weight of course.
20k miles in my i3s, it's a great car if you only do occasional long journeys. Doors are cool but not very practical.
Edit: Watched till the end about charge speed, although it is limited to 50, it has a very flat curve and due to a fairly small battery, it charges fairly quickly.
Mr EVM, thank you for another informative video, as a side note when are we likely to see EVG, EVW or EVD to help with reviews to broaden the perspective of the videos? I’ve noticed a trend in your more recent videos and from other CZcams channels, You seem to keep saying a car in the 25kWh range is a second car?
A few years ago you did and would have said the car is brought to fit your needs, and you yourself in this video said it did 1400 miles without an issue.
So surely it a first car or only car for a family as well as a second car for the work trip or shopping haul.
Is it a social thing that a car with a 100 mile range is downgraded? Or is it because as we near price equilibrium with ice cars that you start to compare them to small cars and the associated stigmas that those cars got.
£500 for a pair of rear tyres on the i3s is a bit off-putting.
Hi. I would be very interested in what you think about the new Renault Scenic E-Tech, will you be featuring this vehicle anytime soon.
I trust your judgement and must say I love your reviews, thank you
About my 20th car I've owned and the best by far.
Watch Sandy Munro's teardown 10 year anniversary - he still describes the i3 as well ahead of it's time and some of the engineering as "magic". Largely hidden from the likes of us mere mortals so not as obvious as the tech on Teslas. I drove my 2022 end of line special edition version 357 miles over the weekend. While it's not the best car for long journey's it's perfectly capable. A bump up to 50kWh/100kW and then a mild update to the entertainment it could still be released today and look new.. 10 years ago.. people didn't really know what hit them lol.
Boot is small but when seats are down I have fit a 140cm freezer in mine with a passenger in the front seat..... try that in a model 3 .. ;-)
The Real problem is cost of repairs. Horrifying costs to fix simple bodywork things and issues with the Rex.I loved mine but id want a massive extended warrenty
@@Inchbonnie154 the bodywork is easily to replace yourself at low costs.
@@Inchbonnie154 Hi, I think the way to avoid big costs is to stay away from the dealer network. All the German makers seem to ripoff their customers at the dealership. My partner has an Audi A3, Audi wanted £1200 to do a cam belt change. A specialist garage did it for £650. Of course, no cam belt on an EV! 😁😁😁
@simonreeves2017 probkem used to be the lightweight construction of the bodywork, but maybe now there are decent numbers of replacement parts from scrappage yards etc
We’ve just completed 2k plus miles from north east Scotland down to lands end and back with no issues within our BMW i3….absolutely impossible to have done this journey with my 2018 Leaf. Yea the door is VERY ANNOYING..when you are in a tight space you can’t get out the back
Best city car ever!
Wish it did come with android auto..
I had an i3s if you live in city best car in the world
The volvo ex30 is the new i3s
How does this compare to a Leaf. People really rate the leaf, the i3 looks so much nicer than the mk1 leaf and easier to park too
this is way better than a leaf
Like the Leaf,my company has several as pool cars,but this a bit more special
@@adams7405 How so?
I have had both. As stated the i3 is way better than a LEAF. After three years with the LEAF from new the battery was losing range. It had to go. The i3 was two years old when I got it and I have now had it for six years. Range at eight years old the same as it was at 2 years old. Drive it with care and you will get 4.5 miles per kWh long term average and in high summer 5.2 miles per kWh. Every thing they say about the ride is accurate. It takes a while to get used to the handling. It will not let you down but it feels as if it might until you get to know the car. The ideal for UK roads is get an i3 and lower it slightly by about 20 mm and add spaces at the rear.
The leaf has no active battery cooling and heating. That makes the car very unpractical for longer roadtrips. The i3 had excellent battery management, almost no battery degradation and a very flat charging curve.
I’m tempted to find a low miles example. I’ve also seen somewhere there’s a company that makes enclosures for used batteries, so they can be used for home storage, which helps offset the cost risk of a replacement being needed down the road.
Should check out the EX30 - had our twin motor performance and it’s a proper pocket rocket! 3.4 to 60mph
Sounds dangerous.....!!
.... MUCH too fast for the average driver.....and, essentially, completely unusable.......
Did you film this on Ilkley Moor Bar t'At ?
Good advert. Good luck. 😜
@@ianstewart7605 For what?
Harry, a second hand ec4 could be your for £12k. What is the second hand price that gets you into an EV?
My 2018 i3, bought this month, was £10.4k.
I always wanted one of these but it would only be as a second car which now we are both retired we don't really need. Still £20k for a 2022 model though so holding their prices well. Maybe I could get a broken 2014 one to play with in the garage !
