Picked up a BMW i3 yesterday for a 48hr test drive
Discussion
This is my first experience with an all electric car, I opted to have the pure electric one, not the one with range extended for this purpose. I own an E46 M3 and don't really ever intend on changing that. I do however see myself getting an EV in a few years time to accompany the M3. on journeys that are just around local areas, or to fulfil duties I'd rather not take the M3 out for. I envision wanting an EV that still feels like a driver focused car, handles well but also has good performance and technology to keep myself and passengers fairly happy.
Here is what I've found so far...
Immediate impression was that it's a lot bigger than I imagined. It's a 2x2 seater and people 6foot tall could easily sit in all the seats by my account. The front is very spacious and everything laid out almost nicely. My only gripe was that the door window and mirror controls are awkwardly placed and you literally have to set up your arm like a T-REX to use them in a satisfactory manner. I am not a T-REX, wtf BMW?
I also didn't like how the transmission stalk was mounted at an off angle on the steering column, but I have grown to get used to this fairly quickly now and actually think it's a decent place to put it as I''ve been using forward and reverse in quick succession a few times and it's been convenient being so close to my right hand.
I didn't like how rubber band-like the regenerative braking worked for the first few hours and actually felt slightly nauseous but as with the stalk, have become used to it several hours on and now can come to a complete stop without even touching the brake pedal from 40MPH just by observing traffic ahead and lifting off the throttle and let the regen work its magic.
BMW have a 30 minute charge option with this car too but don't actively promote it in front facing marketing. instead it's listed in their EV charging section of the user guide thing they gave me. The standard charger that woprks off your house power socket takes around 8 hours to charge from empty. A quicker rapid charger option is available though and is the select method at various service stations and petrol pumps/supermarkets nationwide now with the rapid 30min ones already installed at a few other places from I've been told.
The range from a charge is 80 miles but this one was showing 85 when I left the dealer. Naturally using the throttle harshly will see that range drop, as will using AC and other electronics. Eco and Eco-Pro modes will increase range by several miles though.
I'm really impressed by how quiet the cabin is, it's built well and made mostly of plastic with carbon fibre injection which is visible around various areas of the car. I like the screen quality too, it's clear and the animations are very fluid. Everything seems to just work and feels natural, the throttle response is pretty rapid, from standstill BMW say it will hit 62MPH in 7.9s and I don't doubt that. From a moving start it will climb speed very quickly. It will easily leave similar powered petrol cars behind in the rear view. It produces some 160BHP and weighs a little over 1100KG!
The other grip I have actually is that the rear doors don't have windows that can go down. That and the rear doors can only open if the front doors are fully open. So just like a coupe, the front passenger will have to faff about to let a rear passenger out.
Finally I don't like the windscreen washers. On the motorway I found them a bit pants. The washer jets blast water on to only the lower 25% of the windscreen while the rest is blown off into the ether by the wind so the wipers only clean the lower half of the windscreen properly. you must slow down so the washer jets spray the entire screen to wipe effectively.
The i3 also doesn't like crosswinds at speed. It does not feel completely stable if you're at 70MPH and winds hit the sides. The steering is weighty and the chassis provides plenty of feedback though, typical of a well sorted BMW to be honest but just a shame about how crosswinds affect the feeling of stability at motorway speeds.
The turning circle is beyond excellent. The skinny tyres means it can manoeuvre tight carparks and roads easily.
I can't think of anything else off the top of my head but will likely add some more thoughts come tomorrow evening!
Here is what I've found so far...
Immediate impression was that it's a lot bigger than I imagined. It's a 2x2 seater and people 6foot tall could easily sit in all the seats by my account. The front is very spacious and everything laid out almost nicely. My only gripe was that the door window and mirror controls are awkwardly placed and you literally have to set up your arm like a T-REX to use them in a satisfactory manner. I am not a T-REX, wtf BMW?
I also didn't like how the transmission stalk was mounted at an off angle on the steering column, but I have grown to get used to this fairly quickly now and actually think it's a decent place to put it as I''ve been using forward and reverse in quick succession a few times and it's been convenient being so close to my right hand.
