Bad news: BMW is discontinuing its lovely all-electric iX crossover for the U.S. market, as first reported by BMW Blog yesterday, to make way for the upcoming iX3. Good news: Pre-owned examples are getting cheap enough that I think they might be the best used car deal on the market right now.
Say what you want about the iX’s polarizing looks—I won’t blame you, there’s a lot to say—but as a car, I think the iX is actually one of BMW’s best in years. I drove one back in 2021 when they were new, and didn’t really have any expectations (I sort of dismissed it based on looks alone, which is shameful for me). But it handled better than any other modern non-M BMW I’ve driven, went pretty quick, and had an interior design to die for.
As great as it was, the iX was not a cheap car. The cheapest model, the xDrive45, started at $76,600 including destination. That made it inaccessible to a large swath of people looking for a solid EV, and harder for me to recommend. But now, thanks to the miracle of depreciation, there are iXs out there you can purchase for less than half the price of a new one.
What Made The iX So Great, Anyway?
It’s not just one thing that makes me love the iX; it’s a bunch of small stuff, done right, that adds up to a lovely package. Despite its 5200-pound-plus curb weight, the crossover still handles pretty well, with typical BMW-like steering feel and chassis response. At the same time, it didn’t have a crashy, overly stiff ride. You can daily drive this thing and be perfectly comfortable.
The tech is also pretty good, even for a five-year-old car (in the world of EVs, that’s really old). The iX uses a trick aluminum space frame with some of the unibody components, like the side panels, the rear window frames, and the roof, made from carbon fiber. The resulting lightweighting, as well as the controversial design’s aerodynamics, meant even the earliest versions could squeeze 324 miles out of a charge, according to the EPA. While that’s not a gigantic number by 2026 standards, it’s certainly more than enough for most people.
What really sold me on the iX, when I drove it, was the cabin. The floating center console, the interesting materials, the nicely sized and designed steering wheel, the spacious dashboard area—it all came together to form a really nice place to spend time. Plus, it seemed to have all the leg and arm room you could ever want. The only point against it is that the climate control buttons are embedded in the infotainment screen. But if you can get past that, you’re in for a nice time.
How Cheap Are We Talking?
Those first 2022 model-year iX xDrive50s are now five years old, and some of them have been well-used, with lots of miles on the clock. Pair that with the typically heavy depreciation you see on EVs, and you get a handful of very tempting deals.
The cheapest I could find right now is this first-year iX painted in grey for sale at a Nissan dealer in Florida with 83,000 miles on the clock, listed for $29,500. That’s a far cry from the $76k starting price of a new car, obviously, but it’s also just a few hundred dollars more than the cheapest new EV on sale right now, the Chevy Bolt.
If you prefer a splash of color, there’s another iX painted in a lighter shade of gray with a staggering 112,000 miles on the clock listed in Cincinnati for $29,999. Like the first car, there doesn’t seem to be any damage or crashes reported on the CarFax, which is probably good for the integrity of those carbon fiber chassis parts (if those get damaged, I’m sure the repairs aren’t cheap).
High-mileage examples aren’t the only iXs that have gotten affordable. Here’s a black one, another ’22 model, with under 40,000 miles on the clock, listed for sale at a Honda dealer in Georgia for just $36,000. This white example with under 50k miles can be yours for just $32,900. Want a color that isn’t grayscale? Here’s a blue model with 44k miles for just under $39,000.
If you’re not content with the iX xDrive50’s 516 horsepower, don’t worry, used examples of the performance-oriented M60 model, which came out in 2023, are nearly as cheap. Here’s one with 83,000 miles in Chicago for just $35,888, and another in a nice shade of beige for $44,971. As a reminder, these M-badged iXs make 610 hp and a gargantuan 811 pound-feet of torque, and are capable of sprinting to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds, per Car and Driver testing.
I know the iX’s design isn’t everyone’s style, but if you’re on the fence, consider this: You won’t be looking at the car when you’re driving it, and from the driver’s seat, there’s a lot to like. At a time when gas prices are spiking, it feels like a great used buy. Would you spend 30 grand on a used BMW EV? How cheap would the iX have to be for you to put up with its appearance? Let me know in the comments.
