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225xe

16K views 59 replies 9 participants last post by  MathieuBMW 
#1 ·
Does anyone in the UK have a 225xe, looking to know what you think of it and does it perform as you expected?
 
#2 ·
I'm in New Zealand with my 225xe M Sport and is the same 225xe you would buy in England. The battery is 25% less distance than BMW says at least this is the only negative the rest of the car is great and have no complaints after 3 months of ownership. I'm finding half my driving is battery and petrol running at 3.8l per 100ks.
 
#3 ·
The nice man at bmw let me loose in both a 330e and a 225xe for a couple of days each, prior to choosing a new company car.

The 225xe was a Luxury version, with comfort pack, 18inch run flats, and a pano roof.

I picked it up fully charged, and did 140 miles, A roads down from Oxfordshire to Chepstow, then back via the M48 /M5/ A40. Destinations and way points were in the sat nav, it was set to Auto Edrive / Eco pro. Driving reasonably hard both directions, total MPG for the trip was 44.7 mpg. On the motorways flowing with the traffic, the real time mpg was showing upper 30s for most of the way, so might be a problem if you do long motorway trips. For interest I did the same trip in the 330e and that returned 49mpg. Performance was noticeably less than the 330e, but fast enough for me, some reviews have criticised the acceleration tailing off at higher speeds, given the single speed electric, but I didn't find it a problem, pulled very well right up to the legal limit.

Next day was my normal commute to work, 30 miles both ways into the centre of Oxford, mostly A and B roads. Was charged when I left home, and again at work, both trips were showing over 90mpg, very good given that I was playing with the modes, and giving it some welly on the way home.

Other things, the ride was just on the point of being too firm, and the seats were very hard, most unlike any BMW I've driven before. Loved the pano roof, but the blind is very thin and translucent. No problems with the steering, the gearbox, or the transition between petrol and electric, all of which has been criticised on various road tests. Visibility was bad to the side, with heavy door pillars, internal the ambient lighting was a little odd, with just two colours. (Three with off!) Space inside was fine, much better than the V60 twin engine, 330e, or A3 etron. Given that I've be driving diesels for many years, the refinement was amazing, with it making a wonderful howl towards the upper reaches of the rev range.

As it's a company car, at the 7% bik tax makes a huge difference, the loss of mpg compared to my current Audi diesel will be offset against the tax savings. It's the best compromise of the bunch I test drove, so one has been ordered, but I did go for the Sport version, rather than the Luxury, mainly due to the seats.
 
#4 ·
Try a 225xe M Sport as I've found it so much fun when you out on the county roads in sports mod. I was surprised about hard seats as both my M sports seats in the 225xe and the 2 convertible are nice and comfy.

Enjoy your new ride and you'll find you'll play with all the different ways you can charge the battery and run on battery only.
 
#5 ·
Down under is starting to warm up after winter. I've found the battery distance was down to as low as 28k and now it's climbing over the last week and today it's 35k thats a 25% increase. New Zealand has a very mild winter compared with northern countries.

I read some northern American states saying don't bother buying battery cars due to the very low battery mileage due to the cold.
 
#6 ·
Good morning from a sunny UK. Trees are just beginning to change here as we slide into Autumn.

Unfortunately MSport models has not arrived on our company car list yet, so its just a choice of Luxury or Sport for me. I did sit in a MSport AT, and for me the seats were much better, the difference between the standard seats (for the UK in SE and Luxury versions), and the Sports seats (Sport and Msport version) is huge. The standard seats are short and very hard, the sport seats are much bigger, much better padded, and have more adjustments.

My order is in, but I have a couple of weeks to finalise options, any views on the LED light upgrade? The 225xe demo didn't have them, but the 330e did and they were fantastic!
 
#7 ·
LED lights comes standard with M Sports and I like them. The car did come with comfort access and something I wouldn't order but I will from now on as it is so useful. My car was the first 225xe on the ride down under. It was already on the boat when I confirmed the order and didn't want to wait 3 more months.
The X drive works great as I was on a very muddy rutty steep farm track last weekend. The farmer said I will have fun getting out but not a problem even with 18" wheels.

After 4500ks, 2416ks was battery with a saving of 148L of petrol as a lot of my driving is on motorways.

I do like the location of battery charging stations at shopping malls as they are almost by the mall entry doors and it's free charging. There are only 1700 battery cars in New Zealand as their's no government subsides so I don't get to see them very often.
 
