2017 BMW i3 vs 2018 i3 vs i3S?

[bernie_eccle]

6 months on from my original post I have now taken delivery of a 2018 i3s 94ah ReX in white. I have been waiting and waiting for the ideal spec at the right money. I realised that the ideal, fully load spec is a bit of a unicorn. I settled on suite (leather) interior, harman kardon sound, sun roof and reversing camera. Traffic Jam Assist, which includes adaptive cruise, just seemed nigh on impossible to find alongside leather etc. Whilst white wasn't my first choice I quite like the "storm trooper" combo with the black. I really like the interior with the oak dash and brown leather - I must be getting old!

I am really pleased with how it drives. The ride whilst firm, isn't as harsh as I feared. It was only delivered on Friday so have only had a couple of runs with it but really enjoyed them. The effortless acceleration is brilliant but I found myself more interested in seeing how many miles per kwh I could achieve. I managed 4.2 miles over 50 miles, which I think is pretty good, but will probably never be repeated as I become more comfortable with the car. I had the other half with me also so was taking it easy, enjoying the lovely scenery of the Fife coastline.

Thanks to all who contributed their own experiences and thoughts.

[so called]

A pleasure to drive.

[ModMan]

off_again said:

Its a small thing, but the pre-2018 models had infotainment screens that can be easily replaced. If you get one with the smaller screen, its $300 from Aliexpress to replace it with the larger one (and get the additional features etc) and $50 for the OBD reader and software to code it. Post-2018 they changed the screen maker and you cant get them easily and its super expensive ($3000 from BMW).

I know its small thing, but if you want the larger screen and it has the smaller one - get a 2017 or earlier, or just get one with the bigger screen anyway. And if you want to add Android Auto or Carplay, its easier with the 2018 models, but wasnt available on the 2017 or earlier. Though again, adding it to a 2017 or earlier is a $300 add on and simple install.

Small things, but we got a 2017 Rex and done the screen already - its a 15 minute job.

I realise this is an old thread, but I've been researching the screen all afternoon after I noticed a 2016 model with Carplay here:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308060...

I'm in the market for a 92AH REX model and would like carplay as well as the reversing camera. Is there any visible way to see the difference between a 2017 (Cheap replaceable) and 2018 (Expensive replaceable) screen and to see if the car has the parking camera. I'm going through the advert photos on the regular online sites and trying to rule out the ones before I start calling people up and viewing.

[danp]

ModMan said:

I realise this is an old thread, but I've been researching the screen all afternoon after I noticed a 2016 model with Carplay here:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308060...

I'm in the market for a 92AH REX model and would like carplay as well as the reversing camera. Is there any visible way to see the difference between a 2017 (Cheap replaceable) and 2018 (Expensive replaceable) screen and to see if the car has the parking camera. I'm going through the advert photos on the regular online sites and trying to rule out the ones before I start calling people up and viewing.

I think the different bigger screen came on the facelift model.

Ref the reversing camera - it’s part of the “comfort package”, if they’ve taken a picture of the rear you should be able to make out the lense in the middle of the bumper (above the number plate).

[ModMan]

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

[robscot]

ModMan said:

Thanks for that, much appreciated.

I would be interested in your criteria, what you have discovered in your hunt, and what age/price points are the sweetspot! Having a nose through myself for something

[bernie_eccle]

robscot said:

I would be interested in your criteria, what you have discovered in your hunt, and what age/price points are the sweetspot! Having a nose through myself for something

Try https://tesla-info.com/bmw/bmw-inventory.php. Its a great resource.

[ModMan]

robscot said:

I would be interested in your criteria, what you have discovered in your hunt, and what age/price points are the sweetspot! Having a nose through myself for something

It's still early days yet, have 2 months to find a car for my elderly mother who can't quite cope with a full EV. The i3, Honda Insight, VW Golf GTE are all contenders.

Just looked up tyre prices for the i3, crikey, £150 ea, ok, not a huge thing in the grand scheme of things but stil.

Edited by ModMan on Sunday 13th August 14:11

[GT6k]

if you have the I3S with 20" wheels the OEM tyres are 175/55 front and 195/50 rear but it will take 195/55 all round which is a standard tyre size. The OEM size are stupidly expensive, difficult to find and not all that good.

[-Cappo-]

Probably a daft question but where can you see whether it's a 94Ah version etc (battery size?).

What's the quoted range of a 94Ah without the REx?

