BMW 225xe (2 Series Active Tourer)

BMW 225xe (2 Series Active Tourer)

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Discussion

C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Saturday 9th November 2019
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Well, I'm post-whoring this one.

Having just got back from a long holiday, I've found the battery on my track car completely dead.

Is it possible to use the 225xe to jump start the track car, using the battery under the bonnet? Or am I going to fry something?

ProTantoQuid

99 posts

70 months

Saturday 9th November 2019
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I phoned them to extend my lease and was told that if I take the extension, I can end it early at any point during the extension period without penalty.

Might come in useful if a service indicator starts to ping.

Unclegerry

137 posts

95 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
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ProTantoQuid said:
I phoned them to extend my lease and was told that if I take the extension, I can end it early at any point during the extension period without penalty.

Might come in useful if a service indicator starts to ping.
Presumably the mileage was increased inline with your original allowance ? What period could you extend for 6/12 months at same rate ?

Earthdweller

13,588 posts

127 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
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bogmeister said:
I've had a 225xe for just over a year and covered 30207 miles so far. I live in the middle of the north Highlands so most of my driving is on single track and normal A-roads, very little town driving

“Snip”

I bought the 225xe because I wanted a car with slightly higher seats due to OH's mobility issues, but also decent performance, I don't think there's anything in the same price range that could do fulfill those criteria and return 60mpg so overall I'm very happy with it.
We live in a very similar area to you and probably do very similar mileage. We also have a family member with mobility issues

We looked at the 225xe and Countryman SE and to be fair I really couldn’t see a financial argument in favour of them for rural use

We bought a Countryman Cooper D which regularly gets well into the 60’s on runs and is averaging 55mpg overal

It was bought as an ex demo with negligible miles for about 50% of what the SE would have cost

For all the faff and expense you have I really cannot see the benefit in your circs of a hybrid

C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
quotequote all
Unclegerry said:
ProTantoQuid said:
I phoned them to extend my lease and was told that if I take the extension, I can end it early at any point during the extension period without penalty.

Might come in useful if a service indicator starts to ping.
Presumably the mileage was increased inline with your original allowance ? What period could you extend for 6/12 months at same rate ?
I'd be keen for the answers to this too.

In an ideal world, I'd like to take the pressure off finding a replacement (the X1 hybrid is still looking a bit expensive when it lands), and be able to roll over on a monthly basis with a pro-rata reduction based on lower miles.

davettf2

151 posts

146 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
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As you may recall, I mentioned that I purchased a late 2018 225xe M sport. Having now done around 600 miles I thought that it was time to update and give some background to the choice.
The 225xe replaced a 10 year old, owned from new, VW Mk6 Golf with 141,000 miles on it, and like Earthdweller’s Cooper D would happily return 55-60 mpg. So why the Hybrid, which on longer runs would potentially not be able to match these figures. The decision was based on change of diving profile. I retired at the end of 2017, meaning that I no longer had to do a 60 mile a day commute and in the following 18 months only managed to put another 8,000 miles on the car. Which began to highlight an issue with the diesel, it took ages to warm up, typically 10 miles (had never bothered me previously as the journey was always sufficient to get the engine up to full working temperature) which began to affect the DPF and thus needed the odd ‘wasted’ run to clear it out. So why a PHEV. The Golf had an APP which recorded all journeys, including mileage. A study of the time since retirement indicated that 60% of the daily mileage was less than 20 miles, also most of those journeys were into town / supermarket, areas where emissions are potentially an issue. Thus a PHEV made reasonable sense.
So where are we now with it, do I like it still, Yes. It does not have the torque of the Golf but it’s easy to live with and is delivering what I expected. The ride with the run flats is OK, its little different to the Golf. I have now done one longish journey to the NEC for the Classic car show (need something to replace the 2.5-16 I have just sold) and it returned 6.8l/100km on fuel cruising 70ish with the morning journey completed with a temperature always below freezing and the return in heavy rain. Thus air con, always on, plus lights wipers etc. Also running battery saver on the motorway, allowing electric running in the stop start traffic at the NEC. The fuel consumption was on par with what I expected, but the real benefits are that for the majority of journeys electric power only is used. Also the ability to precondition is a real bonus as her indoors does not have get into a cold car, plus she rates the heated seats!

