Would anyone recommend the BMWi3?

sorry bit new really to give proper comment but I am guessing the dealer can give you a decent pro and con conversation and it depends on your use needs and future plans to work out if right for you and maybe a long term costing to crunch the financial side - sorry cant be more help

Lol hard to disagree with the sentiment of your reply but BMW are having to move with the times and demands of the world and customers like any company that needs to survive

I wonder what BL or Triumph or Rover would do differently with hindsight

The i3 is what many will term progress BMW still do Mpower and V8 cars for now but some inc my road car are endangered species with the cost of fuel and taxes alone

Guess it's moving with the times like it or not

Found this and it might interest the OP.

http://www.bmwblog.com/2013/12/14/video-bmw-i3-track/


Edited by issy - 05 Jan 2014 at 10:17pm

BMW will always produce powerful cars and build race going versions but need to spread the brand as wide as possible to reach as many markets as possible ...love it or hate it the electric cars are coming and some cars with big engines are destined for museums or scrap....to make it simple when you go to a classic car show its scary when you see all the Rover V8s Jag V12s Bentleys and American muscle cars.....not moving with the times is what killed the British motor industry and when the likes of BMW moved in....in the 70s and 80s to have an E21 or E30 or M6 or M5 was something to envy ....when the Allegro, Escort and Sierra was outselling BMW by far....now the everyday car is a BMW and the big 6 and 7 series is still exclusive or for many a 1M or the new 2 series is the car it have......just think what the future may hold ...and I am not looking forward to it either .....Electric F1 cars and maybe a selection of exhaust notes can be selected on your steering wheel ....just a thought

First post...

Vans next ? 

I'm waiting to road test the MI3 - that's got to be a car or two [three?]  ;)

davebrindlee36m3 wrote: Have you checked your electric bill lately ?  One reason to leave well alone.

davebrindlee36m3 wrote: Have you checked your electric bill lately ?

And how do we get electricity? Mainly Coal and Oil, some Nuclear, a bit of hydroelectric, and a tiny, tiny bit from wind farms.  

So environmentally friendly to run they ain't [and don't start me on their build cycle, or the recycle of parts at end of life!!!! ]

So, miss out the middle man - buy petrol, or if you must [but don't] a DIEsel

I see in today's Telegraph that a government advisor has stated that people should repair rather than replace their cars, and keep them for a long time - I expect he will soon be sidelined!  After almost 15 years  and 126000 miles my 1998 Z3 is working well, and our 2000 Golf TDI clocked up 192,000 yesterday on the return trip from Barcelona.

Keeping our old but good cars makes far more sense that being swept along on the fashion for electric cars, which really have nothing to reccommend themselves.

Can you imagine the problems that electric car owners will experience as they grow older?  Most BMW dealers are unable to cure simple and common problems - such as airbag lights operating - without an  'It will cost you £400 plus, but we can't guarantee to effect a cure'  type of cop-out.  Do they know anything at all about the cars they are supposed to be experts for?  Probably not, as all they do is change oil and filters on cars which are still under warranty.

They are just as bad when faced with mechanical problems.  Daughter's E46 325 Coupe would not run properly after going through deep water, and after having the car for three days her dealer wanted £400, with another £1200  to investigate, never mind find a cure.  An indie took half a day to diagnose a bent con rod caused through water ingress through a torn intake rubber - which had been replaced by the dealer without wondering about the water found by the indie inside the throttle body . . .

If a main BMW dealer cannot logically diagnose basic stuff like that, how are they going to tackle electronic problems?  It will probably be handled by total changes of electronic boxes at massive prices, and maybe - just maybe - curing the problem.

Unless BMW really change their dealers' level of electronic expertise the owners of any electric car will have no hope of keeping them going, even after spending massive amounts of money, so no-one in their right mind could possibly reccommend buying one.


Edited by Mike Fishwick - 08 Jan 2014 at 4:32pm

Cambell wrote: Strongly disagree, BMW should stand out as a marque who still produce quality and powerful vehicles. They are pandering to the tax benefits of producing eco crap. People will still buy the brand to have a stand out machine.  I know it'll never ever happen but BMW should leave the manufacture of these silly little go carts to the lesser brands and let them aim their marketing at tweed jacket wearing bearded geographgy teachers.

They already do so

Mike Fishwick wrote: I see in today's Telegraph that a government advisor has stated that people should repair rather than replace their cars, and keep them for a long time - I expect he will soon be sidelined!  After almost 15 years  and 126000 miles my 1998 Z3 is working well, and our 2000 Golf TDI clocked up 192,000 yesterday on the return trip from Barcelona. Keeping our old but good cars makes far more sense that being swept along on the fashion for electric cars, which really have nothing to reccommend themselves. Can you imagine the problems that electric car owners will experience as they grow older?  Most BMW dealers are unable to cure simple and common problems - such as airbag lights operating - without an  'It will cost you £400 plus, but we can't guarantee to effect a cure'  type of cop-out.  Do they know anything at all about the cars they are supposed to be experts for?  Probably not, as all they do is change oil and filters on cars which are still under warranty. They are just as bad when faced with mechanical problems.  Daughter's E46 325 Coupe would not run properly after going through deep water, and after having the car for three days her dealer wanted £400, with another £1200  to investigate, never mind find a cure.  An indie took half a day to diagnose a bent con rod caused through water ingress through a torn intake rubber - which had been replaced by the dealer without wondering about the water found by the indie inside the throttle body . . . If a main BMW dealer cannot logically diagnose basic stuff like that, how are they going to tackle electronic problems?  It will probably be handled by total changes of electronic boxes at massive prices, and maybe - just maybe - curing the problem. Unless BMW really change their dealers' level of electronic expertise the owners of any electric car will have no hope of keeping them going, even after spending massive amounts of money, so no-one in their right mind could possibly reccommend buying one.

MF - I think you are a bit harsh or just plain unlucky with Service from BMW Main Dealers. I never had a problem with BMW Wollaston and/or BMW MK!  I am pretty sure I am not alone on this. I do not disagree with your summary on the I3 but nevertheless it has enjoyed some pretty good reviews and is clearly rather special and enjoyable to drive. It clearly has its limitations both in cost and maintenance but so did some petrol Marques; these problems were overcome. 

issus wrote: Mr Campbell - Have you ever driven one? If you had you would have been most probably impressed. I hope this Independence thing is not getting the better of your judgements.

I dont know what you mean by that ?

Cabrio wrote: I wonder what BL or Triumph or Rover would do differently with hindsight

Build an electric car with oil leaks?




The i3 is a marvellous thing. It doesn't have the 'holier than thou' image of the Toyota Pious and isn't the half-arsed compromise that hybrids are.
I went to the i3 launch and I approve fully - I'd have one as a city car, not because I'm taken in by electric cars (I don't believe they are the answer) but because of the amazing design and technology. It stands apart from the rest as something completely different. Anyone who dismisses it because it doesn't have 500 bhp is missing the point entirely alas.

AndrewE wrote: - I'd have one as a city car, not because I'm taken in by electric cars (I don't believe they are the answer) but because of the amazing design and technology. It stands apart from the rest as something completely different. Anyone who dismisses it because it doesn't have 500 bhp is missing the point entirely alas.

There is no point to this car, its merely a marketing exercise so BMW can say "We build an eco car" and claim the tax benefits.