Two written off i3's up for auction

[Golfboy666GTI 68]

https://www.manheim.co.nz/damaged-vehicles/000000000005421030/2015-bmw-i3-e-drive-hatch?referringPage=SearchResults

WBY1Z22070V221003

https://www.manheim.co.nz/damaged-vehicles/000000000005421495/2017-bmw-i3-hatch?referringPage=SearchResults

WBY1Z82020V550596

[aja540i 1906]

I wonder what scrap carbon fibre is worth these days?

[gjm 3258]

16 minutes ago, aja540i said:

I wonder what scrap carbon fibre is worth these days?

Can it be recycled in any way at all?
Some of the panels might be usable for other purposes - cut and re bond them, perhaps?

[aja540i 1906]

56 minutes ago, gjm said:

Can it be recycled in any way at all?
Some of the panels might be usable for other purposes - cut and re bond them, perhaps?

It can be recycled but not into new cars, the fibres get shorter every time it is recycled, and the resin is heated up to remove it and doesn't get re-used, not sure what they get used for next but you could make a few of them from an i3!

[Young Thrash Driver 1020]

Two down, how many more to go...?

[Golfboy666GTI 68]

And another one!

https://www.turners.co.nz/Damaged-Vehicles/Damaged-Cars-for-Sale/bmw/i/18056270

WBY1Z42070V248164

 

What is with all these i3's getting written off?

 

[Gaz 1062]

My guess is that there must be damage to the carbon fibre core for them to write it off. As far as I know, there is only 1 place in NZ that can repair it

[Michael. 2313]

2 hours ago, Golfboy666GTI said:

And another one!

https://www.turners.co.nz/Damaged-Vehicles/Damaged-Cars-for-Sale/bmw/i/18056270

WBY1Z42070V248164

 

What is with all these i3's getting written off?

 

Car for idiots, that typically can't drive = crashes

[NZ BMW 368]

37 minutes ago, Michael. said:

Car for idiots, that typically can't drive = crashes

Naawww come on, I think they’re a cool little city car. Just way too expensive. 

[Michael. 2313]

1 hour ago, NZ BMW said:

Naawww come on, I think they’re a cool little city car. Just way too expensive. 

Hey, I'd have one as I appreciate all cars.

 

[M3AN 4016]

6 hours ago, Golfboy666GTI said:

What is with all these i3's getting written off?

Do they accelerate like a Tesla? If so, then I'd put my money on this being the reason.

 

[Eagle 1680]

To me its more the people who buy these are aren't the people you would associate with having good driving skills.

[Jacko 2158]

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2963]

23 hours ago, Golfboy666GTI said:

What is with all these i3's getting written off?

Expensive parts (insurers can’t use their usual tactics to force suppliers into a race to the bottom on pricing) and expensive repair procedures = very high repair costs, pushing it beyond point of economic repairs. Even on not too big an impact, one of the side effects of making cars crumple to protect the occupants.

[Gabe79 410]

21 hours ago, M3AN said:

Do they accelerate like a Tesla? If so, then I'd put my money on this being the reason.

 

I've not driven one of these. I can say not all EVs accelerate "like a Tesla" but even on the Leaf, if you floor on an uphill, you can easily lose contact on the rear tires. This happens a lot to us coming out our road turning onto a busy road with narrow gaps. Even with very good tires, it's hard to keep traction and I could see someone losing control, or not having enough traction/grip to get out of a tight spot if inexperienced. In a straight line it is a wee tiny tiny bit like driving a Tesla, I suppose.

[aja540i 1906]

22 hours ago, M3AN said:

Do they accelerate like a Tesla? If so, then I'd put my money on this being the reason.

 

No, but have you seen how narrow the tyres are?  Its a bit concerning that a car that cost north of $70k a few years ago is now uneconomic to repair because of fairly minor damage. I wonder how long it will take the insurers to catch on and bump the premiums accordingly?

[M3AN 4016]

A Tesla S in "Ludicrous Mode" is crazy fast off the line... much, much faster than the R35 GT-R I thrashed for a while in the Netherlands (probably the fastest road car I've ever driven). I've never been in a fighter jet (although I have been in a official US Navy simulator) but I imagine the feeling is similar! It's a proper punch in the guts.

It's starting to get crazy all these irreparable cars and often, even the cost of basic repairs that require replacement electronic modules. We thought airbags were bad in the late 90's and early 00's but things are getting a bit silly.

If you can only get your car repaired at a licensed dealer and with astronomically expensive parts in the future I see insurance companies simply saying "no" and regulators saying "yes".

It started to go downhill when you needed to get your battery coded to your car lol...

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2963]

The price of safety... upside for the insurance companies is that they don't have to pay out $$$ for injuries and rehabilitation, etc. caused in an accident, or at least the payments are less as the injuries are not as severe. So the overall cost to the insurance company is much less as the repair of the car is a small amount in the overall scheme of things.

Not sure if this holds true in NZ, with the ACC scheme doing away with the ambulance chasing "where there's blame there's a claim" type payments. Certainly in places like the US, Uk, etc. it makes more sense.

[Kodachrome 158]

On 1/28/2019 at 5:50 PM, M3AN said:

Do they accelerate like a Tesla? If so, then I'd put my money on this being the reason.

 

Nope, but they are really, really nice to drive. Like a giant electric skateboard or electrified go-cart. RWD, de-tuned 0-100kph as it was "too fast for segment", +180bhp with a ton of torque in a 1200kg package. 

I test drove one and would have no problem buying for City+Suburbs driving, but I know people that use them as their one and only cross country car (not this country mind you).

Edited January 30, 2019 by mattsimis

[rarerimresource 6]

On 1/28/2019 at 11:44 AM, Gaz said:

My guess is that there must be damage to the carbon fibre core for them to write it off. As far as I know, there is only 1 place in NZ that can repair it

Interested to hear what the one place that can repair them is? I work with carbon for a living and would be keen to give a wrecked i3 a go.

[BozzaFC 300]

Happened to see two i3s yesterday. I knew the tyres were skinny, but I didn’t realise that were THAT skinny.

You could swap them with bicycle tyres and nobody would be able to tell the difference 

[Young Thrash Driver 1020]

3 hours ago, BozzaFC said:

You could swap them with bicycle tyres and nobody would be able to tell the difference 

They would... you'd get told "Bro, your bike's wheels look gay!".