[golfnut019]

I have a 2021 40i and I love it. I don't drive TOOO much (8k miles in 1 year), however I have been starting to venture out further and further with the fam so that 8K is actually backloaded across the last calendar year.

I have been looking around for EV's and I just can't get myself to buy into Tesla's interior. I checked out the iX and it's just not for me so the next best thing is the 45e imho.

From the reviews I've seen/read, the spectrum is a bit wide on positive/negative.

Would love to hear from those that have made the jump?

[ENCBimmer]

I can't speak as someone that has had the 40i, but we have had the 45e for about 10 weeks and absolutely love it. The tax rebate is gravy, since it is actually more affordable than the 40i. But even without it, I think that it offers an awesome package. If at least 75% of your daily driving is around town, then it is perfect for you, because you get an EV when it counts, and the convenience on road trips. And NO RANGE ANXIETY EVER. The MPG isn't great, but because you're only using the gas 25% of the time or less, it more than makes up for it.

In my opinion, unless I had the funds for an M or the V8, I wouldn't even consider the 40i. We're that happy with the 45e.

I did a short review if you want to go to my post from the profile, can't get a link to it at the moment.

[biterror]

Is the i4 available in the US? It's much better than a plastic piece of soap called Tesla ;-)

[golfnut019]

Originally Posted by biterror

Is the i4 available in the US? It's much better than a plastic piece of soap called Tesla ;-)

It is but a bit small

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by golfnut019

I have a 2021 40i and I love it. I don't drive TOOO much (8k miles in 1 year), however I have been starting to venture out further and further with the fam so that 8K is actually backloaded across the last calendar year.

I have been looking around for EV's and I just can't get myself to buy into Tesla's interior. I checked out the iX and it's just not for me so the next best thing is the 45e imho.

From the reviews I've seen/read, the spectrum is a bit wide on positive/negative.

Would love to hear from those that have made the jump?

What is it that you are looking for in your EV/hybrid? You want to save money on fuel? You want smoothness/quietness of an EV drivetrain? You want something shiny and new?

Because in a normal car market, getting out of your 1 year old car for essentially the same vehicle would be cost prohibitive, even when you factor in gas savings, unless you kept the car for a very long time.

But in today's market, especially if you can benefit from the full amount of the EV tax credit and get an amazing trade-in value for your current car, it might be worth switching even if you don't really care about the hybridness of the new car.

[4ML INC]

Since you already have 40i - I am guessing you're looking at 45e for strictly environmental and financial (tax/credit & savings in gas) reasons. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Got 45e 2 months ago - and I love it as well.

a) You get $7500 tax credit.
b) In the right driving conditions - pretty damn good savings on gas
c) You may feel a little good about yourself for not using so much gas.

My work trip is ideal for this car. 37 miles (10 miles on freeway and rest on 45-55 miles/hr zone with no traffic) and I am able to get all of it on EV.

Driven 2000 miles out of which 1600 on EV. I have used 20 gallons of gas instead of about 100 gallons in 2 months. Where I live - it costs approx $1.50 to charge 0 to full - so I have spent about $60-$65 in charging it and saved 80 gallons of premium fuel. You can do the math.

As for the drive - it drives like a 40i (though I have only driven that car about 30-40 miles). It's heavier but EV makes it easy to forget about that. Not sure what else I can tell you - you'd know more about the car since you have had it longer than me.

[LarsOtium]

If the issue is you are looking to do longer road trips that is not where the 45e shines. I say this because "on a road trip" plugging-in isn’t really viable given the slow charge rate of the 45e. So you’re relying predominantly on the ICE and lugging around additional 800 lbs of battery.

However, if you’re looking for the beauty of an around town EV that will also do road trips reasonably well then the 45e is stellar and won’t disappoint.

[RJC]

We are in a similar situation. We had the 40i and will be upgrading to the 45e in a few weeks. Not a lot of great EV options out right now for those that want a real SUV. The reviews I have seen online have generally been positive and seems like a no-brainer with the $7500 tax credit. I do wonder about how regenerative braking feels compared to our Tesla MY.

[taek]

Originally Posted by golfnut019

From the reviews I've seen/read, the spectrum is a bit wide on positive/negative.

