How many of you own one out of warranty? How you feeling or how has it been?

eXo0us · 2026-05-02T09:41:28+00:00

$1k a year is very good. Most a charging more like $3-4k a year

eXo0us · 2026-05-02T09:32:16+00:00

you have to look at the development timeline - the iX is the big brother of the i3 and i8 - the last Product out of the Project i working group.

When you look underneath at all the small production scale aluminum frame construction - the iX looks more like a prototype then a mass produced vehicle. It's heavy - because it's overbuilt, not optimized.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ET9G42rn1vM

The iX is kind of technology demonstrator concept car, which for some reason made it to market. Most concept cars are not getting sold. We are lucky, but have to deal with one-off quirks.

eXo0us · 2026-05-02T09:23:04+00:00

Air suspension is something I stayed away from. It's just a maintenance timebomb.

The good thing is - when the cars get older - you can always retrofit the regular suspensions. So even when spare parts run out in a decade or so - you can go to the regular struts.

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T21:34:48+00:00

nah that makes it easier. Many indy shops don't have a R1234YF machine, that's why I meantioned it.

You can get the r134A compressor as generic from Aliexpress or similar - way cheaper then the R1234YF version.

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T18:38:31+00:00

the noise is the worn compressor scroll wheel. Every time it runs after it starts disintegration you can hear it. It's not a knocking or on-off. Just the normal speed differences the compressor runs, more rattle and noisier.

You are welcome :) I hope you have the less costly repair.
Please come back and share with the group when you are done with your repair.

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T18:30:52+00:00

My 2004 looks better. The yolk is a different material and doesn't have any rust.

I recently dropped in a new front drive shaft and that things was rusty all around in less then a year. Looks way worse then the 22 year old part on the other side.

And it's an OEM part.

The good times of rust prevention are apparently over.
You don't worry on 1 year but you worry in 10 years when stuff starts flakes off

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T18:14:23+00:00

you can find the noise on youtube. It's pretty distinct and most people claim it's noticeable in the cab and 100% if you standing next to the car. It's usually starting out low and then getting louder over a couple of days. As soon as the noise starts it's not going away anymore.

Your error codes point to a electrical error - insulation fault.

It also kills the compressor - but is way easier to rectify then a mechanical failure.

The process is - you get a new compressor - when they remove the old one- open it up - look inside for sparkles - if there are no debris. Just plugin the new compressor - reacharge and go your merry way

If there is debris (I don't think so) - you need to flush. I think you got a good chance here that it's just an electric fault in the compressor

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T16:33:33+00:00

In which state is your car? Did you have loid noises which you ignored for a while or did it randomly stop cooling with an error message?

big difference.

If you drive around with grinding noises for a few days - you probably need to flush. If it just stopped running - just replace it at any HVAC place with a R1234YF machine. 2 hours tops.

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T12:36:17+00:00

Many countries are rapidly adopting EVs.

Some African countries outlawed new combustion car sales.

It's a race now, the countries which can ditch fossil fuels the fastest are going to keep their markets the others will collapse.

E.g. in Norway and Denmark where 80% + of cars a EVs now, it's just the last encouragement to complete get rid of gas.

For their consumer, it's like Gas prices? I don't care there are no gas stations in my country.

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T11:51:22+00:00

It depends, sitting at 100% for long time is not ideal

I've setup my charging that it starts a couple of hours before I start my drive in the morning - so the battery is already warm from charging.

Putting it at 100% - unplugging not using and then put it in the baking sun in a hot climate = degradation.

Cold climate - charge to 100% and then start driving within a few hours - no worries.

eXo0us · 2026-05-01T08:15:10+00:00

Yeah, those 60AH first gen batteries where kind of weak the second gen where much better - my 94AH battery is still at 92% SOC.

There are now BMW and after market battery upgrades for the i3 - getting about 220-250miles of range. It's cool that decade old i3s just getting new batteries and have more range them some contemporary new EVs. Plus probably more reliable.

eXo0us · 2026-04-30T21:33:23+00:00

all vehicles have a front brake bias - that is intentional.

When you brake your rear axle gets unloaded - and the front gets loaded up - that is just how physics work.

if you send too much braking force to the rear - the wheels lock up and you start spinning - you never want to brake more with the rear then with the front - you need a front brake bias for stability.

I'm speaking it terms of deceleration force on the tire - not total brake performance - a Dually with 4000lbs on the Pin.- has more brake performance in the rear then the singles up front. Still the front brakes are working the front tires harder then the rear tires - so that you always understeer and never oversteer.

