I3 - those rear doors

[Mitch16]

I am thinking about purchasing an i3 and would really appreciate if anyone who has / is running one could give me a view on the practicality of the rear doors.

E.g. for school runs etc, having to get out of the front to open the rear doors just seems frustrating.

First world problems I recognise but appreciate any insight.

Also, I copied a reg plate from a car for sale and put into the bmw service link to check running costs Servicing still seems expensive and frequent given there is no engine, this was on a one year old car. I am looking at the fully electric one.

Any feedback really welcome - thank you.

[oldaudi]

Watching this thread.... also interested in an older one but worried about this 7 year battery warranty.....

[David_M]

I came here thinking this thread was going to be along the lines of "why did they let two separate blind people design the doors?"

Has one of if not the worst side profiles of any current car, now that the Skoda Roomster is no more.

[JackReacher]

I have an i3s and its brilliant for commuting and nipping around in. There is a dedicated thread in the EV section that is useful and a good UK group on Facebook. You'll find that most owners really like these cars.

We don't carry rear passengers that often, but the doors can be a bit of a pain in tight spaces. Expect it to be like a 3dr car but with a much wider opening. In tight spaces with both doors open you can find yourself caught between the 2. But if you manage parking carefully you can avoid that issue. We have a baby on the way and expect it to be become more of a problem, but we will be able to cope. That really is the only negative I have of the car really.

[MrC986]

I've got an I3 and it was my first I3 so I was aware of the rear doors...it's definitely a different style of design though you just need to remember to plan where you park. Once in the back, there's plenty of room and the few passengers I've had have commented on how roomy it is.

I'm not near a first service yet though my annual mileage would normally be about 20k but Covid will see it drop to about 12k. There isn't much to service if you have a full electric version.

Get yourself over to the Facebook page as they have lots and lots of owner experiences and some good user guides.

If necessary go to a main dealer and ask for an extended test drive (I think they are still offering 24 hr ones) even if you don't have any intention of buying a new one! - they should offer it, even if you have to push them a bit!

[Depthhoar]

Yes, the rear doors can be a bit frustrating if you're carrying rear passengers a lot of the time. Wasn't a deal breaker for me but everyone has different needs and requirements. I have the 120 BEV version and find the range to be good for most of the journeys we undertake, but perhaps not for long distance work though that is possible.

On the looks front, for me it looks like a car from the future - a prop from a Star Wars movie maybe. Love the futuristic aesthetic but it is a marmite issue of course.

I'd be looking at a fully electric one if I were you. The 'range extender' (REX) versions have the added complication of a scooter engine to service, maintain and repair. From what I've read the scooter engine is the least reliable part of the car.

If you're looking to buy then have a look at this database of available nearly new and used i3 cars: https://tesla-info.com/BMW/cars-for-sale.php

[BFleming]

My friend ran one for 4 years... his thoughts (as we discussed this last week):

Pros:
Nippy, cheap to run, well built (one fault, see below), spacious and (his at least) was well equipped.

Cons:
The range wasn't great, the range extender was noisy, the power socket failed to release occasionally (common fault) and the rear doors drove them crazy with 2 teenage kids.

Personally choice only, but I went down the hybrid route. The i3 just didn't suit our needs due to some of the factors mentioned above.