BMW iX3 arriving

[Jurgen100]

Our BMW iX3 is arriving on Tuesday. This will be our first electric car and also our first BMW. Haven’t actually driven one yet so looking forward to getting behind the wheel. Just wondered if any iX3 drivers on here have any hints and tips they’d share?

[smokingturbo]

I'm an iX owner, not the iX3 - but on the whole, I'd imagine the experience is similar.

Personally, I love my iX - I had a 340i Touring previously, and whilst I liked it I never really loved it.

the MyBMW app is great, like most car apps you can pre-condition the car, so great in the current heatwave. The range is pretty much as reported and within expectations. Everything just works, the new iDrive is a massive upgrade on previous iterations.

[Jurgen100]

What regeneration mode do you use? I understand there is adaptive or maximum (I think maximum is selected via the gear shifter)??

[flying scotsman]

I have had my IX3 for 7 months- 13500 miles including daily commute of 110-170 depending on where I am working. Have done Kent to Edinburgh easily in about 8 hours including charging. So far, I am very happy. I have leased it via a salary sacrifice scheme and as I do quite a few miles, my lease cost after tax is about £300 per month less than my previous (inefficient LR disco 4) diesel bill. We have a Tesla model Y coming in two months in addition to the IX3 to replace the Disco as based on my experiences we can transition easily to full EV for family use. I still have something in the garage for fun but the IX3 is proving to be a great all rounder…

I know people will ask so…
190-210 miles easy at motorway speeds during winter sub 5 degrees
230-260 during the summer warmer weather…..

[flying scotsman]

Jurgen100 said:

What regeneration mode do you use? I understand there is adaptive or maximum (I think maximum is selected via the gear shifter)??

Push the ‘gear’ lever to the left for max regen. It’s what I use mostly as it’s one pedal driving. Standard/adaptive works quite well on motorways if you team it up with adaptive cruise and lane keep assist.. word of warning- it’s not autopilot like a Tesla as last minute lane changers on the M25 during slow moving traffic jams require braking intervention to avoid unwanted bumps….

[AF07]

Great car and currently getting 250-270 miles easy.

Question on regen. When In b mode there is noticeable ‘drag’ on the car which is obviously the engine breaking.

It feels like it’s always there even when I’m mildly accelerating. Soon as I take it off b mode the car feels free.

Basically my question is if the engine is constantly applying a breaking force, doesn’t that mean the car has to work harder thus reducing efficiency?

[flying scotsman]

I think the regen will only occur when you lift off the accelerator so shouldn’t ‘drag’ the motor. I agree that it is quite aggressive though….

[M1C]

AF07 said:

Great car and currently getting 250-270 miles easy.

Question on regen. When In b mode there is noticeable ‘drag’ on the car which is obviously the engine breaking.

It feels like it’s always there even when I’m mildly accelerating. Soon as I take it off b mode the car feels free.

Basically my question is if the engine is constantly applying a breaking force, doesn’t that mean the car has to work harder thus reducing efficiency?

I'm guessing B mode also acts like an eco mode? Perhaps reducing the normal level of power to the throttle?

I know what you mean about the dragging - surely if it was dragging, it would be having the opposite to the desired effect.

Maybe it feels like it's dragging due to being at a slightly lower power level?

[Jurgen100]

It’s arrived and sat on the drive. Working so not had the opportunity to take it our for a drive yet. Love the interior though. Definitely the nicest environment of any of the electric cars we looked at.

[S600BSB]

Jurgen100 said:

Our BMW iX3 is arriving on Tuesday. This will be our first electric car and also our first BMW. Haven’t actually driven one yet so looking forward to getting behind the wheel. Just wondered if any iX3 drivers on here have any hints and tips they’d share?

Never understand why people buy a new car without ever having driven one?

[Jurgen100]

Time!

[flying scotsman]

S600BSB said:

Jurgen100 said:

Our BMW iX3 is arriving on Tuesday. This will be our first electric car and also our first BMW. Haven’t actually driven one yet so looking forward to getting behind the wheel. Just wondered if any iX3 drivers on here have any hints and tips they’d share?

Never understand why people buy a new car without ever having driven one?

I signed my lease agreement three months before the car was available to test drive. As a commuting to work and back car my 25000 pa 2 year deal signed at that point was £300 less per month than the same deal after the car could be driven and I still had to wait 9 months to get the car… as long as the heated seats work and the range is good enough…
I derived enough from a couple of YT reviews to know it wasn’t st…
Understand now?

[plfrench]

S600BSB said:

Never understand why people buy a new car without ever having driven one?

You sound like you're stuck in the good old days of a normal buyer's market. These days, where demand far, far outstrips supply and therefore with lead times being insane, then this can be a bit of a luxury if it's a new-to-market vehicle and there aren't any second hand examples / demonstrators knocking about.

You could wait for 6months to a year to test drive a car with the relevant drivetrain and then have a further year wait once you decide to order.

[Jurgen100]

I agreed the lease for ours back in November as I knew there would be a long lead time. Looking at the lease price now for the same deal it’s £300p.month more expensive.

[S600BSB]

plfrench said:

S600BSB said:

Never understand why people buy a new car without ever having driven one?

You sound like you're stuck in the good old days of a normal buyer's market. These days, where demand far, far outstrips supply and therefore with lead times being insane, then this can be a bit of a luxury if it's a new-to-market vehicle and there aren't any second hand examples / demonstrators knocking about.

You could wait for 6months to a year to test drive a car with the relevant drivetrain and then have a further year wait once you decide to order.

Well I suppose I did take delivery of my ipace 19 months ago. But I am certainly glad I test drove it along with the Audi and Mercedes equivalents. I had intended buying the Audi, but was able to make the right choice after spending time with each car.

[Piginapoke]

My brother in law has one, he likes it. The range seems much less than my Tesla though and the lack of a front boot seems odd in an EV.

[Jurgen100]

I’m not too concerned. My other car has got a boot up front

[greggy50]

Decent cars, I prefer my Polestar for similar money due to better performance but don't have kids etc so didn't need the space (back seats are not huge).

If you need a family car that's a EV it's the best on the market for the money. Range on them real world is pretty good, guy over the road has one and is getting 260-270 in the summer he has said.

I also like the fact they just look like a normal car and have a standard none complex interior, it makes the transition from a ICE car for many far easier.

[Jurgen100]

Yes I really like the Polestar. Much nicer than a Tesla for me. We went for the iX3 as it’s a family wagon (got kids so need a big boot etc..) but if that wasn’t a factor then Polestar would be up.

[Jurgen100]

Interested to know if anyone finds driving the iX3 in Eco Pro makes much difference to the range over driving it in Comfort?