Used i3 for sale
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2016 i3, so we've included reviews for other years of the i3 since its last redesign.
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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A fun, quirky little EV with a back-up plan!
Peter R, 05/26/2023
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
In January 2023, I purchased my 2015 i3 Rex with 61K miles for $17K, so I've owned it for four months now. In that time, I've driven about 1,500 miles. These are my thoughts on the car. Overall, it's a fun, roomy, great-handling, quirky little car. The seats are very comfortable, and I like the high seating position. I normally need lumbar support, which is not available on the i3, but the seats provided adequate support. The build quality is excellent. At eight years old and 61K miles, there are no squeaks, rattles, loose parts, etc. This car is solid and substantial. In the cold months, the battery would show about 50 miles of range, with an additional 50-60 with the range extender (Rex). Now, that it's warmer, the range is generally in the 70-80 range for the battery, higher if using one of the more efficient driving modes: EcoPro or EcoPro+. In EcoPro, the speed is limited to 75 mph, and the climate system capability is reduced. In EcoPro+, the speed is limited to 56 mph and the climate system is not available to use, which is great for doing local errands on a nice day. The view from the driver's seat is expansive and unobscured, which is really nice. Despite the small exterior size, the interior is plenty roomy in the front. The back seat is a bit tight for all but the smallest among us. BMW did a great job with the lighting, outside and in. The exterior lights are functional and beautiful, with great visibility from the headlights. The interior lights are warm and cozy, with either orange or white lighting on the dashboard and around the door handles. Mine has the eucalyptus wood, which is gorgeous and always gets positive comments from my passengers. Mine also has the upgraded Harman Kardon sound system, which has a rich dynamic sound, and is really impressive. The tires are skinny, with smaller tires in the front than in the back, which means the tires can only be rotated side to side, not back to front and vice versa. Also, there is only one brand of tire that will fit the car: Bridgestone Ecopia, and they cost around $250 each. I've heard from others that the tires wear out quickly, normally 10K - 20K miles. The most negative thing I have to say about the car is in regard to the ride quality, especially on the highway. The ride is mostly composed, firm and smooth. However, bumps and ruts in the road do upset the ride considerably. On the highway, the car gets a bit squirrelly and needs to be actively controlled. I'm not sure if it's because of the tall stance of the car, the skinny tires or the short wheelbase, but, in my opinion, the i3 is not a good highway cruiser. Overall, I really enjoy driving this car. It's fun, comfortable and energy efficient.
2016 BMW i3 for sale near you
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- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $8,99592 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $11,599134 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $10,998In-stock online
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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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Still Shockingly wunderbar after 5 years!
Ted H, 08/19/2015
updated 03/03/2020
2015 BMW i3 4dr Hatchback w/Range Extender (0.6L 2cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
After 5 years we are still in love with our i3 BEV. We have had no maintenance problems. Our dealer (Sun Motors in Mechanicsburg, PA) has been exceptional, too. The only problem has been that I bought my i3 for myself but my wife races me to the car every morning. She gets it! The most fun to drive of anything I’ve tried !
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No Anxiety- Range Curiosity
John, 08/22/2016
2016 BMW i3 4dr Hatchback w/Range Extender (0.6L 2cyl gas/electric plug-in hybrid DD)
20 of 22 people found this review helpful
Our i3 has taken us over 21,000 miles- 98+% of it on battery- EV mode. The Range Extender eliminates the anxiety of those last miles before the charger. And, since we charge in our own garage, it is no problem to plug it in 5 or 6 times per week. This is not a road trip car. Buy it for around town comfort, fun and ease of driving. Nice to save CO2 every mile and get that EV smile while cruising in quiet BMW style. Most people think they need more range than they really do.
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