BMW i3: All Eight Suspension Versions Compared (including original vs LCI, standard vs sport)

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2 жыл бұрын

The BMW i3 has gone through many iterations, most notably the battery upgrades from 60 to 94, and subsequently 120Ah, which have brought weight increases.
Additionally, the earlier versions could be had with the petrol Range Extender, while the later BMW introduced a dedicated sportier S version.
While the differences may look subtle, they required BMW to tune the suspension differently for each version. How differently to be precise? All of that is discussed in this video - including the part numbers of the dampers, springs, and the front stabiliser.

Пікірлер: 48

@dopiaza2006 Ай бұрын

This has to be the perfect video. Full and concise information. Will be a great help when sourcing used parts for my damaged OSR suspension. Thanks!

@tractioncontroldelete 2 жыл бұрын

This level of detail and specificity is so very much appreciated. Beautiful work 💪. Subscribed

@johndennis7828 2 жыл бұрын

What a fabulously detailed and helpful video. So much debate about the impact of LCI on suspension, and so manmy wrongful assumptions. Great work.

@shaun2072 3 ай бұрын

Not boring to me, as an engineer and i3 owner it was actually very very interesting. Much appreciated! 🙂

@jenkri Жыл бұрын

Very comprehensive, accurate and short, thank you for such work.

@nigellucas560 Жыл бұрын

I can see their many people like you and I that enjoy an understanding of the technology that carries too and fro. You stopped me dead when you showed the s body and wheel upgrade to the standard model. That has been my plan. Being a Mr average I can tell you that at least 1,000,000 other people are thinking as I am. I suggest you consider an upgrade pack as you have improved the car impressively. Nigel

@justinjarrett Жыл бұрын

Very informative, thank you.

@ThePlymjack 3 ай бұрын

We have a 2015 60a bev & daughter has a 2023 120 bev... completely agree the difference is it being a new car, feels tight.. handles the same both great to drive.

@benbaselet2026 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for listing the part numbers! Very useful because I need a new front shock. Must have leaked or frozen or something because it's got no damping left.

@chewie2648 2 жыл бұрын

Great Video. Thanks for that. Yeah. When i Drive a new Carsharing BMW i3 it really feels more quiet as my old 2016 i3.

@SamariumNickel Жыл бұрын

They did make a 120Ah S REx, though perhaps not in the UK. I have one

@llavero5 2 жыл бұрын

Nice info, spring rates and diameter stabilizer bars would be interesting too if you have the info any day.

@paulf3353 2 жыл бұрын

LCI cars most likely have newer istep version which has better stability sensor calibration and engine power calibration, which makes perception of better handling on the road.

2 жыл бұрын

Great video with lots of interesting information. Thanks a lot for this! My problem with my i3s 120Ah is the hardness of the chassis in the city. Overland at higher speeds it's perfect but around town on bad roads it's extremely bumpy. Aren't there any electronically adjustable dampers that ideally change automatically via the driving modes? So "comfort" = soft and well balanced but "sport" = hard and sporty.

@llavero5 2 жыл бұрын

You can put 195-55-20 tyres, they are cheaper and more options, add sidewall and diameter, and you can use lighter wheels, i know a brand making forged magnesium for i3S. So Lighter unsprung mass can help.

@thomash.2787 Жыл бұрын

@@llavero5Guter Tip aber leider zum Beispiel in Deutschland nicht zugelassen 😟

@cadriver2570 2 жыл бұрын

I drove an LCI for about a week prior to purchasing a pre-LCI. The rental seemed a lot more isolated from the road. Could the overall construction or sound dampening in the vehicle have been improved?

@Oxbridge07 11 ай бұрын

Interesting video, thank you. Do you think that the stiffer springs on the S actually makes the car handle any better? I agree with you that the standard car has as much more compliant ride, which I prefer, but I am looking for an upgrade to my 94ah BEV which will improve its road manners on the fast but lumpy B roads I have in my area...

@andrewmurphy3637 2 жыл бұрын

I wish I lived close to you guys. I'd know my i3 would be in safe hands if it came into your garage. Keep up good work. I don't suppose anyone can help? Occasionally my tyre pressure keeps coming on, when i run the test, always seems to be the same tyre thats lower than the other. Its a bran new tyre too. Any ideas would be welcome. I think the good one always reads 2.2 or 2.3 (can't remember now) other tyre reads 1.9. Rear tyres are always spot on. Thanks again. It clears and stops complaining when I run the test. Thanks

@wiselyauto 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words! When the iDrive reports that the pressure has dropped to 1.9, is this actually the case? Have you confirmed this with an external gauge and then have to top it up? That being the case there must be a leak somewhere. Best to get some soapy water and spray it around the bead (and also onto the valve stem as these commonly leak). If the latter, you can buy a valve stem repair kit. If there is no actual leak, it’ll probably need a new tpms sensor. These aren’t hugely expensive, but the tyre would need to come off.