Top graphic image: BMW
“Bad news”? Nah, great news! The whole green agenda is blowing back at the stoopid environmentalists, leftist/liberal polticians, and feeble people.
So sick of people ululating the holiness of EVs when they are in denial how impractical it is to own and operate the EVs today. Not to mention how the lithium-ion batteries are prone to the thermal runaways, emitting lot of toxic chemicals in the air.
(No need to respond to my comment. I don’t read your blathering rebuttals.)
I think this car really highlights a design challenge of EV- brands built themselves around their grill shapes and it feels so dumbly forced and fake on EV models. But if they change it… It doesn’t look like the brand anymore.
“…lovely all-electric iX crossover…”
I just want to point out that this article is perhaps the first time those words above have ever been used in that particular order. I can deal with the overall size and shape of the iX, but it really seems like BMW made a huge effort to make every single part of it as unattractive as possible. Not an unforgivable sin I suppose, provided that they’re good cars overall, and I’ll have to take Brian’s word for that, never having driven one myself.
Aside from the fugly, the interiors are not to my taste: spartan and screen-heavy like most modern Eurobarges these days. And then there’s the matter of durability: being so intensively tech-heavy, what’s it going to be like to own and use one of these when they’re 15 years old, or 20? Will it even be practical/possible?
Every time I see a modern BMW with the grill design printed on a piece of plastic, I throw up in my mouth a little bit. Truly depressing, considering that in times past, BMW made some of the most beautiful sedans and coupes around. 🙁
I felt the same way when I first saw it and sat in it 4 years ago. Bought a used one last year and it is a delight to drive. Super spacious for little ones (furry and human) and the exterior has grown on me. It’s my chonky beaver wägenmobile.
Re: longevity, I saw take a look at old Teslas, quite a few are still kicking around, so I think it’ll be fine.
Were not exactly overrun with 15-20 year old ICE cars anyway.
Again: if they work for what’s needed, then I guess it’s good for that person.
While there are old(ish) Teslas around, there are also parking lots filled with totalled ones… many with damage so visually slight as to defy reason. The footage of those parking lots for Teslas that have been written off predates widespread use of decent AI video, so I don’t think they’re fake. Teslas (and I presume, other EVs/tech heavy cars) have so much electronica in them (as well as the batteries in EVs) that it can be impractical to fix them after an accident, let alone keep the running a decade+ down the road… to say nothing of the fact that proprietary software and tools are needed to work on a lot of what’s inside the car.
The average age of a car in the U.S. is 12.8 years at the moment (in 2025). With inflation since the pandemic, and the rise in fuel prices (thus, also in consumer goods) from the recent war(s) and tarrifs, I expect this average auto age to rise even further, with folks holding on to what they’ve got, instead of taking on a new car payment. For people who lease, or who still replace their car with a new one every few years, whether it will be practical, cost-effective, or even possible to service today’s tech-laden cars 20 years from now is moot of course.
My current youngest car is 22 years old, and the oldest is 37. I generally do most of what they need in terms of maintenance and repairs myself, though I’ve gradually been farming out some of it as I get older (and my back gets worse). I expect that I’ll eventually get some sort of EV, but it won’t be without trepidation given my habit of driving older vehicles/holding on to them for a long time. I’d probably buy a new Twingo or Inster or Micra today if such cars were available here.
Genuinely think the interior on these is cool and different, but I’d have a hard time walking out to one of these in my driveway every day. But that is a lot of car for the money.
Being used to weird BMW EV designs, I did consider this as a future replacement for my i3s for a while. But a few issues:
– Like Nsane here writes, there are “premium” parts on this that will cost endless amounts to repair. Especially if you go with the trick suspension. What I like about my i3 is that it is mechanically a simple car and super repairable, if you know where to go.
– id only want the BW stereo, which would make my example way more expansive
– the consumption! I need my EVs efficient. 21 kWh/100km on average is crazy. I would not take an Ioniq 5N for the same reason.
