Bmw i3 instead of a 3/5 series

Heres Johnny

After flirting with a load of different things I'm booked in for a test drive in an i3 rex today.
I currently drive an e60 523i and I like it a lot.
I'm up for a pay boost in work and I've discussed the possibility of a company car which has been agreed.
Now, the issue of BIK raised its head and I'm strongly looking at a bmw i3 with the range extender.
First of all, is the rex still 0% BIK?
I will find this out myself but how does the i3 stack up as a car in comparison to the 5 series for comfort and refinement?
Obviously it's a COMPLETELY different beast and there's going to be pros and cons to it but interested in what people think.
I don't carry big loads or anything like that so it will suit me to have a smaller car.
And very small fuel bills and tax is of course a great bonus.
The i3 has grown on me too although I've only ever sat in one in a showroom when looking at a 330e (which is not exempt from BIK)

Ewan Hoosarmi

Mad Lad.... calling Mad Lad.

Heres Johnny

Ewan Hoosarmi wrote: »

Mad Lad.... calling Mad Lad.

Yes, that's what I should have said in the first place! Going in with an open mind but the more I see them on the road the more I like them

Soarer

Get a Tesla!

ELM327

If you're getting a car on BIK and the budget allows an i3 rex then you would be mad not to consider a model S. A better car, better EV, and better value, in every sense of the word.

Heres Johnny

Much more expensive car. I'm looking at something like a 162 rex for 30k.

Cheapest model s is a 2014 for 50k.

It is nice though. But I'll stick to exploring i3 for the moment.

Soarer

Always thought you had to buy new?

Heres Johnny

Soarer wrote: »

Always thought you had to buy new?

Not as far as I know anyway. It's only an option but I've a test drive in a new one at 12 today. It depends if I like it or not. I really like the size and comfort of my old 5 series so it will want to be a nice car to sit in and drive. If I think its too much of a compromise I'll just get a newer 5 series but I'm hopeful I do like it. I think I will. Keep it for a few years then all cars will have a similar drive train in my opinion and choice will be bigger.

Can't see the BIK exemption being here for too many years though.

Shefwedfan

i3 REX is not 0% BIK

Shefwedfan

Soarer wrote: »

Always thought you had to buy new?

No you don't

Some companies, like mine, you have to buy new because of the Lease company they use.

If you have your own company you can buy a car from second hand market and just put it down as company car. The company pays for it of course etc etc.....

Shefwedfan

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Can't see the BIK exemption being here for too many years though.

3-5 I think on last statement which wasn't a statement

Or think of it this way, once you see the road full of company electric cars the 0% BIK will disappear

Shefwedfan

I guess the company has given you a budget which you can buy the car, it might be worth giving idea of what that is so you can get some recommendations.....

Heres Johnny

No budget restrictions really on the car but I'd like to forego about 600 a month of my rise.
If I get that 600 in my wages I only come out with 300 anyway.
If the company pays the 600 a month I come out with a fully expensed car instead of 300.

But a poster above has said i3 rex is subject to BIK. I wasn't 100% sure if I did or not. Is this definitely correct?
I've seen posts saying it is exempt

ELM327

Heres Johnny wrote: »

No budget restrictions really on the car but I'd like to forego about 600 a month of my rise.
If I get that 600 in my wages I only come out with 300 anyway.
If the company pays the 600 a month I come out with a fully expensed car instead of 300.

But a poster above has said i3 rex is subject to BIK. I wasn't 100% sure if I did or not. Is this definitely correct?
I've seen posts saying it is exempt

Not getting a Tesla in that instance is insanity

I3 rex is a hybrid, it is not eligible, BEVs don't have tailpipes.
I'm sure I saw a link here from the minister showing the i3 did not qualify?

Yeah I don't think the Government had the brains to offer 0 Bik on the Rex, shame as it has decent ev range and generator for the rest to compensate for our dodgy network. But don't quote me on it either. It would be typical though, the Government don't understand what the i3 is , it runs most of the time on battery only, idiots !

