First released in 2013, the i3 marked BMW‘s initial foray into the realm of mainstream electric vehicles. Primarily designed as a city car rather than a long-distance traveler, it wrapped up its U.S. journey in 2021 with approximately 45,100 units sold on this side of the pond.
Three years after its demise, the BMW i3 remains a dapper little puddle jumper that isn’t too expensive on the used-car market. Like most luxury cars though, and especially ones from established European marques, it’s not the initial cost but the lurking maintenance expenses that can catch you off guard.
We’ve encountered numerous i3 owners lamenting and reporting that dealerships frequently demand over $30,000 for battery replacements, with one customer allegedly quoted a staggering $71,000.
More: Mercedes Hybrid Owner Left Fuming When Told $17k Used Car Needs $20k Battery
BMW sold the i3 as both an all-electric vehicle and as a range-extended hybrid with a small combustion engine. Now that the small car has left production, it appears as though dealers across the nation are slapping i3 owners with huge repair bills. The issue comes down to the high-voltage battery used in the i3 design.
It consists of eight cells and when just one goes bad, the repair bill can get crazy. One poster on Reddit and another on Facebook claim that a dealer showed them repair statements of some $33,000 for a full battery. One poster who evidently wasn’t so fortunate said their battery replacement quote was $38,000. Somehow, that isn’t the worst of the bunch, not by a long shot either.
One Reddit user simply asked, “Is this correct?” and shared a photograph of an eye-watering service quote totaling $71,208.27. Remarkably, this figure not only exceeds the price of a spanking -new i3 in 2021, which ranged from $45,445 to $52,495, but it’s up to 57% over MSRP at the time!
Notably, i3s with the range extender are covered under an extended warranty in California Air Resources Board (CARB) states as Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles (PZEV). That means that they’re eligible for a 10-year or 150,000-mile powertrain warranty. That warranty has saved some customers thousands.
More: Most Americans Struggle With Car Maintenance And Can’t Afford Unexpected $1,000 Repair Bill
It’s also worth considering that, in theory, a person might be able to find a third-party shop willing to do this kind of work for far less. Many believe that of the eight cells in an i3 battery only one typically goes bad at this sort of mileage. If true, again, in theory, it could be replaced by a reputable shop or a skilled mechanic for under $10,000 since a single module is available for less than $3,500 from the dealer.
Regardless, it’s clear that sometimes, the cheapest BMW i3 doesn’t end up being so inexpensive in the long run.
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Stephen, affectionately known as Rivers, has gracefully transitioned from being a repair shop manager and autocross enthusiast to a full-time writer. He's unleashed his literary prowess on a number of publications like CarsForSale, AutoEvolution, HotCars, VINSmart, BadVIN, and a plethora of other small businesses brave enough to handle his wit. These days, Stephen spends his time on Carscoops sleuthing for top-secret intel on how automakers and customers interact while daydreaming about tearing up the race track. If you stumble into his garage, you'll spot a Ford Flex Limited, a MINI Cooper S Countryman ALL4, and a classic 2004 Lexus IS200 that refuses to give up its manual transmission. And when he's not weaving tales, you might catch him doing some ministry work, dominating the hockey rink, or cruising on a bicycle — because life's just too short for monotony.
