Used i3 for sale
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2015 i3, so we've included reviews for other years of the i3 since its last redesign.
Best used car value on the market!
Phil M., 04/09/2019
2015 BMW i3 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
I would consider myself to be a car enthusiast. My last car was an E90 BMW 328i. Last year I test drove two EVs - the Tesla Model 3 and the BMW i3. I came away so disoriented by the immediate torque/acceleration and the sheer quietness as it was doing so. I was sold on EVs being fun. Then came the cost question. Tesla model 3 doesn’t have much of a used car market yet as it is so new, but the i3 does. As I dug in I realized a 3-4 year old i3 was being sold for about 30% of its sticker price with lowish mileage (20k-50k miles) - I started digging some more. On average, I was spending about $250/month on gas and after doing some calculations on my commute and monthly car use, I realized I would be spending about $20/month if I charged the car at home. Done - Started the search for an i3 and found one about 70 miles from my house. I traded my 3series for the i3. I’m so glad I did. You can find all the specs on the car so I won’t bore you with that, but this is such an amazing value of a car. The practical hatchback design makes it easy for loading things in and out. The range is enough for my commute and we just use my wife’s car if we need to road trip somewhere. The term range anxiety does exist but I would rather call it range awareness. Driving an EV is a lifestyle change and makes you approach your use of a car differently. Some see that as a bad thing - I just see it as an opportunity to use your brain :-). I know when most people think of a used BMW, they think it’s unreliable. Mechanically, these cars are SO simple and the things that typically go wrong in BMWs (gaskets, coil packs, spark plugs, turbos, water pumps, etc.), aren’t present in this car. Sure the EV infrastructure is lagging in the US, but with a little planning and the use of the PlugShare app, you can find somewhere around you to charge in a pinch. If you’re reading this, you are probably a bit like me - a car junky that likes to understand the good and the bad about a car before you take the leap. I would encourage you - DO IT!
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I am an i3 believer!
Kurt, 05/21/2017
updated 01/08/2018
2014 BMW i3 4dr Hatchback w/Range Extender (0.6L 2cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)
29 of 31 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a stylish EV that was fun to drive, reliable, and had looks I appreciated. I had read numerous reviews on the i3, had seem them on the streets, and had more than once concluded it was not the car for me. However, when we had arrived at the BMW dealership to test-drive a 2014 3-series diesel wagon (I was getting desperate), there was my car for sale, beckoning my wife and I. Now, my wife knew my checklist, and after asking our questions and taking it for a test drive, she was convinced this was my car. I had my reservations, as I commute around 30 miles to work, and am usually driving an additional 30-50 miles for business meetings each day. Given that this car is rear-wheel drive with no AWD, I had concerns about the snow. Additionally, the list price of the car was a lot higher than Edmunds' TMV and Cars.com's average recent sold price for these vehicles. Lastly, the i Remote app for this car had just horrible reviews. On the positive side, my car had just over 19k miles, includes the Giga and technology packages, was certified pre-owned, and in fantastic condition with no visible wear and tear. After 2 months with it, having driven over 3k miles in snow, rain, freezing cold and 90+ degree heat, I was loving the car. I drive very conservatively, making full use of the one-pedal driving (which had a quick learning curve) and never going above 68 mph on the highway. I typically do a mix of highway with twisty backroads. However, with all the mileage I drive, I hardly use the range extender. Most of my meetings are in Boston, and I can usually find a garage with an available charging station. When I have to fill up on gas (that sounds so odd to type), it was always a 2-second fill, staying under $3 per fill. This car feels incredibly solid to drive - like you're in a tank, it just feels so heavy - yet it is very nimble. The steering is precise and tight. Handling on the curves is fun, but the car feels unstable if you really push it. Surprisingly, without the snow tires, it handles pretty well on snow-covered roads - it even got me out of my uphill driveway without any slippage. You just feel more connected to the road with the i3. Being bottom-heavy and somewhat tall, it can easily be affected by strong winds on the highway. Yes, this is an odd looking car. In my opinion, it looks best from any profile view, and just plain odd from a direct front or back view. The inside is beautifully designed, spacious, and posh. For utility, the overall storage space is not much, but I am able to make my transfer station trips with a full-size plastic garbage can and several square container bins of recycling. As for the i Remote app, it has had its share of bugs, but otherwise works like a charm (I even gave it a glowing review in the App Store). After driving 14k+ miles on this car, and now having owned it for going on 10 months through all New England seasons, do I still believe in the i3? Yes, yes I do. Since my first review of the vehicle here on Edmunds, I have had new revelations about it. First and foremost, the car's battery does not