[bernie_eccle]

-Cappo- said:

Probably a daft question but where can you see whether it's a 94Ah version etc (battery size?).

What's the quoted range of a 94Ah without the REx?

Not quite sure what you are asking? If doing an online search a Rex will come under hybrid. If wandering around a garage or looking at pictures a Rex will have a fuel flap on the driver side front wing, the BEV doesn't.

[-Cappo-]

bernie_eccle said:

-Cappo- said:

Probably a daft question but where can you see whether it's a 94Ah version etc (battery size?).

What's the quoted range of a 94Ah without the REx?

Not quite sure what you are asking? If doing an online search a Rex will come under hybrid. If wandering around a garage or looking at pictures a Rex will have a fuel flap on the driver side front wing, the BEV doesn't.

The listings I can see all seem to say either 42kWh or 33 kWh, not the Amp hour rating?

The question about the REx was (conversely!) what the range of a non-REx model is, which then of course depends on battery size?

Thanks.

[SWoll]

-Cappo- said:

The listings I can see all seem to say either 42kWh or 33 kWh, not the Amp hour rating?

The question about the REx was (conversely!) what the range of a non-REx model is, which then of course depends on battery size?

Thanks.

60ah - 19kWh useable
94ah - 27kWh useable
120ah - 38kWh useable

Assume 3.5 miles/kWh winter and 4.5 miles/kWh summer and you'll be about right IME.

[Paddymcc]

SWoll said:

60ah - 19kWh useable
94ah - 27kWh useable
120ah - 38kWh useable

Assume 3.5 miles/kWh winter and 4.5 miles/kWh summer and you'll be about right IME.

It would be far closer to 2.7miles / KW in winter and 3.5 / kw in summer from my experience with my 2018 i3.

[robscot]

bernie_eccle said:

Try https://tesla-info.com/bmw/bmw-inventory.php. Its a great resource.

That is great - thanks!!

[SWoll]

Paddymcc said:

SWoll said:

60ah - 19kWh useable
94ah - 27kWh useable
120ah - 38kWh useable

Assume 3.5 miles/kWh winter and 4.5 miles/kWh summer and you'll be about right IME.

It would be far closer to 2.7miles / KW in winter and 3.5 / kw in summer from my experience with my 2018 i3.

Was basing it on our experience of the 2019 120ah model we had for a year. Never saw it drop below 3 miles/kWh even in the worst of conditions personally and summer was regularly 170-180 miles on full charge. We managed a 150+ mile round trip to Manchester airport in September 2019 with a week in a long stay car park and still got home with range to spare.

[Discombobulate]

Paddymcc said:

It would be far closer to 2.7miles / KW in winter and 3.5 / kw in summer from my experience with my 2018 i3.

Really? That is low. It is one of the most efficient EVs out there, not least because it is so light. I hoon around in mine (albeit not on motorways) and have averaged 4 miles /kWh over 3 years and 20,000 miles. It is a 2020 120Ah BEV.

[-Cappo-]

SWoll said:

-Cappo- said:

The listings I can see all seem to say either 42kWh or 33 kWh, not the Amp hour rating?

The question about the REx was (conversely!) what the range of a non-REx model is, which then of course depends on battery size?

Thanks.

60ah - 19kWh useable
94ah - 27kWh useable
120ah - 38kWh useable

Assume 3.5 miles/kWh winter and 4.5 miles/kWh summer and you'll be about right IME.

Thanks - this and the other comments about miles/kWh all make sense. I need to find one to go and have a look at.

[oop north]

Discombobulate said:

Paddymcc said:

It would be far closer to 2.7miles / KW in winter and 3.5 / kw in summer from my experience with my 2018 i3.

Really? That is low. It is one of the most efficient EVs out there, not least because it is so light. I hoon around in mine (albeit not on motorways) and have averaged 4 miles /kWh over 3 years and 20,000 miles. It is a 2020 120Ah BEV.

Agreed - I had a 2015 Rex and got 4.1 in year one and 3.9 in years 2-3 when I was driving much harder (total 39,000 miles)

[Paul Drawmer]

-Cappo- said:

Thanks - this and the other comments about miles/kWh all make sense. I need to find one to go and have a look at.

Get in touch with Wisely they have a stock list that includes cars in prep, and sometimes you can choose what they do. My association with them is as a satisfied customer. They have a better specialised I3 knowledge than most BMW dealers.

http://www.wiselyautomotive.com/