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Non-Rex 2017 i3's are now being listed at Dealers in the Houston area for less than $20K in early Jan 2020--and the Mini EV isn't available here, yet.

I agree with the notion that the i3 will wear well. The CF structure is, and will remain, unique. Only two ferrous metals in the chassis--rear control arms-- and plastic body means that corrosion won't be a factor in longevity. If you don't have the REX motor, it's hard to think of what could...

I think the comment on Mini build quality could apply to any British auto. I know it's certainly been my experience with a RR, Daimler, and multiple MG's. It's the reason I have walked away from the i-Pace, despite discounts of over $10K in my area. But, we the cognoscenti, are not the...

Mini has announced that the new EV Mini, to be released in March 2020, Base model will be priced at $30K. The Base model spec looks to be pretty good. In TX, the Fed Tax Credit and the State rebate will bring the actual cost of the Base Mini to about $20K--even better in CA, I think. In the...

Current BMW policy is to offer a slight reduction in the contract buy-out price. In the past, one could do a deal with the dealer to turn in the lease and then purchase the car at current retail, which is usually several thousand dollars less than the buy-out price. However, BMW has recently...

Will you get the new higher-capacity cells? Does this 8-yr warranty apply to second owners?

Back to my original post. I'd like to have a smaller diameter wheel with a taller and wider section tire which is available from more than one manufacturer. The new e-mini MAY have just such a wheel and it MAY fit. I'm looking forward to finding out.

The upcoming Mini Electric is reported to use the complete i3 drivetrain, except it's to be FWD, rather than RWD. It'll be interesting to see if it's wheels will bolt up to the i3 hubs. I suspect that they will if it's the same drivetrain, but offsets may be a problem. Looking forward to what...

I read a recent article saying that Michelin, among others, were beginning to develop more tires for EV's. The article specifically called out the greater weight and starting torque as challenges for EV tires (as well as energy efficiency). So, perhaps there is hope for another manufacturer...

As I understand the US requirements, 50% of a manufacturers electric cars must have a "noisemaker" in 2018 and all of them from 2019 forward. My 2018 X5 40e has a sound a little like movies do for spaceships. What I really want is a button to key off "Ride of the Valkyries" for the people...

I have been using one of the original JB EVSE's for the past 4+ years. It was a "kit" and non-UL rated. Daily use with two Plug-ins and ZERO problems.

Will the 8 year Battery Capacity Warranty apply to subsequent owners? Do second/third buyers "register" their ownership with BMW?

I'll be replacing my two PHEV BMW's in 2 years. I'll do one PHEV and one all-electric. The PHEV will probably be the 2020 X5 45e with 50 mi electric range. That will satisfy all my local driving in full electric with daily charging, and I'll still have an ICE for long trips. I just completed...

EvMan Your description of your 2016 ride exactly mirrors that of my 2014. Wife and I were at BMW dealer recently and sat in a showroom 2017 i3. Her totally unsolicited remark was that the car felt completely different, just sitting, to our 2014. I discounted that as her experience with our...

So you would see no problem with fitting the "fronts" of new tire sizes (with wheels) all-around on an older i3?

Thejman. Thanks for your description of the method you used to get around the contract "residual". Until lately, BMW was subsidizing leases with unrealistic residual values and it was a very bad deal to buy at the end of one of these leases. That's largely stopped, now; except for the i3...

EVMan. Really interested in your comment regarding the better ride in your 2017. I traded my 2014 i3 for a 330e after 3 years because of my wife's constant complaints regarding the rough ride. Can you elaborate? I'm considering getting an off-lease 2017 when my 330e lease tolls in 2020.

Another Forum site is reporting a BMW press release about new Bridgestone tires for the i3 and i3S. Are these the ones we already knew about for the i3S? If so, the presser seems to be saying that these will also be fitted to the normal i3.

I thought about this, but for a different reason. In 2020, I'll be looking for a 2017 i3 to replace my 330e (which replaced a 2014 i3REX). The best prices and availability of used off-lease i3's is Southern CA. But, transporting an i3 from CA to Houston runs around $600. I thought about...

The current issue of Motor Trend has a short article on the teardown and analysis of the Tesla Model 3. It was done by the same company that did the i3 teardown and analysis back in 2014. The most interesting comment, to me, was that the Model 3's structure was unnecessarily overbuilt and...