BMW i3, the Wii Mii replacement
Discussion
After almost exactly 1 year I felt the need to replace the Mii (See the lowly Mii thread). The reason was very straight forwards, great wee car, good summer range but not great at the winter range thing and topping up a couple of times a day was becoming very boring indeed.
I looked at MG4's, 500e's and so on but one car kept nipping at the back of my head, the i3. Most owners seemed to report the sort of winter range I needed without faffing about, they don't have all the sign recognition crap or lane change assist nonsense that idiots in Brussels have forced upon us....
I also like the engineering behind the i3 with lots of alloy, carbon and other plastics meaning it doesn't weigh in like the Death Star so should remain quite efficient. The resulting weight is only around 100kgs more than the Mii (38 kw battery) in a bigger car that feels a good step up on the Mii.
Today was it's first proper going to work day, heat pump from the app defrosted everything whilst still on charge. 5 mins later, windows clear and out and about for the next 6/7 hrs with a range of 149 miles showing. Covered 80 miles, heater on 18/19C, Eco Pro mode and returned home with a range of 96 miles left. Average of 4.7 m/kWh and ambient that went from freezing to around 7C over the day. Most chuffed with that, didn't have to mess around with a top up during the day (unlike the Mii just now) so long may that continue!
I looked at MG4's, 500e's and so on but one car kept nipping at the back of my head, the i3. Most owners seemed to report the sort of winter range I needed without faffing about, they don't have all the sign recognition crap or lane change assist nonsense that idiots in Brussels have forced upon us....
I also like the engineering behind the i3 with lots of alloy, carbon and other plastics meaning it doesn't weigh in like the Death Star so should remain quite efficient. The resulting weight is only around 100kgs more than the Mii (38 kw battery) in a bigger car that feels a good step up on the Mii.
Today was it's first proper going to work day, heat pump from the app defrosted everything whilst still on charge. 5 mins later, windows clear and out and about for the next 6/7 hrs with a range of 149 miles showing. Covered 80 miles, heater on 18/19C, Eco Pro mode and returned home with a range of 96 miles left. Average of 4.7 m/kWh and ambient that went from freezing to around 7C over the day. Most chuffed with that, didn't have to mess around with a top up during the day (unlike the Mii just now) so long may that continue!
I'm coming up to three years with my i3 and still love it. I've done 24,000 miles at an average of 3.9 mi/kWh which is good but not great.
I rarely if ever need to exceed the predicted range as most of my mileage is 20 mile round trip daily commute. It's charged to 100% most nights for pennies and noticed zero drop in guessometer range.
As above, the cabin preconditioning is a boon especially cold mornings, but also nice to have a cooled interior when it's blistering out. It's nippy, practical enough and fun to drive. One of the best cars I've owned and definitely the cheapest to run.
I rarely if ever need to exceed the predicted range as most of my mileage is 20 mile round trip daily commute. It's charged to 100% most nights for pennies and noticed zero drop in guessometer range.
As above, the cabin preconditioning is a boon especially cold mornings, but also nice to have a cooled interior when it's blistering out. It's nippy, practical enough and fun to drive. One of the best cars I've owned and definitely the cheapest to run.
LordGrover said:
I'm coming up to three years with my i3 and still love it. I've done 24,000 miles at an average of 3.9 mi/kWh which is good but not great.
I rarely if ever need to exceed the predicted range as most of my mileage is 20 mile round trip daily commute. It's charged to 100% most nights for pennies and noticed zero drop in guessometer range.
As above, the cabin preconditioning is a boon especially cold mornings, but also nice to have a cooled interior when it's blistering out. It's nippy, practical enough and fun to drive. One of the best cars I've owned and definitely the cheapest to run.
Thanks, just the sort of info I'm looking for. The last 2 normal working days on eco-pro have yielded 4.7m/kWh during mostly 30/40mph areas with some dual here and there. Heater was usually on 18/19C. Collection from Aberdeen gave 4.1 m/kWh, all dual carriageway, cruise at 60mph except for the last 5 miles or so in comfort mode on country nsl and some err fun to see what was what!I rarely if ever need to exceed the predicted range as most of my mileage is 20 mile round trip daily commute. It's charged to 100% most nights for pennies and noticed zero drop in guessometer range.
