So who's getting an i3?

[mids]

Yeah, unless the REx does actually have a HP as standard (for whatever reason) ?

The brochure shows you can't order a HP with the REx, everyone's been saying this is because it fits where the REx is but the BMW engineer at LA last week said it's actually installed at the front so maybe REx has a HP fitted as standard which explains how it can pre-heat ? Just a guess though.

[RossP]

The online BMW guy said he was going to email answers to my questions, but he hasn't.

[Amateurish]

I reckon the heat pump is just for more efficient heating, and has nothing to do with pre-heating.

[RossP]

That's not what BMW are saying and if that's the case I'm spending £12.50 a month for nothing.

[RossP]

That's not what BMW are saying and if that's the case I'm spending £12.50 a month for nothing.

[RossP]

That's not what BMW are saying and if that's the case I'm spending £12.50 a month for nothing.

[clarkey]

How practical do the early buyers think an i3 will be for a 200 mile journey? Would it mean using the range extender to maintain the battery life, and then need to both recharge and fill up with petrol at 150 miles or so? Or is a longer range possible - does the range extender charge the battery when switched on, drive the wheels, or a bit of both?

if it works for me it sounds like a good choice. Short commute, regular journeys to London, plus a weekly (or so) 200 mile journey. If the 200 mile journey only needs a 30 minute stop it could be ideal.

Apologies if these are silly questions!

[mids]

Amateurish said:

I reckon the heat pump is just for more efficient heating, and has nothing to do with pre-heating.

Maybe but if that's the case why isn't it an option with the REx ?

The BMW engineer at LA also said that none of the heat generated from the REx is used for cabin heating.

[mids]

clarkey said:

How practical do the early buyers think an i3 will be for a 200 mile journey?

In theory you wouldn't need to stop to recharge the battery you'd just need to stop to fill up the petrol tank. The REx never drives the wheels, it's just used as a generator to charge the battery and it automatically fires up at about 20% battery SOC but can manually be turned on earlier if you prefer to burn the petrol in the first part of the journey.

For a 200 mile journey you'd have to stop once at some point within about the first 150 miles. Running on REx shouldn't impact on your top speed so long as you don't let the battery SOC get to 0% at any point. If you do try running the REx with a completely flat battery it seems it struggles to maintain motorway speeds when on an incline but with it being a 35hp engine that's no surprise and that state should be easy to avoid if you are sensible (unlike the Telegraph journalist).

[McWigglebum4th]

mids said:

The BMW engineer at LA also said that none of the heat generated from the REx is used for cabin heating.

I can understand that

I think the range extender is more of a safety blanket for those with range anxiety

So why install an heating system that wil be rarely used and useless on its pure EV sister

[clarkey]

Holywow said:

Read the Telegraph review of the Rex.

Wasn't he the one didn't bother to find out how to use it first??

[KTF]

clarkey said:

Wasn't he the one didn't bother to find out how to use it first??

It said that the REX is there to stop the battery from being pickled, it isnt enough to sustain the car at a 70mph cruise which is why the Telegraph car reduced speed to 45mpg after he flattened the battery and tried to maintain 70.

[skilly1]

Surely someone from BMW is reading this thread and could forward it someone else who knows the answer to this simple question !!

[TimJMS]

McWigglebum4th said:

mids said:

The BMW engineer at LA also said that none of the heat generated from the REx is used for cabin heating.

I can understand that

I think the range extender is more of a safety blanket for those with range anxiety

So why install an heating system that wil be rarely used and useless on its pure EV sister

Thats how I see it

How confusing. The Mark 1 Leaf certainly had cabin pre heating using its Carwings app, and that was before the Leaf had a heat pump. Its a major selling point in the UK. I cannot think BMW hasn't realised this.

[mids]

Holywow said:

Why would you need to manually turn it on, wouldn't it just kick in when the battery gets down to 7% or so wouldn't the intelligent navigation know you're on a motorway probably need to maintain 70 mph so kick it in even earlier isn't that what technology is about?

That's the point, you DON'T need to manually turn it on and if the journalist hadn't dicked with it by disengaging it before he set off then there would have been no problem. He even admits to user error in the article so out of all of the i3 REx reviews online I'm not sure why you pointed clarkey to the one that is most confusing.

[RossP]

I definitely want cabin pre-heating so it seems the only way to guarantee that is to order the hear pump. I normally start my car in the morning to warm the interior and melt isn't ice which obviously isn't an option on an EV!

I will be asking for a refund if it turns out I could have achieved that without one!

[TimJMS]

I believe if you do nothing, the i3 defaults to kicking in the REx when the batteries are down to 20%. This feature can be over ridden if you realise you are close enough to your next charge point not to need it.

[mids]

No probs I suppose one thing the Telegraph article does do is highlight how difficult it's going to be for BMW to fully explain to punters what the REx can, and more importantly, can't do.

[RossP]

What we need is an in depth road test. It's such a different car that the usual rules don't apply.

[RossP]

Come on PH. Get one on an extended loan. Garlick I'm happy to do the write up if you haven't got time ;-)