[ian_i3S_iX]

It appears with the lastest battery upgrade the REX will be dropped according to this report
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/bmw-...-to-160-miles/


I was hoping the new battery + REX if needed would get me well into high speed charging territory from where I live but at 150 mile range EV only will be cutting it a bit fine.

Your views ?

[tankertoad]

That article is incorrect. Read the press release and any of the many other reports of the past few days and they all mention the REX getting similar range increases (yet to be determined).

[tankertoad]

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/2...w-i3-ev-debut/

"BMW also offers the i3 with a range-extending gas engine that helps alleviate range anxiety. BMW didn't say how much range to expect from the extended i3 with its new battery, but the automaker said that it should be "similarly improved." The most recent iteration of the range extender added 66 miles of range, according to the EPA. Adding 66 miles to the new i3 battery's estimated range would mean a 2019 i3 with the range extender could drive as far as 219 miles."

[ian_i3S_iX]

I hope you are right the on line build for 120Ah i3/i3S has no REX option !

[ian_i3S_iX]

Dealer just confirmed no REX for i3 and i3S for the new 120Ah model

It may be different in other countries

[bagekko]

I dont put much stock into what someone at the dealer says, especially about a model to be released 9 months from now. Unless there is some law or regulation in the UK that prevents it.

Originally Posted by ian_i8_i3

Dealer just confirmed no REX for i3 and i3S for the new 120Ah model

It may be different in other countries

[ian_i3S_iX]

Originally Posted by bagekko

I dont put much stock into what someone at the dealer says, especially about a model to be released 9 months from now. Unless there is some law or regulation in the UK that prevents it.

Deliveries will start in two months and the 120Ah is configurable online - that's good enough for me

[bagekko]

Rex only being dropped in Europe & UK

https://www.bmwblog.com/2018/10/04/b...red-in-the-us/

Originally Posted by ian_i8_i3

Deliveries will start in two months and the 120Ah is configurable online - that's good enough for me

[cc3]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Rex only being dropped in Europe & UK

https://www.bmwblog.com/2018/10/04/b...red-in-the-us/

Caught up in new emissions testing regulations. Big issue in Europe

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/n...range-extender

[tommolog]

It's true that BMW is discontinuing the Rex option in Europe to comply with the stricter emission regulations.

However, the range extender will definitely still be available in North America. I received confirmation of that today directly from BMW NA Corporate Communications Manager, Tom Plucinsky.

[bagekko]

Yeah so much misinformation out there regarding Rex for 2019. Jalopnik even had a whole story wrong.

Originally Posted by tommolog

It's true that BMW is discontinuing the Rex option in Europe to comply with the stricter emission regulations.

However, the range extender will definitely still be available in North America. I received confirmation of that today directly from BMW NA Corporate Communications Manager, Tom Plucinsky.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by ian_i8_i3

It appears with the lastest battery upgrade the REX will be dropped according to this report
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/bmw-...-to-160-miles/

Only en Europe/UK, as other have since elaborated:
https://www.engadget.com/2018/10/07/...der-in-europe/

Originally Posted by ian_i8_i3

I was hoping the new battery + REX if needed would get me well into high speed charging territory from where I live but at 150 mile range EV only will be cutting it a bit fine.

Your views ?

Get a Model 3 Tesla !

a

[ian_i3S_iX]

Tesla 3 - 2020 in the UK ?

Question is will the i3 get a bigger battery in future ? Any hints

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by ian_i8_i3

Tesla 3 - 2020 in the UK ?

Question is will the i3 get a bigger battery in future ? Any hints

Model 3 has got a great battery now.

I'd personally want the smaller standard battery.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by ian_i8_i3

Tesla 3 - 2020 in the UK ?