We're heading off for the weekend and heading to Limerick for a night then on to Killarney then do the ring of Kerry , leaving from Carlow and I certainly would never do this in a 24 Kwh Leaf or 30 Kwh or Ioniq, just too much hassle with the state of the network but with the rex it's no problem at all. I'll bring extension lead for the Hotels and if I can charge great and if not I don't care. There'll be a few AC points along the way so we can stop for a break at one town and with the 3 phase 11 Kw charger I'll get decent charge. If I got 2 hrs that's 22 Kwh and the same as a 24 Kwh leaf new battery charged to 100%. That part of the country fails with infrastructure, big time.

I can't wait because the I3 simply loves these type of roads and I'm going to love every Km in it, this is the key difference between the Leaf, Ioniq, Zoe, The I3 really puts a smile on my face, the other electrics are good cars and do the job but the i3 is that bit more special and you'll hopefully figure that out on your test drive I just hope you get to take it on a back road or two on your own to get a good feel for it.

Best of luck with the test drive.

unkel

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah I don't think the Government had the brains to offer 0 Bik on the Rex

0% BIK is only for EVs, not for hybrids

I3 isn't a hybrid, it's a plug in....with a big ass battery , it's very different to a normal hybrid or even plug in.

In a hybrid or normal plug in the engine is the main source of power and drives the wheels mostly, in the i3 the main source of power comes from the battery and the engine has nothing to do with the wheels.

Government obviously don't have the intellect to understand either and if their goal is to reduce emissions then this isn't the way to do it because the i3 has serious potential v ev with a not so good public charging network, in other words, people are much more hesitant to go BEV at this point in time.

You might just like the i3 enough to be tempted by the BEV only model 33 kwh or 96 ah there was an older version with 22 Kwh battery sold up to 2017 so beware of the differences.

ELM327

Deleted User wrote: »

I3 isn't a hybrid, it's a plug in....with a big ass battery , it's very different to a normal hybrid or even plug in.

In a hybrid or normal plug in the engine is the main source of power and drives the wheels mostly, in the i3 the main source of power comes from the battery and the engine has nothing to do with the wheels.

Government obviously don't have the intellect to understand either and if their goal is to reduce emissions then this isn't the way to do it because the i3 has serious potential v ev with a not so good public charging network, in other words, people are much more hesitant to go BEV at this point in time.

You might just like the i3 enough to be tempted by the BEV only model 33 kwh or 96 ah there was an older version with 22 Kwh battery sold up to 2017 so beware of the differences.

There is an ice, a tailpipe, and a tank of dangerous combustible liquid from contentious areas of the planet. This is not an EV.

EVs don't have tailpipes.

OP - I've just put a deposit down on a second hand 2014 model S from the UK. It was a good bit less than the 50k you quoted, (just)closer to 30 than 50. I don't qualify for BIK etc which would have made it much cheaper again :cool:
I'd suggest this is a much better way to go EV than a plugin hybrid (albeit with long EV range) which is not eligible for the zero BIK.
And is much more practical and aesthetically pleasing too

I don't know what the BIK would be but considering the savings on fuel and the sheer advantage of range and the fun I'd pay a bit more to have it, well, I did lol but I'm delighted with it, absolutely love it.

In the next 3-5 years the network should be much better and more ev models and much better range but for now Rex is a necessary Evil, it is for me anyway, I did the whole BEV thing for 3 years 85,000 Kms and nothing improved, range slightly , and not a single charger was installed in that time so I wasn't going to be so restricted this time around and best decision I made for sure.

ELM327

Deleted User wrote: »

I don't know what the BIK would be but considering the savings on fuel and the sheer advantage of range and the fun I'd pay a bit more to have it, well, I did lol but I'm delighted with it, absolutely love it.

In the next 3-5 years the network should be much better and more ev models and much better range but for now Rex is a necessary Evil, it is for me anyway, I did the whole BEV thing for 3 years 85,000 Kms and nothing improved, range slightly , and not a single charger was installed in that time so I wasn't going to be so restricted this time around and best decision I made for sure.