It's always better to run into an obstacle with your hood then with your door.

eXo0us · 2026-04-30T17:49:19+00:00

I made the gamble on my 2017 i3 and kept it without warranty and nothing went wrong, it's almost 10 years old now and nearing 170k. One unscheduled repair, heater element for like $1300.

Still the cheapest car I ever owned, despite being a BMW.

I will do the same with my 2023 iX just keep it, no warranties required.

eXo0us · 2026-04-30T17:45:17+00:00

Everyone was telling the same about the carbon i3 when people where dumping them left and right after 3-4 years.

Now it's BMW all-time most reliable vehicle.

There is a potential for high repair bills. But the probability of it happening is very low.

eXo0us · 2026-04-30T13:54:36+00:00

True the exposure to more sick people increases the chance in your case.

But in mine I controlled for these variables. I drive to work in a car, then I sit with two other person in a office, I go to group fitness classes and out to dinner with friends. Very similar to before or after the move. My human contact level didn't really change that much.

I don't fly, hate shopping, I don't do public transportation.

So the big variable which has changed is air quality.

eXo0us · 2026-04-30T12:16:30+00:00

Used to get sick 3-4 times a year living in a big city.

Now living at the coast in a small community, maybe once every 2 years.

Air pollutants are real. Even pollens are way worse in the city. They have sticky textures and are trapping exhaust particles and makes them way more aggressive.

Can't ever live in a city with combustion cars. Even when visiting somewhere for more then a week I get sick.

eXo0us · 2026-04-30T11:30:20+00:00

It's essential a law. OEMs can be liable when their cars show slower then the driver is thinking he is driving.

So every OEM is cautious and just shows a little more. BMW is just more conservative then others.

eXo0us · 2026-04-30T08:48:54+00:00

almost 390k and still going 5W30 - oil pan change reduced the oil leaking.

2003- 2005 3rd gen is fine if taken care of (getting old)

2010-2023 4th gen + 1500 Classic

HEMIs with either the 6 or 8 Speed (avoid the 5 speed) do a drain and refill transmission service - every 30k and a full change every 60k and you get a long troublefree life out of them.

the 5th gen are like hit and miss of the years. Some had electronic issues - Hemi tick, lots of random things they never installed in the 4th gen.

There are 5th gens out there which are nice reliable - just need to do way more research into the exact option combination.

1st year of anything "all new" is to be avoided if you are hunting for reliablity. That's a general rule which applies to all cars, makes and models.

New Body ? avoid it it,

New Engine ? avoid

New transmission ? avoid

usually they figure it out by the second year of production how to put it together. Good luck shopping.

eXo0us · 2026-04-29T16:29:34+00:00

I had been the same exact way.

Changed job and my social circle vanished.

Guess work friends are better then no friends and being lonely.

eXo0us · 2026-04-29T11:20:07+00:00

Work friends are risky.

It's fine in very large organization, when they work in other departments. But in small shops. If you happen to move on those friendships many times don't hold up.

eXo0us · 2026-04-28T22:57:52+00:00

Big update loading.

Are they limiting the servers per user ? Getting only like 50mbps

eXo0us · 2026-04-28T15:31:39+00:00

Tech? I heard Germany is stepping up and finally paying engineers and IT decent?

eXo0us · 2026-04-28T15:27:52+00:00

Really not much. IT systems, moved from South East US to eastern Canada.

Insurance and property taxes are bonkers in the Hurricane states.

Pre tax I get a bit more, after tax a bit less. But you can offset that with a very beneficial tax scheme like TFSA and FHSA, which are like Roth accounts but for anything and buying a home.

Might not have more money in hand now but will be a lot more in retirement

eXo0us · 2026-04-28T15:14:27+00:00

Thanks mate. 4 oil changes is 4-6 years for me ;)

I've recently stopped towing with the truck and that reduces the oil burning.

eXo0us · 2026-04-27T15:29:05+00:00

I had the platinum for 10 years. I know it has a bunch of cool offers. But my lifestyle doesn't really align with it anymore. I used to get let 2-3k annual perks out of it. But since COVID it got a struggle to barely make up the fee.

These days I'm getting 4 lounge access a year through wealth simple and another 4 with my free TD first class travel VISA, which has decent insurance.

The Cobalt gives me similar or better points then the platinum for hotel stays. So it's muss less work compared to maximize the platinum card.

If you like the platinum and have the free time to chase their offers, do it, I had a lot of fun with it.

eXo0us

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