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Used BMW i3 experiences

1…5681011…25

Comments

  • #212
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Kona is wider but it feels far less spacious in general. Sit in both and you'll know.

    Kona has a larger boot but it's not huge and it's smaller than the Petrol model.

    The i3 doors don't bother me but I've 2 small Boys so have to get in and out of the car to let them in and out anyway.

    If you have older Children then all you have to do is take on and off your belt and they can let themselves in and out, you have to open your door first but it's not a big deal.

    It's a lot of fun to drive so to me it's a minor deal altogether.


  • #213
    uphillonly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 270 ✭✭uphillonly


    micks_address wrote: »
    i was watching some video reviews on the car last night and it does look great apart from the back doors.. are they as awkward as they look for anyone that regularly has backseat passengers?

    We've had ours nearly 2 years now, two kids (12 & 10 yrs) in the back all the time.

    The kids love the car and no complaints about the door system. We've done a few long journeys & they are very happy passengers. They prefer it to the old 5 series diesel we still have. As it's pure EV build rather than an ICE - EV conversion, the interior space is excellent for its size. Many adults have been pleasantly surprised how much roomier it feels for a car of it's external dimensions.

    No one's going to deny there isn't some occasional inconvenience from the door system but it has benefits too. When open, the rear access in/out is easier and appreciated by more elderly passengers. In this regard the i3 very much isn't a 2 door car which is awkward to get in/out of the rear.

    IMO - the rear door opening is pretty cool & relatively unique on modern cars. It impresses most people we show it to adding to the different, futuristic feel of the car and a chance to show off the carbon fibre body. Kid's friends also think the doors are cool.


  • #214
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    uphillonly wrote: »
    Kid's friends also think the doors are cool.

    My kids friends thought my Leaf was cool too, simply because it was electric and sustainability is being talked about in school etc. He's only 7, so he has some time to cop on :)


    Cant wait to show him the i3 when it arrives!


  • #215
    TheOracle77
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15 ✭TheOracle77


    kceire wrote: »
    I can enable video in motion if you need it ;)

    Is there a particular format that the car likes?
    I can also enable it to accept all formats but I haven’t tried it yet.

    AVI or MP4. I think. Well wear with your new car. Smashing spec.

    Just back from my first rapid charge. Combo. It was about 60% charged when plugging but was indicating about a 2 hour charge time until fully charged? Is this normal. Dropped a few minutes initially but that was it. Now, it was charging a lot faster than that. Is rapid charging really only suitable up to 80% battery charge?


  • #216
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    The i3 will play various video formats, stick to high quality mp4 ( x264 )

    The screen is excellent quality and videos look great on it.

    I must take a pic in the dark.


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  • #217
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    When you enable AM you will see it has the 49 meter Shortwave band which I thought was pretty cool.

    Sadly due to the carbon fibre body there is no metal chassis for grounding so the electronics destroy AM reception and you can see why they disabled it. Am in the Leaf was pretty decent considering all AM stations are 100 - 100's of Kms away.

    BMW got quite a bit of flack over having no AM particularly in the U.S and Canada where they are not turning off Am stations like in Europe, here they are trying to get us to adopt DAB which I can't even receive, DAB is being hailed as the new Modern Radio which makes me laugh because DAB was invented in about 1985 ! lol.

    I can get tonnes of stations on the 49 Meter SW band alone when the car is stopped because then the electronics are not interfering with reception.

    vbOj9pS.jpg?1


  • #218
    MM3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 98 ✭✭MM3


    kceire wrote: »
    My kids friends thought my Leaf was cool too, simply because it was electric and sustainability is being talked about in school etc. He's only 7, so he has some time to cop on :)


    Cant wait to show him the i3 when it arrives!

    My youngest is now boring the pants off anyone who will listen on the virtues EV’s!

    BTW I think I saw your car on autotrader last week , definitely caught my eye, looks like a cracker.


  • #219
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I3 video . Obviously it will look better in the dark. It looks a lot better than in the pics.

    1Z2tVci.jpg?1

    0WpkUec.jpg?1

    TcObXHi.jpg?1

    [IMG][/img]e8czIiK.jpg?1


  • #220
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    MM3 wrote: »
    My youngest is now boring the pants off anyone who will listen on the virtues EV’s!

    BTW I think I saw your car on autotrader last week , definitely caught my eye, looks like a cracker.

    Black, parked on a bridge for the main image?


  • #221
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    TheOracle77 wrote: »
    AVI or MP4. I think. Well wear with your new car. Smashing spec.

    Just back from my first rapid charge. Combo. It was about 60% charged when plugging but was indicating about a 2 hour charge time until fully charged? Is this normal. Dropped a few minutes initially but that was it. Now, it was charging a lot faster than that. Is rapid charging really only suitable up to 80% battery charge?