Savings on fuel and sheer advantage of range and fun would all be more in a model S which for a 2014-15 would be similar price as a new I3. All comes to which the OP wants more tbh.

(I did the whole 24kWH BEV thing for just over a year and 60k km, but never again. Driving an old diesel for the last couple of months until my model S arrives)

The anti i3 brigade out again, let him make the decision.

If all he has to pay is a bit of BIK and petrol now and again, who cares if he doesn't.

In actual fact I'd rather pay some Bik and petrol not to have to endure the public DC network or be reliant on it.

Range and fun until you need to charge it out on a weekend trip........

But definitely a great car and fun in a straight line anyway, I don't know whether a 2 tonne car could be as much fun on back roads.

The other issue with the Model S is that it's stuck at 45 Kwh at out chaDeMo chargers....... and 1 super charging site.

ELM327

Deleted User wrote: »

The anti i3 brigade out again, let him make the decision.

If all he has to pay is a bit of BIK and petrol now and again, who cares if he doesn't.

In actual fact I'd rather pay some Bik and petrol not to have to endure the public DC network or be reliant on it.

Just because someoen doesnt agree with your fanatic love of the i3 doesnt make them an anti i3 brigade.
I told you I considered buying one before, how am I an anti i3 brigade!

ELM327

Deleted User wrote: »

Range and fun until you need to charge it out on a weekend trip........

But definitely a great car and fun in a straight line anyway, I don;t know whether a 2 tonne car could be as much fun on back roads.

The other issue with the Model S is that it's stuck at 45 Kwh at out chaDeMo chargers....... and 1 super charging site.

3 supercharging sites currently (Ballacolla, birdhill, 2x castlebellingham) and more to come (Enfield, belfast)
But with 350km real world range from an S85 and 22kW AC at work I can't see when I will ever need to charge publicly and I do 50-60k per year.

Patser

Soarer wrote: »

Get a Tesla!

Tesla is a much bigger car, a whole class above i3 but for me way too big, and I hated parking my last car which was also long.

Have an i3 and loving it. If you've only sat in one in showroom, then you're in for a bigger, better surprise when you test drive. It really, really is a fun happy car to drive.

Bigger question though is what sort of commute/use do you need. I3 is at its best on back roads and in cities. Handles great, doesn't burn through charge, is small and nippy.

If you're using motorways a lot, not so good. The estimated range drops quicker than it'll tell you especially if you push on from 110kmh and up. Yes Rex is a parachute but will penalise you with lower performance. Also car feels a little light on motorways IMO.

But for accelerating away from traffic at lights, cheapness to run, relaxing to drive and sheer standing out, I'm loving my i3 - not a REX and with 60km roughly a day commute.

Shefwedfan

Deleted User wrote: »

The anti i3 brigade out again, let him make the decision.

If all he has to pay is a bit of BIK and petrol now and again, who cares if he doesn't.

In actual fact I'd rather pay some Bik and petrol not to have to endure the public DC network or be reliant on it.

No Anti i3 brigade. I like the car but my dog won't

The issue is no 0% BIK....might as well just get a 3 series instead

Take my upcoming trip for the weekend, that would be a challenge in any Ev at present or at least a pain in the ass which I don't have to worry about in the rex at all, the worst that can happen is a couple of 10 second fill ups.

By the time I change the i3 then perhaps I'll go BEV again.

Shefwedfan

Shefwedfan wrote: »

No Anti i3 brigade. I like the car but my dog won't

The issue is no 0% BIK....might as well just get a 3 series instead

The dog would love it. Guaranteed:pac:.

What would the BIK cost ? he'd still be saving lots of fuel.

I'd have a Model S but I did not wan to import and wanted Auto pilot but that couldn't be got for anywhere near what I paid for the i3 and I wouldn't be happy without Autopilot not the decent version of autopilot so will have to wait for one of those.

And recharging on really long trips would be a pain especially in the West where we take most of our ultra long road trips a few years probably but didn't work out this time.

