Looking to Return to the Club

A few years back we had leased a 2014 i3 and loved it. Right as the lease ran out, we had our first kid and then another and we ended up with a minivan. Now we’re looking at getting a third car, a 2014 i3 with 46,000 miles on it. If the deal is right, it could make for a great commuter car for me.

I don’t need to be sold on why the i3 is an awesome car... I’m just worried about the costs of ownership of a now 5 year old EV. Anyone want to scare me out of it? Any particular things I should be looking for? (at least it’s not valve cover seals and turbo seals)

Thanks!

If the range available is sufficient for your needs, a 2014 with all of the service campaigns applied, should still be quite reliable and economical. Newer ones with larger batteries will meet the needs (or at least perceived ones) of more people, but at a cost. Depreciation on a 2014 should make it a quite economical choice if it meets your needs. In my case, I rarely need to go more than about 40-miles before I have an opportunity to recharge, so the battery capacity, even in the midst of a winter cold spell, is sufficient.

Thanks. Yeah range isn’t an issue as I only travel 20 miles a day. I remember the motor mount and the steering column squeak from when I had mine... are there any other things I should look out for? At least with a BEV there isn’t the issues with engine maintenance.

Considering how cheaply they can be had, I would probably try to get a newer model year to avoid those first year kinks. If you can swing it, get a '17 with the updated iDrive. I had a '17 REx for 3 years and just turned it in. It was a great car. My new '19 i3s REx is on a boat about to dock in FL.

Thanks for all the input. I’m picking it up tonight. I figure for just over five figures, this is relatively low risk. I really missed the EV experience and having one as my daily driver should take a lot of the load off my 328i.

Congrats! I've been without an i3 for a few weeks now, and I am so ready for the new one. It made landfall at Galveston this weekend so I'm hoping for a quick journey up here to Arkansas.

Originally Posted by RVExotics

Considering how cheaply they can be had, I would probably try to get a newer model year to avoid those first year kinks. If you can swing it, get a '17 with the updated iDrive. I had a '17 REx for 3 years and just turned it in. It was a great car. My new '19 i3s REx is on a boat about to dock in FL.

I know, I know...old post. But the 2017 didn't get the iDrive update; just the Battery update and some cosmetic changes. 2019 got the iDrive update and another battery update.

Didn't want to steer someone wrong if they found this thread while researching later.

Originally Posted by God-Follower

I know, I know...old post. But the 2017 didn't get the iDrive update; just the Battery update and some cosmetic changes. 2019 got the iDrive update and another battery update.

Didn't want to steer someone wrong if they found this thread while researching later.

Ah, yeah you're right. I was confusing it with a different vehicle.

At any rate, I just just took delivery of my new i3s and I *love* the updates on this car! The new iDrive is great and the headlights....holy cow! The previous iteration's high beams were laughable, but I think they may have overcompensated a bit with these!

Originally Posted by RVExotics

Ah, yeah you're right. I was confusing it with a different vehicle.



At any rate, I just just took delivery of my new i3s and I *love* the updates on this car! The new iDrive is great and the headlights....holy cow! The previous iteration's high beams were laughable, but I think they may have overcompensated a bit with these!

I was just sitting in an i3s at the BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg yesterday. First time seeing one of them up close. I really like what they did with it. Curious to hear your thoughts on the driving improvements.

Originally Posted by bocabimmer

I was just sitting in an i3s at the BMW Zentrum in Spartanburg yesterday. First time seeing one of them up close. I really like what they did with it. Curious to hear your thoughts on the driving improvements.

So far, I am quite impressed. It is still noticeably short in the wheel base, though I think it is more comfortable on the road than my previous one. It doesn't buck as much over rough terrain, or at least it doesn't seem to.

The i3 has always felt like a go kart off the line because of that instant electric torque, and the slight bump in the "s" trim just makes it all the more fun. I also enjoy being able to select a sport mode and change the dynamics of the vehicle. It is instantly noticeable that this car has a sportier suspension than my previous one and feels flatter in the curves. I haven't really tried to push it and see what it can do in terms of acceleration just yet, but the couple of times I've gotten decently far into the throttle travel I can't help but grin.

It is an enjoyable vehicle to drive around and I am particularly pleased with the aesthetics I chose. My CA threw in tinting and asked how dark I wanted it. I said "as dark as possible" and he didn't disappoint! I've gotten a ton of comments on it and it's wild how differently the relatively minor changes in the exterior can change the overall look of the car.