Having recently picked up a 2021 i3 after two years driving a 2017, I went in knowing the obvious changes — larger battery, iDrive 6, improved high beam headlights, and much improved traction control (manifests as no regen drop-out on rough surfaces.
But there were a few unexpecteds that caught me by surprise.
Cruise Control - I use the ACC often, but I've complained it needs polishing. Consider, by comparison, the 2021 polished! Approaching a vehicle from behind, the ACC now tapers down more gradually, not the jerky deceleration of the prior system. And bonus, sad soon as I feel that slowing- down sensation, if I activate the the turn signal to pass, the system recognizes this and becomes less aggressive with the speed reduction. Sounds like a minute improvement as I write this, but the experience is so much better. But not as good as the ID.4 camera + radar system.
Stereo Mute - I've grumbled on the forum that the mute design is stupid, because if I turn up the volume of muted audio, it stays muted. I'm forced to decipher whether I'm muted, or I didn't start my streaming, or the Bluetooth has no connection. That's fixed. If it's muted, and I turn up the volume, it now unmutes. Excellent.
Clock: The dang clock now appears to keep proper time. Over a few days, the 2017 clock would advance a few minutes, then stop there. This is with "auto time set" checked. I'd have to uncheck / recheck every so often to reset it to the correct time.
Headlights - I mentioned the high beams, but the low beam headlights are also nicely improved in brightness and bean spread. Still haven't figured out the cornering lights.
Antenna - the mini whip antenna that sometimes gets in the way of my rooftop list (Sea Sucker Monkeybars) is gone, now just the shark fin.
Seat Bolstering - it appears to me the seats have a touch more side bolstering, appropriate for a hot hatch. That's not stopping me from swapping in the 2017's brown leather seats.
Performance - this is hard to qualify, but I'm switching between the two cars, and the 2021 strikes me as zippier. In the 2017, the throttle suddenly feels a little heavier, just like how switching from Comfort to Eco slightly deadens the throttle mapping.
Noise - again, not easy to qualify, but the 2017 has always had the slightest high pitched whine emminating from the trunk space. My old ears can hear it but aren't too bothered by it. The kids notice it more and have commented on it, but I don't think it has bothered them. My feeling is the whine is gone in the 2021, but it also has pedestrian acoustic protection, do it's possible that is drowning out the other.
Tactile -very fine grip texturing of the steering wheel, and the iDrive controller has a nice-to-touch rubbery touch. The cruise control speed toggle feels more precise, but that could be a matter of age, new vs. used spring tension.
Anything else I missed and should be looking out for?
But there were a few unexpecteds that caught me by surprise.
Cruise Control - I use the ACC often, but I've complained it needs polishing. Consider, by comparison, the 2021 polished! Approaching a vehicle from behind, the ACC now tapers down more gradually, not the jerky deceleration of the prior system. And bonus, sad soon as I feel that slowing- down sensation, if I activate the the turn signal to pass, the system recognizes this and becomes less aggressive with the speed reduction. Sounds like a minute improvement as I write this, but the experience is so much better. But not as good as the ID.4 camera + radar system.
Stereo Mute - I've grumbled on the forum that the mute design is stupid, because if I turn up the volume of muted audio, it stays muted. I'm forced to decipher whether I'm muted, or I didn't start my streaming, or the Bluetooth has no connection. That's fixed. If it's muted, and I turn up the volume, it now unmutes. Excellent.
Clock: The dang clock now appears to keep proper time. Over a few days, the 2017 clock would advance a few minutes, then stop there. This is with "auto time set" checked. I'd have to uncheck / recheck every so often to reset it to the correct time.
Headlights - I mentioned the high beams, but the low beam headlights are also nicely improved in brightness and bean spread. Still haven't figured out the cornering lights.
Antenna - the mini whip antenna that sometimes gets in the way of my rooftop list (Sea Sucker Monkeybars) is gone, now just the shark fin.
Seat Bolstering - it appears to me the seats have a touch more side bolstering, appropriate for a hot hatch. That's not stopping me from swapping in the 2017's brown leather seats.
Performance - this is hard to qualify, but I'm switching between the two cars, and the 2021 strikes me as zippier. In the 2017, the throttle suddenly feels a little heavier, just like how switching from Comfort to Eco slightly deadens the throttle mapping.
Noise - again, not easy to qualify, but the 2017 has always had the slightest high pitched whine emminating from the trunk space. My old ears can hear it but aren't too bothered by it. The kids notice it more and have commented on it, but I don't think it has bothered them. My feeling is the whine is gone in the 2021, but it also has pedestrian acoustic protection, do it's possible that is drowning out the other.
Tactile -very fine grip texturing of the steering wheel, and the iDrive controller has a nice-to-touch rubbery touch. The cruise control speed toggle feels more precise, but that could be a matter of age, new vs. used spring tension.
Anything else I missed and should be looking out for?
driving i3 2017 atm getting a bit of envy sounds a good upgrade
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