Shefwedfan

Deleted User wrote: »

The dog would love it. Guaranteed:pac:.

What would the BIK cost ? he'd still be saving lots of fuel.

I'd have a Model S but I did not wan to import and wanted Auto pilot but that couldn't be got for anywhere near what I paid for the i3 and I wouldn't be happy without Autopilot not the decent version of autopilot so will have to wait for one of those.

And recharging on really long trips would be a pain especially in the West where we take most of our ultra long road trips a few years probably but didn't work out this time.

The BIK costs are huge. I know because I had a company car. I dont want to put out numbers on here because it is different for everyone but it was a serious whack out of my wages

The fuel costs are minimal because with a diesel you get fuel card and VAT off it.

Patser

Patser wrote: »

Tesla is a much bigger car, a whole class above i3 but for me way too big, and I hated parking my last car which was also long.

Have an i3 and loving it. If you've only sat in one in showroom, then you're in for a bigger, better surprise when you test drive. It really, really is a fun happy car to drive.

Bigger question though is what sort of commute/use do you need. I3 is at its best on back roads and in cities. Handles great, doesn't burn through charge, is small and nippy.

If you're using motorways a lot, not so good. The estimated range drops quicker than it'll tell you especially if you push on from 110kmh and up. Yes Rex is a parachute but will penalise you with lower performance. Also car feels a little light on motorways IMO.

But for accelerating away from traffic at lights, cheapness to run, relaxing to drive and sheer standing out, I'm loving my i3 - not a REX and with 60km roughly a day commute.

I noticed the last few days the i3 is a bit light on the motorway but is that really an issue ? it's the only real time I noticed and it was pretty stormy and usually I'm doing 140 odd Kph.

The key difference here though is that you can boot the Rex and not be worried about range and makes it far, far more than a city car motorway and high speeds are not much of a worry a key difference over the BEV.

ELM327

Deleted User wrote: »

Take my upcoming trip for the weekend, that would be a challenge in any Ev at present or at least a pain in the ass which I don't have to worry about in the rex at all, the worst that can happen is a couple of 10 second fill ups.

By the time I change the i3 then perhaps I'll go BEV again.

What's the itinerary, why is it problematic ina BEV

Patser

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I noticed the last few days the i3 is a bit light on the motorway but is that really an issue ? it's the only real time I noticed and it was pretty stormy and usually I'm doing 140 odd Kph.

The key difference here though is that you can boot the Rex and not be worried about range and makes it far, far more than a city car motorway and high speeds are not much of a worry a key difference over the BEV.

I've noticed it a lot with the recent windy conditions, especially on open motorways, that car is a bit skittery in cross windows. Probably that it's relatively high and narrow. A little odd putting but not a deal breaker. Still if I was on motorway all the time, it's be a consideration to bear.

As for you and your Rex. You're all about the marathon, look how far mine can go. My old BEV still leaves you for dead in the sprint :cool: But still that's the price you have to pay for your 'hybrid' :P

mordeith

We picked up a 162 i3 Rex yesterday. Should out to Mad_Lad for some advice and opinion he gave over PM.
Absolutely love the car. It's such a nice drive and interior is beautiful. We can fit our two kids with car seats in the back no problem.
We traded in our 1st gen 131 Leaf. It had lost a capacity bar and the range just wan't going to be enough for my wife who is moving job. The i3 should cover the commute on all electric but it's nice to have the Rex backup. I'm still driving an ICE but will use the i3 on the days when the missus isn't working.

Shefwedfan

Patser wrote: »

I've noticed it a lot with the recent windy conditions, especially on open motorways, that car is a bit skittery in cross windows. Probably that it's relatively high and narrow. A little odd putting but not a deal breaker. Still if I was on motorway all the time, it's be a consideration to bear.

