When it debuted in 2014, the compact BMW i3 was one of the first luxury brand EVs on the North American market. This little dollop of electrified opulence was designed as the ultimate city car—small, comfortable, and easy to maneuver in a crowded urban environment.

The BMW i3 had its last model year in 2021, and BMW cited market demand for larger EVs as the reason for its removal from the lineup. If you were one of the first people to hop on board the i3 train, then you might be starting to have some concerns about the life of your high-voltage battery.

If so, you’ve come to the right place!

Jerry

, the

car insurance super app

, has collected all the info you need to know about the battery of the 2014 BMW i3. We’ll talk about how it changed over the years, your costs and options for replacement, and how you can get a shockingly good deal on your

BMW i3 insurance cost

How much does it cost to replace a 2014 BMW i3 battery?

According to RepairPal, the cost to replace a BMW i3 battery is around $13,000. This is an estimate for all years, so the cost for a 2014 model year may be a little different.

In 2016, BMW stated that a replacement battery for a first-generation i3 would be around $16,000. Although there’s not an abundance of information available on the specific cost to replace a 2014 battery today, we can safely say that it ain’t cheap.

The initial warranty for the 2014 BMW i3 battery was eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first. But even if you’ve been keeping it light on the mileage end, you’re out of time at the end of 2022. So if you want or need to replace your battery, you’ll be paying for it outright.

According to Kelley Blue Book, the fair market range for a 2014 BMW i3 is around $15,000 to $17,000, so you’d be putting as much (or more) into the car than it’s worth.

That’s a little sobering to be sure. But here’s the good news: although they’re only warrantied for eight years, the consensus seems to be that these batteries were engineered to last for much longer than that. There are many 2014 i3 owners on the BMW forums who report that the original battery is still in great shape and in no need of replacement.

Others have stated that when the time does come for a new battery, they would consider it a worthwhile investment. Some have even voiced the opinion that given the fact that the i3 was one of the first luxury EVs ever made and is pretty unique, it might even be something of a collector’s item someday.

Only time will tell, but it does seem like you have a few years to save up for a new battery if you have a 2014 BMW i3.

Can you put a different generation battery in an old BMW i3?

Maybe. The initial generation of BMW i3s had a battery pack with a 22 kWh capacity, but as the model years progressed the battery capacities increased. If you are in the position of needing or wanting to replace the battery in your 2014 BMW i3, you might be wondering if you can use one of the later, higher-capacity ones for a longer driving range.

On the positive (cathode!) side, all three generations of i3 batteries are the same physical size, so there won’t be a problem fitting it in there. Unfortunately, that’s pretty much where the plus side stops. On the negative (anode!) side, it sounds like it takes some serious work and know-how to retrofit a newer battery into a 2014 BMW i3.

The battery in the i3 is cooled by the A/C system, and it would need to be thoroughly reworked to ensure proper cooling for a higher-capacity battery. And while the battery size is the same, there can be some variation by year as far as where the ports and attachments are.

Additionally, replacement batteries may need some reprogramming or unlocking, so if you’re not up to a little light coding, you’ll have to find someone who is. Overall, the consensus seems to be that it can be done, but not easily, and not without the assistance of a mechanic shop that really knows what they’re doing.

BMW i3 battery capacity and range

Curious about how the OG 2014 BMW i3 battery compares to later years? The table below shows how the capacity grew over the time that the i3 was on the market.

Model years	Battery capacity	Driving range
2014 – 2016	22 kWh	72 to 81 miles EV, 105 miles PHEV
2017 – 2018	33 kWh	97 miles EV, 180 miles PHEV
2019 – 2021	42 kWh	153 miles EV, 200 miles PHEV

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The PHEV range is with the optional range extender, which was actually just an itty bitty internal combustion engine that supplies additional charge to the battery.

MORE:

What Is the Maximum BMW i3 Range?

How long does a 2014 BMW i3 battery last?

BMW officially guaranteed that the high-voltage 22kWh battery in the 2014 BMW i3 would keep a charge of 70% or better for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. That being said, BMW engineers have stated that the batteries are intended to last the life of the vehicle or about 15 years.

If you have an EV, the health of the battery is likely a top concern. A high-voltage battery that’s at the end of its life can often mean the car is, too. All lithium-ion batteries degrade over time—there’s nothing that can be done about that. But there are a few things that you can do to extend the life of your 2014 BMW i3 battery.

Tips for keeping any EV high-voltage battery happy include:

Avoid the heat. If you live somewhere like Arizona, Texas, or Florida, this suggestion is likely to evoke a rueful snort. But exposure to extreme heat is really hard on batteries and can shorten their lifespan, so try to keep your car in as cool of an environment as you can. Garages or shaded parking are your friends!

Skip the fast charger. DC fast charging is where it’s at if you’re on a long road trip, as it can replenish your battery to 80% in about 35 minutes. But frequent rapid charging lowers the lifespan of your battery, so stick to Levels 1 and 2 charging whenever possible.

Don’t shoot for 100%. It’s not a final exam—when it comes to high-voltage batteries, 100% is actually not what you want to hit. It seems a little odd, but charging to 80% vs 100% capacity can help to extend the lifespan of your high-voltage friend.

MORE:

The best BMW hybrids

How to save on BMW i3 insurance

EVs are the way of the future, but they do come with some unique challenges—like maintaining (and possibly replacing) their batteries. Time and technology will no doubt continue to lead to improvement in the EV battery arena, but until then it’s just one of the painful pinch points of owning an EV.

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