[JasH]

When moving off from a standstill, with a rapidly applied throttle pedal for a rapid take off at the lights, the car moves off very slowly initially with gentle acceleration for a fraction of a second, and then accelerates hard and consistently.

It is as if the torque is very low for a fraction of a second, for a smooth start, and then you get full torque from thereon.

It is in marked contrast to the Tesla S, which lurches hard off the line.

Very annoying at the "Traffic Light GP" when you want to get ahead to jump into another lane

I have now experienced this in two i3 cars, and it is normal per the dealer; a dealer ReX and my BEV. But does anyone know why the i3 suffers from this?

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by JasH

When moving off from a standstill, with a rapidly applied throttle pedal for a rapid take off at the lights, the car moves off very slowly initially with gentle acceleration for a fraction of a second, and then accelerates hard and consistently.

It is as if the torque is very low for a fraction of a second, for a smooth start, and then you get full torque from thereon.

It is in marked contrast to the Tesla S, which lurches hard off the line.

Very annoying at the "Traffic Light GP" when you want to get ahead to jump into another lane

I have now experienced this in two i3 cars, and it is normal per the dealer; a dealer ReX and my BEV. But does anyone know why the i3 suffers from this?

They dial back the power off the line to keep traction sure footed mostly, then the power is dialed up a couple of notches.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

They dial back the power off the line to keep traction sure footed mostly, then the power is dialed up a couple of notches.

Yes, that is what it feels like. Very annoying, and Tesla see no need for that even with a far more powerful motor.

Is this fixable, to have maximum power right away?

[GeorgeJ.]

Tesla also has pretty massive rubber on the road. The i3 tires are about the narrowest on any car since the 1960's. I have found acceleration to be pretty satisfying off the line and this from a guy that just traded a Dinan tuned 135i with 402 lb ft of torque.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by GeorgeJ.

Tesla also has pretty massive rubber on the road. The i3 tires are about the narrowest on any car since the 1960's.

True, but then the Tesla has LOT more power to deliver.

My point is just that it seems stupid of BMW to handicap the car in moving off. At least they should give us a user menu option to disable the "smooth move off".

Anyone know if there is a launch control mode/sequence on the i3? I realise it is unlikely

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by JasH

Yes, that is what it feels like. Very annoying, and Tesla see no need for that even with a far more powerful motor.

Is this fixable, to have maximum power right away?

I doubt it. They program it to be usable for the masses. So while I agree unless everybody who bought one complained I doubt you'd see a software update to correct it.

[JasH]

Thanks for replying. It is highly unlikely that many i3 buyers will complain about this, so I suppose I am out of luck

[hotrod182]

Originally Posted by JasH

Thanks for replying. It is highly unlikely that many i3 buyers will complain about this, so I suppose I am out of luck

I think it is very irritating. My Focus EV is the same way. No power to the motor right off the line. Interestingly enough, the LEAF has instantaneous throttle response in the 0-30 mph range. As slow as it is 0-60, it can beat many cars across the intersection.

[SunnyD]

I just noticed this today, probably because I rarely floor it off the line, but it is semi-annoying that it retards power initially for a split second before taking off.

[Touring]

Did you try in traction mode? That will allow some wheel spin. I do that if I'm in a hurry.

[-c-]

The new update actually reduces the torque even further as even with the soft start their breaking motor mounts, so now it's an even softer start, though it's hardly noticeable still sucks.

[JasH]

Noooooo

Mine was updated a week ago, but I have yet to drive it since then.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by JasH

Yes, that is what it feels like. Very annoying, and Tesla see no need for that even with a far more powerful motor.

Is this fixable, to have maximum power right away?

It is absolutely fixable, but the reason BMW wont do it is also the motivation for dialing torque back with Nov'15 software update - i3 were starting to go through engine mounts like candy.

Observe the amount of flex and deflection in the engine mounts at speed:

a

[-c-]

You know with all the engine movement I wonder if either aluminum or a stiffer urethane was used if that would help with takeoff?

I mean torque is lost with all that engine give.

I noticed a big difference when I turned my mini coop into a track car and replaced all the rubber mounts with either solid metal or stiffer urethane, I had to upgrade the bolts as well as with the added strain they could sheer, seems like a good option for a tuner to make some robust mounts and retune the software .

But who knows all that extra torque we would probably be lighting up the traction control all the time.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by -c-

You know with all the engine movement I wonder if either aluminum or a stiffer urethane was used if that would help with takeoff?

I mean torque is lost with all that engine give.