#8 ·
I was wondering how it coped is slippery conditions, in my case 5 miles of minor roads and hills to the nearest B road, which means I'm snowed in once or twice each winter. Now I also have a '58 SII Land Rover, but lack of heater and any sort of reliably means its a bit of a lottery to get anywhere!

So how do you get the 4x4 operating? In the Volvo V60 twin engine you have a handy 4x4 button. I assumed before I drove the 225xe that if it was in sport mode the petrol was running at all times, but on my test I found that wasn't the case. Is it just cleaver enough to detect wheel slip and bring in both engines as required?

The electric charging situation in the UK is a bit shambolic. At the moment you get big tax breaks on company cars, but that is being whittled down year on year. Until recently you got free charging at most motorway stations, but now you have to pay for it, at an hourly rate which makes charging uneconomic for the 225. None of my local shopping areas have free (or indeed any sort of) charging. My work currently has free charging, but that is unusual, and I'm sure the government will soon look at it and consider it a benefit that should be taxed.

An the UK electric car forums there seems a lot of negativity towards PHEV's clogging up charging slots, again they point out that in the same time as you get 20 miles of charge in a 225xe, you could charge up an I3 or similar for over 100miles, and you get the feeling that somehow PHEV's are not real electric cars. From my point of view there is nothing that meets my need for 300 mile range this side of a Tesla, and until the pure electrics manage 300 miles they are no good for me. Currently PHEV seems a good compromise. I'm guessing that when I come to replace the 225 in 3 years time then Telsa 3's or the new VW electrics will manage that, and also the charging network will be in place.

If you visit Sweden and see the fantastic way they encourage the use of electric cars, its like a different world! Free parking and charging, use of bus lanes, massive tax breaks!
 
#9 ·
The car works out for itself when it needs 4x4 and which wheel or wheels has traction you just drive.

I don't sit around charging the car it's a waste of my time and I don't want a fully electric battery car as once the power goes out or you are somewhere you cannot charge then you're going know where. I like the option of both petrol engine and battery.

Their will never be enough charging stations if the uptake of battery cars takes off. Battery cars may become cheaper to buy than petrol/diesel in a few years.
 
#10 ·
Very interesting thread and I completely agree with the comments regarding the M Sport seats which we've got in our 218d Active Tourer, have to admit on the odd occasion the A post / window is a total pain but as with anything you do get used to it.

As advised in another thread during the period from when we collected the car 30th November 2014 up to June this year my better half using it on a daily basis appears to be averaging between 39 - 41mpg whereas in June when we travelled from Dorset up to Cheshire (about 450 miles round trip ) and averaged 53.4 we were well pleased with that fuel consumption.

I see no purpose in considering the mpg figures published by manufacturers simply because each person drives in a totally different manner and as is obvious from our previous cars I definitely don't hang around and as yet still haven't used "snail" as it would drive me crazy not having the acceleration when I decide I want it and not the car making the decision for me.

Should we ever decide to change the car I'd definitely go for the Active Tourer 225xe version simply because everything about the vehicle suits our requirement.

dorsetred :cool2:
 
#11 ·
My 225xe does get confused sometimes and will not drive. When this happens I have to shut the car down and restart after a couple of seconds rest.
It is the most used car we have owned and covered the most miles per month for many years.
It will be interesting the battery mileage over this winter in England mine got down to 27ks
 
#12 ·
Dorsetred Check pricing to change your 2014 AT to a 2016/17 225xe. I understand you can receive subsidies and what I've been reading some of these subsidies are being remove around the world and may be cheaper than you think it is to change. Watch diesel resale as the word is diesels are becoming harder to sell due to VW cheating as well countries trying to ban diesels and cars like the 225xe, X5e will replace diesels. The only diesel BMWs are selling here now is 5, 7, AT & X models.
 
#13 ·
Kiwi said:
Dorsetred Check pricing to change your 2014 AT to a 2016/17 225xe. I understand you can receive subsidies and what I've been reading some of these subsidies are being remove around the world and may be cheaper than you think it is to change. Watch diesel resale as the word is diesels are becoming harder to sell due to VW cheating as well countries trying to ban diesels and cars like the 225xe, X5e will replace diesels. The only diesel BMWs are selling here now is 5, 7, AT & X models.
Hi Kiwi

To be honest I've thought about it although close to two years now and less than 7,000 miles to date which is nothing, car is running as sweet as you could wish for and 1st service due on 30th November. I've no doubt when back to UK on 16th December I've got time to spare with SWMBO working just before Christmas I'll be down to the dealer and see what they are prepared to offer especially if they have an M Sport version available with the fully loaded spec I'd be after,

Allan :cool2:
 
#16 ·
wow 45% is a massive difference. Do you loose much mileage using the pre conditioning timer? Or does it use the mains supply?

