Should you buy a BMW i3 in 2024?

To me it is still one of the best BMW's ever made. I should think everyone should consider it when they are contemplating an EV. If you are looking for a first EV or even if you are serial EV buyer. The unique BMW i3 is a true gem and truly unique car.

In this video I go over the pro's and cons. I hope you get some value out of it.

Thank you for watching.

[spurandy]

Absolutely you should buy one, my wife has a 2019 and it’s fantastic, I always want to drive it. Cannot see us ever selling it. I would recommend anyone getting an i3, it just makes you smile every time.

[jimf]

Hi Tom, I would say yes, buy an i3 in 2024. I love mine which has the Rex, I rarely use the Rex but it is handy on long runs. It is like having an extra 20Kwh battery! I can get 180 miles in winter and 210 miles in summer which I think is great, it's the best car I've ever had.

[nicholasroy]

Hey totally agree, bought our new (2020) i3s in January this year for £18.5k with 18, 000 miles.. a fantastic little car, great value for money. The 42kw battery is plenty for most trips up to 150 miles.. perhaps even more in the summer! Just love its quirky looks, lightness, speed off the line, ergonomics being a bmw fan boy anyway (my other car is a bmw i4 40).. The i3s was meant to be our second car, my wife’s car.. but I’ve ended up swapping over and driving it more as so enjoy its simplicity. Also it’s easy to park and has a turning circle like a London black cab, perfect for city living. We got some great options on this too.. I really recommend the sunroof, reversing camera, comfort access and lodge interior.. so totally different and still concept car looks. My advice would be to get one while you still can, as there’s still many low mileage examples available on the 2nd hand car market 👍✅ great videos keep up the good work!

[simonreeves]

Hi Tom, greetings from the U.K. I bought a new i3 in 2019, still have it, still love it. Now at 43k miles. My only niggle is the ride quality, which is quite harsh for my taste. My only expense has been 4 new tyres at 37k miles - I chose Continentals over the factory fit Bridgestones, imho the Continentals are a big improvement in terms of noise and comfort, and come with more tread depth than the Bridgestones. Shout out to Wisely Automotive for there excellent videos for i3 owners.

[markhowie]

Love mine too, had an e46 M3 prior and 640d just before too. But this thing is fun, costs next to nothing run and puts a smile on your face.

[kilianpeyer]

As an i4M50 owner, we just replaced our second car with a 3 year old i3s. And belive it or not, we sometimes fight who can take the i3 for the day. I love this little agile car….
There are downsides, range is limited, the suspension is a bit stiff……
At the end, it fits 4 adults comfortley and you can park it so easy.
Lucky I‘m privileged, i have a charger at home as well as in at the office. Range is not an issue.

[jetsan]

We're on our third: 2014, 2015, 2020. Bought the 2020 last summer with 14K mi. Nothing like it, best urban car ever.

[johnrussell]

If ever there was a cult car in the making, this is it. You know a car is in that category when drivers wave to one another. I can't imagine ever selling my i3. So cheap to run; so much fun.

[loonymoon]

After four years of driving i3S's (a 2018 S -Rex and now a 2022 120ah) I agree totally with your thoughts. I am coming to the end of my agreement and I'm going to refinance the remainder rather than hand it backas I can't even think about giving it back yet.. I've seen some newer cars but nothing ticks all the boxes like the little i3 Which is pretty amazing since even the latest iteration is OLD now by EV terms. All these young whippersnappers still had some catching up to do and they're only just getting there now - but none offer quite the unique "concept" experience like the i3.. and especially not for the kind of money you can get an i3 for now. If it suits your needs (and it won't suit all) it's a superb car. I feel priviledged to have owned not one but two.

[GustaafDemolder]

I use my i3-REX since december 2014 and get 204.000km on the counter. Last year I was from Belgium with my car in Rome -we were two drivers- yes I also like this car!

My i3s will probably be my last car.
I drive a Skoda Enyaq for work and had my boss's Kia EV6 GT for the weekend, but these cars are incredibly annoying with all the gimmicks and pseudo assistance systems (which are actually more annoying than helpful).
The i3 is still such a simple and easy-to-use car and the older I get, the more I learn to appreciate the simplicity of things.
And I especially love the completely noise-free driving, which has now been made impossible by meaningless regulations.

In times when a responsible person should think about what they do and how they do it, the i3 is the compromise between total sacrifice and the luxury of owning a car that I can justify to the next generation. I don't need more car, but it shouldn't be less either.

[BenEngel]

Finally a big fan like me 😊
At the up side I would like to add - amongst others - the small turning circle and the ease of parking in small parking places.
Who needs a bigger car when you’re driving alone or with up to three passengers (with little luggage)?
I’ve got a mid 2019 full optioned i3S with 55k km, a battery range of 230km in the winter (19”) and 280 in the summer (20”), both in Comfort (Eco is about 20-30km more).
Currently I see no alternative on the market and with the upcoming road tax (given the tariff for combustion cars, starting at 60% in 2025 up to 100% in 2030, based on weight) I’m laughing to all the SUV-EV’s with their +2000kilo and my 1365kilo 😎

Many save and happy kilometers to you 🤗

[cristianseres]

Hi Tom, greetings from Finland! I've driven my 2014 BMW i3 60 Ah for over 8 years and almost 100 000 kms. The car is a masterpiece in engineering, I like that there is not much to rust as panels are mostly plastic. The light interior is still very futuristic.
The biggest downside in my opinion is the suspension. With bad roads it is harsh and shaky on 19 inch wheels.

[InviWoW]

We got a 2018 i3s 94ah maxed out with 83k kms. I hope it will be forever our secondary family car for sub 300km travels and for the city. It’s just perfect. To be honest, we use our i3 much more than our “primary” car around 4:1

Now we are looking to replace our primary (travel) ICE car for an i4 or BYD Seal.

[GöranStenberg-kt]

This will probably be our next car when our leasing of a MG4 runs out next year.
There are not many new cars that make my heart beat faster nowadays, but this one does!
Thank you so very much for your video!

[yorckhagenbuch]

I'm currently considering buying a lease-return i3 (about 3 years old). The prices in Germany are about 50% below the new price because e-cars are selling very badly at the moment.
Your positive assessment is therefore very helpful and I only hope that you are not a BMW employee. 😁.

[SLJ]

Bought one of last i3S new in May 22. For my trips 95% in London and southeast England it’s been perfect. Medium length trips to Wales and Cornwall no problem - I target the older/slower 50 kWh rapids for those as theSUV brigade will be desperate for ultra- rapids. Agree tyre wear and replacement are a background worry but I get close to 5 miles/kWh in summer and maybe 4 in winter, so cheap to run yet great fun.

[TonOoms]

Love our I3 (2021 120AH) as a second car besides our Porsche Taycan RWD. Bought it in december 2023 with 13.000 km and now driven almost 19.000 km. fine second car!!

[joshcoverston]

Agreed! Just bought one a month ago and LOVE it

[andrevdhaak]

I drive mine for a month now, and it's such a joy to drive it!