As for you and your Rex. You're all about the marathon, look how far mine can go. My old BEV still leaves you for dead in the sprint :cool: But still that's the price you have to pay for your 'hybrid' :P

Thats because it has pram wheels on it:p

Patser

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Thats because it has pram wheels on it:p

Thought they were off a 2CV

Heres Johnny

Just back I loved the car. Way faster and more responsive than what I get from my 5 series. Only gripe was the seats not a patch on the sports seats in the 5.

Apart from that everything was great. I do have access to other cars for when I need massive range so may not go down the road of the rex and stick to the standard BEV.

It was a rex I was in but I know they drive the same anyway.
Decisions now......

When I said no restrictions on budget I meant I can spend what I want on a car but it comes out of my overall package.

The raise is in the region of 1000 a month but I don't want to spend it all on the car.

Back to the car, I suggest to take one for a spin. Great car. Not 100% sold on the seats and they can't be upgraded apparently but everything else about it i loved.
Also if it had a traditional BMW interior I would prefer it but I did like the quirkiness too.

Patser

Johnny - which interior did it have? Curious to see what they meant by upgrading the seats, unless they meant you can have leather instead of base interior (if that was what you had on test)

Also I really recommend Sun roof option as it gives car so much more light.

Compared to REX - very little difference in driving, just faster again roughly .7 seconds to 100kmh, and you get further to a pure electriccharge than with Rex (although you lose out to the REX's extra range obviously)

Shefwedfan

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Just back I loved the car. Way faster and more responsive than what I get from my 5 series. Only gripe was the seats not a patch on the sports seats in the 5.

Apart from that everything was great. I do have access to other cars for when I need massive range so may not go down the road of the rex and stick to the standard BEV.

It was a rex I was in but I know they drive the same anyway.
Decisions now......

When I said no restrictions on budget I meant I can spend what I want on a car but it comes out of my overall package.

The raise is in the region of 1000 a month but I don't want to spend it all on the car.

Back to the car, I suggest to take one for a spin. Great car. Not 100% sold on the seats and they can't be upgraded apparently but everything else about it i loved.
Also if it had a traditional BMW interior I would prefer it but I did like the quirkiness too.

Why not full electric i3?

Other option could be full leather eGolf.

Or wait for Jaguar iPace....

Or Tesla as mentioned....

unkel

ELM327 wrote: »

I've just put a deposit down on a second hand 2014 model S from the UK.

You bastard lucky man!

Very interested in this, would you start a new thread about it with all the details?

ELM327

unkel wrote: »

You bastard lucky man!

Very interested in this, would you start a new thread about it with all the details?

It's preliminary but once confirmed I will indeed. As the deposit is refundable and nothing is signed yet I don't want to share my sources until after the fact as I'm getting a good deal and dont want to be usurped

Assuming this comes off, I'll be joining you in the "cancelled model 3 deposits" club.

Heres Johnny

Patser wrote: »

Johnny - which interior did it have? Curious to see what they meant by upgrading the seats, unless they meant you can have leather instead of base interior (if that was what you had on test)

Also I really recommend Sun roof option as it gives car so much more light.

Compared to REX - very little difference in driving, just faster again roughly .7 seconds to 100kmh, and you get further to a pure electriccharge than with Rex (although you lose out to the REX's extra range obviously)

By upgrading seats I meant you have the option of leather alright, but no option to get different seats. I have sports seats at the moment in the e60, they are big, comfortable and give great support. The seats in the i3 were seats that you sit on rather than sit in if you get what I mean.

The seats and the interior design were the big negative points.
Everything else was great.
If there was a 3 or 5 series that could drive and deliver power like the i3 it would be phenomenal and I would have bought it there and then.
I've a few decisions to make. Wish I could have one for a week to see if I am ready to live with one just yet.

Heres Johnny

By upgrading seats I meant you have the option of leather alright, but no option to get different seats. I have sports seats at the moment in the e60, they are big, comfortable and give great support. The seats in the i3 were seats that you sit on rather than sit in if you get what I mean.