Its getting colder here, my first windscreen scrape of the winter this morning.... Still hopefully will have a nice warm pre heated 225 some time in January.

Chatting to my neighbour over the weekend, he was asking about hybrid cars and travailing through floods, or fords. Its a point I hadn't considered, does the manual have anything to say on wading depth? I go splashing through the ford at the end of our village without a second thought, I would assume that the 225xe motor must be reasonably well waterproofed?
 
#17 ·
Kiwi said:
Dorsetred Check pricing to change your 2014 AT to a 2016/17 225xe. I understand you can receive subsidies and what I've been reading some of these subsidies are being remove around the world and may be cheaper than you think it is to change. Watch diesel resale as the word is diesels are becoming harder to sell due to VW cheating as well countries trying to ban diesels and cars like the 225xe, X5e will replace diesels. The only diesel BMWs are selling here now is 5, 7, AT & X models.
Hi Kiwi

Fully spec'd version is close to a retail price of £42K with no offers available whatsoever through BMW UK so it's going to be very interesting to see what the local dealer comes up with but frankly I can't see them doing too much. I believe from Tony's (TRL) comment in a pm to me recently he's been advised it may be a little early to change and probably better to see how the 225xe fares in the UK before changing, realistically it's always going to come down to bottom line figures before making a final decision for obvious reasons.

In relation to the diesel fiasco I can understand and accept your comment however due to the volume of diesel cars in the UK it's going to be some considerable time particularly in the case of BMW before the real impact is felt and appropriate action taken especially with Euro 6 regulations being increased as each day goes by. If anything it's quite possible the UK Government may introduce some sort of test procedure to be undertaken on all diesels to ensure they conform to very strict emission control and naturally increase the fuel cost itself to attempt to "encourage" owners to change to petrol, battery or combination of the two as in the 225xe X5e etc.

Allan :cool2:
 
#18 ·
The car is always parked in our garage and we only have around 5 small frosts over winter which is gone by 8am. Nothing I have read or seen about water depth. The batteries are in a sealed unit and I don't see a problem you'll just have to be below the engine fresh air intact as you do with all cars.

I don't know a thing about cars in England I was just guessing. I thought England would be like America who have subsidies.
The main reason I purchased the 225xe is we are able to drive in bus only and carpool lanes at the end of this year.
 
#19 ·
Well. we've just pushed the old button on a new 225xe M-sport in Estoril blue with Driver plus, but, we're lacking a sunrooof and the H&K stereo and the Danish King's telephone connection... Phew. It's coming at the end of February, so we've our current, reliable as anything Lexus CT until then, at least.

One thing we both wanted when we replaced our really reliable car, was something that had really moved on in 5 years - and that, in the main, was with regard to the CO2 output and mpg; unfortunately (for Lexus) their car hasn't moved on anything, unlike its sister, the Prius, and it certainly doesn't do what the Outlander, the Merc 350e and our new Bimmer does. Which, when all is said and done is halve the CO2 emissions and, generally both our commutes to work daily; both figures we're hoping to achieve in the Beemer. Just a quick question: what extras should we have gone for? This is going to be our main, joint, car - we don't need more than one and do no more than 18 miles/p day commute, with an occasional, bi-monthly, journey of >100miles.

We both like hybrids, and, prior to the Lexus we did have a Beemer (a 116i) - what should we be aware of?
 
#20 ·
Welcome to the forum and I've no doubt that Kiwi will soon respond with input regarding the 225xe as he's really been clocking the miles up since he's had the car :lol2:

From our side with the 218d M Sport in Estoril Blue I'm inclined to say it's quite possibly one of the best cars we've owned and no regrets whatsoever in changing from the MY13 Coupe we had previously mainly because of having so much more room in the car! We've got electric heated seats plus HK music system and wouldn't be without those but do wish I'd specified Sat Nav Pro Plus as the benefits are obvious when you consider the additional add-on costs after the event.

dorsetred :cool2:
 
#21 ·
I ordered mine at end of August, due into build next week, should get it mid November :band:
 