Step 1: move to the US
Step 2: get model 3
<optional> wait until TM3 hits UK shores
<optional> buy Model S now

Originally Posted by ian_i8_i3

Question is will the i3 get a bigger battery in future ? Any hints

The upcoming 42-kWh i3 battery upgrade is due for MY'19 cars in the US, likely similar for UK/Eurozone. That should expand the range into 155-162 mile territory.

This, and any future upgrades, would have to come from internal Samsung battery capacity improvements, since physical battery space is constrained within i3 chassis.

http://www.thedrive.com/news/24103/b...tric-hatchback

HTH,
a

[TimeFor]

Having owned two REX i3's, I think I'd likely opt for the standard EV next time around. Especially if I had more mileage on battery. We'll see. Guess it depends on what the savings looks like at the time. What I really want is a 42-kWh battery in the 7 series Li or new X7. But we know thats not happening soon.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by TimeFor

Having owned two REX i3's, I think I'd likely opt for the standard EV next time around. Especially if I had more mileage on battery. We'll see.

Yep, that's exactly what I did as well.
Started with REX (round 1), moved onto BEV (round 2), no shopping around for round 3 for when i3-BEV lease expires in 4 months.

I had high hopes for Model 3, but test drove it last weekend, and left disappointed on many levels.

Originally Posted by TimeFor

Guess it depends on what the savings looks like at the time. What I really want is a 42-kWh battery in the 7 series Li or new X7. But we know thats not happening soon.

It has already happened if you expand your shopping list to include Model S and/or Model S.

YMMV,
a

[TimeFor]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Yep, that's exactly what I did as well.
Started with REX (round 1), moved onto BEV (round 2), no shopping around for round 3 for when i3-BEV lease expires in 4 months.

I had high hopes for Model 3, but test drove it last weekend, and left disappointing on many levels.



It has already happened if you expand your shopping list to include Model S and/or Model S.

YMMV,
a

Tesla doesn't have buttons. So that's a hard pass from me. I drive with my screens off at night. Always. Easily done in BMW's but that's not even an option for Tesla. Seriously the closest they offer is a "cleaning mode" that only somewhat turns off the screen. There is no screen off setting. And besides, the interior of my i3 is nicer than a 100k Model S. Nicer in material (eco-friendly) choices, design, practicality, uniqueness. ext. I mean the carbon shell and magnesium dash is pretty freking cool. And totally amazing in an economy car. So I think the i3 still offers at least some advantages over the Model 3/S. At least feature that matter to me over range capacity.

I'm not comparing it on luxury but still, the i3 is very nice in comparison to cars of its price point. I do love the Tesla. I really do. I just couldn't own any of the current models. They need to get their act together with interiors and quality control. Maybe someday Its buttons but its also more than that too. Its the details in quality that matter in the Model S price point, and frankly it's not even 5 series standards.

--Edit - I should state this is coming from the perspective that the i3 is my daily driver/beater car. Which I don't think would apply if I was in the market for a single car choice. Then the Model X/S might HAVE to be in consideration

[tankertoad]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Yep, that's exactly what I did as well.
Started with REX (round 1), moved onto BEV (round 2), no shopping around for round 3 for when i3-BEV lease expires in 4 months.

I had high hopes for Model 3, but test drove it last weekend, and left disappointing on many levels.

It has already happened if you expand your shopping list to include Model S and/or Model S.

YMMV,
a

Originally Posted by afadeev

Yep, that's exactly what I did as well.
Started with REX (round 1), moved onto BEV (round 2), no shopping around for round 3 for when i3-BEV lease expires in 4 months.

I had high hopes for Model 3, but test drove it last weekend, and left disappointing on many levels.

It has already happened if you expand your shopping list to include Model S and/or Model S.

YMMV,
a

Disappointing how? I'd like to hear your experience.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by tankertoad

Disappointing how? I'd like to hear your experience.

Well, I'm still digesting and distilling my impressions, but fundamentally, I am looking to soon replace both the M3 and the i3.
The former is approaching end-of warranty period (not a big deal, but an indicator of how long I've had it), and I am getting that feeling that it's time to explore something new. The i3 will be coming to the end of the lease term in 4-5 months.