But I would love the interior and plush driving experience.
– the weight, I really hate the 2.6 tonne asphalt crushing elephants. 2.3 tonnes for the Neue klasse is my limit ???? it’s still a tonne more than the og i3!
Long story short, I think my next possible BMW to buy used will be the new ix3. Efficient, subjectively pretty, great interior.
But who knows, maybe circumstances will lead me to try an iX out and I will stop caring about efficiency 🙂
There are still service loaners popping up on Leasehackr for Honda Civic money per month. Probably a better way to have one for a couple years and not be bankrupted by aging BMW things.
Despite the incredible deals, I usually have a hard time wanting a used EV because the tech is moving so quickly that they feel so inferior and obsolete compared to new stuff.
The iX might be an exception to that. It was so ahead when it came out that it still feels decent today, although not cutting edge.
I had one as a rental and was so incredibly impressed with it. I’m not over the looks, but an M60 for $35k is incredible value. Carbon tub, that interior, and that level of performance for $35k? Sign me up.
Good thing about the US market is we never got the 40. So any deal you get will be minimum 500hp.
The new iX3 seems like the same generational leap that the iX was. BMW is killing it with EVs.
I don’t think I can. That seems hazardous. Should be outlawed.
In practice you set it to auto and rarely change it.
In practice, I am quite capricious. Sometimes I need to clear the windshield using defrost. Sometimes I just open the windows. Sometimes there’s as skunk smell and need to hit recirculate immediately.
I’m sure the “auto” setting understands all this.
It’s actually just one button press away. There’s a dedicated button on the bottom of the screen.
OK.
The what? More screen buttons requiring a look-away from the road?
Yes, but the screen is pretty high and it’s not that much of an issue to me. You can also use voice commands.
Trust me, I prefer physical buttons too but it’s non-issue in this case.
After looking at used e-tron GTs, we landed on a used ‘24 i4 xdrive. It’s pretty, quick, has all the Msport aesthetics, and the great Harmon Kardon system. Love it.
Do not buy one. There are a bunch of proprietary parts on these and they cost an inordinate amount to repair. If I recall correctly a new windshield is a 5 figure affair. The running costs of a used iX will probably be comparable to an aging 7 Series or even worse…EV or not it’s still a declining German technological showcase.
Glad somebody’s in the comments to bring me back to earth. 5 figures for a windshield is insane. Does anybody know if BMW is still using the air conditioner to cool their batteries?
This. Not to mention, what is the insurance like on something with a “carbon fiber tub”? Whatever savings you get by purchasing something like this cheap, end up negating themselves when it comes to factors like this.
Lol typical BMW that’s truly insane, how on earth does anyone get insurance on one of these. Was looking at the similarly temptingly priced Audi E-tron GT on autotrader the other day and had to remind myself what an ungodly expensive vehicle it likely is to fix anything on. I think the thing folks may be forgetting if they think a german EV will be cheap to own bc there’s no engine, is in my experience BMW engines and drivetrains are usually fairly robust (with some notable exceptions) it’s all the other stuff that nickel and dimes (or nickel and lincolns) you to death. And while sure some of the secondary engine systems that like to fail on them are no longer present I’m guessing all that battery temp and conditioning stuff will have the mechanic knocking sooner than later.
I too nearly fell into this trap. There have been a few E Tron GTs and Taycans listed locally that have made me go hmmmmm but as soon as I did even a little research it was game over. There is so, so much proprietary shit in these first gen German EVs that can go wrong and literally no one outside of a dealership is going to be willing or able to fix it…and it will cost you dearly.
You would 100% be better off dealing with a used ICE BMW, especially one from this era. The B48 and 58 and ZF8s they’re paired with are as robust as German powertrains get…and hell the later iterations of the N63 are quite solid as well.
