BMW i3 - Owner's Review

Before we turn in our three year old BMW i3S, we wanted to give you a long-term review of BMW's first electric car. This is the BMW i3S (Sport), fully electric and painted in Imperial Blue.

In this review, we go over the driving range, battery capacity, charging speed, driving the car in the winter and during long road trips, and much more.

#bmwblog #bmwi3 #bmwi3s

[bmwblog]

Was the BMW i3 electric car ahead of its time? Do you own one?

[garrycroft]

Here I am back after a year, now at 10, 500 miles. I still love every minute driving this car.

[jimthomas]

Just picked a 2017 REX, and it really grows on you, the more you drive it.

[VSS]

It's a great car. It's actually got character and is fun. Owned one for 5 and a half years. Amazing sense of space in such a small car. Very relaxing to drive.

[egilandersen]

Nice video. I love my i3 - 43 kwh. I live in western part in Norway, i do easly 350 km in summer.
In winter i miss to have heated steering weel, have to use gloves all the time. I also have Hakkapelitta on my i3, and they work very good on snow and ice. Have lots up and down hills here, so no trouble getting up hills.
I think the the narrow tires, big wheels and the motor at the back of the car, is a good combination.

[justanotherdrunk]

On my 3rd i3 ...

2014 REX
2014 BEV
2018 S BEV

Like you said, it is a fantastic daily driver city car and all 3 of mine have been boat anchor reliable.

I've enjoyed all your i3 videos!

[nowkent]

Great info, getting Mini Cooper SE and this is so helpful, thanks!

[DAlba-lizg]

I getting one for my hvac controls service business. I’ve also seen i3 s towing long heavy trailers in CA like wow

[rudigerratzinger]

We recently bought a new 2021 i3s and still retained the 2014 i3 in the family. It’s still an advanced and innovated car that many other EVs lack, even tesla.

[ralevdotcom]

Love it! *both the car and the review

[kwenger]

Great video! I picked up one of these the other day. Awesome car!

[michaelkim]

Thanks for the vid. We've owned three i3 previously, such a great car! But it's nearly a crime that BMW never made the battery upgrade program a thing in the US - more than half of the installed base of i3s in the US were with the original small battery. Those cars can be easily picked up for $10K - $15K and if you could upgrade the battery, would be an awesome used car value even if the upgrade cost was $10K. BMW once had the lead in EV innovation, but now they are playing catch up...too bad.

[mikemyers]

2019 i3s BEV owner here and I enjoy every minute of driving it around the LA county area. We don't get much cold air but I definitely noticed the impact of highway real-world speed driving (aka 75-80mph) on range. It's significant. But the range has never caused a problem, we have Level 3 chargers all over around here and a Level 2 at home so I'm leaving with a full charge too.

[paulgaida]

Looking to get an i3s in the same exterior colour, especially as they just reduced the price here in the UK.
I do about 100-120 miles each day so hopefully with the bigger 120 amp battery 44kw I won’t need to charge too often between appointments.
Really impressed how good it is in the snow on winter tires!

[miscellaneouslyric]

I see this as a great run around/daily driver. The price of these in South Africa is a bit ridiculous

[cedarcanoe]

I own a secondhand 94Ah BMW i3 and Inam loving it to bits❤

[srenprregaard]

I have a 2014 i3, and a 2018 i3s, same blue color as yours... both bev’s - love them both.

Drove 65k km in the 2014 before I needed to replace the tyres, so I think you must drive a bit aggressive to go through the rubber like you do 😂 - at least compared to us.
Never had a single puncture... never had problems with the doorhandles either. Only had a issue with the locking mechanism in the chargeport, and a screen flicker... handled under warenty...

Best cars I’ve ever had.... Have a 225xe hybrid as well... it’s fine, a bit more practical as a family car, but I prefer the i3’s for almost every drive I take

[andyn]

one of the best bmw I3 reviews I ever seen. I'm about to buy one (2018 ) of course my wife is trying to convince me not to buy it lol. I also live in the Midwest . I was wondering what city were you driving by ? I live in MSN WI

[llavero]

Some points:
-Aero cx is not 0.29 (standar i3), is 0.32 for i3s.
-turning radius is worst for the i3s, standar have shorter turn radius for the narrow front tires.
-Traction control "a little better" is 50 times faster.
-Maybe you have a problem with the fog up, because the car have a sensor for delete that, check the sensor in BMW.
I will buy one soon.

[robjohnston]

Thanks for all the time you have spent on creating the pros and cons of the i3. Saw your video on the 2021, can you comment on how you have adapted to the 'terrestrial' noise coming from the i3 at speeds under 25 MPH?