Part of me was eager to swap both for TM3 with AWD + MPP (performance pack: bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, more HP). That was exactly the car I test drove last week, hoping to finalize the order before $7.5K fed credit runs out for Tesla. The car was stupid quick (3.5 seconds 0-60 claimed, 3.2 sec observed), but supremely bland, and left me appreciating M3 that much more on the drive back home.

Visibility inside TM3 cabin is awesome (just OK for the rear view). Hood is not interfering with the forward view, and the car is small enough that you feel like you wear it.
The closest thing to driving an E30M3.
Except for the handling.
TM3 handling is perfectly disconnected from the road. Zero feedback or feeling from the overly small steering wheel. Seats are far too soft and plushy to provide and feedback through the rear end. It was like driving a super-fast video game sim, until you start cornering, and then it leans way more than you expect. Even with MPP pack, TM3 leans heavily towards daily road comfort at the expense of handling.

The auto-pilot (AP) kinda works, but not so well on secondary roads where it can't detect the edge of the road when painted lines are not present on both sides. The fun part came when I scared the saleswoman (and myself) shit-less when I almost took out a deer that decided to cross the road in front of the car during the test drive. Tesla's AP didn't see it, but I did manage to swerve around it with enough speed to find out that the car under-steers and rolls like a pig. The AP is +$8K upfront (or +$11K later) on top of the base price of the car.

The v3 AP hardware is due to come out in Spring'19, rending all current TM3's hardware deprecated. I'm not sure what will be upgraded.

Surprisingly, I did not miss the instrument cluster (there isn't one), nor was I put-off by the central monitor as the only form of car UI. Yes, it's a bit of a PITA, but I got used to controls migrating to touch screens in other cars, so it wasn't glaring. Inconvenient at times (for radio surfing), but not disqualifying.
It probably helped that I drove on the roads I knew well, so I did not have to look for either a speedometer or the nav screen, and just focused on driving.

By far, the most annoying thing was the super-noisy glass roof.
I know some people (and Musk) love that hunking curved sheet of glass that goes from the windshield to the trunk lid, but it lets in a ton of road NVH and wind noise, which both myself and my better half really couldn't ignore. The closest analogy I can give is for cars with sunroof, it's the difference between driving with the ceiling slider closed vs. open ... times 10x, which is difference in the glass surface area.

I priced the car as I wanted it, and it added up to $74.5K.
Zero tax for EVs. Minus $7.5K from the Feds next April.
No leases, financing only, $2K more upfront to reserve the build.
I passed.
Saleswoman was disappointed. So was I.

I will probably still come back for cheap-ass RWD TM3 with 215 mile range in 2Q'19, as an i3 replacement. I did not cancel my TM3 deposit, so the spot is still mine to claim.
I do like the Tesla model 3's form-factor better than that of the i3 (4 proper doors, space, acceleration, usable trunk, etc).
Plus the Tesla brand image is way cooler than BMW's, and this is coming from a lifetime BMW CCA member.

If I can get TM3 RWD for ~$40K, it will likely replace the i3.
But not at $74.5K price point.

Originally Posted by TimeFor

[...]the interior of my i3 is nicer than a 100k Model S. Nicer in material (eco-friendly) choices, design, practicality, uniqueness. ext
[...] I should state this is coming from the perspective that the i3 is my daily driver/beater car.

I totally agree that i3 is a great daily driver/winter beater, but I have 2 kids that frequently use the rear seat, and i3's rear access stinks worse than sweaty monkey balls.

I got used to i3's interior, but would not pick it over model 3's, or S's.
TM3's clean dash look and un-obscured visibility might trump i3's uniqueness for me.

All three cars are choke full of claims to eco-friendly materials, so I've gotten tone-deaf to those differences.
Just my subjective impression.


