IX3 discussion

[m0lt3n]

I keep checking in for IX3 content but the forum is so so quiet on this appliance!

An appliance I dearly want!

Would like to know some more feedback from actual owners, are people happy with it?



My intention is to buy secondhand in a few months, some things I need to get in place first. But I am also noticing that since loadshedding stopped, the prices are not dropping anymore, which sucks. I have solar which will help, but loadshedding would any way not have been an issue for normal use. I also have another car for longer trips so thats also not an issue.
My concerns is more on the practical side....swopping those fake kidneys for some Alliexpress knockoffs, is the ride harsh on bad roads ?is it fast enough for the money spend? The speed on these is a big concern for me, same money can get you a X3 4.0d... but the EV does have some other advantages. The Volvo's are a lot quicker and seems to be a better deal, but I dont want a Volvo.

 

[Quick///M]

I was given the IX3 for two days, in my limited time with this SUV it was indeed a different experience to the regular X3 2.0D we have. The best way I can describe: "It is deadly silent" smooth on the road and it has power all the time and gains speed incredibly quick. The silence can be mind numbing at times eg. When you drive the car for long periods without the radio on, I was starting to go crazy with how silent the cabin was and you hear those electric motors (not very loud) but that noise is there, its a repetitive noise that goes on... Something my brain doesn't like however put the radio on or stream some music and you will be fine. This is the same for any EV vehicle not just BMW

Now as for living with charging aspect of the car I cannot comment as I did not charge it during the two days i had it. What I did get is that more and more places are going to be implementing a card system or similar and they will charge you to "charge" the vehicle (no pun intended).
BMW Midrand is already doing this at about R7 per kw/h. They do have a fast charger at the premises its a Delta 50kw unit.... It can charge one car at 50kw or 2 x cars at 25kw. I have seen it in action.

On day two I needed to visit a client in Randburg the range was about 70km remaining, I did not have time to charge it and began to have the "Dreaded" range anxiety. I took the car back to BMW midrand and Uber'd to my client.

In regards to your solar system remember that you need a very big solar array to charge your vehicle and supply the house loads as well as charging your lithium batteries that power the house, if you don't have enough solar generation you either going to have to charge the car from solar power while starving the house and charging of the lithium batteries, I did a costing like this for a customer of mine as I am a solar installer and he did not like the figures I gave him initially so he started with an average solar system and 2 months later got the EV vehicle the car was zapping all the solar power the system could give! We built a second solar system with a dedicated inverter just for charging of the car a month later! Luckily he has roof space for days!


BMW are giving fantastic offers on the IX3 currently perhaps speak to Reece at BMW midrand if you are in the area/province.

 

[Benji]

Just to add to Quick///M regarding the solar and electric cars. I recently spoke with someone who drives an electric Merc, they have a relatively small inverter (think it was 10kVA) linked to 27 panels (probably around 15kW) and have not paid for electricity/travel in years. However, they are retired, do less than 5km per day and the car generally stands at home while the sun shines. Not really a possible scenario for most working people...

 

[Solo Man]

Not an iX3 but my son's electric Jag EV400 is really an amazing car. He is currently trying to sell it as he is also hoping to get into an electric BMW. We have driven the Volvo EX30 but he is still aching for a BMW. He has a solar installation at his house to charge his Jag and his wife's i3 BMW. Has two 15kw batteries but as we are having a lot of rain here in CT i think he battles to get both charged from the sun. He tries to get all his charging for free so one of the cars are permanently on the home charger. We drove it down from Gauteng when he got it and he has done a few trips long distance to Mossel Bay and one trip to East Londen. His car is a bit faster than the iX3 and does 0-100 in about 4.7 seconds. Overtaking is a pleasure in this car. But still he wants a BMW. What i am trying to say is that living with an EV is not as bad as it sounds although range is really a problem. Max he can get out of the Jag is about 350km. Stops about every two hours to charge if on the road with charging taking about an hour to go from 20 to 80 percent. Btw., his car is for sale for R900k if you would be interested.

 

[///M Individual]

No ownership experience but the dealer dropped me off in one last week and it was incredible from a passenger POV. Power was instant and overall car felt so much more refined than a G01 LCi 20d that I have driven extensively. Super comfortable like riding in a Merc lol. For what its worth the dealership driver who has been there for over 10 years said it was one of the best cars they have had for the daily drop offs and pick ups. Usually charge overnight and lasts them the entire day. I think if the range is not an issue, definitely the way to go!

 

[m0lt3n]

My personal use is about 30km per day, driving around town. Should be able to cover most of that on solar or on eskom for relatively cheap, just plug it in every night. Not to concerned about it, as all will be fine on Eskom as well.

