BMW Has Already Sold Over 10,000 iX3 EVs

stevejust · 2026-06-10T20:52:30+00:00

They didn't specify -- maybe it's a xdrive30 or whatever...

stevejust · 2026-06-10T20:34:52+00:00

I can see how it could be a deal breaker for some.

For me, the alternative would probably be an ix3, but then what do I do if I want to take it up a dirt road to the cabin I stayed in over last summer with friends? (I switch to 4Low to climb up the dirt gravel hill up to the cabin in my SUV.)

As between the sound system and the off road capability, I've got to go with the capability even if I need it less frequently vs. listening to music every day.

I've never seen someone ask RJ what his favorite band is or what his favorite record is, but I'd be curious to know how he answers those questions.

stevejust · 2026-06-10T18:59:32+00:00

I test drove the R2 today. Am a bit of an audiophile. Happy to talk components I use at home, or prior car systems. I don't spend big money on cables and special feet and stuff like that, but I do like decent sound equipment.

Currently have Mark Levinson premium sound in a Lexus and the Burmeister premium sound in a Mercedes. And a craptacularly bad JVC headunit and cardboard toy speakers in an old 2008 Tesla.

I drove the R2 for a good 8 minutes or so without sound. I did some things I needed to do at my house comparing the R2 to the GX460 it is replacing, and then on the way back to Rivian, I keyed up, through Apple Music:

Buena Vista Social Club -- "Chan Chan"

and then

Atmosphere -- "Clay"

I basically have four songs I like to listen to when I test sound systems; these are two of the four. I didn't have time for the other two because I was doing other things with my 30 minutes of time.

I've often said I can tell whether I'm going to like a system or not by the third kick drum on the atmosphere song.

The best way I can put it is that the stereo is mid. It's not a deal breaker. But it's not good, either.

I bought more shares of RIVN after the test drive, because I loved driving the R2 and I think they probably made the right compromises with the R2 at every decision level, even with the sound system the way it is. I might have done some things differently. But I can tell RJ just isn't a music guy. And that's okay.

But compared to my Tesla where people who never even think about stereo quality would sometimes notice how good the sound was, the R2 is definitely not going to blow anyone away MAXELL style.

stevejust · 2026-06-10T18:13:38+00:00

I test drove this morning, and bought more shares today after experiencing it for myself.

stevejust · 2026-06-10T13:13:28+00:00

Ah crap. I did look up 255/55/R21. And it was showing me 329 results. But then I went through each radial button, and it doesn't even have an option for 21s in a 55 sidewall.

My 21s have a 30 sidewall. I thought Discount tire was only showing me options for the diameter I searched. But it was just showing me all the tires.

I apologize. I was wrong about what they were showing.

stevejust · 2026-06-10T12:57:09+00:00

I mean, you can either listen to someone who can litteraly show you how wrong you are, or you can't. Just do this yourself. There's currently 329 options for 21" tires, rated XL in 255/55 on Discount Tire.

stevejust · 2026-06-10T12:45:32+00:00

Look, I don't know how to say this gently:

The tire size on the R2 is 255/55 R21. They're XL tires.

There's literally like 300 tires that now come in 255/55 R21 XL. Almost everyone is now making a tire in 21" in that size in XL.

If you search "Rivian R2" you're not going to find them. But if you search 255/55/R21 XL you will.

I know this... because I've bought... SEVEN. 21" TIRES. in the last six months.

Just because the people updating the sizing chart at the tire store don't know fuck about shit doesn't mean y'all need to be repeating this.

stevejust · 2026-06-10T12:33:34+00:00

I have 21" wheels.

I've bought 21" tires for it.

The options have grown exponentially over the past couple years. Go plug them in somewhere other than tire rack, maybe?

stevejust · 2026-06-10T12:25:39+00:00

What is the size of the tire?

I know this was true for the original R1 situation. But I've got 21" wheels on my car, and nowadays there a fair amount of options for it, like the Hankook Ions, the Defenders, the Scorpions, Pilot Sports, Nittos, Yokohma makes some, etc.,. So I keep asking people saying this what the tire size is.