    Yes that’s normal. After 80% give or take, the speed of charge drops significantly so much that you would be as quick on one of the type 2 chargers. It was that way in my old leaf, nearly sure the i3 is the same as it may get to 90% in 2 hours at home, but take another 2 hours for the final 10%.


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  • #222
    Patser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,955 ✭✭✭Patser


    Ok I have to ask how you do that with the videos. I haven't even thought to try?

    Is it simply connect phone via USB and go to media? Can it be blue toothed? Or do I need to start to learn code and get a connector? Don't think I should be tempted with video while in motion, but just to sit and watch


  • #223
    stesaurus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,452 ✭✭✭stesaurus


    Just be careful with the videos. It will sometimes start to autoplay anything that might be on your phone. "Anything" so be careful what you keep on the phone ðŸ˜

    So a friend told me anyway 😉


  • #224
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60,763 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    kceire wrote: »
    It was that way in my old leaf, nearly sure the i3 is the same as it may get to 90% in 2 hours at home, but take another 2 hours for the final 10%.

    Shocking stuff. Whoever designed a charging system like that should be shot. I always thought it was bad enough in Ioniq in that it was slowing down and only charging at 23kW by the time it automatically disconnected at 94% charged. It seems all other EVs are far worse than that.

    Charging heavily per minute and per kWh will fix this promptly though :D

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



  • #225
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    unkel wrote: »
    Shocking stuff. Whoever designed a charging system like that should be shot. I always thought it was bad enough in Ioniq in that it was slowing down and only charging at 23kW by the time it automatically disconnected at 94% charged. It seems all other EVs are far worse than that.

    Charging heavily per minute and per kWh will fix this promptly though :D

    Post 54

    "and it was still pulling 47 Kw when I disconnected" that was at 85% charge.

    I3 slows down at 90% and again at 95%.

    90% is about 22 Kw.

    The 94 Ah i3 charges a lot faster than the 64 Ah i3.

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057812141&page=4

    "Originally Posted by kceire View Post
    It was that way in my old leaf, nearly sure the i3 is the same as it may get to 90% in 2 hours at home, but take another 2 hours for the final 10%."


    I'm sure he was talking about charging at home anyway not at fast charger .


  • #226
    MM3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 98 ✭✭MM3


    kceire wrote: »
    Black, parked on a bridge for the main image?

    Yep that’s the one


  • #227
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    Picked up my i3 this evening.
    Very happy.
    Impressed and surprised with how it handles and accelerates. Also, how efficient compared to my old L24.

    Will get a thread going tomorrow when I get a chance to get some pics.

    For the last 3 weeks since I sold the L24, I’ve been driving an E60 525d SE and also an F10 525d sport with 313bhp but I’m glad to be back in an EV for some strange reason.


  • #228
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60,763 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Well wear!

    I'm interested myself in an i3 too as a second car. But it would have to be one of the cheapest and it would have to be the fastest, so an early 60Ah BEV. But I don't know all that much about them, almost nothing about optional extras. Have even the earliest cars the option of active cruise control? And lane assist? What are options you folks find desirable?

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



  • #229
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    unkel wrote: »
    Well wear!

    I'm interested myself in an i3 too as a second car. But it would have to be one of the cheapest and it would have to be the fastest, so an early 60Ah BEV. But I don't know all that much about them, almost nothing about optional extras. Have even the earliest cars the option of active cruise control? And lane assist? What are options you folks find desirable?

    I haven’t seen lane departure on many of them tbh
    I have radar controlled cruise control with brake function but have no idea what that does. Ill test over the coming weeks.

    The options i think are needed are leather, led, pro nav, HK.
    Nice add ons then are upgraded wheels, privacy glass, sun roof.


  • #230
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60,763 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    radar controlled cruise = active cruise control

    A really good feature to have if you drive on busy motorways at peak times. Driving from Dublin to Naas this afternoon with the traffic brutal because of the road works and it is really helpful. I can only imagine the godsend this is for people doing a daily M50 commute.

    I put a cheeky low bid on a white i3 on eBay, was outbid, bidding went to GBP8,900 but that was below the reserve. I like going over the UK to bring cars in, so if I would have won the auction I would happily have brought in the car to be used by myself or to sell on

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



  • #231
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    kceire wrote: »
    Picked up my i3 this evening.
    Very happy.
    Impressed and surprised with how it handles and accelerates. Also, how efficient compared to my old L24.

    Will get a thread going tomorrow when I get a chance to get some pics.

    For the last 3 weeks since I sold the L24, I’ve been driving an E60 525d SE and also an F10 525d sport with 313bhp but I’m glad to be back in an EV for some strange reason.

    Well wear, welcome to the i3 club. :D

    It's a lot of fun, take it to back roads, it absolutely loves them !


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  • #232
    mordeith
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,125 ✭✭✭mordeith


    They seem to come with a fairly eclectic set of kit. I have leather seats, pro nav screen, privacy glass, HK speakers. No lane assist or brake assisted cruise control. No reversing camera either.