Don't go earlier than an August 2016. All sorted of issues with 2014-2016 cars. The issues got designed out and parts modified for the later cars.. A 2016 94Ah with a REX gives the most range and because it is a 2016 next year from April 2025 the VED will only jump from £0 to £20. Repairs/parts can be very expensive, so have a fund just in case. Generally very little goes wrong but if it does it will be very painful on the wallet. (BMW = Break my Wallet). That said the later cars if treated well are very reliable but as they age tend to start to collect minor issues that are expensive to sort out if you want to keep the car mint and 100%. If buying one then how well the car has been prepared for sale is critical. Tyres for the i3s are about twice the price of ones for the i3 and given the performance no matter how hard you try you will only get about 18k max out of a set . Two year old with under 20k on the clock would be the sweet spot to buy a long term keeper. I am trying to decide about swapping out my 34K 8 year old 94 Ah REX for a two year old 120Ah. Public charging has improved so do't really need the REX anymore.
I would not get a broken one, they can be phenomenally expensive to repair. I had mine 7 years, 25,000 miles all perfectly ok then a 12V battery charging problem leading to an £11,000 estimate from BMW. Seven months work/waiting for parts etc, and It still cost me over 9K to get it fixed at an independent, it was a nightmare. Get a used one that works, and get a very very good warranty you can keep extending.
I've an I3s 2020. 45000 km, still on first set of tires. (3,5 mm) It's not that difficult.
@@markparker5585 that is a, let's say , a very strange, story. The 12v battery has to be replaced every 5-8 years, depending on actual capacity. In Europe the price is, 150-300 euro's. But you can do it easily yourself. The charging of the 12v is an easy process. If it's not charging, an old battery is probably the root of the problem. The mentioned amount sounds very questionable.
@@pilotandthecity8527 it was a 12v charging problem, not a problem with the 12v battery itself. The unit that holds the DC to DC converter is £5-7k just by itself, but BMW will not replace that without also replacing the HV wiring loom. Apparently, the main traction battery fuse had also blown. Add 20 hours labour (in the estimate) at main dealer rates and 11k is what you get. In the months after, whilst trying to get it repaired elsewhere, I came across many other horror stories, some with higher bills than that. I have no reason to be making this up, I’m just trying to make sure people get an extended or very good 3rd party warranty when they buy a used i3.
You stated recently you prefer the Seat Mii/eUp over the i3...is this still the case? I'm debating between these models. Love the i3 most for design, but day to day the others probably win out
@@kumquatneil4686 They are a better 2nd car (cheaper to run etc) but the i3S is a better only car.
@ElectricVehicleMan OK cheers. Commuter car so probably will be the mii. I also have a diesel SUV (boo, I know) so working out what's best to replace, when, monthly cost etc
A plural of Pennies... For sure.
En el momento en que vi el bolso kislux , supe que tenía que tenerlo.
No one spake about cost of running
They are very low just insurance and electra in Holland ❤❤
Don't get the comparison to a Zoe since if you'd bought a Zoe or Leaf 6-7 years ago you'd have significant battery degradation by now.....
@@jabberwockytdi8901 Zoe’s don’t have degradation.
Our 2016 22kWh version had a SOH of 96-97% with 30k on it when we sold it. They leased the batteries so why would they make batteries they had to replace every 5 years? My dad's 40kWh Zoe had done 99k when he sold it and didn't say there was much difference when fully charged.
Used reviews are good, more people buy used.
I’m not a fan of the looks of this car, it’s just a personal opinion and I’m sure a lot of people think it’s great. No matter how good it is, if I’m not happy to be in it then I’m not going to enjoy it 😢. Great review though 👌
I never considered one of these purely because I dislike it's looks, even more than the original Leaf and that's not exactly pretty either. Each to their own I think.
A number of comments below are critical of repair costs, how does this reflect in the cost of insurance?, any horror stories?.
@@andrewcharles5575 Insurance for mine was £375 from Privilege this year.
No Android auto on any of these, unless you add an aftermarket unit
Also don't all have 11Kw charging, that was an option. CCS was also an option for the first few years
@@SeanPowellapart from the early model i3, all have CCS charging capability at 49kW, so you can go from 20% to 80% in about 35 mins.
My home charger is 7kW so I charge cheap overnight. Cost is around £2.50 which lasts me about 10 days between charges.
@@SeanPowell11kw is standard on all 120ah version cars
@@SeanPowellthanks for clearing that up (it saved me hours of research) 😀
@@SeanPowell CCS was an option only the very first year. They hardly built any in 2014 so you're unlikely to bump into one.
Pound Shop Kevin Spacey's car channel ;-)
A bit tired of unnecessary, noisy graphical intros - this makes your content less attractive. Just a tip.
You need an identifier, and to be blunt, it's only 11-12 seconds.
Someone told me that door trim and dashboard were made from belly button fluff and epoxy-resin.
Suicide doors? You like them?
Yessssssssssssssssss
It was at this point that EV Vehicle Man knew that he had fucked up.
Just don't like the doors and dash
kislux I love you so much and watching your videos makes my day brighter