As above, the cabin preconditioning is a boon especially cold mornings, but also nice to have a cooled interior when it's blistering out. It's nippy, practical enough and fun to drive. One of the best cars I've owned and definitely the cheapest to run.
Hi had a 2016 i3 Rex followed by a 2019 i3S.
Very much enjoyed owning both.
Used to see 5m/kWh on a daily 100 mile round trip duel carriageway commute at 62mph.
Only changed as I need to increase the size.
The cheep home charging paid for the car finance.
At the then 6p/kWh - 5m/kWh for 100 miles = £1.20x 2 days/month = £22.40/month.
ICE (Disco or Tuscan) £25/day x 20 = £500/month.
Very much enjoyed owning both.
Used to see 5m/kWh on a daily 100 mile round trip duel carriageway commute at 62mph.
Only changed as I need to increase the size.
The cheep home charging paid for the car finance.
At the then 6p/kWh - 5m/kWh for 100 miles = £1.20x 2 days/month = £22.40/month.
ICE (Disco or Tuscan) £25/day x 20 = £500/month.
Shaoxter said:
I'm always amazed at the efficiency which people claim to get, I'm barely getting 3mi/kWh in this weather. But then I don't use any kind of eco settings and drive err... enthusiastically 
How they should be used 
At this time of year I in an i3s I get 3 ish, rising to 4-4.5 in the summer. Always Comfort setting and ... enthusiastically too.
so called said:
Hi had a 2016 i3 Rex followed by a 2019 i3S.
Very much enjoyed owning both.
Used to see 5m/kWh on a daily 100 mile round trip duel carriageway commute at 62mph.
Only changed as I need to increase the size.
The cheep home charging paid for the car finance.
At the then 6p/kWh - 5m/kWh for 100 miles = £1.20x 2 days/month = £22.40/month.
ICE (Disco or Tuscan) £25/day x 20 = £500/month.
How did you find the i3S after the Rex? Planning on doing the same move.Very much enjoyed owning both.
Used to see 5m/kWh on a daily 100 mile round trip duel carriageway commute at 62mph.
Only changed as I need to increase the size.
The cheep home charging paid for the car finance.
At the then 6p/kWh - 5m/kWh for 100 miles = £1.20x 2 days/month = £22.40/month.
ICE (Disco or Tuscan) £25/day x 20 = £500/month.
i3s owner here, stunning cars .. so much fun and spacious.. makes other cars look and feel claustrophobic .. didnt think id take to it, but will take it whenever its free over my v90cc such is the nice ride..
best bit is .. a brilliant infotainment system that has no bloody touchscreen, no forced driving senses.. and programmable buttons.. its supberb ,, every one of my car nut friends who drives it sends me a message next day saying they are looking for one ... soon as i get some spare cash it needs to go on a steering wheel like this alos has the bonus that when i jump into the weekend TVR i get sensory overload if ive been riding te suoer quite and smooth i3s
best bit is .. a brilliant infotainment system that has no bloody touchscreen, no forced driving senses.. and programmable buttons.. its supberb ,, every one of my car nut friends who drives it sends me a message next day saying they are looking for one ...
soon as i get some spare cash it needs to go on a steering wheel like this alos has the bonus that when i jump into the weekend TVR i get sensory overload if ive been riding te suoer quite and smooth i3s The thing is, (I had this chat with the sales guy) I don't really get any kicks from the fast EV thing. Yes, of course, I want some power in reserve for an overtake etc when needed and there is a certain entertainment to be had from instant shove out of junctions when others are still sat there....but for an actual going out for a DRIVE then they do still lack behind an entertaining, characterful, manual ice car. I'm sure that will change over time to a certain extent but revving something out to a crescendo, timing smooth gear changes, rev matching on the way down and so on is still something I want to do on occasion.
The i3 and I have bonded very well this week and I am thoroughly enjoying it as a daily and quite entertaining do everything car but for me the kicks come from the efficiency of it rather than reasonable performance.
Looking forward to 5.0m/kWh + when the weather warms up a bit!
The i3 and I have bonded very well this week and I am thoroughly enjoying it as a daily and quite entertaining do everything car but for me the kicks come from the efficiency of it rather than reasonable performance.