While I’m sure the german stuff is terrible, this is somewhat my fear with all the EVs, I swear I was reading somewhere there are some shockingly expensive hard to get parts on some of the Korean EVs too. My wife would prefer an EV for her next car and I keep being like let’s hold at least one more generation, maybe two…
And agreed, anecdata-ly my dad’s old man fun car was a used BMW 640i convertible with the b58/zf8 several years ago and was a little nervous when he first got it but afaik it’s actually been pretty solid for him and he drives it a fair amount and has never been one to baby his cars.
Your dad is a good BMW owner. They’re made to be driven and driven hard. Not idling in stop and go traffic. Even if it can doesn’t mean it should.
Lol yeh-he keeps telling me he’s thinking about autocrossing it with a buddy of his.
I recently read that there is an oil seal problem on the second gen Caymans with the caveat that it only effects cars that sit around and rarely get driven.
I have friends who own one, and while it’s atrociously ugly in my book to this day, they had to replace a windshield very early in their ownership and they were quoted less than $2k if they wanted it done without playing the insurance.
They got it done under insurance, by SafeLite, and there was no more hassle than on any other modern car. There were calibrations to do and whatnot. But the only REAL issue was that neither my friend nor the technician knew how to open the frunk (which needed to be open for access), so they had to reschedule.
Like any BMW, the windshields from trim level to trim level for the same model will vary wildly, this is not model-specific but mostly trim-specific.
What will play is is there a HUD or not, Driving Assistant Pro or not, etc. And none of these will retail for $5k, even with labor. The most expensive windshield will be around $2k+, and there’s nothing in the calibration that mandates bringing it to the BMW dealership.
I’d be much more concerned of any BMW with Laser headlights and crap like that. Those start at $6k a pop.
OTOH that seems like a hell of a lot for a windshield (in my limited experience driving old shitboxes) Safelite quoted me $365 for my ’08 Cayenne when I had it and that had rain sensing wipers. But I haven’t done one on a modern car with all the safety stuff and whatnot, is $2K about the going rate now?
You have a few outcomes with insurances and Safelite specifically:
Safelite offers a Chinese replacement for your vehicle and model (Fuyao for example): Insurance pays for a Chinese one, you can pay the difference if you want the original part which Safelite will gladly replace. They are usually not bad. I have Fuyao on mine, it’s ok.
You have a higher trim from the same model, with some option that Fuyao (or whoever they use) doesn’t make: Insurance coughs for the original part, Safelite replaces it.
Within the same (luxury) brand and model, depending on model trim, the windshields will be very different. Base will be base, then you might have iridized, then you get the ones with cutout for HUD projection spot, then you might have some infrared nightvision option that also gets you a different windshield, etc, etc. As you start stacking those options, prices go up, mostly because at some point you land into original manufacturer part, as the aftermarket is not made for that trim.
My guess for your ’08 Cayenne is that you were quoted an afermarket windshield, and/or your trim didn’t require specific windshield options, per VIN. if you had options stacked, you would have gotten in Porsche pricing territory.
Is a $29,500 BMW EV with no warranty and 83,000 miles a good deal because it was originally $76,000? No, no it is not.
One of the worst looking cars, though.
I am not even sure the prices on these have dropped and if anything the floor for these has risen a bit given the surge in EV interest. I was shopping for an EV in February and I remember seeing a few 2024 iXs in the low $40k range. There was a particular one right at $40k that I at least thought about for a minute because it was in the best color (that red in the top image) and still had some warranty left. But I just could not get past the way it looks and bought something different.
This ’23 RZ 450e with unlimited mileage warranty is $26,998 and only has 50,000 miles on it. It’s also not embarrassing looking.
The 196 miles of range is the problem there. I have to drive a rural route that is close to that distance often enough that I wasn’t considering anything that got less than 300 miles. Ended up getting a RWD Lyriq that allows me to drive that route without going over 80% and without having to worry about finding a charging station.
I love the Lyriq, but they haven’t dropped in price as much as others. I hope you got SuperCruise!
I do have SC but I have not been able to use it all that much yet because I have not had many interstate trips since I bought it.
It’s deeply embarrassing looking (not that the iX isn’t)
The vast majority of people would disagree and not put the RZ anywhere near the BMW iX. Personally, I think the RZ is one of the best looking psuedo-SUV-wagon-car things.