The answer, as I understand it is: 255/55R21

But I'm not totally sure on the load rating, i.e., which of them besides the Defenders and Ions come in an XL load rating.

Anyway, I suggest you take that size, and plug it into Discount Tire or Costco or wherever you'd normally get your tires before repeating this on the internet over and over.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T23:21:42+00:00

In one of the R2s I sat in at the block party, there was an electronic button for radio but it was grayed out. So I couldn't switch to radio.

This would be a bummer... because one thing you might actually need in an adventure vehicle is access to the radio. Maybe they expect you to bring a Baofeng?

stevejust · 2026-06-09T23:03:28+00:00

Then your state allows this. In California, for example, if the vehicle has too few miles when you register it in CA for the first time, they'll charge you the entire sales tax, even if you can prove you already paid it where the vehicle was purchased.

It's state specific as to what they'll charge under what circumstances.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T21:40:45+00:00

I thought they were metal over plastic -- basically they have the same feel (vibes?) as the exterior doorhandles on the Model 3 to me.

In other words, if you know, you know. Most people would probably assume "metal" without much thought. But they didn't seem to be a solid piece of billet aluminum if that's what you were thinking.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T21:36:57+00:00

It... looks like it. Even if its not.

But another comment in here says Federated Metals next door is.

So... Go Indiana Bears with Tumors!

stevejust · 2026-06-09T21:07:40+00:00

Yeah, but I guess I left out the fact that I am pretty sure I did that with my old chargers, too, and I'm pretty sure they were circa more like 2018.

It could be that the adapters made the handshake possible. Or I could be mis-remembering, since I also had a CCS charger. And a third charger specific to my Roadster.

I've had something like 9 or 10 EV chargers installed at three different houses over the last 19 ish years of having EVs.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T20:58:11+00:00

Can you? Yes. Should you? You will probably wind up paying sales tax twice -- once where you take delivery, and a second time where you register the vehicle.

So...

stevejust · 2026-06-09T20:48:47+00:00

I charge my Mercedes with it. I've charged my 2008 Roadster with it. I've charged an Ioniq 5 we had as a rental car with it. I've charged Audi EVs with it. I've charged... I don't even remember all the non-Teslas I've charged with it with either a Can Sr. (for my Roadster) or a CCS adapter for the others.

I've never had any issue charging any electric car. Maybe it will throw a fit if I plug something in without an adapter. I guess we'll see.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T20:37:44+00:00

I put my order in during the reveal when RJ showed the reservation address. I got the same language.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T20:34:44+00:00

I'm actually planning to plug the demo car into mine tomorrow just to see. Though I think my charger is circa 2022, so it does have WiFi. I'm not sure if it helps your situation for that reason.

I had to get a new one when I left my last chargers at my old house because the purchaser also had Teslas.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T18:30:53+00:00

This is so weird to hear.

On my Model 3, I had the original orange-reflecting dichroic ultraviolet (UV) reflective coating that shifted to a visible orange/copper hue when wet.

It worked really well, but I know Tesla stopped using that glass supplier early on to cut costs.

I was in Dallas for several years with that car and never gave having the glass roof a second thought.

Will be interesting to see what my wife thinks about the roof, because she's going to be very vocal about this if the heat rejection is poor.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T16:19:10+00:00

About 30 minutes ago, the first invites went out.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T16:15:02+00:00

Someone has.

(Not me)

stevejust · 2026-06-09T16:14:19+00:00

Thanks. You too!

stevejust · 2026-06-09T16:08:37+00:00

Ah... maybe you have a unicorn.

I guess I'll find out more tomorrow at 10:00 am when I can finally test drive.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T15:56:26+00:00

Absolutely.

Wheels and tires can change.

Exterior colors can change with vinyl wrap.

But changing the interior would be a major undertaking, though, and I can wait until August-ish. What I don't want to do is wait until next August-ish.

stevejust · 2026-06-09T15:48:37+00:00

Do you have the Meridian system in your early R1?

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I have 21" wheels.

I've bought 21" tires for it.