Goodbye i3 production, it's been emotional.
Discussion
It's a little plastic econobox, people hate it for what it is, what it stands for and maybe even for what it was. But it will be gone. Sad? Depends on you viewpoint I think, those of us who bought late ones will be saddened as it finally became the car it always should have been.
Those who bought early ones had to endeavour with many foibles.
Those who didn't buy one probably just hated it for not being an e30 M3 for £20k.
I've owned plenty of special cars but our i3S is up there with the best cars I've ever bought. Ever, probably in the top 5, maybe even 3. I wanted one since they were released but it took a lot of time before it was right to buy one (due to model cycle improvements and tax breaks for buying) but when we did, what a car.
Those who bought early ones had to endeavour with many foibles.
Those who didn't buy one probably just hated it for not being an e30 M3 for £20k.
I've owned plenty of special cars but our i3S is up there with the best cars I've ever bought. Ever, probably in the top 5, maybe even 3. I wanted one since they were released but it took a lot of time before it was right to buy one (due to model cycle improvements and tax breaks for buying) but when we did, what a car.
Have to agree. Its a little sad, but the market has moved on and I applaud any manufacturer who is prepared to try something.
I have to disagree with those who say it has been a massive failure - they made something like 250,000, which is far from bad! And what BMW has learned from the whole exercise is huge. It proved that you dont need a big car to feel roomy inside, that you dont need massive tires to have fun handling and yes, you can do colors in a car!
Of course, there have been failures - those package names, the brand new price and slightly weird styling. But hey, they tried and the public voted, well done BMW for trying at least. In a world where bland can be the norm, it is (or is that now was) a little bright spot. A real marmite car, but that is also a good thing - have a view, opinion or similar.
We all want something from our cars, but manufacturers struggle to deliver sometimes. "We want a manual gearbox, sports focused car with 400+BHP". Ok, but the manufacturers sell 3 so its not worth it. "We want a fun to drive, cheap and stylish EV", ok, but its going to packaged slightly different from what you expect - and guess what, the public didnt buy it in the millions. Oh well, at least BMW tried, and for that, they get my appreciation.
I have to disagree with those who say it has been a massive failure - they made something like 250,000, which is far from bad! And what BMW has learned from the whole exercise is huge. It proved that you dont need a big car to feel roomy inside, that you dont need massive tires to have fun handling and yes, you can do colors in a car!
Of course, there have been failures - those package names, the brand new price and slightly weird styling. But hey, they tried and the public voted, well done BMW for trying at least. In a world where bland can be the norm, it is (or is that now was) a little bright spot. A real marmite car, but that is also a good thing - have a view, opinion or similar.
We all want something from our cars, but manufacturers struggle to deliver sometimes. "We want a manual gearbox, sports focused car with 400+BHP". Ok, but the manufacturers sell 3 so its not worth it. "We want a fun to drive, cheap and stylish EV", ok, but its going to packaged slightly different from what you expect - and guess what, the public didnt buy it in the millions. Oh well, at least BMW tried, and for that, they get my appreciation.
Had a 2019 i3 120ah for 12 months and 15k miles which was replaced by a Model 3 Performance (now also gone)
The i3 is the one we miss, and expect to buy another in the future, probably an S, as feel it's a prefect daily runaround. Great build, good performance, surprisingly practical, fantastic around town, efficient and cool. No other small EV interests me or is anywhere near as special IMHO, which is an amazing feat for a car first released in 2014.
The i3 is the one we miss, and expect to buy another in the future, probably an S, as feel it's a prefect daily runaround. Great build, good performance, surprisingly practical, fantastic around town, efficient and cool. No other small EV interests me or is anywhere near as special IMHO, which is an amazing feat for a car first released in 2014.
SWoll said:
Had a 2019 i3 120ah for 12 months and 15k miles which was replaced by a Model 3 Performance (now also gone)
The i3 is the one we miss, and expect to buy another in the future, probably an S, as feel it's a prefect daily runaround. Great build, good performance, surprisingly practical, fantastic around town, efficient and cool. No other small EV interests me or is anywhere near as special IMHO, which is an amazing feat for a car first released in 2014.
2014 - that really does make one think: 8 years in BEV terms must be akin to cat and dog years. My mate has recently bought one and I've finally had a good look around the inside and outside. Phenomenal design, love the interior, never driven one, but I suspect Mrs Diderot would have loved one four years or so ago when we got the X3 35d; and it would have worked for us then. She is hugely liking our XC40 BEV (me too) so I'm sure she'd have felt entirely comfortable with the form factor. The i3 is the one we miss, and expect to buy another in the future, probably an S, as feel it's a prefect daily runaround. Great build, good performance, surprisingly practical, fantastic around town, efficient and cool. No other small EV interests me or is anywhere near as special IMHO, which is an amazing feat for a car first released in 2014.
Diderot said:
SWoll said:
Had a 2019 i3 120ah for 12 months and 15k miles which was replaced by a Model 3 Performance (now also gone)
The i3 is the one we miss, and expect to buy another in the future, probably an S, as feel it's a prefect daily runaround. Great build, good performance, surprisingly practical, fantastic around town, efficient and cool. No other small EV interests me or is anywhere near as special IMHO, which is an amazing feat for a car first released in 2014.
2014 - that really does make one think: 8 years in BEV terms must be akin to cat and dog years. My mate has recently bought one and I've finally had a good look around the inside and outside. Phenomenal design, love the interior, never driven one, but I suspect Mrs Diderot would have loved one four years or so ago when we got the X3 35d; and it would have worked for us then. She is hugely liking our XC40 BEV (me too) so I'm sure she'd have felt entirely comfortable with the form factor. The i3 is the one we miss, and expect to buy another in the future, probably an S, as feel it's a prefect daily runaround. Great build, good performance, surprisingly practical, fantastic around town, efficient and cool. No other small EV interests me or is anywhere near as special IMHO, which is an amazing feat for a car first released in 2014.
