EV general discussion

Got an option to change from a 26 plate Tesla Model 3 to a 64 plate i4 eDrive40 Sport.

I don't have a home charger, and have been using the Tesla superchargers which I have liked but understand I can use them with the BMW?
I like the Tesla, my first EV, but the seats aren't that comfy. I do a fair bit of motorway cruising.
I used to have a 22 plate 320i Tourer Msport before the Tesla and loved it.

What would people do? It's a company car, so costs are pretty immaterial. In my head, the BMW is a better car but I've never driven one and won't be able to drive it unless I take it. Any wise words?

You can use some chargers.


In your position I’d stick with the Tesla. The supercharger network is a fair bit cheaper and easier to use. This makes the overall offering more compelling as a consumer.


If you’re not paying for any of the electric, the BMW will be a more premium package.
 
Got an option to change from a 26 plate Tesla Model 3 to a 64 plate i4 eDrive40 Sport.

I don't have a home charger, and have been using the Tesla superchargers which I have liked but understand I can use them with the BMW?
I like the Tesla, my first EV, but the seats aren't that comfy. I do a fair bit of motorway cruising.
I used to have a 22 plate 320i Tourer Msport before the Tesla and loved it.

What would people do? It's a company car, so costs are pretty immaterial. In my head, the BMW is a better car but I've never driven one and won't be able to drive it unless I take it. Any wise words?

Drove both recently when ordering my new car. Forgetting any costs of actually having the car or charging it I'd struggle to look beyond the BMW. More "normal" car like inside which I prefer, generally feels plusher with HUD (if you're willing to pay) etc and it was a bit more refined too.

However....there wasn't anything like as much between the two in driving or general interior feel (accepting the minimalness of the Tesla. If you hate it you'll always hate it) as I expected there to be. BMW interiors have taken a real quality dip while Tesla have improved a bit since the early 3's. It's also hard to look past the ease of which Tesla does it's routing and use of the full supercharger network even if you ignore the cost of charging.

As soon as actual costs came in to it I couldn't justify the i4 as it was nearly £150 per month more expensive by the time I added packs for what I'd want in the car, then having to add more again for adaptive cruise, plus any public charging costs were inherently higher too.
 
Last edited:
Only about half of Telsa superchargers are open to all in the U.K. and nearly all of the ones at motorway service stations are Tesla only.

If you are tracking up and down the motorway and are reliant on public charging, I’d stick with the Tesla.

The BMW, IF it’s specced up and not the base trim is probably the better car overall. That’s probably not the case in poverty spec form and it will be missing a fair amount of quality of life stuff which the Tesla has as standard (heated and cooled seats, glass roof, matrix lights, better stereo etc).
 
64 plate…?

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed this.

74 plate maybe?
Ha, yea, a 74 plate (sept 2024 registered).

I've really liked the Tesla routing, it makes it so easy, but I do miss my 3 series so feel like the i4 will scratch that itch.
There's a concern the Tesla may not be very long term and I may have to jump in something else at any moment whereas the i4 would be mine long term. I'll nip into BMW and have a nosey but think I'll probably change.
Interesting that people are saying quality is much the same! The Tesla seats are awful!
 
If you had a 320i tourer before (as I did) how was the practicality of the model3 in comparison , and wouldn't an i4 restore that
(being able to put a bicycles in the back is a pre-requisite for me, let alone diy & gardening stuff)
 
Ha, yea, a 74 plate (sept 2024 registered).

I've really liked the Tesla routing, it makes it so easy, but I do miss my 3 series so feel like the i4 will scratch that itch.
There's a concern the Tesla may not be very long term and I may have to jump in something else at any moment whereas the i4 would be mine long term. I'll nip into BMW and have a nosey but think I'll probably change.
Interesting that people are saying quality is much the same! The Tesla seats are awful!
You really need to check out what 'packs' come with your i4. The base models are pretty sparse.
 