like cold temperatures, and thus I am suffering from the obligatory 'range anxiety.' I have seen a significant drop in mile range on a full battery charge. Where I was averaging between 80 to 90 miles per full charge during the summer, I am now getting between 60 to 70 miles, if that. My maximum distance driven on a full charge is exactly 100 miles, which I achieved during the summer with a mix of highway and city driving using A/C sporadically. Currently, with these cold temperatures in the teens and 20s, it is difficult to get even 60 miles on a full charge. I recently drove a 2017 BMW i3 with range extender in 25 to 35 degree temperatures (Fahrenheit), and observed that its battery is impervious to the cold, on top of its larger mile range. Of course, now I desire a 2017 i3. Secondly, my i3 handles fantastically in the snow with its Blizzak snow tires. I have complete confidence in taking my car out into a snowstorm, having already tested it driving through snowy road conditions on the windy, hilly backroads of southern New Hampshire. Thirdly, my i3's factory speaker system sounds loud and crisp using the radio, but when utilizing its USB or bluetooth capabilities with my iPhone, the auditory volume drops dramatically, thus forcing me to crank up the car's volume control. Lastly, the sun visors are simply too small and are terrible at blocking out the sun through the windshield and door window. In conclusion, I am quite happy with my car, despite its low range in the winter, and happy to have the range extender as a backup. I have had no issues with it otherwise (i.e. nothing has needed repair). My only other concern about it is its depreciation, and hope that the vehicle is not obsolete when it is time to trade it in.
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2015 BMW i3 for sale near you
Showing 3 of 26 listings
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $13,990In-stock online
- Base Plug-In Hybrid 4dr Hatchback w/Range ExtenderMSRP: $12,599In-stock online
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $11,599In-stock online
See all 26 listings
Better than expected!
Dave, 01/08/2016
updated 01/11/2018
2015 BMW i3 4dr Hatchback (electric DD)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
We test-drove an i3 during BMW's launch in April 2014. We're impressed but there was no urgency in getting one(yet). Meanwhile, we continued to monitor its progress and other brands' offerings. Last year(2015), as my two kids started multiple after-school activities which averaged 45 miles round-trips per day, the carbon footprint (and gasoline bills) started climbing. We decided to look at EV again. With attractive year-end incentives and government rebates, we went out and leased one. The whole family(especially the kids) is enjoying the new ride. We feel less guilty about our carbon footprint with this vehicle. For our use cases, it was the best option. The rear seats are a bit small(compared to our sedan) but for local travel, it was not an issue. The acceleration is good and we like the newer technology that came pretty much standard in this car. Update(after 2 years): Errata: the car was on lease, not bought. The car continues to impress us. However, with two teenagers still growing taller and taller, interior space is growing smaller. The lease ends in 6 months and we’re looking at leasing a bigger car - maybe a BMW 330e or other plugin hybrid.
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Some awesome things, some not so good.
RobertRippee, 08/13/2016
2014 BMW i3 4dr Hatchback w/Range Extender (0.6L 2cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)
40 of 44 people found this review helpful
The electric I3 is at heart a great BMW car. It is fun to drive, roomy, handles well, and is quite stylish. The range is ok as long as you have a second gas powered car for trips because you're not taking this one anywhere out of town. The range is ok but you learn to change your operating style to maintain the charged batteries where you feel comfortable, for me I don't let it go below about 30% even with the REX. For an urban car its great for anywhere else, I'd think twice. I have had my car for nearly 1/2 year and generally like the car...would I buy another one? Maybe. Here's the rub: The technology is good but not great, the BMW i app that goes with the car is unimpressive; the ratings on the app store are surprisingly bad. It only has a few features that matter and those are pretty predictable. I'm really unimpressed with the integration with smart phone, I expected a lot more on an electric car (see TESLA). One would think, BMW Engineering would do a better job with an app on an all electric car. As to reliability: first, I had software problems with the entertainment system, the XM radio suddenly went dead. The car spent almost 10 days in the dealership while they tried to figure it out finally replacing just about everything...not good. Secondly the tires, this is the second set of Bridgestone's I've had problems with on a BMW. My first were the Bridgestone run flats on a previous late model M3, on that car I replaced 8 tires in 2.5 years for simple punctures. So far the i3 seems on track to beat that record. In 6 months I've already replaced 2 tires for simple punctures. (i3 has no spare) and the i3 are not run flat so the problem gets a whole lot worse. One would have thought that with no spare and no run flat, BMW would have required a highly reliable tire from Bridgestone...they didn't. So overall, a qualified recommend...urban car only, electronics and tire problems, weak mobile app but fun to drive, adequate range and peppy.
