Why the BMW i3-REx

Any speed below 65 mph works but it has a sad slope. In lost trip time is not worth it. But I have some experiments I'd like to run.

Bob Wilson

 

2 of: Bridgestone Ecopia EP600 Touring Radial Tire -175/60R19 86Q
Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc

Condition: New
$144.38

Item(s) Subtotal: $288.76
Shipping & Handling: $62.03
Free Shipping: -$62.03
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Total before tax: $288.76
Estimated tax to be collected: $23.10
AL State Tire Fee $2.00
Rewards Points: -$30.91
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Grand Total: $282.95

I will make a YouTube video showing the tire mounting using the Harbor Freight, tire changer, $39.99.

Bob Wilson

 

Bob Wilson

 

I don't know. Perhaps Consumer Reports owner surveys might tell.

Bob Wilson

 

From memory:

• June 2016 - After arrive home drive, new tires and general peek and poke.
• August 2016 - I cracked windshield when wiper came off mount. (fumble fingers)
• December 2016 - motor mount broke, replaced with much stronger parts.
• August 2017 - check engine light, low oil level. (now I know how to check)
• October 2017 - sidewall gouge road hazard.
• May 2018 - gas pressure sensor replaced.

Bob Wilson

 

As delivered, the tire size label was buried under the shipping bill of lading:


Left is the inside. I used a white body powder and clear wrapping tape to measure the widths:

The outer grove has a wavy inner surface that made it difficult to get the micrometer teeth into the gap. After a nap, I may have more luck.

The inside tread grove is obviously shallower than the other two:


Here are my initial measurements:

Notice the outer grove has an unusual pattern in the bottom.

The next two show how the inside and outside are identified:


It is all but impossible to get a tire shop to mount them wrong.

Here is the tire size embossed on the sidewall:


A close up of the inside and middle grove shows they have a uniform surface:


Here is the middle grove with a wear bar. The outside grove has that unusual pattern in the bottom that complicated getting width measurements but the depth appears to be OK:


Bob Wilson

 

Yes but it is at the dealer for a warranty repair of the fast DC charger.

... And my daily commutes to work is 54 miles one way, and I do that 5 to 6 times a week, (648 miles in total for the week) plus road trips on the weekends with my family.
If you can get a charge at work, either 120 VAC @12A or 208 VAC @31A, you'll be set. That can include getting a charge at lunch or on the way home.

... The thought of having a the Range Extender offers a piece of mind that I'll have a back up if I don't have enough juice to get to my destination.
Correct! The Range Extender is what makes this a cross-country car and deals with occupied or broken chargers.

... There is a charging station at the Nissian Dealership, which is 20 minutes away from my house, and they are level 2 chargers sprinkled across my driving route for work. Weekend trips usually involve going into the city, which have more than plenty of level 2 chargers available.
Not all L2 chargers have identical amp ratings and sad to say, these are seldom posted on the unit. The BMW i3-REx maximum L2 charger rate is 31A, 7.2 kW but a lot of L2 chargers have been derated as low as 16A. You may have to survey the L2 chargers to find out. Dealer chargers are nice for lunch but you always have to ask and their chargers suffer from bring ICEd and low current ratings.

... I'm just torn because I've had my Prius for nearly 2 years and I've had zero issues out of her. I just don't want to deal with paying $25 once or twice a week to fill up my gas tank, plus the cost of maintenance that I'll have to deal with eventually down the road. Is the I3 a logical choice for me?
We have both a 2014 BMW i3-REx and 2017 Prius Prime. I prefer to drive the BMW i3-REx except for distances greater than ~200 mi.

Now I'm going to talk you out of the BMW i3-REx:

1. Use a VIN decoder to find out what that particular car actually has. You want the 7.2 kW, built-in, AC charger, Fast DC charger, and dynamic cruise control and automatic emergency braking. Automatic parallel parking is a stunt because manual parking is faster.
2. Maximum remaining warranty is important as we had a motor mount bolt failure. Also, there is no oil pressure gauge so low oil level caused the REx to not come on and I had to return to Huntsville to get it diagnosed and fixed. It uses "Check Engine" instead of useful codes and lights. All trips to BMW dealer take a minimum of 2-3 days because parts have to come from their central depot or 1-2 weeks if from Germany.
3. Tires barely last over 30,000 miles and are expensive, ~$140/each. Of course I had a 4-wheel alignment with minimum camber front and back and always run at maximum sidewall pressure. Those who follow BMW recommendations are lucky to get 24,000 miles.
4. No jack, just a goop kit. Mine was missing so I added a 12V pump, plug kit, and vice grips to remove any puncture object.
5. Best to have a backup car because BMW loaners have to be negotiated.
6. Premium is recommended.
7. Undocumented: (1) press and hold gas flap button to get cover to open, and (2) turn car on if fast DC charger, CCS remains locked.
8. Dealer has to replace 12V battery if (when eventually) needed.
9. Frunk is not water and leaf proof.
10. If the wiper comes off the arm, it will snap down and crack the expensive, $1800, windshield.

Now I'm going to talk you into the BMW i3-REx:

1. 168 hp, rear-wheel drive, short wheel base - you see where you want to be and 'there you are!'
2. BMW Connect lets you pre-condition car that takes up to 30 minutes.
3. Get Bimmercode and iCab WiFi OBD: (1) 75% enable of REx for cross country and preserve EV charge; (2) enable maximum gas tank capacity from 1.9 gal to 2.3 gal; and (3) default 'Eco Pro' mode for more efficient driving as the default instead of 'Comfort' (aka., power mode.)
4. Based on octane ratings, Plus works instead of Premium and more affordable.
5. PlugShare.com is the only trustable charger map because it is user maintained.
6. I replaced the provided, charger, with a $400, dual-voltage, multi-current, 30A rated EVSE. It has adapters ranging from NEMA 5-20 through NEMA 14-50R.
7. I use a JuiceBox Pro 40 that has a WiFi interface to monitor charging and allows scheduled charging to minimize heat load in the summer and after hours rates if available. At 30-31A, it takes ~2.5 hrs to get a full charge.
8. No "B" pillar which allows side loading and a lot of interior space.
9. Receiver hitch, ~$350, provides a great way to carry awkward items like bikes or a wheel chair.
10. People will ask about your car. In Mississippi it is treated like a UFO.
11. There are 2.5 gal., spare gas cans that fit in the frunk. Leave it empty unless going where gas stations may be rare.
12. With windows rolled up, you can very easily speed without noticing it.

If you can, keep the Prius as the backup car. Alternatively, check out your local Enterprise car rental service.

Bob Wilson