You really need to check out what 'packs' come with your i4. The base models are pretty sparse.
I was shocked when my manager said his hasn't got adaptative cruise, I just assumed that was basically standard in most cars these days unless right at the bottom of the market.
 
I was shocked when my manager said his hasn't got adaptative cruise, I just assumed that was basically standard in most cars these days unless right at the bottom of the market.
Yeah, i was shocked with the lack of tech on my mates i4 M50 and he was shocked with all the tech on my i5 M60 that has the "Ultimate" pack!
 
Looks to just be a standard Sport...
I'll probably just take it, as it is a bit more long term. The Tesla could have to be sent back at any moment and god knows what I will get instead. I was once offered an electric Mini which would have been great to drive from London to Glasgow...
 
Looks to just be a standard Sport...
I'll probably just take it, as it is a bit more long term. The Tesla could have to be sent back at any moment and god knows what I will get instead. I was once offered an electric Mini which would have been great to drive from London to Glasgow...

Probably worth trying to find a downloadable PDF brochure or something (or even just play about on the configurator) - I would expect a non-optioned Sport to be pretty sparse in terms of creature comforts and features.
 
Yeah, i was shocked with the lack of tech on my mates i4 M50 and he was shocked with all the tech on my i5 M60 that has the "Ultimate" pack!

Classic for ze Germans. Options options options.

Take Mercedes, want a CLA 250+ electric? Want all the options? Gotta go for the <Breathes in> CLA 250+ electric AMG Line Premium Plus.
 
:D Step 3 in the experiment!

Having replaced the EQC with an EQE, I had to try this again and get an accurate idea of the theoretical maximum range from the new car.

It has a 90kwh battery pack instead of the 80, and has the much more aerodynamic egg shape. Depending on exactly which versions you’re on about the cars trade places as to which is heavier, but they’re both essentially about 2.5 tons. It’s also been obscenely hot this week, even during the night, so I’m getting some good efficiency there which helps.

Outcome:
I completed all three night shifts and 180 miles with 46% of the battery remaining, averaging about 3.3 miles per kWh:


This SHOULD give me a range just over 300 miles in ideal conditions - I may test this out in a couple of months with a drive to Scotland!

Step 4: the full commuting range test!

A follow on from the above, I just did all 5 shifts on the one full 90kwh charge, totalling 300 miles plus a few extra ones here and there.

The final result - got home with 6% battery left and 24 miles of range:


So total range would be tickling 330 miles in good weather - I know the heating kicked in a bit on the night shift home journeys.

Now to wait 3 days for it to recharge! :D
 
Step 4: the full commuting range test!

A follow on from the above, I just did all 5 shifts on the one full 90kwh charge, totalling 300 miles plus a few extra ones here and there.

The final result - got home with 6% battery left and 24 miles of range:


So total range would be tickling 330 miles in good weather - I know the heating kicked in a bit on the night shift home journeys.

Now to wait 3 days for it to recharge! :D

That’s not too bad TBH and will no doubt increase a little as you get more cycles/miles on the car.
 
Ha, yea, a 74 plate (sept 2024 registered).

I've really liked the Tesla routing, it makes it so easy, but I do miss my 3 series so feel like the i4 will scratch that itch.
There's a concern the Tesla may not be very long term and I may have to jump in something else at any moment whereas the i4 would be mine long term. I'll nip into BMW and have a nosey but think I'll probably change.
Interesting that people are saying quality is much the same! The Tesla seats are awful!
BMW leather starts wearing the moment you get it out the showroom, I've had 6 BMWs and none have worn as well as our Model Y.. The seats in the Model Y aren't sporty, that's the biggest difference, but for long journeys, I've found the Tesla seats supporting and really comfortable..

We have i4's (and i5's) on our fleet and the i4 feels just like any other BMW, so if that is your thing, go for it, but it doesn't feel that premium to me, and the seats have scuffed bolsters already with <10K miles.
 
Back
Top Bottom