Plan for later this year is a lightly used i3s for daily duties and something ICE powered and utterly daft to stick in the garage and pull out for high days and holiday where the range and charging speed of the i3 would be too restrictive. I exoect to keep the i3 long term as 150-200 miles is more than enough range for 99% of our trips and it will almost certainly still look like a modern design in 2030.
The funny thing with the i3 isit has always had the essentials nailed and they have improved it over time. The drivetrain in the 120ah is exceptional, the only fly in the ointment being a max 50kW charge speed, although it could be argued it will help with battery longevity. No it doesnlt have screens everywhere etc. but who needs that anyway?
Edited by SWoll on Friday 28th January 22:23
PH User said:
Fugly little things, so won't be missed.
Much like yourself!The i3 is entering the automotive hall of fame to sit alongside the mini and Citroen 2CV, nobody coverts early Teslas, not even the original roadster, nor Nissan leaf’s, but i3 owners only ever talk fondly about them.
I was a sceptical buyer of the i3 (120ah) back in late 2019 but bought one because my wife was keen on an EV and nothing else in the market in our price range appealed.
That was just over two years ago and in that time I've come to love it. The driving experience has been a revelation. I've said it somewhere before on this forum, it's faster to 40mph than my M5, is a truly entertaining steer and we'll definitely be keeping it. My wife utterly adores it.
It is a marmite car in the looks department for sure, and not many people sit on the fence, but I've come to love the design of the body and its proportions. To me, it appears to be a car from the future and wouldn't be out of place as a prop in a Star Wars movie.
The range and charging rate are OK for us as it's mainly used for local work. Longer journeys are challenging though. The rear doors can be inconvenient at times, something quite a few owners have probably found, but it's not a dealbreaker.
Future classic? Yes, I think so.
That was just over two years ago and in that time I've come to love it. The driving experience has been a revelation. I've said it somewhere before on this forum, it's faster to 40mph than my M5, is a truly entertaining steer and we'll definitely be keeping it. My wife utterly adores it.
It is a marmite car in the looks department for sure, and not many people sit on the fence, but I've come to love the design of the body and its proportions. To me, it appears to be a car from the future and wouldn't be out of place as a prop in a Star Wars movie.
The range and charging rate are OK for us as it's mainly used for local work. Longer journeys are challenging though. The rear doors can be inconvenient at times, something quite a few owners have probably found, but it's not a dealbreaker.
Future classic? Yes, I think so.
Heres Johnny said:
The i3 is entering the automotive hall of fame to sit alongside the mini and Citroen 2CV, nobody coverts early Teslas, not even the original roadster, nor Nissan leaf’s, but i3 owners only ever talk fondly about them.
Yeah, right 
Mine was the most unreliable car I've ever owned, was glad to get rid and would never consider another one despite all of the fawning that is done on here by some owners. mids said:
Heres Johnny said:
The i3 is entering the automotive hall of fame to sit alongside the mini and Citroen 2CV, nobody coverts early Teslas, not even the original roadster, nor Nissan leaf’s, but i3 owners only ever talk fondly about them.
Yeah, right Mine was the most unreliable car I've ever owned, was glad to get rid and would never consider another one despite all of the fawning that is done on here by some owners. That's the point of this thread, its a nostalgic reflection on a car that still pretty much cuts it in a rapdily changing EV world, looks more progressive (especially from the outside) and has more character than any of the new crop coming out including from BMW themselves, and for an 8 year old design thats pretty remarkable.
I had one as well, an i3s, and loved it. What upsets me is BMW wasted their lead. They’re proving very reliable and had great battery management.
Why oh why they didn’t build on the platform to release more mainstream EVs earlier I’ll never know. We got rid of ours when kids appeared and we couldn’t get along with the rear doors, they just needed a 1 series with the same running gear and they would have had quite a march on the competition. Now it seems like they’re playing catch up.
Why oh why they didn’t build on the platform to release more mainstream EVs earlier I’ll never know. We got rid of ours when kids appeared and we couldn’t get along with the rear doors, they just needed a 1 series with the same running gear and they would have had quite a march on the competition. Now it seems like they’re playing catch up.
Has it been officially confirmed that production is ending?
All I can find is a slightly older rumour that it will continue in production units 2024, but other reports suggest this summer will see its demise.
I've had my (from new) i3s for nearly a year, and absolutely adore it. Nothing has gone wrong, and it makes me smile whenever I drive it.
I was hoping to get another new one after my three year lease ends in 2023 (with more equipment this time)...
All I can find is a slightly older rumour that it will continue in production units 2024, but other reports suggest this summer will see its demise.
I've had my (from new) i3s for nearly a year, and absolutely adore it. Nothing has gone wrong, and it makes me smile whenever I drive it.
I was hoping to get another new one after my three year lease ends in 2023 (with more equipment this time)...
Heres Johnny said:
Much like yourself!
The i3 is entering the automotive hall of fame to sit alongside the mini and Citroen 2CV, nobody coverts early Teslas, not even the original roadster, nor Nissan leaf’s, but i3 owners only ever talk fondly about them.
I'm inclined to think the same. It is an ugly thing but I also suspect that this is one of the things that will add to a future cult status. It's fun, weird and relatively unique for a generic shopping car. The i3 is entering the automotive hall of fame to sit alongside the mini and Citroen 2CV, nobody coverts early Teslas, not even the original roadster, nor Nissan leaf’s, but i3 owners only ever talk fondly about them.
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