Funny comment on the silence becoming an issue or disconcerting, but does seem like the harmon kardon system is standord on the IX3.

So maybe different question...one wont look longingly for an 4.0D X3 while sitting in your IX3?

 

[modocrat]

My personal use is about 30km per day, driving around town. Should be able to cover most of that on solar or on eskom for relatively cheap, just plug it in every night. Not to concerned about it, as all will be fine on Eskom as well.

Funny comment on the silence becoming an issue or disconcerting, but does seem like the harmon kardon system is standord on the IX3.

So maybe different question...one wont look longingly for an 4.0D X3 while sitting in your IX3?

The 3.0 M40d will definitely not give you any anxiety if you decide to use it for a long distance trip.

 

[m0lt3n]

The 3.0 M40d will definitely not give you any anxiety if you decide to use it for a long distance trip.

hehe noted.

Not concerned about that though, I have another car for long distances. I like the idea of 30 cents per kilo rather than R3 per kilo.
The IX3 is slow when compared to EV's though, and expensive 2nd hand as they are still new. What I mean with 'longingly' is the IX3 is above 7 seconds 0-100 and that 4.0d X3 around 5, (with software, secondhand)

 

[modocrat]

Buy it. Don't like it? Sell it.

 

[BouncyNinja]

Picked up mine last week ( car for the mrs)

So far so good, definitely works out cheaper than the diesel, even charging off municipal power,

The home charger doesn’t play nice with sunsynk inverters ( even on the nonessential / grid side)

Very fun to drive


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[TurboLlew]

I got to experience the IX (not 3) - It was also on dealer duty. Silent and the usual 'impression' of power from an electric drivetrain. I'd argue it is actually WAY more comfy than a Merc actually (well short of an S class anyway).

I like the ID Buzz as I've said before. Hoping the DHL trial is successful, and they launch it here. Keen for it to be my first EV!

Just a reality check that we are talking about 'free' charging and commuting costs using R300K solar systems in a R1.4M-R1.7M vehicle... that's also basically disposable I don't really see that as the point of these things in terms of 'saving money'.

 

[BouncyNinja]

I got to experience the IX (not 3) - It was also on dealer duty. Silent and the usual 'impression' of power from an electric drivetrain. I'd argue it is actually WAY more comfy than a Merc actually (well short of an S class anyway).

I like the ID Buzz as I've said before. Hoping the DHL trial is successful, and they launch it here. Keen for it to be my first EV!

Just a reality check that we are talking about 'free' charging and commuting costs using R300K solar systems in a R1.4M-R1.7M vehicle... that's also basically disposable I don't really see that as the point of these things in terms of 'saving money'.

Mine, being a demo , came in just under the 1m mark , then there was the 300k dealer assist (and prime -5% wtith bmw financial didnt hurt either) . The solar system was / is already in place. There is also a charge card for use at grid car chargers ( included in the deal) to the value of 10k. BMW also installs for you a home charger, which easily recharges the car over night

That said, 350km , on a good day with the x3 , at 15km/L is around 22L ( at R19 odd per L based on where you live) is R440
the same 350Km , if charged at a bmw dealership ( free) , at home using grid, (70 units at R2.63 per unit) R188 ( rounded up) , using mixed, solar / grid , even cheaper


The price of the car itself, came in marginally more than what i paid for my x3 2.0xdrive when i bought it in 2021 ( the car i traded in on the sparky)

It is rather odd looking at the service requirements on the idrive , its all time based, nothing in KM, so 2025 - get brake fluid checked, 2026, vehicle check

 

[TurboLlew]

Mine, being a demo , came in just under the 1m mark , then there was the 300k dealer assist (and prime -5% wtith bmw financial didnt hurt either) . The solar system was / is already in place. There is also a charge card for use at grid car chargers ( included in the deal) to the value of 10k. BMW also installs for you a home charger, which easily recharges the car over night

That said, 350km , on a good day with the x3 , at 15km/L is around 22L ( at R19 odd per L based on where you live) is R440
the same 350Km , if charged at a bmw dealership ( free) , at home using grid, (70 units at R2.63 per unit) R188 ( rounded up) , using mixed, solar / grid , even cheaper


The price of the car itself, came in marginally more than what i paid for my x3 2.0xdrive when i bought it in 2021 ( the car i traded in on the sparky)

It is rather odd looking at the service requirements on the idrive , its all time based, nothing in KM, so 2025 - get brake fluid checked, 2026, vehicle check

Getting the car at R6xxK definitely makes a difference to the value proposition.