Earthdweller

13,588 posts

127 months

Sunday 10th November 2019
quotequote all
davettf2 said:
As you may recall, I mentioned that I purchased a late 2018 225xe M sport. Having now done around 600 miles I thought that it was time to update and give some background to the choice.
The 225xe replaced a 10 year old, owned from new, VW Mk6 Golf with 141,000 miles on it, and like Earthdweller’s Cooper D would happily return 55-60 mpg. So why the Hybrid, which on longer runs would potentially not be able to match these figures. The decision was based on change of diving profile. I retired at the end of 2017, meaning that I no longer had to do a 60 mile a day commute and in the following 18 months only managed to put another 8,000 miles on the car. Which began to highlight an issue with the diesel, it took ages to warm up, typically 10 miles (had never bothered me previously as the journey was always sufficient to get the engine up to full working temperature) which began to affect the DPF and thus needed the odd ‘wasted’ run to clear it out. So why a PHEV. The Golf had an APP which recorded all journeys, including mileage. A study of the time since retirement indicated that 60% of the daily mileage was less than 20 miles, also most of those journeys were into town / supermarket, areas where emissions are potentially an issue. Thus a PHEV made reasonable sense.
So where are we now with it, do I like it still, Yes. It does not have the torque of the Golf but it’s easy to live with and is delivering what I expected. The ride with the run flats is OK, its little different to the Golf. I have now done one longish journey to the NEC for the Classic car show (need something to replace the 2.5-16 I have just sold) and it returned 6.8l/100km on fuel cruising 70ish with the morning journey completed with a temperature always below freezing and the return in heavy rain. Thus air con, always on, plus lights wipers etc. Also running battery saver on the motorway, allowing electric running in the stop start traffic at the NEC. The fuel consumption was on par with what I expected, but the real benefits are that for the majority of journeys electric power only is used. Also the ability to precondition is a real bonus as her indoors does not have get into a cold car, plus she rates the heated seats!
That makes sense

Our nearest Tesco is 25 miles away so a 50 mile round trip smile

I have a friend who has a 330e and does a 15 mile commute and can charge at either end, he hardly uses any petrol at all

In his, and your situation it makes sense


C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Monday 11th November 2019
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A random question - has anyone driven the Mini Countryman S E, which is basically the same car underneath?

I have a thing for Minis, and it's creeping onto the list for the 225's replacement.

Earthdweller

13,588 posts

127 months

Monday 11th November 2019
quotequote all
C70R said:
A random question - has anyone driven the Mini Countryman S E, which is basically the same car underneath?

I have a thing for Minis, and it's creeping onto the list for the 225's replacement.
Yes .. I really liked it ... but

I bought the diesel version instead smile

To qualify that ..

It’s an excellent car .. the electric range wasn’t suitable for us and the cost of it was pretty astronomical for what it is

As a package though the Countryman is excellent, it drives really well, is well built and like a tardis

Ours has the electric tailgate .. led lights .. sliding rear seat and chilli/excitement packs ( whatever that is)

I’d recommend the Countryman as a car and maybe as a hybrid depending on how you plan on using it

Unclegerry

137 posts

95 months

Monday 11th November 2019
quotequote all
C70R said:
A random question - has anyone driven the Mini Countryman S E, which is basically the same car underneath?

I have a thing for Minis, and it's creeping onto the list for the 225's replacement.
Have looked at the Countryman as a replacement. According to What Car Leasing around £280 per month on a 23 plus 6 8k per annum. 225XE M Sport Premium £325 per month on 36 plus 6 8k per annum. However new 2 series Active Tourer out early next year, maybe some deals on the new /old one ?

C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Tuesday 12th November 2019
quotequote all
Earthdweller said:
C70R said:
A random question - has anyone driven the Mini Countryman S E, which is basically the same car underneath?

I have a thing for Minis, and it's creeping onto the list for the 225's replacement.
Yes .. I really liked it ... but

I bought the diesel version instead smile

To qualify that ..

