[gds52]

In the age of Tesla's range, i3 should be doing 250-300 miles on a change.

[Macphisto]

For both the i3 and i3 REX?

[Die ///M Rakete]

30% increase on an existing platform isn't peanuts

[bayarea328xit]

Curb weight for 2019 i3s: 3034 lbs
- from Jason's post yesterday

Curb weight for 2018 i3s: 3005 lbs
- from: https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/bmwi...fications.html

Change in weight: 29 lbs (change of ~ 1%)

We don't have the EPA numbers for the 2019 i3s yet but anything close to 30% in range is amazing...

This shows the ridiculous rate at which battery technology is evolving.

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by gds52

In the age of Tesla's range, i3 should be doing 250-300 miles on a change.

Tesla is more of a long distance vehicle than the small town car which i3 is. Very few would need more than the 120Ah battery and the range it gives. It really is a great package with this new battery, is even better!

[M3GymNut]

153 mile range is still not that good.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by M3GymNut

153 mile range is still not that good.

It's also to slow

[rallybull]

Originally Posted by ron_jeremy

Tesla is more of a long distance vehicle than the small town car which i3 is. Very few would need more than the 120Ah battery and the range it gives. It really is a great package with this new battery, is even better!

Way to justify the existence of this car by calling it a "small town car"

This is 2018 and when there are other EV "small town cars" such as leaf or bolt that are either much cheaper to putt around the city, or are "peppier" (I did not call them "faster" as peppier is a happier term for small town cars ) or actually both, can't understand to whom BMW is really marketing these cars.

Forget Tesla Model 3. The i3 first needs to beat the Bolt and leaf.

[Ras550]

Originally Posted by rallybull

Way to justify the existence of this car by calling it a "small town car"

This is 2018 and when there are other EV "small town cars" such as leaf or bolt that are either much cheaper to putt around the city, or are "peppier" (I did not call them "faster" as peppier is a happier term for small town cars ) or actually both, can't understand to whom BMW is really marketing these cars.

Forget Tesla Model 3. The i3 first needs to beat the Bolt and leaf.

^^^Couldn't agree with this more. Less than two thirds the range of the bolt. Looks no better than either the Bolt or the Leaf. And overpriced to boot. This should be priced at $30K (i.e. leaf) to be competitive. Maybe a $ 5K premium for the interior (only thing likeable about the car).

And this is coming from someone who ordered and almost bought an i3 REX 3 years ago. Back then they looked avante garde. Now they just look plain bad. I'm so glad I didn't buy one of these.

[BMW M Power Mexico]

This is a car that enthusiasts love to hate but actual owners tend to love.

Comparing it to a Bolt is ridiculous as if range was the only important metric. I've driven both i3 and Bolt and the latter is on a completely different (lower) level quality wise. It's an econobox.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - to me this looks quirky in a good way.

It drives very well. I'd love to get a used one soon as its basic range is more than enough for our daily need.s

[-c-]

Well I was one of the first adopters of the i3 and sold my 135is to get one, loved it through and through, it's modern many don't like modern, some will call it ugly because it doesn't look the part of what a "BMW" is in their mind, but that's ok. It's a very smart package and getting in and out of it is very nice vs my TT RS, now that the range is getting up their it would make sense to buy a cheap used 2014 - 2015 for 14k dollars and pay the 5k dollar battery buy back programs and upgrade the batteries. So I'd have full range !

And comparing it to a leafs or bolt is retarded, their econo boxes made of steel and crap materials. The i3 uses premium materials and space age tech compared to those. Plus way better built as well. Car will never rust, aluminum, carbon, thermal plastics.

Now just need the USA to support the program so we can update the old batteries.


Also even though Bmw rated it at 80 miles, I was able to get over 120 miles per charge as long as I drove without the ac on. Now in the fall and spring and some days in the summer that was fine. 80 was the range with ac on and driving in comfort mode.

So they where being realistic with their range projections. Now with a 150 mile range I bit I could stretch that to well over 200 miles. Remember Bmw limits the battery from fully draining and being fully charged to assist with the life span of the batteries, Tesla did not a while ago and not sure what they do now.

So theirs technically 20% or so still Un-utilized on the current Bmw batteries.

[hans007]

One would think they could probably get even more range, if they put batteries in the empty spot where the range extender and fuel tank are for non REX models. Perhaps in the next gen.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Ras550

^^^Couldn't agree with this more. Less than two thirds the range of the bolt. Looks no better than either the Bolt or the Leaf. And overpriced to boot. This should be priced at $30K (i.e. leaf) to be competitive. Maybe a $ 5K premium for the interior (only thing likeable about the car).

