My new i3 in Maine

[pleblond]

Well I never thought I would really buy a BMW. I had a Chevy Volt until Saturday when I picked up my new 2014 i3. But having it a few days I have to say I am impressed. What a nice ride. Very smooth and I love the silence. I do have to get used to the iDrive Control. Plus no AM radio. Ahhh...There are a few talk radio stations I love. Oh well. Trying to insert a picture of me and my saleswoman. But I am not HTML expert here.

 

[czarmar]

I believe the AM radio can be enabled unofficially via coding, although the reception isn't stellar due to interference from the EV drive. Not sure why BMW has trouble with the AM radio - other EVs have the AM radio, albeit I've heard that it can be problematic.

In regards to the silence, is it any different than your Volt was in EV mode?

 

[Jeffj]

I've read (but can't verify) that the trouble with AM in the i3 is because the frame isn't metal, so shielding doesn't happen between the motor and the antenna. Carbon fiber is radio transparent and hence doesn't block the interference.

 

[Schnort]

I work in the business, and AM is just not terribly good around at rejecting noise, particularly in the audio band (i.e. 30hz...15kHz). There's a LOT of power running around and radiating from the motors and that will be picked up on the AM radio and really can't be filtered out well, no matter what you do.

BMW decided that rather than let people put up with its limitations, they'd preserve their premium image and not include a feature that would reflect poorly on them.

 

[pleblond]

I believe the AM radio can be enabled unofficially via coding, although the reception isn't stellar due to interference from the EV drive. Not sure why BMW has trouble with the AM radio - other EVs have the AM radio, albeit I've heard that it can be problematic.

In regards to the silence, is it any different than your Volt was in EV mode?

Yes... I believe the i3 is far quieter than the Volt. The Volt was a great car but there were all sorts of little clicks and such. Not having been in any other EV the Volt was quiet,but compared to the i3 wow! I love the i3!