So who's getting an i3?

[RossP]

I am going from a current BEV to a 93Ah REx because:

- I want do to longer trips and it gives that bit of extra security.
- I will actually end up doing more electric miles because of this.
- It adds next to bugger all to the lease cost.
- BIK is now the same for both (when I got my BEV, BIK was zero).

Join our facebook group! http://bmwi3owners.uk/

[TallTony]

Luke. said:

modeller said:

Luke. said:

About to go for one of the Whitewater lease deals in the morning, but still umming and ahhing about the virtues of BEV vs REX. Though finding the Facebook group really helpful. Anyone know what the real range will be of the 94Ah BEV as the new battery might well swing it for me?

Nobody's got one yet! So take the worst range figure and multiply by 1.5 is the best guess. I'm guessing that a REX lease is not much more than a BEV (though that might have changed with the 94Ah), so that might be your best option.

Rex is £4.80 a month more..

Get the REX, I spent a lot of time considering the same question and I am very glad I didn't go BEV. I have no worry about range anxiety and the performance difference is minimal, in my mind it completes the package. Plus there is no never a risk I'd have to drive slowly with the heater/heated seats/aircon off just so I can complete a journey. There is no fun there, but I have no inner hippy/eco warrier tendencies so perhaps I miss the 'joy' that others get.

Last week I clicked over 20,000 miles in the car, apart from 2 sets of engine mounts made of jelly it has been utterly faultless.

[anonymous-user]

Anyone know of any special deals available on the old, low battery capacity cars?

[RossP]

Used ones?

[anonymous-user]

RossP said:

Used ones?

I meant new ones that might still be hanging about

[RossP]

I'm not sre how many (if any) i3s are ordered speculatively by dealers. I suspect most are built to customer order.

[jjlynn27]

RP and TT,

Can you use exiting charger at home for the new extended battery cars?

[RossP]

jjlynn27 said:

RP and TT,

Can you use existing charger at home for the new extended battery cars?

Yes, it is the same connector.

[jjlynn27]

RossP said:

jjlynn27 said:

RP and TT,

Can you use existing charger at home for the new extended battery cars?

Yes, it is the same connector.

Thanks. Still happy with yours?

[RossP]

jjlynn27 said:

Thanks. Still happy with yours?

My charger or my i3?

I love my i3, so much so I'm hopefully picking up a new higher spec one tomorrow!

The charger is just a device and it works so all good!

[jjlynn27]

RossP said:

jjlynn27 said:

Thanks. Still happy with yours?

My charger or my i3?

I love my i3, so much so I'm hopefully picking up a new higher spec one tomorrow!

The charger is just a device and it works so all good!

Lol. i3 of course. Looking forward to a detailed review!

[RossP]

New i3 collected. Only registered 94Ah model in the UK I believe!

[anonymous-user]

Just been looking at i3's on BMW configurator and i have a question: Can you get any exterior colours that are actually colours?? ;-)

(the Blue looks ok i guess)

[ajprice]

There was this but they must have dropped the option

[Luke.]

ajprice said:

There was this but they must have dropped the option

They did. It's only blue now.

[RossP]

[KTF]

The dealer a cross the road from my work has a lot of the new blue ones arriving. Not that it's an easy way for the buyers to show they have a higher capacity battery version or anything

[snorkel sucker]

Out of interest, has anybody run an i3 funded by a car allowance (not a company car) and with the ability to claim back business miles at HMRC rates?

We have a lease car going back in October and need something to replace it. I'm wondering whether I should give my wife my car (3 series estate) for baby and dog duties and I go for an i3.

Current work situation is an 80 mile round trip to the office on an average day but I do about 10k business miles a year (construction industry so trips to site etc are claimable as business miles). Annual miles circa 20k.

Madness to even consider this or potentially very cheap transport?!

[BigBen]

snorkel sucker said:

Out of interest, has anybody run an i3 funded by a car allowance (not a company car) and with the ability to claim back business miles at HMRC rates?

We have a lease car going back in October and need something to replace it. I'm wondering whether I should give my wife my car (3 series estate) for baby and dog duties and I go for an i3.

Current work situation is an 80 mile round trip to the office on an average day but I do about 10k business miles a year (construction industry so trips to site etc are claimable as business miles). Annual miles circa 20k.

Madness to even consider this or potentially very cheap transport?!

A friend of mine also in the construction industry does exactly what you describe, working out well for him so far.

[snorkel sucker]

BigBen said:

snorkel sucker said:

Out of interest, has anybody run an i3 funded by a car allowance (not a company car) and with the ability to claim back business miles at HMRC rates?

We have a lease car going back in October and need something to replace it. I'm wondering whether I should give my wife my car (3 series estate) for baby and dog duties and I go for an i3.

Current work situation is an 80 mile round trip to the office on an average day but I do about 10k business miles a year (construction industry so trips to site etc are claimable as business miles). Annual miles circa 20k.

Madness to even consider this or potentially very cheap transport?!

A friend of mine also in the construction industry does exactly what you describe, working out well for him so far.

Thanks, that's useful to know. I've not done a thorough level of research yet (just starting to) but from what I can see, the HMRC mileage rates are the same as for a petrol/diesel car so very crudely, doing 10k business miles at 45ppm = £4500. Using little or no fuel means that is £4500 to maintain the car. That's not even accounting for car allowance either.

No charge point at work but working for a very large company I don't expect it would take very much persuading to get one installed.