Looking forward to 5.0m/kWh + when the weather warms up a bit!
agreed, on the missing sensory thing.. they just feel so right as a daily commute on town car , super cheap charged over night .. 7k miles was about 120 quid .. what EVS should be IMO , a replacemnt petrol head replacement sportscar they are not ,even though the i3 is tad over 6 seconds. and plenty fast enough.. .. easy to fix these i3's and a few great specialist .. wisley automotive to name one ..
Luke. said:
so called said:
Hi had a 2016 i3 Rex followed by a 2019 i3S.
Very much enjoyed owning both.
Used to see 5m/kWh on a daily 100 mile round trip duel carriageway commute at 62mph.
Only changed as I need to increase the size.
The cheep home charging paid for the car finance.
At the then 6p/kWh - 5m/kWh for 100 miles = £1.20x 2 days/month = £22.40/month.
ICE (Disco or Tuscan) £25/day x 20 = £500/month.
How did you find the i3S after the Rex? Planning on doing the same move.Very much enjoyed owning both.
Used to see 5m/kWh on a daily 100 mile round trip duel carriageway commute at 62mph.
Only changed as I need to increase the size.
The cheep home charging paid for the car finance.
At the then 6p/kWh - 5m/kWh for 100 miles = £1.20x 2 days/month = £22.40/month.
ICE (Disco or Tuscan) £25/day x 20 = £500/month.
Also, apart from being quicker, I found the suspension much better. I always thought that there was a secondary rear end suspension reaction caused by the Rex engine mounts.
The i3S was a great car.
Thoroughly enjoying the i3 and current range seems to be around 170-185 miles which is better than I was hoping for given the ambient temps just now.
The dealership experience (main dealer) has unfortunately left a very sour impression which has resulted in me having to go to the utter faff of making an official complaint against them through BMW CS (not holding out much hope for that either....) that does somewhat take the shine off the new to me car experience.
Hey-ho and all that, its the car that matters.
The dealership experience (main dealer) has unfortunately left a very sour impression which has resulted in me having to go to the utter faff of making an official complaint against them through BMW CS (not holding out much hope for that either....) that does somewhat take the shine off the new to me car experience.
Hey-ho and all that, its the car that matters.
I came down the dual carriageway from Aberdeen after collecting. I stuck in on cruise at 60mph and it gave 4.1 m/kWh average on a cold (6C ambient dry day). Left with 98% charge, did 77 miles and had 54% battery (86 miles) left so I was pleased with that compared to the Mii. I am now averaging 4.6 m/kWh over the last 2 weeks of general running around.
It moves around a touch in side winds but nothing sinister so far and certainly no worse than other higher sided stuff I've driven.
It moves around a touch in side winds but nothing sinister so far and certainly no worse than other higher sided stuff I've driven.
Gradually making it 'mine', 15 mins with some furniture clinic leather cleaner and the steering wheel (after {and I kid you not} literally turning brown and running down onto a cloth I had handy) is now cream again. The main dealer was unable to manage that....tossers. Did the same to the pleather sides of the seats and arm rests. Proper wash revealing dulled area of bodywork that I had mentioned twice to the dealer. Infinity dark glaze hand polish and within minutes marks were gone, AG HD wax to keep it shiny and some AG glass polish to remove the streaks they were incapable of removing. Looks much better!
I want to shampoo the seat fabric but need a warmer day, I suspect a similar result there too.....
Cream! (not mottled brown...)
I want to shampoo the seat fabric but need a warmer day, I suspect a similar result there too.....
Cream! (not mottled brown...)
TheRainMaker said:
What are these like on the motorway etc?
Does the range drop a lot? Do they get buffeted around at all?
I'm thinking about getting one as an everyday car, but I would need to do the odd motorway work trip.
The i3s is fine at speed but the efficiency drops off after 60mph, so you need to drive accordingly, if your journey is about the range of the car. Otherwise I don't worry about it as it's so cheap to charge.Does the range drop a lot? Do they get buffeted around at all?
I'm thinking about getting one as an everyday car, but I would need to do the odd motorway work trip.
I drove an i3 back to back and the non 's' version is not as stable. Noticeably so I thought but everyone is different. A mate felt the same so fitted some spacers. 15mm on the front and 20mm on the rear. He thinks it's made a big difference so an option.
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