What negatives are you specifically concerned about? You have a 40i so you know more about the car than probably most reviewers.

[silverstar335]

Have the 45e for over 6 months, I think the 40i is obsolete. The upcoming 50e (~490hp) will make the 40i, 45e and M50 obsolete.

[jad03060]

On a long road trip 2000+ last summer, I averaged a bit over 28mpg running 70-80 mph. Given the type of vehicle, I don't consider that bad at all.

From a power:weight viewpoint, the 40i and 45e are about as identical as you can get. The battery weight down low helps, too, and it comes with 2-axle air suspension that you can't get on the 40i, at least for now. The EV instant torque makes it faster than the 40i initially, but the 40i probably will beat it if you were on a drag strip. The transmission is geared lower, so the engine RPMs at any particular speed are slower, so that should also help with wear long-term if you plan to keep it a long time, too.

Most of my driving is local. I last filled mine after that long trip in August 2021, and as of now in April 2022, I have about 45% of the tank left...IOW, I haven't bought any gas for 8 months. I probably should run in sport mode to use it up and put in fresh, but the tank is sealed differently than the conventional ICE, so it has always started when I push it without issues and I'm not particularly worried.

[mad villain]

I think you have to consider a few things above and beyond the rebate. In Canada, a similarly optioned 45e is 4-5k more than the 40i if you can even find one. You also have to factor in the cost of buying and installing a Level 2 charger. I don't know what this costs (parts and labour) but just those two things will certainly eat into your rebate. I'm sure someone with a 45e can tell you what the approx cost is there.

Then you have to see how much you will be able to use the EV mode. People who can use EV only for their daily commute are going to benefit from having a 45e vs a 40i and I think it's an easy choice for those people to get the 45e as long term it's going to benefit. But if your commute is too long for only EV, it might not be beneficial to switch since even in this maker you'll lose some money on your 40i.

The final consideration you have to have is are you getting the same options (and does that matter to you). It's likely a 22 45e will be missing some things your 21 40i has but only you will know if you'll miss those options.

[FastMarkA]

I had a 2020 40i, I now have a 2021 45e.

I don't miss the 40i at all -- in fact, I am enjoying the 45e orders of magnitude more.

There's more to making the move than environmental and financial reasons:

• At a stoplight, you still get full HVAC because the battery powers it, not an ICE
• You can warm/cool the car in a garage (because no CO-emitting ICE needs to run)
• 0-30 is zippy (because electric power curve)
• I realized I HATE stopping at gas stations (no, not having to pay...the chore of stopping and getting gas)
• Related, it's so nice to wake up every morning and know you have at least 28-30 miles of range on your car

This is still a BMW though...so driving experience counts. The 45e is far more fun to accelerate than the 40i; I only feel performance enhancement on the 45e over the 40i.

After having the 45e, I can't see going back to a strictly ICE vehicle...ever. Maybe if I found an old 911 or something fun to restore/have as a hobby, but for an everyday driver...wow electric is just great.

[jad03060]

If we get to the point where solid state batteries are the norm and you can find a fast CCS charger as easily as a gas station today, a pure EV will become the norm. Gearheads that want to hear the engine sing will have to deal with a quality sound system to emulate it. Those days are coming, but they are not here yet. Until then, IMHO, the 45e beats the 40i easily. The extra weight might become a factor if you wanted to tow a big trailer because the load in the vehicle is less, so you may not be able to put all of the extra stuff in the rear, and might need to put it in the trailer instead. The max tongue weight is the same between the two, though and the standard 2-axle air suspension helps.

[ksavostin]

I didn't go from 40i, but here are my objections about 45e:
1. In the winter, you must pay to heat your cabin, whereas 40i does so for free.
2. When driving in electric mode, this SUV is not an ultimate driving machine anymore; it is suitable for commuting, but not pleasure as it should be.
3. You won't be able to get 22-inch wheels for your car in the United States, unless you buy them separately $$$.

