2017 BMW i3 BEV 33 KWh / 94 Ah BIG BATTERY with Range Extender TECH REVIEW (1 of 2)

For the first time ever on the show, MotoMan looks at a BMW from the BMWi division: The 2017 BMW i3 BEV with the Range Extender. The key difference to this BMW i3 over the 2014 – 2016 version is the 50% increase in battery capacity from 22 KHh/60 Ah to 33 KWh/94 Ah. However, being this is the first time we are looking at the BMW i3 together on the show, MotoMan goes through the more high tech features and manufacturing of this BMW . . .

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2017 BMW 530 / 530e / 540 / 550 / 5er / G30 5 Series TECH REVIEW (1 of 2)

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[dlittlester]

I just got a chance to drive a friend's used 2014. Retired now, but I spent over 40 years in the car industry and had a chance to drive some nice cars. This was the nicest.

[gazzaprosser]

Adore it. I am a died in the wool car addict, with a good sports car history. Just buying my wife one of these to replace a GLK. Love the engineering detail. Detest electric cars based on gasoline car platforms. Flat floors, no front 'engine' space. Well done BMW. Unfortunately going to tank in value - always going to be the case when jumping onto the bandwagon early...

[ayoooo]

When I first saw it in person, it blew my mind. Its fresh for the times.

[DerpMcDerp]

A lot of people say this car is ugly i think it looks cooler than 80% of the cars on the road

[BradKalinoski]

Simply the best electric car for the money. Period. My first BMW Ive owned. And Im totally sold for life on this car and BMW's

[johnhyoutube]

Design? Love it. It is the spiritual successor to my much loved and (much under-rated) Audi A2. That's high praise.

[djgate]

Saying the range extender is not "designed" for long distances is a bit misleading and insinuates its incapable of this. More correctly its intentional use is a back up to the battery range but it is capable of driving any distance if the driver keeps filling the miniscule tank.

[raymondwong]

As a first attempt for a new-breed EV by BMW, I think the design is already very advance for the time being. I test drove two of them one is pure-EV, the other with REX. I tried going in and out of the backseats and was very easy to do so. The backseats had good size and space, I did not feel cramped at all. I love the sound system, the view of the back windows as they are big. I love how fast it just took off at the stoplights! I think BMW will make improvement for the second generation, especially increasing the width of the tires so that it is more capable at cornering, but it was not bad at all, just not the kind of corner-eating BMWs which I had grown accustomed to. It still gave an entertaining ride and the comfort level was quite high. I also noticed that the sitting position was higher than a sedan, so the view ahead was great too. And the self-parking was very fun too, and it worked three times out of the three times I tried. The recycled materials felt odd at first, but then once I started driving, I forgot about them already and it felt natural and I felt good about myself driving something that did good for mother natural. The auto-cruise worked faultlessly as well following the car in front on freeway with no problem. Also, I love the truck, which is big enough for a 50inch TV as it seemed. In a nutshell, I can see the i3 becoming very successful with a longer range (180 - 220 USA miles should suffix for most people), and wider tires, may be 195 instead of 155/175. I think it will sell well. Oh, last but not least, put up more super-charging stations for i3 owners or BMW owners too. It means something unique about owning a BMW EV. I know I am taking a page from Tesla. Hey, as my professor always suggests, "copying something good without harm is virtue!"

[fastandcurious]

Love the design. Wide doors for easy entry. Because of the frameless doors you can even enter the car in tightly parked spaced by lowering the windows and hunching over to slip into the seats. The design is surprisingly functional. The interior so modular that in theory you should be able to replace and improve materials, including the screens. BMW was initially too lazy marketing the car because they had so many requests for test drives. Big opportunity missed to market this car as a mobility service offer.

[girardmollayan]

Currently shopping for one, video helped a lot. Thanks!

[femiabiodun]

I actually love the design and the rationale behind the extender

[accidental_relevance]

You may be disappointed with the small front truck ( Frunk ) but if you live uptown like I do, and dine out regularly like I do, you will likely love the minimal amount of car that is in front of and behind the wheels. This design feature makes this car very easy to maneuver and park in tight spaces. Mega, Tera and Giga World are the three trim packages. I've never heard one referred to as a Pterodactyl so that may be a regional thing.

[clsamgwagon]

Carbon fiber is slang for CFRP which is carbon fiber reinforced plastic, so yes it is made of carbon fiber

[toptobottom]

When I look at this car and stand next to it. The first thing that comes to mind is small cars like the Mini Cooper and Fiat, IQ, Fortwo. If I had to choose...I would rather drive the BMW i3 full electric with upgraded battery. Why? Because the other cars I mentioned are too little for me and sit too low to the ground. The BMW i3 is way roomer and very comfortable and drives extremely well. If I'm gonna sit low to the ground it better damn well be a Porsche 911 Targa 4S.

[davetravels]

I like it. The design also means that you sit higher and have a smaller foot print, which are essential when driving in congested European cities, where this car shines.

[TheSmallRabbit]

I have just bought a 2019 i3 120Ah / 42Kwh and have just performed a long range test at 10-17C. I started with 100% battery and a predicted range of 158miles on the GOM. I have driven hybrids now for 12 years and I am aware what a light pedal foot has on economy. So off we set on the 84 mile trip with a mix of motorway (60%) A road (40%) . Outbound heading for the coast there's more negative gradients but it will all level up on the return. As this is a max range test I put the car in Eco PRO and turn off the heating/cooling. I get between 10 - 22Kwh/100Km and a light foot also mean that I see quite a bit of regen. When I arrived at my destination I had a GOM range left of ! 130 Miles (84 + 130) = 214 miles.
I charge to 100% again and then on the return when I arrived home the GOM said 100 miles so a return range of 184 miles. I expect these ranges to drop by switching to Comfort and adding some heating however even if these settings suck 20 miles of range that's still 194 and 168 miles so taking the worst case 168miles that's very close to what BMW expect this car to achieve and by switching to ECO PRO 180 is also possible for most of the year and for most journeys. Remember my home journey was full of positive gradients to reach the destination at 333m.
So with this I have confidence this car can easily achieve its 160 mile range as quoted under these temps which in the UK is pretty standard. I am well impressed with this car it drives likes its on rails and accelerates like a rocket. :-)

[TheJoeMB]

Love the styling. It's fresh and funky.

[robmorgan]

I've owned my i3 for the past 3 months....have to say, the looks at some angles are 'challenging' however, that said every other car I have driven since feels antiquated. I honestly think I will never buy/lease another ICE....instant torque is addictive, the handling is interesting at times but generally fun, and the way it just demolishes most cars up to 40mph off the line is hilarious!

I would urge anyone to get out there and try one on an extended test drive - if this is the entry level for BMW i cars, I cannot wait to see what the i5 will be like!

[svenpaullevin]

Love it. Wife shopping for one now. And yes I drive 2016 mustang gt premium performance pkg. She however replacing her mazda mx5 for this. Design is really appealing.

[kahrenthriscutt]

I like it... love the back doors. Very quick of the mark.