YMMV,
a

[tankertoad]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Well, I'm still digesting and distilling my impressions, but fundamentally, I am looking to soon replace both the M3 and the i3.
The former is approaching end-of warranty period (not a big deal, but an indicator of how long I've had it), and I am getting that feeling that it's time to explore something new. The i3 will be coming to the end of the lease term in 4-5 months.

Part of me was eager to swap both for TM3 with AWD + MPP (performance pack: bigger brakes, stiffer suspension, more HP). That was exactly the car I test drove last week, hoping to finalize the order before $7.5K fed credit runs out for Tesla. The car was stupid quick (3.5 seconds 0-60 claimed, 3.2 sec observed), but supremely bland, and left me appreciating M3 that much more on the drive back home.

Visibility inside TM3 cabin is awesome (just OK for the rear view). Hood is not interfering with the forward view, and the car is small enough that you feel like you wear it.
The closest thing to driving an E30M3.
Except for the handling.
TM3 handling is perfectly disconnected from the road. Zero feedback or feeling from the overly small steering wheel. Seats are far too soft and plushy to provide and feedback through the rear end. It was like driving a super-fast video game sim, until you start cornering, and then it leans way more than you expect. Even with MPP pack, TM3 leans heavily towards daily road comfort at the expense of handling.

The auto-pilot (AP) kinda works, but not so well on secondary roads where it can't detect the edge of the road when painted lines are not present on both sides. The fun part came when I scared the saleswoman (and myself) shit-less when I almost took out a deer that decided to cross the road in front of the car during the test drive. Tesla's AP didn't see it, but I did manage to swerve around it with enough speed to find out that the car under-steers and rolls like a pig. The AP is +$8K upfront (or +$11K later) on top of the base price of the car.

The v3 AP hardware is due to come out in Spring'19, rending all current TM3's hardware deprecated. I'm not sure what will be upgraded.

Surprisingly, I did not miss the instrument cluster (there isn't one), nor was I put-off by the central monitor as the only form of car UI. Yes, it's a bit of a PITA, but I got used to controls migrating to touch screens in other cars, so it wasn't glaring. Inconvenient at times (for radio surfing), but not disqualifying.
It probably helped that I drove on the roads I knew well, so I did not have to look for either a speedometer or the nav screen, and just focused on driving.

By far, the most annoying thing was the super-noisy glass roof.
I know some people (and Musk) love that hunking curved sheet of glass that goes from the windshield to the trunk lid, but it lets in a ton of road NVH and wind noise, which both myself and my better half really couldn't ignore. The closest analogy I can give is for cars with sunroof, it's the difference between driving with the ceiling slider closed vs. open ... times 10x, which is difference in the glass surface area.

I priced the car as I wanted it, and it added up to $74.5K.
Zero tax for EVs. Minus $7.5K from the Feds next April.
No leases, financing only, $2K more upfront to reserve the build.
I passed.
Saleswoman was disappointed. So was I.

I will probably still come back for cheap-ass RWD TM3 with 215 mile range in 2Q'19, as an i3 replacement. I did not cancel my TM3 deposit, so the spot is still mine to claim.
I do like the Tesla model 3's form-factor better than that of the i3 (4 proper doors, space, acceleration, usable trunk, etc).
Plus the Tesla brand image is way cooler than BMW's, and this is coming from a lifetime BMW CCA member.

If I can get TM3 RWD for ~$40K, it will likely replace the i3.
But not at $74.5K price point.

I totally agree that i3 is a great daily driver/winter beater, but I have 2 kids that frequently use the rear seat, and i3's rear access stinks worse than sweaty monkey balls.

I got used to i3's interior, but would not pick it over model 3's, or S's.
TM3's clean dash look and un-obscured visibility might trump i3's uniqueness for me.

All three cars are choke full of claims to eco-friendly materials, so I've gotten tone-deaf to those differences.
Just my subjective impression.


YMMV,
a

Thank you. That was very informative.