[jad03060]

If you run in hybrid or adaptive mode, and then press the accelerator far enough (much less than in EV mode), it will turn the ICE on, and it's pretty seamless, at least to me. Or, run it in sport mode, and the ICE stays on, but you still get the benefit of the EV motor's torque from stop. If you're running around town and not being a jerk, it's easy to stay in electric propulsion and not hold up traffic. Tip the accelerator a bit more, and the ICE comes on to enhance your propulsion. I think it takes off from a stop much smoother than the ICE version.

[Russ103]

Go with the M50i, or X5M if the budget permits and avoid this discussion altogether. Otherwise, the 45e does seem to make sense in my opinion.

[oldguy00]

I know this likely doesn't apply to the OP, but here in Canada, I believe we cannot get any rebate for the 45e. Rebates are only offered for cars below a certain MSRP. Guess the idea is that for folks who can afford an X5, you don't need gov assistance...


https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transpo...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

[viperdoc]

Originally Posted by FastMarkA

I had a 2020 40i, I now have a 2021 45e.

I don't miss the 40i at all -- in fact, I am enjoying the 45e orders of magnitude more.

There's more to making the move than environmental and financial reasons:

• At a stoplight, you still get full HVAC because the battery powers it, not an ICE
• You can warm/cool the car in a garage (because no CO-emitting ICE needs to run)
• 0-30 is zippy (because electric power curve)
• I realized I HATE stopping at gas stations (no, not having to pay...the chore of stopping and getting gas)
• Related, it's so nice to wake up every morning and know you have at least 28-30 miles of range on your car

This is still a BMW though...so driving experience counts. The 45e is far more fun to accelerate than the 40i; I only feel performance enhancement on the 45e over the 40i.

After having the 45e, I can't see going back to a strictly ICE vehicle...ever. Maybe if I found an old 911 or something fun to restore/have as a hobby, but for an everyday driver...wow electric is just great.

Everything in this post is correct. I had a 40i for over a year then went to a 2021 45e. The 45e is faster (car and driver has it 0.2tenths faster to 60), more comfortable with the air suspension, and the ability to have gas free driving is incredible. In electric mode the car moves very well, particularly at low speeds (under 30mph). If you need it to move like an M50i all the time, this isn’t your car. But keep in mind that I’ve seen threads of 50i and X5M owners who post pics of how often they are at gas stations.

And for gas mileage, after 20k trouble free miles, I am averaging 120mpg on my normal commute. For longer trips (80 miles round trip) I get above 50 regularly.

[LOFT]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

I know this likely doesn't apply to the OP, but here in Canada, I believe we cannot get any rebate for the 45e. Rebates are only offered for cars below a certain MSRP. Guess the idea is that for folks who can afford an X5, you don't need gov assistance...


https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transpo...B&gclsrc=aw.ds

Correct...enjoy the car, the contribution you are making to the environment, and the infrequency of visits to the gas station. I find plugging the vehicle into the charger at the end of the day no different than the daily charging of my iPhone and Apple Watch...it's an easy habit.

[oldguy00]

Originally Posted by LOFT

Correct...enjoy the car, the contribution you are making to the environment, and the infrequency of visits to the gas station. I find plugging the vehicle into the charger at the end of the day no different than the daily charging of my iPhone and Apple Watch...it's an easy habit.

Taking in to account current gas prices, have you done a rough calculation of how much $$ you are saving on gas (per mile?)? Thx

[LOFT]

Originally Posted by oldguy00

Taking in to account current gas prices, have you done a rough calculation of how much $$ you are saving on gas (per mile?)? Thx

Without taking you through too much math calculation, I use the following.

Gas only is 10 litres/100 kilometres. At CDN $2.00/litre, it costs $20 to go 100 km.

Off peak at 8.2 cents per kwh in Ontario, it works out to @ 3.00/100 km.

I've only had the car a couple of weeks so my BMW app is still doing early calculations. Right now it reads a total of 282 km on the car with a total of 86 kWh used with 90 per cent fuel in the tank (ie. when ICE comes on).

So with my local driving at this point the 90/10 rule is applying: 90% of the driving has been electric at a cost of $7/ 10% has been gas at a cost of $10 (ie. 50 litre tank down 10% = 5 litres X 2.00/litre).

This are all still early approximations.

Hope this helps.