A lot of people like things that look like they’re old and from the past and what they know already. I like things that look futuristic and new, admittedly.
There’s really no price I’m willing to consider if the rules state I’m not allowed to resell it. It’s just too fucking ugly. I’d feel bad subjecting my community to it’s appearance. I like the people around me for the most part. Why would I want them to have to see a BMW iX every day?
BMW SW (Stevie Wonder) Edition
We considered buying a new i4 when they first came out, but the timing ended up not being right. I’d probably consider a used one, definitely not an iX, which, besides being hideous, is just too big.
But, honestly, I thought by now the aftermarket would have come up with an option to swap something closer to the nose of a 3-series onto the i4 to get rid of those godwaful beaver teeth. The absence of that option alone still makes me think twice about considering one.
More naked mole rat than beaver.
I honestly don’t think I’ve ever even seen one of these in the wild, which is odd given that my town loves BMWs and Teslas and this is kind of at the intersection of the two.
Consider yourself lucky
I saw one a few miles from their SC plant and the Performance Center. It did not look better in person.
I don’t know if I would say there’s “a lot” of them, but I see them almost every day in Oregon. Around here seeing them is about the only time you can assume someone in a BMW got their driver license in the US/Canada.
Interesting-they are pretty common in the Seattle area where we have lots of EVs. Enough so that I’ve become somewhat immune to their hideous styling. I nearly drove off the road the first time I saw one near me on the freeway.
Good. That thing was designed by someone blind in one eye and couldn’t see out of the other.
I have to think there are a handful of other massively-depreciated EV’s out there which drive just as well without looking so terrible.
You can get Lexus RZs now for around $25,000 with low mileage. The range is 220-240, but it actually seems like it’ll last past 300,000 miles.
The temptation for me is the Genesis Electrified G80.
My experience with Genesis has been troubling. They have a long warranty, but the company is run poorly and they have horrendous customer service. It’s not like a Toyota/Lexus store where you literally get “overnight parts from Japan.” It’s like they have parts shipments coming at random times and they may or may not get what you need in a hurry.
Although you’re talking about an EV, I still just can’t get over the last GV80 I dealt with. The oil filter looked like it maybe had never been changed at 90,000 miles… Why? You have to remove the engine cover AND the intake manifold and then it’s at a really difficult angle to get at. So wherever the previous owner had gotten their oil changes done (which was at the Genesis dealer!), they just decided not to do it. This is likely representative of the entire organization if something like that can make its way to the end product and no one was allowed or felt comfortable raising their hand, speaking up and explaining that this is a bad move for everyone involved.
Korean Air in the 1980s had the worst safety record of any airline. It turned out it was a Korean cultural thing (Confucian hierarchy) because subordinate flight crew members could never give negative news to their superiors. Obviously, this can lead to plane crashes–and it did. They had to invest in educating their staff into unlearning this, which was difficult because it’s highly ingrained in Korean culture. This was in Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers”. After seeing the oil filter on the Genesis, I feel they still have that culture going strong. Deference can delay escalation of design or manufacturing concerns and encourage saving face over transparent problem solving.
My god, oil filter under the intake manifold is so stupid that arguably should be illegal. Similarly (and I hate sounding like a xenophobe) I worked at a camera repair shop for a while and based on what I saw of Samsung cameras I’d never touch one of their products with a 10′ pole. Appliance research points to their other stuff being similarly shiny looking and feature packed (sound familiar) but hard to repair junk with poor parts availability. This and the reports of weird subsurface problems that seem to have slowly popped up about Hyundai/Kia as they’ve supposedly gotten better in the last 20 years has made me very skeptical of buying any of their products.
Otoh if consumer reports is to be believed LG stuff is some of the most reliable you can buy. Jury is still out on our washer/dryer, but our 3 year old LG induction stove (from the PO) already had the main burner fail and has absolutely atrocious UX though it does function well.
The RZ is more like compact SUV compared to the iX.