Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Edmunds Lease Help with BMWi3 Lease - 2015 BMW i3
  By Scott Ottersen - December 22 - 10:31 am

  The Edmunds pricing guideline and leasing suggestions really helped us decide between purchase and lease. It also helped us get a fair price on our lease and to make sure we were fully informed when we sat down with what to ask for and what to watch for. Our BMW dealership was helpful and straightforward in their approach. They answered all the questions that the Edmunds guide suggested that we ask. We really love the car and are still learning about all the technical innovations that it has.

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  Sold the V12 Mercedes to go electric - 2015 BMW i3
  By Michael Chard - November 16 - 6:36 pm

  I hesitantly sold my Mercedes CL600 and decided to lease the i3 REx to replace it. I am not a tree hugger but I am a technology geek and the i3 has some fantastic technology built in. My first impression of the i3 was that this is one ugly car and I did not like the look of the pizza cutter tires. However, after driving it for several weeks, not only have the looks grown on me (as well as the 20 inch skinny tires), but i find it the car extremely enjoyable to drive. In fact, it is so enjoyable that my wife prefers the drive to her Range Rover Sport and is constantly asking me to leave it at home so she can drive it. The off-the-line acceleration is fantastic, which has helped alleviate the sorrow of losing my V12 gasoline engine. The interior room for the front occupants is extremely roomy (I am 61" with a large frame). For a sub-compact car, this feels roomier than most other much larger cars. The user interface took a while to learn, but now that I am familiar with it, I am very impressed. The entertainment options are endless, especially when I connect my iPhone and use all of the music, streaming and pod cast services. I use the car primarily to commute to work, 36 miles round trip. I am also able to charge the car at work. For commuting, the car is ideal. I do have the range extender, but I have never actually used it as I have good charging options between work and home but it does take range anxiety out of the equation. If I had to pick anything that I dont like, it is the placement of the electrical charging port, which is located on the back, passenger side of the car. This requires me to get the charging cable and walk around to the other side. While this is clearly a first-world problem, it would have been much easier to locate the charging port close to the drivers door. The materials inside are excellent and I especially like the wood in the dash. I leased the vehicle because I am not yet comfortable with the residual value of an EV, but given the subsidies available, and the fact that I no longer buy gasoline, this is a very economical vehicle to operate. Overall, I was just looking for a very different car experience from buying another internal combustion car. The experience so far is highly recommended.

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  Charging Issues - 2014 BMW i3
  By bigv2 - May 18 - 2:24 am

  First, the good: Averages about 80 miles/charge, 3,000 miles on 1/4 gallon of gas. Now the bad: charging faults when using delayed charge program after 2 months, took in for service, and was told there was a "customer satisfaction bulletin" posted that involved new hardware and programming. Five days later the parts were installed, but charging fault still existed. Returned to dealer for another week, this time got a loaner car. Service department said faults were cleared, and the problem was caused by my using a level 2 charger for our Chevy Volt, rather than the BMW charger...although it worked fine for two months! Delayed charging with the Volt charger is working after the second service.

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  Great automobile except for... - 2015 BMW i3
  By benkiii - May 4 - 8:32 am

  I agree with Diane. It is a terrific electric car, with great performance and handling, a beautiful interior, fine ergonomics, and great fun to drive. That said, it is not ready for prime time. BMW USA has so far failed to get serious about the electric market. The super-fast charger receptacle is not compatible with any in my NC and there are only a few in the whole U.S.!! Nissan has 1-2 hour chargers at many (most) dealers. BMW has zilch. Why not? My dealer says too expensive to install. Thus long trips are on gasoline, unless you can find a ChargePoint station and feel like taking a 4-5 nap while charging. Unless BMW gets serious Ill switch brands when the 2-year lease is up.

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  Almost perfect electric vehicle - 2017 BMW i3
  By SEAN MARTIN - May 12 - 11:59 pm

  Fun too drive. Supet quiet. Zero emissions. After this great experience with first electric car, I dont think I could go back to another internal combustion vehicle. Electric range of 200+ miles and a 5th seat would make it perfect.