 

[TurboLlew]

Mine, being a demo , came in just under the 1m mark , then there was the 300k dealer assist (and prime -5% wtith bmw financial didnt hurt either) . The solar system was / is already in place. There is also a charge card for use at grid car chargers ( included in the deal) to the value of 10k. BMW also installs for you a home charger, which easily recharges the car over night

That said, 350km , on a good day with the x3 , at 15km/L is around 22L ( at R19 odd per L based on where you live) is R440
the same 350Km , if charged at a bmw dealership ( free) , at home using grid, (70 units at R2.63 per unit) R188 ( rounded up) , using mixed, solar / grid , even cheaper


The price of the car itself, came in marginally more than what i paid for my x3 2.0xdrive when i bought it in 2021 ( the car i traded in on the sparky)

It is rather odd looking at the service requirements on the idrive , its all time based, nothing in KM, so 2025 - get brake fluid checked, 2026, vehicle check

While we are on this topic, how have the insurance premiums been on it? Are we gouged here like they are in the US and UK? (You're probably best placed to answer like for like since you have had the diesel vs. electric experience).

One unseen cost is the battery pack on these as well. This was the actual off-putting thing for me for a long time but it is now much better and the packs are better designed and cooled now vs. early cars. I know in the early days guys were being quoted $50K for packs and this has now come down substantially to 'only' $20K USD which is more manageable. Seems more and more options are becoming available to repair packs as well (at least overseas).

Hopefully by the time these battery packs are toast there will be better options for replacement. If it gets down to something like R100K every 200000km/9 years or so might not be bad as a ballpark to hope for (considering there is no other maintenance and cost savings along the way).

I am not Anti-EV. Just I doubt I will ever see them as a cost saving from a TCO perspective (I also don't think they are any-worse - the costs of ownership are just moved around into different buckets). I see them as any other car as bringing some kind of utility or some kind of experience.

 

[BouncyNinja]

While we are on this topic, how have the insurance premiums been on it? Are we gouged here like they are in the US and UK? (You're probably best placed to answer like for like since you have had the diesel vs. electric experience).

One unseen cost is the battery pack on these as well. This was the actual off-putting thing for me for a long time but it is now much better and the packs are better designed and cooled now vs. early cars. I know in the early days guys were being quoted $50K for packs and this has now come down substantially to 'only' $20K USD which is more manageable. Seems more and more options are becoming available to repair packs as well (at least overseas).

Hopefully by the time these battery packs are toast there will be better options for replacement. If it gets down to something like R100K every 200000km/9 years or so might not be bad as a ballpark to hope for (considering there is no other maintenance and cost savings along the way).

I am not Anti-EV. Just I doubt I will ever see them as a cost saving from a TCO perspective (I also don't think they are any-worse - the costs of ownership are just moved around into different buckets). I see them as any other car as bringing some kind of utility or some kind of experience.

i feel thats fair ( i kept the one tractor ) , depending on how it goes for the mrs, i may ( or may not) try the same

 

[AshG108]

Getting the car at R6xxK definitely makes a difference to the value proposition.

Thats what i am thinking also....

 

[TBP88]

My partner and I will likely be looking for something like an i-something (hopefully just a 3-i station wagon or whatever they are calling the electric 3 series) in 5-6yrs when the kid isn't big enough to be trusted not to absolutely trash the interior of the car.

For 95% of driving I think electric works fine. It's that 5% of the time when it's a mission. But I think this is a surmountable issue, mostly!

 

[BouncyNinja]

My partner and I will likely be looking for something like an i-something (hopefully just a 3-i station wagon or whatever they are calling the electric 3 series) in 5-6yrs when the kid isn't big enough to be trusted not to absolutely trash the interior of the car.

For 95% of driving I think electric works fine. It's that 5% of the time when it's a mission. But I think this is a surmountable issue, mostly!

What’s cool, is if you planning a long trip , put in your destination, and the car plans the route for you to cater for charges


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[TBP88]

What’s cool, is if you planning a long trip , put in your destination, and the car plans the route for you to cater for charges


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With fast charging, even if you have to stop every 3hrs or so for 20mins, that's probably perfectly fine for most longer trips. It's the solo drive, "I want to get here, FAST, where it's a mission.

 

[BouncyNinja]

With fast charging, even if you have to stop every 3hrs or so for 20mins, that's probably perfectly fine for most longer trips. It's the solo drive, "I want to get here, FAST, where it's a mission.

This was my thinking, travelling as a family, when you stop, it’s usually a coffee break, pee, etc , that’s 30minutes anyway out of your trip


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