And this is coming from someone who ordered and almost bought an i3 REX 3 years ago. Back then they looked avante garde. Now they just look plain bad. I'm so glad I didn't buy one of these.

I've gone through 12 cars in my lifetime now. The i3 REx is one of the only cars that I would buy again back-to-back. It really is one of my favorite cars that I have owned. Notice I didn't say the best: electric only range isn't that great, it looks kinda weird, the suicide doors are sometimes cumbersome. It my favorite because its such a joy to drive on my commute. It's perfect around town, it's not pretentious, but it's still a BMW and it's still kind of sticks out as being unique in it's own way.

The Bolt, however, has a lot going for it. I love the range of the Bolt, but to me there is no passion in it, it's so boring in it's functionality. It still looks like an electric car, but not in a way that makes it interesting: it looks more like an economy car trying to look futuristic but not quite succeeding. The i3, on the other had, is polarizing enough to at least be interesting. There is nothing boring about the design, just look at it: its weird. Yet I can see the i8 styling cues, it still looks modern despite it's age. The interior has accomplished something that Tesla couldn't: beauty in simplicity. Where the Model 3 is stark and cold, the i3 is inviting and comforting, especially with the eucalyptus wood trim. No, it's not luxurious like a Rolls Royce, it's simple enough, nice enough.

[willjames]

I think that the i3 looks aren't great. I applaud the fact that they are trying to get in early with electric, however I wouldn't have one of these because of the way it looks. The range is reasonable and I'm sure it's a good car, but for me it should look like a BMW.

Make an electric car that looks like a 3er or 5er and I'd buy one tomorrow. BMW best be quick though because Tesla is a coming to the UK next year and if they aren't careful the model 3 may take some of BMW's customers. I think that most people who want an electric car, would want it to look like a car and not a box on wheels, whilst paying a reasonable cost.

[XsltAnalyst]

Nice bump in range. However, looking at the specs, I noticed opting in for the rex model cuts down the usable payload: 627 lb vs 814lb.
Also, looking at the sales data, they move about 6k units a year in NA, which is decent. It is selling more than X4, 6 series, several mini cooper models, and almost same amount as X6. Source:

https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/a...04EN_US/413782


Anyway, I would lease one or get a used one in a heartbeat if I had a place to charge. Interior has a lovely clean fresh design and it's a nice place to be in. Outside still looks futuristic and I like the fact that it's designed totally different from anything else. It's an interesting car, and it drives pretty nice too. I actually like the look a lot better than tesla model 3.


Also, you can say it's kind of an exotic car. It's mostly made out of carbon fiber, has rear engine, RWD layout, and you don't see a lot of them driving around. Few years ago Munro & Associates did a tear down and they have an hour long video about why it was one of the most advanced cars they've seen.

[135iUSN]

I leased a '15 for 2 years and was overall pleased.

What was disappointing was the dealer at turn in never even tried to get me into another BMW. Turned in the car and had to take Uber home. I lived less than 10 mins away. He said everyone was busy. I looked right at him and said, "Really, those two salesmen, on their phones - texting, I see are super busy"

I got up and walked out …

ANYWAY

I made about 4 trips about 640 miles in a trip. I had the Rex and unlocked the system to have the engine kick on at 75%. What did suck was getting gas about 70 miles and I'd keep about 65 mpg. I'd end up at my destination with about 10% charge.

With the updates, I hope to hell they improved the LED lighting, it sucked.

What's missing in the updates for me is HUD and true H/K sound system.

[slamboogie]

I personally love the design and the aesthetic of the i3. The line is gorgeous and yes it is a departure from the classic BMW aesthetics but it is still unique just like every other BMWs. I am accustomed to seeing these type of future car design during my college days from the transportation design department at Art Center in Pasadena. I've always enjoyed seeing this modern aesthetic then...And I love it now. Frankly, it is a treat and I applaud BMW to be a leader in the automotive industry to have the courage to release such a daring avante-garde concept looking EV in the market.

[SpenceRx]

These still seem expensive for what they are. The recycled materials of the interior don't scream quality

[sc68z28]

Attachment 1907214

^^^^^^^^^^^
5 seats! If true, this is important.
I'm surprised this isn't mentioned anywhere. Or did I miss something?

---Bill.

[sc68z28]

https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s...g=1715&slide=9

Looks like 4 seats in this pic.
Probably the spec sheet is a miss print.

---Bill.

[Kjenndal]

Hopefully the Mini E will also get this battery package.

[raysspl]

Well at least BMW achieved one of their goals. Easy parking this small thing