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What a find!!!
Julio, 04/03/2019
2015 BMW i3 4dr Hatchback w/Range Extender (0.6L 2cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
This is our 3rd EV after owning two older model Leafs. Before the Leafs we drove BMWs (5 series), MBs (E series) and Porsches (911) and we still have a Lexus RX400h and a Toyota Prius. I also have four road motorcycles (two BMWs and two Vespa/Piaggio). Love to drive, love to ride. We live in SoCal and moved from suburbia to downtown. The move made both Leafs obsolete (real ev range 60-70 miles) so I started to look for an EV alternative. Turns out that BMW pretty much was giving these away off lease and bought a fully loaded 2015 REX with 12k miles after a couple of test drives. Car was as good as new. Under 20k plus tax for a 55-60k sticker price. The only upgrade the car needs if you are going to use it on the freeway is the lowered suspension kit (1" front and 0.8" back) and spacers (I went with the 10mm depth) for a wider track. It makes a huge difference, turning this thing into a fast cornering, sure footed devil. Ride comfort will suffer but I rather have more control at freeway speeds. Not sure about this upgrade if you have the 20" wheels, might be too jerky for San Diego roads. And that's it. After the upgrade the car is a pleasure to drive, the ultimate city commuter. You can see clients, take your wife on a date, take your kids to school (roomy 4 seats, I am 6'3 and still plenty of room to the headliner), hit Costco for the monthly toilet paper purchase (do that on your own or with one other passenger and the two rear seats down) or load 2 bikes inside and go for a ride. Quality and finish is tops. Technology is par with Tesla's (except for over the air upgrades). Carbon fiber shell (no B pillar), suicide doors, interior recycled materials, everything is ground breaking on this thing. 0-60 is quick, 0-40 is quicker (just like a motorcycle) and allows you to jump into any open space while in traffic, all of this in total silence. Excellent turning radius and tight size for those crowded parking lots! On range anxiety: for me it is gone. Car is full every morning (I plug into a regular 110v from 6-7pm until 9am the next morning) and there is a Level 2 at work that will put 25 miles of range per hour if needed. Plus bought an adapter that opens all Tesla destination chargers. I think in the last 6 months I have filled the gas tank twice with a whopping 4 gallons of gas. But it is there if you need it. I average 65 to 80 miles on EV mode, when batteries reach 6% the ICE kicks in for another 50-60 miles of gasoline range at about 30mpg. Just make sure you don't have to drive up a long hill with 4 people in it and expect to keep up with 80mph traffic. You will be lucky if you keep up with the RVs. The car grows on you, you either like its looks or not. Since its release, BMW keeps improving it (larger capacity batteries, I3s model) and selling more of them so there are healthy aftermarket options and expectations that it will be around for a while. Battery degradation is negligible for those high mileage ones (and really who cares, the ICE just kicks in a little earlier) and maintenance costs are non existent (tires and wipers, and please ignore the dealer if they want to charge you $450 for an oil change and brake fluid flush, it is a 650cc motorcycle engine and you really don't touch the brakes since the regen is so powerful). Couple of things that are a challenge: the suicide doors are a pain if you are in tight quarters since you need to open the front doors to open the rears. And the black roof is minimally insulated so you can feel the heat inside on very hot days (just crank the AC higher and use the BMW app to cool the cabin before you get in). Bottom line, if you are in the market for an EV and don't need a sedan or want to drop 40k for a BPO Tesla S or new Model 3 and all you want is a top of the line, futuristic, safe and environmentally friendly vehicle that is extremely fun to drive and covers 99% of your professional and social mileage needs, this is it. I am planning to keep this one for a long time and pass it along to the kids when they become drivers it's that safe. <br>
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