  • #233
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    unkel wrote: »
    Well wear!

    I'm interested myself in an i3 too as a second car. But it would have to be one of the cheapest and it would have to be the fastest, so an early 60Ah BEV. But I don't know all that much about them, almost nothing about optional extras. Have even the earliest cars the option of active cruise control? And lane assist? What are options you folks find desirable?

    All i3's have the option of Active cruise with lane assist in slow traffic. Active cruise works at all speeds. Sadly mine doesn't have it.

    Be careful of the specs that say Cruise control with brake function, this is not active cruise and simply means the car will brake to keep the set speed if going down a hill for instance.

    The Media Professional and keyless entry are good options, this gives the full size screen and not the ugly small one. Keyless is handy.

    Leather is nice. Led lights look great compared to halogen.

    You might be better off waiting for a 33 kwh version the extra range and faster DC charging would be better to have than want, only so much fun you can have driving in Dublin so the extra range would be handy.


  • #234
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60,763 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Well wear, welcome to the i3 club. :D

    It's a lot of fun, take it to back roads, it absolutely loves them !

    It's a pity yours is slowed down pulling that dino juice cart :pac:

    I signed up to go cars just for the ease of taking an i3 for a test drive whenever I felt like it, but I discovered all their i3 are REx. Too slow for me. I'm trying to make a business case for myself here, will an EV replace my Porsche. Going ahead, even with a very fast off the line i3 BEV it would probably be a mistake I will come to regret anyway. In the looks department alone I would go down from a 9/10 to a 2/10 :(

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



  • #235
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    unkel wrote: »
    It's a pity yours is slowed down pulling that dino juice cart :pac:

    It's a good compromise until the charging situation greatly improves. So I'll take a bit of a performance hit for now. I had high hopes for the network in 2015.

    I'm getting the 42 Kwh i3 BEV next thursday while mine is in for service, it will be interesting to see the range difference.

    You could just wait for 2nd hand model 3 if the i3 rex is too "slow" for you, still a lot faster than your ioniq !


  • #236
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60,763 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Was on the list for Tesla Model 3 but then we got a dog. So a sedan with a boot (not a hatchback) like the Model 3 won't do.

    Main family car Ioniq is fine, 100% for our needs, we never need to travel beyond the range of the car. I like the idea of the Model S, but they are just poor value for money second hand. Hopefully their values will drop like a brick within the next year and then I might reconsider

    No, this is for my second car. Currently a Porsche (and again an 80s Mercedes) doing ultra low mileage. I like the idea of having two EVs but it makes very little sense to me, financially and otherwise...

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



  • #237
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    unkel wrote: »
    Was on the list for Tesla Model 3 but then we got a dog. So a sedan with a boot (not a hatchback) like the Model 3 won't do.

    Main family car Ioniq is fine, 100% for our needs, we never need to travel beyond the range of the car. I like the idea of the Model S, but they are just poor value for money second hand. Hopefully their values will drop like a brick within the next year and then I might reconsider

    No, this is for my second car. Currently a Porsche (and again an 80s Mercedes) doing ultra low mileage. I like the idea of having two EVs but it makes very little sense to me, financially and otherwise...

    Then ditch the Ioniq and get the 42 Kwh i3 ! :D


  • #238
    unkel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 60,763 ✭✭✭✭unkel


    Deleted User wrote: »
    Then ditch the Ioniq and get the 42 Kwh i3 ! :D

    Family of 5 ;)

    BMW i3 only has 4 seats...

    "Make no mistake. The days of the internal combustion engine are definitely numbered" - Quentin Willson, 1997



  • #239
    Patser
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,955 ✭✭✭Patser


    unkel wrote: »
    Family of 5 ;)

    BMW i3 only has 4 seats...

    Pick your 2 favourites, leave the other one at home. You'd have a set excuse with an i3


  • #240
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 42,150 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    mordeith wrote: »
    They seem to come with a fairly eclectic set of kit. I have leather seats, pro nav screen, privacy glass, HK speakers. No lane assist or brake assisted cruise control. No reversing camera either.

    I wouldn’t say they have a good spec as standard, yours has good spec like mine but most people didn’t add the option packages that really make the car.

    Leather seats are part of the interior world suite package. That’s too interior spec. A 2k Sterling option.
    Pro nav is an option on its own. A 960 Sterling option.
    Privacy glass, HK and led are part of the sports pack. A 1720 Sterling option.

    The reverse camera is part of the park assist package and comes with front PDC. A 799 Sterling option.

    I have the original sales receipt for my car here from the original UK owner.
    Sun roof was only 780, that’s a great price imo.


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  • #241
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 12,708 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    unkel wrote: »
    Family of 5 ;)

    BMW i3 only has 4 seats...

    Ditch one of the Family ! :D


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