I didn't like how rubber band-like the regenerative braking worked for the first few hours and actually felt slightly nauseous but as with the stalk, have become used to it several hours on and now can come to a complete stop without even touching the brake pedal from 40MPH just by observing traffic ahead and lifting off the throttle and let the regen work its magic.
BMW have a 30 minute charge option with this car too but don't actively promote it in front facing marketing. instead it's listed in their EV charging section of the user guide thing they gave me. The standard charger that woprks off your house power socket takes around 8 hours to charge from empty. A quicker rapid charger option is available though and is the select method at various service stations and petrol pumps/supermarkets nationwide now with the rapid 30min ones already installed at a few other places from I've been told.
The range from a charge is 80 miles but this one was showing 85 when I left the dealer. Naturally using the throttle harshly will see that range drop, as will using AC and other electronics. Eco and Eco-Pro modes will increase range by several miles though.
I'm really impressed by how quiet the cabin is, it's built well and made mostly of plastic with carbon fibre injection which is visible around various areas of the car. I like the screen quality too, it's clear and the animations are very fluid. Everything seems to just work and feels natural, the throttle response is pretty rapid, from standstill BMW say it will hit 62MPH in 7.9s and I don't doubt that. From a moving start it will climb speed very quickly. It will easily leave similar powered petrol cars behind in the rear view. It produces some 160BHP and weighs a little over 1100KG!
The other grip I have actually is that the rear doors don't have windows that can go down. That and the rear doors can only open if the front doors are fully open. So just like a coupe, the front passenger will have to faff about to let a rear passenger out.
Finally I don't like the windscreen washers. On the motorway I found them a bit pants. The washer jets blast water on to only the lower 25% of the windscreen while the rest is blown off into the ether by the wind so the wipers only clean the lower half of the windscreen properly. you must slow down so the washer jets spray the entire screen to wipe effectively.
The i3 also doesn't like crosswinds at speed. It does not feel completely stable if you're at 70MPH and winds hit the sides. The steering is weighty and the chassis provides plenty of feedback though, typical of a well sorted BMW to be honest but just a shame about how crosswinds affect the feeling of stability at motorway speeds.
The turning circle is beyond excellent. The skinny tyres means it can manoeuvre tight carparks and roads easily.
I can't think of anything else off the top of my head but will likely add some more thoughts come tomorrow evening!
UK345 said:
Great review for an interesting car. I have seen a few on the road and think they look very nice. Does it feel different to driving petrol or diesel cars ?
It is very different though only really in how the power is delivered. Since it's only 1 gear, it feels like a plane when launching off from standstill and you get that motorised hum faintly coming through. It reminds me of those 90s Scifi films that had cars that made a similar noise. I think it sounds pretty cool!Other than that, the rest of the driving experience is similar to other cars with automatic transmissions. It only has 1 drive mode though, "D", the only other selection on the stalk is Reverse. The DSC does have a dynamic mode, quite why you'd want to use this in such a car though I don't know
MajorMantra said:
Interesting write-up, and excellent photos - thank you.
I can see the appeal of running something like this for the everyday alongside a fun/toy type car.
Cheers and agreed! At present I think the i3 is a little bit expensive for what's on offer, especially once you start adding options like the rapid charging and wall box installation. I do think it's a great insight into what daily motoring is fast becoming and hey, if it means cars as quiet as these will doss about on my local roads instead of diesel ones that sound like tractors polluting my ear canals then I am all for it I can see the appeal of running something like this for the everyday alongside a fun/toy type car.
Edited by robbiekhan on Sunday 12th April 11:33
Figured I'd take up the opportunity and offer while the technology was still fresh
Cheers, I think they make total sense. The i3 is the best looking town EV I've seen so far and I've still yet to get inside a Leaf or Zoe, but I'm confident the i3 feels like a better place to sit inside as well.
Cheers, I think they make total sense. The i3 is the best looking town EV I've seen so far and I've still yet to get inside a Leaf or Zoe, but I'm confident the i3 feels like a better place to sit inside as well.
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