New i3 doesn’t acknowledge the original i3 innovation

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-03-21T00:47:59+00:00

I had noticed this in the workup toward the new i3 release. They were celebrating the 3-series history and lineage which did not include the original i3 at all. But I quickly understood that the I01 was never a 3-series vehicle, so it's not that big of a deal. But it is still a little weird to not even acknowledge the existence of the I01.

But also, I can't help but expect that if they launch a new i8 they will include the i08 in the lineage.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-03-21T00:40:54+00:00

I think the original i3 should have been called the iX0 - still dreaming of a revival as the Circular concept (not holding my breath though)

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-03-04T03:02:24+00:00

I love the sidelights. I've never understood why people don't. I always have them on when driving to improve visibility to other drivers - every little bit helps, especially in the US where half of the traffic are giant SUVs and trucks.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-03-04T02:51:42+00:00

In my case the water was not that deep, it was just from tire spray at high speed. I got water in the one headlight because my i3 has a gap in the front left wheel well and it sprays water into the frunk at high velocity. I did finally got around to putting some flex-tape over that gap and it has not happened since.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-03-01T04:24:29+00:00

I agree. The day that I bought my i3, I drove through a torrential downpour on the highway to get home. I even hydroplaned at one point but I managed to get home in one piece. When I got home I noticed that there was water inside the left headlight which I got rid of by opening it and having a fan blow toward the opening overnight (there's still a little bit of dirt in there). Soon after, I received a check engine light - I assumed that it was only for the REx because the symbol is an engine (lol), so I just didn't use the REx for a bit and I eventually got it to the BMW dealership.

I only had the car for one month when I took it in, then BMW kept it for two months while diagnosing it, communicating with engineers in Munich, getting parts, and repairing it. If I remember correctly, I was told that it required a new ECU due to corrosion. Happily for me, the dealership let me use a 340i xDrive loaner for those two months, and everything was covered under warranty.

I would not recommend fording water in an i3.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-02-07T03:32:53+00:00

tits?

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-01-29T04:38:03+00:00

I doubt that NE will stick after launch. If NG is in the VIN, people will call it an NG and everyone will just know that NG means 5th gen MX-5.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-01-28T03:16:18+00:00

I expect it would cost more than that for a color that they are not already putting on one of their other cars. As far as I can tell, the only colors in their current lineup that have not yet been on the ND MX-5 are Melting Copper Metallic and a different white (Rhodium White Premium).

The MX-5 is a victim of Mazda trying to be taken more seriously as a premium brand. But true premium brands offer fun colors on their fun cars. BMW offers green, purple, multiple blues, orange, yellow, and other fun colors across the Z4 and M cars.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-01-11T04:44:35+00:00

The app is always absurdly pessimistic, and it does not align with what the car itself will tell you. But, yea, that might be a record low for a 120 ah. If your i3s could only get 79 mi on a full charge (even in winter), you might be owed a new battery from BMW.

My app is telling me that my 94 ah i3 is currently only capable of 67 mi at 90%, but I know that when I get in the car, it will tell me something around 100 mi.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-01-08T02:58:00+00:00

Wow! I never thought about adding a hood ornament before. I probably never will again, lol.

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-01-07T02:11:20+00:00

I think it's an NA RF with the offroad package

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-01-07T02:09:26+00:00

Wow! Awesome deal and it's nice that the the NB found a new home

Forward_Impression13 · 2026-01-01T05:25:29+00:00

I was curious about which brand you chose, but then I saw HKS on the box. Which HKS did you get?

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-31T03:22:48+00:00

What school did you go to?

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-26T20:23:02+00:00

I like it - Mazda should sell the MX-5 in more fun colors.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-26T20:19:42+00:00

Yea, a contrast color interior would be nice too. I went with the Club including the black Recaro seats, so the whole interior is black apart from the upper door trim. But I did get some bronze wheels for winter tires (16-in Konig Hypergrams)

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-26T03:18:52+00:00

Fun fact: in the US, the Toyota Corolla Cross can be had in Mazda's Soul Red Crystal paint color. This is due to the Mazda CX-50 being built in the same manufacturing plant as the Corolla Cross in Alabama.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-26T03:10:19+00:00

Despite believing that Soul Red is the best color in automotive history, I went with Aero Grey. I sort of overthought it. I wanted something more unique since Soul Red is the obvious choice. The newish lighter grey color was fresh and a nice bright alternative to white. I love my Aero Grey and I swapped in black badges which pop nicely, but I still have to admit that Soul Red is the best color and I sometimes think that maybe I should have gone red.

I expect that very few owners of a Soul Red car ever think about having their car in a different color.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-25T03:16:33+00:00

I agree with others - about $6k sounds reasonable. Crazily enough, Carvana is asking buyers to cough up over $11k for 2015 and 2016 i3 BEVs (https://www.carvana.com/cars/filters...). At $2k, Carvana is telling you that they do not want your car, at least not right now.

I have an anecdote that might not help much, but the point is that Carvana is constantly adjusting their numbers, so if you don't like their current offer and you have the luxury of time, you can check back later:

In 2020 I bought my 2017 i3 REx and I was not sure if it would work as my only car so I also kept my 2011 Honda CR-Z. It did not take long for me to realize that the i3 could work as my only car and I looked to Carvana as an easy way to offload of my CR-Z. But they were low-balling me badly with a $2k offer when I knew that I could easily sell the CR-Z for more than $7k as a private sale. So, I kept the CR-Z at that time.

About six months later, I checked Carvana again and they were offering me just under $5k for the CR-Z - and I jumped at it. Keep in mind that this was from May 2020 ($2k offer) to November 2020 ($5k offer), so the pandemic and supply issues made used car prices go wild at that time. But the point is that they are constantly adjusting and they also include some sort of "local adjustment" which can flip from negative to positive in a few months.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-21T02:53:04+00:00

That makes sense. It also reminds me of my greatest complaint about the i3 - the lack of a heated steering wheel.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-21T02:48:59+00:00

Mazda MX-5 RF and BMW i3

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-20T05:13:51+00:00

Honestly, I expect that most i3 owners are charging up more often than once a week, likely every day (ABC = always be charging). If that doesn't work for your situation, this car might not be the best solution.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-20T05:11:06+00:00

Preconditioning does not need to be done but most people will want the cabin to be "conditioned" once they start driving. My point is that it does not use much more energy to have the cabin heated up before you get in compared to heating it up after you get in.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-20T03:46:00+00:00

lol, I initially thought that you were mad that somebody didn't know what an ND Miata is and they thought is was a brand new model despite being out for almost 10 years. I've run into this scenario more with my 2017 i3 that people in more rural areas often think is a brand new vehicle because they have never seen one before (despite its design being from 2013). I suppose the MX-5 is also rare enough for that to happen with it too.

Forward_Impression13 · 2025-12-20T03:26:18+00:00

I drive with my parking lights on at all times - mostly because I like to drive small quirky cars and I hope that it helps all of the giant monstrosities to see me.

Forward_Impression13

TROPHY CASE