BMW i3 Review: Is this classic electric vehicle still worth considering? | WhichEV

I have had two of these. It's just that I love it. Not least for the fun drive.

Obviously hasn’t had the car long or it’s not his as he didn’t even know how to get into the rear without killing himself. The seats pivot forward idiot!

'TeSS-La', not 'TeZLuh'.

I have had my “Litl’ Blue” 2017 BMW i3 BEV 33Kw 94Ah since 01/25/2021. I bought it in showroom condition from an original owner with 24k on the odometer. I’m 75, drive it about 30-100 miles a month mostly to pick up online ordered groceries and to visit the VA clinic. I use a 240V, 16A (3.84Kw) Level 2 charger in my carport routed inside as an alternate to my dryer outlet. I get 13.5 miles per hour of charging, and at home my FPL electric cost is $0.031 per Mile. If there is a more perfect EV out there, I simply don’t want it. I don’t need more range, acceleration, styling, features, reliability, comfort, handling, or value. Litl’ Blue is obviously my Forever Car. Paid $16,500 but was offered $24,000 by Edmunds 3 months ago which tickled my worn out ego.

Nice job on the review! In every way, this is one of the best electric vehicles on the road. It only need updated internal technology to remain relevant and somehow reduce the price for this car

Is it reliable ?

Can it be taken for road trip and is it reliable ?

190 miles of range? WTF? How does it get 190miles? Does it have a bigger battery than we do in the USA? 120ah is the biggest battery we got.

I want to buy one even though it's being discontinued. Will it continue to be available after production stops in July 2022? Will support and service be a challenge? Will spare parts be impossible to find?

I can’t imagine why anyone would buy this. It’s more expensive than a Tesla and with less range and tech. The fact that they charge for literally every feature is just an insult added to the injury of this car’s MSRP. I find this car so offensive I’m never going to consider BMW ever again. This is highway robbery.

I loved this video and am sorely tempted to trade my BMW 120i for this model. Plenty of references to this being a City Car. What’s it like on A roads or motorways? My daily commute is 35 miles, but on pretty fast roads. Anyone out there know the answer ?

Would you recommend to get it used in today's market? Or are there better choices now? (used market)

Haha! I enjoyed your video! It’s funny 😆

I loved the doors on my RX-8 so someone with no kids mainly driving a 50 ish miles I would definitely consider a 94 range extender version. Found a 16, really high spec for just under 15k, any thoughts? What about managing longer trips, is it really all that bad? I was thinking to carry a 5L petrol canister for that anxiety control - on top of what that small tank can hold (9L). Thx for posting this very informative video.

Love the exterior and it has decent acceleration for a small car but I feel some of the interior from the seats back just needs refinement

Great review. Good pace. No waffle and a bit of wit. 👍🏾

Reminds me how great my 18 year old Audi A2 is. Thank you.

Talk in km to man

2013 was before Tesla was a thing? I'm not sure I agree 100% with your police work there Lue. Tesla was already producing the Model S back then, and it had also produced the Roadster from like 08 to 2011 ish (forget the exact dates). I bealive that was also the year they announced the Model X. I did get a chuckle out of the "I didn't taste the seats to confirm this" line though! LMAO!

Really love the I3s, it‘s a fun car, absolutly.

Here in the United States, a used i3 is amazingly affordable. I purchased a low-mileage 2018 94Ah BEV in January 2021 for 40% of the MSRP. After an unfortunate rear end accident which totaled the vehicle, I bought a similar low-mileage 2019 120 Ah BEV for about 60% of the MSRP. My own personal experience is that the 120Ah battery is at a real sweet spot for the vehicle. That little bit of extra range makes a big difference for more extended trips in the US where we don't have a fully built out charging network. It also doesn't burden the car with more weight and more cost for a bigger battery while providing sufficient range for about town driving without having to be overly concerned with planning ahead for when one will charge it again. Sorry to hear that 2021 is the last year for the i3 in the US.

Journalists seem to have forgotten about the adorable i3 when they talk about EVs. The looks are not to everyone's taste, but driving one sure puts a smile on your face. Also the radical materials construction creates a car that will never rust and is super light weight.

Subtly humour throughout.

I love love that the car uses physical buttons and not those stupid touch sensitive buttons the ID3 has.

I’d like if it had smaller wheels to increase comfort.

there was a weird ugly thing called a i3

For people doing short journeys that is cheap motoring, after you have bought the car which is expensive, but fast forward a few years when many more are driving them and it will become expensive as the government rack up electric charge prices and/or introduce road pricing. Unless you have off road charge facilities at home you are screwed which I am sure is the governments intention as they want more people to walk,cycle and use public transport

Thanks

In my market the i3 has the second highest depreciation of any volume production car (BMW 7 series is first). Throw in the fact that a Prius (a much better car, more reliable and much cheaper to maintain) is half the price of an i3 with range extender and I can't for the life of me think why anyone would buy one.

Great description overall. But! The outfit has to go. You need smaller pants and a jacket to better present yourself. Great narrative voice so you got yourself a subscriber but please dress better as to appear competitive

Watching this from the United States and seeing the streets and the driving I'm like wait whoa y'all in the wrong side of the road!! I'm going to this car

SHAM BMW DID DEVELOP THE i3 or will they?
Love i3' dream of developing the small light i3 to a Tesla challenger A.w.d 2 motors 370bh hot hatch or i3M 3 motors 545hp. Go cart i3 is fun! what ever 😁​@UC4JMU7SIKBaCcjltpe1QyoQ
Thank you for your review agree😁

I have a 94ah S Rex and currently couldn’t think of anything I’d swap it for. I3S is now better value since the recent price decrease to make them eligible for the grant. If they did a battery equivalent of 50kWh I’d still go for one I love how it drives, its interior (especially lodge which I have) and it’s quirkiness. Despite its age it still feels like driving a futuristic concept car.

We love our i3 just as many say they do here too... we have a 2018 - no extender, which is what we wanted. We've had nothing go wrong and it's a easy car to live with!

The bmw salesman was dead set on offering a wall charge box. I kept reminding him I only drive maybe 30 miles a day tops so I'm fine with the 3 pin. He got so frustrated in the end he just thanked me and walked off? They that stubborn they're willing to lose a sale over a wall charger?
Went with a hybrid in the end as most other EVs weren't what I was looking for and they fudged up selling me the i3 already

Nice video :)) The unique building prosess of i3... Carbon-fiber Reinforced Plastic. Its manly used on sportscar and formula 1 cars.
This is one of the reasons of its higher price compare to other EV. A light weight car 1270 kg inkl battery. Love iT. :))

Great review. I still think it's competitive even today😃😃😃Love our 2018 i3 thinking of up grade to new i3s or second hand Tesla. The i3 is great fun car 🚗😀👍😊 we do get 3 of us and 3 fold up bikes 🏍😀 we comut 120 miles very happy with our i3 😀.

You might have mentioned that the i3 is a great value as a pre-owned EV. All the pluses without the high initial price.

I genuinely think these are the ugliest cars ever made, especially the ones with the blue grilles. Don’t get me started on the ridiculous bicycle tires.

Nice review! I also recognise its East Finchley!

Dam this car are coool