Completely agree.
However, I also remember the i3 tear down video interview, where Munro dude showed the aluminum die-cast structure that is used as suspension attachment points on i3. His point was that this is not normally done as it is not strong enough.

I wonder if BMW can't firm up the engine mounts (and suspension for better handling) at the risk of crushing the flimsy die-cast mounting structures...

Originally Posted by -c-

But who knows all that extra torque we would probably be lighting up the traction control all the time.

Unless you turn it off, completely.
Which can easily be done with coding (also essential for winter driving ;-)

a

[-c-]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Completely agree.
However, I also remember the i3 tear down video interview, where Munro dude showed the aluminum die-cast structure that is used as suspension attachment points on i3. His point was that this is not normally done as it is not strong enough.

I wonder if BMW can't firm up the engine mounts (and suspension for better handling) at the risk of crushing the flimsy die-cast mounting structures...

Unless you turn it off, completely.
Which can easily be done with coding (also essential for winter driving ;-)

a

Yea forgot to mention that about the trailing arms being die cast, but I would think the engine being mounted to the aluminum frame would take most of the torque. I guess the only way to find out would be to make them and do testing. Their are always things that normally weren't done that with new teck now can be achieved with great results, like with newer technologies we can test things like this and make things that normally would fail work, my uncles company a few years back where experimenting with plastic engine blocks and even porcelain instead of metals with great success but those ideas are usually shelved by the OEM's due to cost and other factors but they work now, 20 years ago that kind of stuff was witch craft.

Also as we develop new vehicles we run tests that subject the vehicle to conditions much worse than it would ever see in the real world, it's possible that even with new motor mounts and such, the trailing arms would still be ok but we would only know that after extensive testing.

Common tuner companies let's start experimenting .

[Kiwi]

The i3 is not designed as a sports car and as I found out you have to dial the way you drive back from being a sports car driver. It's a car for cruising but I did find it is supper fast changing lanes when your at 50mph.

I haven't found any problem at lights as I have quick reaction and this is the difference not the car but your reaction to when the lights turn green as I would be well ahead of all drivers and this goes for any type of car I drive. It could be a Toyota Corolla I'm driving and I've well left the lights before anyone else.

[-c-]

Originally Posted by Kiwi

The i3 is not designed as a sports car and as I found out you have to dial the way you drive back from being a sports car driver. It's a car for cruising but I did find it is supper fast changing lanes when your at 50mph.

I haven't found any problem at lights as I have quick reaction and this is the difference not the car but your reaction to when the lights turn green as I would be well ahead of all drivers and this goes for any type of car I drive. It could be a Toyota Corolla I'm driving and I've well left the lights before anyone else.

Yep I know it's not designed as a sports car but it can still have an improved 0-60 times, and torque transfer

Nothing wrong with that. Plus I find its more than sporty enough, but improved takeoff would be nice

Funny though if you put the i3 against old sports cars of days past it blow them away even in the twists, just have to change your era of Sports cars and I guess you could call it a sports car then.

Which then adds to the point what is a sports car? Brings back memories of British sports cars back in the day when they where underpowered but a joy to drive and gave you a great feeling, is this car so different ? It's light, nimble, quick and still handles the twisties just fine even with thin tires, remember the Austin Healy bug eye! Had very narrow tires but a hoot to drive. so yes I guess I can think of the i3 as a sports car even has a sporty look about it.


Same as a current day minivan is as fast or faster than a lot of old muscle cars of the 70's and they handle better too

[-c-]

http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/i3/2014/l...ce-tested.html


I mean it seems the i3 shares the same slalom speed as some other much faster cars ! So I guess you can't not call it sporty
They tested a 63+ mph speed for the Rex the BEV may be faster. Lowered may also improve that time.

[-c-]

Shoot this truck wasn't designed as a sports car but dang I'd love to drive it . Hehe

http://m.imgur.com/XhuDGOE?r

[hotrod182]

Really wish they would fix the irritating ramp up. At least have a sport mode we could engage that would allow full throttle launches, and leave it up to the driver to modulate the throttle for traction. I have done several Vbox tests. The 2016 GLC300 Merc I was driving could pull 5.9 sec 0-60 mph with its AWD and brake boost launch. However from 10-50mph, the i3 has a quicker time. So if not for the lazy launch, the i3 would easily be a 6 second flat performer.

[Kiwi]

I had an i3 out for a test drive today and liked the no sound when jumping between lanes and not having the auto box finding the correct gear. The steering does wobble a little but I can put up with that as have my 2 series for sporty driving with the top down.