Buying, Owning & Improving
Ian Cushway searches out new and used parts prices
BMW’s game-changing electric car is valuepacked and cheap to run. But should you buy one?
The distinctive i3 went on sale here in late 2013 and was BMW’s first mass-produced zero emissions vehicle. It sold quite well, with 220,000 units delivered worldwide by the time it was replaced by the iX range in 2021.
In true BMW tradition, drive was to the rear wheels. That’s where convention ended though because the body itself was carbon reinforced plastic while the chassis was made from aluminium.
Power was delivered via an underfloor 60Ah/22.6kWh lithium-ion battery which gave BMW’s battery electric vehicle (or BEV) a range of between 80-100 miles. For many this wasn’t nearly enough, which explains why the majority of UK buyers opted for the £3150 dearer REx ‘range extender’ model instead which used a 647cc petrol engine (with a 9-litre fuel tank) from a BMW motorbike to top up charge, thus boosting range to a more convenient 160-186 miles.
Ever mindful of ‘range anxiety’, BMW beefed up the pure battery electric (BEV) model in 2016, its 94Ah/33kWh capacity extending the range to 120 miles.
This was followed by a facelift in 2017 which added a few extra inches to its length and a wider range of colours. The sporty looking i3S with its wider track, subtly flared arches, 20in alloys and noticeably more brisk acceleration also joined the range at this time.
In late 2018 the REx was discontinued when the new, pure-electric i3 broke cover with a 120Ah/42.2kWh battery which lifted range to around 160 miles. As you can imagine, this revolutionised ownership, not least because there was no longer the need to worry about maintaining the combustion engine.
Today, the i3 exists as a bit of curiosity. It’s distinctive, still ticks the EV box and has all the refinement you’d expect from a BMW. And it’s not too dear, either. The interior feels spacious and airy, though there are only seatbelts for four and it’s a bit of a squeeze for adults in the rear. Oh, and the windows in the back don’t go down so some rear passengers might feel a little claustrophobic.
