Options

[merbella]

Have the opportunity to purchase (OC) Mega 2014 with only 20"wheels, heated seats and fast charge.
I have no problem with the Mega-actually like the interior and have decided I can live without Sirius and comfort access.
DC fast charge I don't want as there is essentially no availability for me, but it is already on the car.
Wanted those with other options (HK, parking, tech) to weigh in and tell me if they could live without or really think they are important. My extended test was in a Mega 20" with no park, tech or HK and I didn't miss (but never drove one with....)
The deal would need to be a good one or I will likely wait until 2015 as want Ionic Silver and they seem to be few and far between now.....
Thanks!

 

[cove3]

You will want the DC fast charge. Depreciation is higher for cars without it, and DC charging stations will be coming faster than you think. VW made it standard on the e-Golf for a reason, as is BMW for the 2015 models

Ron

 

[Auburni3]

The Tech package was the only real must have for me after test driving i3's both with and without Tech. The beautiful wide screen and the ability to do split screen really made it a required feature for me. If you like to listen to music, the HK upgrade is worth the money IMO. The stock system is anemic, but the HK will satisfy most music lovers. Park assist I thought was unnecessary. I'm fast at parallel parking, especially with the small turning radius of the i3, so park assist is only a time wasting gimmick for me. The only thing from the Park assist package I would want would be the front sensors, but I can easily live without them. They don't enhance my driving experience like the Tech and HK packages do.

 

[i3Tim]

You will want the DC fast charge. Depreciation is higher for cars without it, and DC charging stations will be coming faster than you think. VW made it standard on the e-Golf for a reason, as is BMW for the 2015 models

Ron

I'm considering leasing the i3, and right now there doesn't appear to be a single compatible DC charge station within about 300 miles of Long Island. There's a few in Vermont and one in Virginia.

I'l take it if it's included as standard, but I don't see any sense in paying for something I can't use.

 

[WoodlandHills]

You are making the assumption that the EV infrastructure is as mature as that of ICEs. For example, I hardly ever see a new gas station being built around here, but Level 2 and even DC fast chargers are popping up like toadstools after a rain. A few months ago, when we got our car, there were only 3 DC fast chargers in the whole state of CA and the nearest was over 50 miles away. Today there are dozens and the nearest is only 3 miles from home......
The build out of the EV charging infrastructure is happening all over the country and what is available today is NOT what is going to be available tomorrow. If you are leasing it is not a big deal, but if you are buying, do you want to be without DC charging forever or be stuck trying to sell or trade the only used car around without it?

 

[websterize]

I'm considering leasing the i3, and right now there doesn't appear to be a single compatible DC charge station within about 300 miles of Long Island.

See this recent mybmwi3 thread, and let us know how it goes if you're able to use it. (Also, please consider updating your location in the user control panel.)

These 24kW ChargeNow stations will sprout all along the East Coast this year and next. Big announcement in the coming months from BMWNA — I'd take that bet.

 

[alohart]

If I lived on the mainland, I'd want heated seats and fast charge. But on Oahu, heated seats are a waste of money, and the distances possible to drive don't justify having the fast charge option although the i3 that I bought had it. Others have explained why the fast charge option will likely become important. It might also become essential in smart grid applications where the i3's battery pack could be used to help smooth grid demand.

I didn't like the light carpets of the Mega World which would quickly become stained here. So I chose a Giga World i3 and am now happy that I did. The Giga World interior is the most attractive, IMHO, and I love being able to lock and unlock without pulling out my fob (Comfort Access). The LED lights under the door handles are a nice touch as well.

My aim was to buy all the hardware sensors available because I believe that these sensors could be used in the future in novel ways through future software updates. That meant including Parking Assist and the Tech & Driving Assist packages. I drive almost 100% if true time with Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) on. I rarely touch the brake pedal and only occasionally press the accelerator pedal. I let ACC accelerate and decelerate with almost no interaction on my part. Yes, this results in a sedate driving style, but my average energy consumption is ~5.5 mile/kWh in our BEV in a large part due to always driving in Eco Pro+ with ACC on.

I rarely listen to the radio or music while driving, so the HK package was a waste of money for me. Sirius radio isn't available in Hawaii, so the Sirius subscription included in the Giga and Tera packages is a waste for me.

 

[i3atl]

You will want the DC fast charge. Depreciation is higher for cars without it

Market depreciation isn't relevant for someone doing OC or leasing - as long as BMW doesn't reduce the residual on cars without DCFC (they don't), it will only save her money to get one without it.

 

[i3Tim]

You are making the assumption that the EV infrastructure is as mature as that of ICEs. For example, I hardly ever see a new gas station being built around here, but Level 2 and even DC fast chargers are popping up like toadstools after a rain. A few months ago, when we got our car, there were only 3 DC fast chargers in the whole state of CA and the nearest was over 50 miles away. Today there are dozens and the nearest is only 3 miles from home......
The build out of the EV charging infrastructure is happening all over the country and what is available today is NOT what is going to be available tomorrow. If you are leasing it is not a big deal, but if you are buying, do you want to be without DC charging forever or be stuck trying to sell or trade the only used car around without it?

I understand that charging infrastructure is expanding, but Long Island is not SoCal.

 

[lencap]

Good luck on your decision - whatever it may be. I notice you're in Atlanta, I'm a bit further north in NC. To me the biggest option to consider is the ReX. I have posted many times that I'm very disappointed with the BMW electric range, and with the recent cold weather it's only getting worse. My car is in the dealership, and has been for over a week, as they install a new KLE and try to solve the range problem.

Today, with a full charge I barely reached 50 miles before I needed another charge. That makes the car nearly useless to me, and it's far below BMW's 80-100 advertising estimate. Before deciding on any other options be sure to consider your realistic mileage needs. You may find that you have a perfectly equipped car, but you can't drive more than 25-30 mile radius from home in cold weather without recharging for 4 hours.

In terms of purchase, that's another personal decision, but after owning 3 Prius cars, a Nissan Leaf and now an i3 - I strongly suggest you consider leasing. A lot of new EV cars will be out in the next few years and you may find that the changes in technology are significant for your needs. With a lease the ability to move into something more suitable is an easier path.

And in response to your initial question I didn't want to spend the $2,500 on the technology package, but I'm glad I did. I echo other comments about the larger display, life traffic updates, and enhanced functionality of the GPS. I also had Sirius on other cars and enjoy it. I don't have the HK radio upgrade, but in hindsight I would order it and the parking package. The parking package includes the rear view camera - an option that would be very useful. There is a rear distance warning indicator, but it's not as useful as a real camera. You can't order a camera and connect it to the car after purchase - there is a special interface that is only available if you order the parking package. A third party camera can't be connected to the i3.

 

[WoodlandHills]

You are making the assumption that the EV infrastructure is as mature as that of ICEs. For example, I hardly ever see a new gas station being built around here, but Level 2 and even DC fast chargers are popping up like toadstools after a rain. A few months ago, when we got our car, there were only 3 DC fast chargers in the whole state of CA and the nearest was over 50 miles away. Today there are dozens and the nearest is only 3 miles from home......
The build out of the EV charging infrastructure is happening all over the country and what is available today is NOT what is going to be available tomorrow. If you are leasing it is not a big deal, but if you are buying, do you want to be without DC charging forever or be stuck trying to sell or trade the only used car around without it?

I understand that charging infrastructure is expanding, but Long Island is not SoCal.

That's so true, if only NY had been cheated by Enron in the electricity market you too could have an EV infrastructure as part of a court settlement in a criminal trial.....