It’s an excellent car .. the electric range wasn’t suitable for us and the cost of it was pretty astronomical for what it is

As a package though the Countryman is excellent, it drives really well, is well built and like a tardis

Ours has the electric tailgate .. led lights .. sliding rear seat and chilli/excitement packs ( whatever that is)

I’d recommend the Countryman as a car and maybe as a hybrid depending on how you plan on using it
Hybrid definitely works for me, for a number of reasons.

Think I'll go try one out!

Yeyeyeyeye

25 posts

69 months

Thursday 14th November 2019
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Winter has definitely arrived! A full charge of the battery = 12 miles range now

davettf2

151 posts

146 months

Friday 15th November 2019
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Just been reading the 'When the temperature drops' thread and I'm starting to discover some interesting 'quirks' In my earlier post i mentioned that we used the car to go to the NEC classic car show. I'd pre-conditioned to 20 degrees (keeps the better half happy) and got 18ish miles out of the battery with an external air temp of -1.5 degrees. Recently traveled to around 30 miles in a 6 degree ambient and once the battery was depleted it was quite keen to revert to electric power once the speed dropped to 30 mph. On the return journey, several hours later with no charging whilst parked, it was very reluctant to revert to electric power, (3 - 4 degrees ambient). Thus it would appear that battery temperature has a significant effect on the range. Will need to experiment as the weather turns colder. Pre-conditioning may have range as well as comfort benefits.

Springer996

10 posts

66 months

Monday 25th November 2019
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Unclegerry said:
ProTantoQuid said:
I phoned them to extend my lease and was told that if I take the extension, I can end it early at any point during the extension period without penalty.

Might come in useful if a service indicator starts to ping.
Presumably the mileage was increased inline with your original allowance ? What period could you extend for 6/12 months at same rate ?
Up to six months on ad hoc basis, after which we have to go through finance DD again. Mileage increases pro rata (although she didn't ask whether the excess reduced rate also increases, as we're well over).

Amazed at the battery ranges I read here, we have a best of 31, now 27/8 in the cold.

ProTantoQuid

99 posts

70 months

Tuesday 26th November 2019
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Does anyone know when the first service is likely to be due on a 225xe?

Unclegerry

137 posts

95 months

Tuesday 26th November 2019
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ProTantoQuid said:
Does anyone know when the first service is likely to be due on a 225xe?
As per the car’s systems. This is shown on start up or via BMW Connected Drive App. It is around 19000 miles or 2 years subject to your driving style and type of journeys. That said I have done 5500 miles but still have 16000 miles to go, however we have done a reasonable number of electric only miles. The engine has only powered around a third of the mileage.

Unclegerry

137 posts

95 months

Tuesday 26th November 2019
quotequote all
Springer996 said:
Up to six months on ad hoc basis, after which we have to go through finance DD again. Mileage increases pro rata (although she didn't ask whether the excess reduced rate also increases, as we're well over).

Amazed at the battery ranges I read here, we have a best of 31, now 27/8 in the cold.
Thanks for update, an extra 6 months through the summer might be very useful at the current rate.

C70R

17,596 posts

105 months

Wednesday 27th November 2019
quotequote all
Unclegerry said:
ProTantoQuid said:
Does anyone know when the first service is likely to be due on a 225xe?
As per the car’s systems. This is shown on start up or via BMW Connected Drive App. It is around 19000 miles or 2 years subject to your driving style and type of journeys. That said I have done 5500 miles but still have 16000 miles to go, however we have done a reasonable number of electric only miles. The engine has only powered around a third of the mileage.
This.

Go look at the app. Mine is showing that I probably won't need to service before handing back at this runrate.

ProTantoQuid

99 posts

70 months

Wednesday 27th November 2019
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C70R said:
This.

Go look at the app. Mine is showing that I probably won't need to service before handing back at this runrate.
Yep, just looked at the app. It tells me that it will need an engine oil service in Oct 2020. That’s 22 months after I took it. I guess that’s when I’ll hand the car back. The day before it’s due.

HookyBeerMan

17 posts

91 months

Wednesday 11th December 2019
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Services have been fairly constant in my 225xe. Its called for a service every 22000 miles.

I've had 22k, 44k, 66k and the next one is showing due at 88000 miles. Its either 2 years or when it hits the required mileage.