The seats and the interior design were the big negative points.
Everything else was great.
If there was a 3 or 5 series that could drive and deliver power like the i3 it would be phenomenal and I would have bought it there and then.
They're just being held back for commercial reasons the sales guy said. They can't produce them quick enough and as soon as as they are introduced with decent range the ICE will no longer be in demand.
I've a few decisions to make. Wish I could have one for a week to see if I am ready to live with one just yet. With the way the network is etc....
That said after a 25km test drive im convinced there is going to be very little market for petrol and diesel engines in the future.
Might try the e golf very soon.

Soarer

Heres Johnny wrote: »

By upgrading seats I meant you have the option of leather alright, but no option to get different seats. I have sports seats at the moment in the e60, they are big, comfortable and give great support. The seats in the i3 were seats that you sit on rather than sit in if you get what I mean.

The seats and the interior design were the big negative points.
Everything else was great.
If there was a 3 or 5 series that could drive and deliver power like the i3 it would be phenomenal and I would have bought it there and then.
I've a few decisions to make. Wish I could have one for a week to see if I am ready to live with one just yet.

Hey Mad_Lad!

Johnny reckons the interior of the i3 is rubbish!!

ELM327

Soarer wrote: »

Hey Mad_Lad!

Johnny reckons the interior of the i3 is rubbish!!

[madlad]
No the seats are great, it's a great spot to sit while I get some 11kW AC charging and use my rex when I drive past the Naas charger and laugh at the locals queuing. The 24kWh leaf with 6.6kW AC BMW i3 rex with 11kW AC is the best car ever.
[/madlad]

Heres Johnny

Soarer wrote: »

Heres Johnny wrote: »

By upgrading seats I meant you have the option of leather alright, but no option to get different seats. I have sports seats at the moment in the e60, they are big, comfortable and give great support. The seats in the i3 were seats that you sit on rather than sit in if you get what I mean.

The seats and the interior design were the big negative points.
Everything else was great.
If there was a 3 or 5 series that could drive and deliver power like the i3 it would be phenomenal and I would have bought it there and then.
I've a few decisions to make. Wish I could have one for a week to see if I am ready to live with one just yet.

Hey Mad_Lad!

Johnny reckons the interior of the i3 is rubbish!!

I'm sure there's some history and this is an attempt to wind mad lad up but it's not rubbish. Just not 5 series level. But it's a different idea of car altogether.
Despite this I'm still looking at buying one

Shefwedfan

Heres Johnny wrote: »

I'm sure there's some history and this is an attempt to wind mad lad up but it's not rubbish. Just not 5 series level. But it's a different idea of car altogether.
Despite this I'm still looking at buying one

It doesn't make sense if you are looking at the REX, you won't get 0% BIK.

If getting the REX you are better off just getting a 3 series or 5 series diesel

Heres Johnny

Talked to the boss there who is also my uncle and he said go for the i3 without rex and no BIK if I like the car. He said just to swap with his car or any of the fleet if I need the longer range.
It's weird after 11 years in 200+ bhp 5 series and never given a second thought to the 1000+ motor tax and mid 20s mpg I have been seduced by a car with no engine so quickly. I was looking at 6 and 7 series recently.
I'll have to mull it over though. No snap decisions.

Patser

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Talked to the boss there who is also my uncle and he said go for the i3 without rex and no BIK if I like the car. He said just to swap with his car or any of the fleet if I need the longer range.
It's weird after 11 years in 200+ bhp 5 series and never given a second thought to the 1000+ motor tax and mid 20s mpg I have been seduced by a car with no engine so quickly. I was looking at 6 and 7 series recently.
I'll have to mull it over though. No snap decisions.

Have you test driven the i8 since your boss is so flexible :cool:

80sDiesel

Dont forget the i3S plus. Really transforms the car. 

Heres Johnny

Lads remember it comes out of my overall package it's in lieu of wages so less i8 and tesla model s please! I've only bought a new car once and that was a Peugeot 206

Patser

Heres Johnny wrote: »

Lads remember it comes out of my overall package it's in lieu of wages so less i8 and tesla model s please! I've only bought a new car once and that was a Peugeot 206

Get a Twizy, coke and hookers.