@pistonburner6448 3 ай бұрын

I'm a bit late with my response, but remember that wheels can also be damaged or defective when new, and so the wheel can also be the source of the leak (Audi had lots of problems with leaking wheels at one point due to poorly manufactured aluminium wheels which were porous and leaked air). Maybe if you go to a bad tire shop they may also not replace your valves as they replace the tire, and that can be defective?

@bmwi3eti3svoitureelectriqu85 2 жыл бұрын

Bonjour je croyais que c'était pas conseillé de lever la BMW i3 que d'un côté ?

@paulf3353 2 жыл бұрын

Also i3 for Japan market has different suspension

@tarassu Жыл бұрын

I've heard that steering wheel acts differently between old and new i3. So how about steering components?

@gorlier5388 2 жыл бұрын

Hi I'm thinking of putting hubcentric wheel spacers on my 2015 i3. To Run 175 Tires all around! I heard that they can damage the wheel bearing? Is this true

@andru9102 Жыл бұрын

I have an i3 S 120, and the only thing I'm not keen on is the hard ride. There is a UK company called Evolve who have made softer dampers. Does anyone have any experience of these?

@renebueno6149 2 жыл бұрын

Hi! Martin. I bought my used 2016 i3 (REX) last June 2021 with 26k mileage on it. Since then, the whole family loved it, specially now that gas prices here in the US got crazy high. The ride has been so smooth that I already put additional 8k miles on it. But this morning, I suddenly felt a short squeaking sound when I "accelerate" from full stop. I describe the sound comparable to whenever you engage the electronic parking brakes, but shorter squeak. Can I ask for Your opinion about it? Thanks. - Rene

@MichaelWilliams-ub3ow Жыл бұрын

At the same mileage, my top mounts started squeaking when slowly manoeuvring.

@renebueno6149 Жыл бұрын

Noted. I'll have my engine mounts checked on my next REX oil change. Thank you👍🏻

@ElectricPetrolhead 5 ай бұрын

Superb video as always guys! Trying to diagnose a minor issue on my 2019 120ah i3 with 44k miles. At very slow speeds when I turn the steering wheel, it feels a bit crunchy. Not sure if thats top mounts or something different? Is there a test I can do to investigate further? Thanks! Andy

@wiselyauto 5 ай бұрын

Hi Andy! Thanks for the support. Arthur will email you in the next few days with some info which might help or, if what he suggests doesn't help, we can get you booked in for a repair

@ElectricPetrolhead 5 ай бұрын

@@wiselyauto amazing thanks so much.

@dopiaza2006 Ай бұрын

Do any rubber bushes tend to wear out? With 5 rear arms per side that's a lot of rubber!

@emrico 2 жыл бұрын

I own a 2013 60Ah BEV with 20in wheels and as most people say, its biggest problem for me is the ride, it's just so crashy and not compliant at all as you said. This is I'm sure also due to the fact that i do hear a lot of creaks coming from the dash/glovebox/airvent area. Also, is it true that BEV versions have stiffer springs than REx versions? Is it possible to simply fit softer springs, as the standard ones are so stiff one never uses even close to full travel?

@tarassu Жыл бұрын

Springs are not stiff, they are springy. What makes vertical oscillations stiff? Well, tire wall size, tire pressure and dampers. Not springs.

@Airship17 7 ай бұрын

I think he means stiffer = higher spring rate, more kg/mm or whatever, softer = lower spring rate, less kg/mm. I understand your point about dampers, tyres etc but softer/stiffer is also used to refer to spring rate. @@tarassu

@RichardABW 7 ай бұрын

So if you put all the 94Ah i3S BEV parts on a 94Ah i3 BEV would it essentially be an S in terms of suspension (with the wrong wheels)?

@fabianfuchs8857 11 ай бұрын

Ha I knew my springs aren’t softer, Thx

@MrShaneSunshine 4 ай бұрын

Are broken coil springs common on the i3. 😢

@whitewalker9622 2 жыл бұрын

Can you put the anti rollbar from the s on the lci 94Ah bev?

@londonwestman1 Жыл бұрын

Yes. That was my question too.

@simonreeves2017 Жыл бұрын

Hi Martin, thanks for another awesome video from Wisely. Like many i3 owners, my main issue with the car is ride quality. I have an i3, 2019 120Ah BEV with the diamond cut 19 inch wheels you got in 2019 as standard. At 34k miles I am nearing replacement tyres, can I get better ride quality and less road noise by choosing a different tyre from the factory Bridgestones?

@MichaelWilliams-ub3ow Жыл бұрын

My car, same model with all new tyres. Probably too late now, but Continental tyres have been a revelation.

@simonreeves2017 Жыл бұрын

@@MichaelWilliams-ub3ow Thanks for your reply, I will look at the Continentals - still got tread left on the Bridgestones. When you say ‘revelation’, can you expand a little? I would like to improve comfort and reduce tyre noise if possible.