#22 ·
Thanks for the welcome! Ours should be in the dealer on the 24th Feb, so we'll hold off a couple of days to secure a 17 plate, I think. We've gone for the Nav+, Tech package and Driver Comfort with Driving Asst +, we've also accepted the Young'un's demand for dark glass , hers for heated seats and mine for the BMW Advanced speakers. Not sure my Yorkshire roots could cope with the extra £300 (daft, I know as we've just specced a 40k car...) for the HK. I've become so used to listening to tunes on the PC or phone, that my better half managed to get me to package up my beloved stereo and speakers into the garage by saying I wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I suppose the last decade of constant nagging and the constant stream of drivel my Young'un spouts has deafened me somewhat (I'm being mean, it's not constant as the pair of them sleep...!). One thing I couldn't fathom with this car was the lack of blind-spot monitoring, especially considering the C pillar's size. It was almost a deal-breaker.

Interestingly, to get the safety features we've specced into the Beemer, it would have cost about £5k less for a new Lexus CT (and access to their lovely dealerships and customer service (faultless)) - however. we're averaging 44mpg over the life of the car (monthly 100m motorway trip) and the electric range is measly in comparison with what I believe we should get from the 2 series. In effect (we both work close to each other) and within an 4.2m each way commute, that most of our trips will be run on electric power (the Lexus' petrol engine kicks in at 27mph). I think, over 4-5 years (our normal period of ownership) we might just break even and be proud of the fact we're saving the polar bears at the same time.

EDIT: I really like the Flamenco red, and it's a shame they don't do the M Sport variant in that colour - it's the first red car I think I've liked since the Countach. Not actually seen the AT in Estoril blue - I'd have been happy enough with white, but our Lexus is a nice blue and I think the better half really wanted something that stands out. You don't have any pics of yours in the daylight do you Dorsetred?
 
#23 ·
HoR said:
Thanks for the welcome! Ours should be in the dealer on the 24th Feb, so we'll hold off a couple of days to secure a 17 plate, I think. We've gone for the Nav+, Tech package and Driver Comfort with Driving Asst +, we've also accepted the Young'un's demand for dark glass , hers for heated seats and mine for the BMW Advanced speakers.

EDIT: I really like the Flamenco red, and it's a shame they don't do the M Sport variant in that colour - it's the first red car I think I've liked since the Countach. Not actually seen the AT in Estoril blue - I'd have been happy enough with white, but our Lexus is a nice blue and I think the better half really wanted something that stands out. You don't have any pics of yours in the daylight do you Dorsetred?
Yes you can see the following threads: -




When we were at the dealers we drove I believe a 218i in Flamenco Red which my wife liked that colour but obviously went for Estoril Blue as I'd already decided prior to the test drive and have to say I've no regrets at all especially when it's clean! :lol2:

One point I would definitely recommend having the car professionally detailed before you go too far with it and fortunately you've plenty of time to check on the forum in respect to where you live for recommended companies. As everyone will advise don't bother whatsoever with the dealer's offer as their products and final finish are nowhere near as good especially with a car costing £40K plus you'll be far better laying out the funds with the detailer.

dorsetred :cool2:
 
#24 ·
You're a gem, thanks. I'll peruse those threads in detail! And no, we won't be getting any dealer-recommended washing and cleansing kit... (we still have a 'rather expensive' bag full of goodies from our last Bimmer ;))

EDIT: Aye, that car has a stunning colour. Looks great from any quarter (not sure about the front, still, but every other view is quite good at least). Could I just ask one of those interminable questions, and it's not so much for me as for the nipper (honest guv) but the 'switchable' ambient lighting... I've managed to find (for him) on Youtube a video of an X5 switching between the three M colours of blue, orange and white (and combinations thereof down low) is this similar for the M Sport AT? I don't suppose you have night-time photos (I cannot believe I'm asking this on an internet forum...)? :eek2:
 
#25 ·
HoR said:
You're a gem, thanks. I'll peruse those threads in detail! And no, we won't be getting any dealer-recommended washing and cleansing kit... (we still have a 'rather expensive' bag full of goodies from our last Bimmer ;))

EDIT: Aye, that car has a stunning colour. Looks great from any quarter (not sure about the front, still, but every other view is quite good at least). Could I just ask one of those interminable questions, and it's not so much for me as for the nipper (honest guv) but the 'switchable' ambient lighting... I've managed to find (for him) on Youtube a video of an X5 switching between the three M colours of blue, orange and white (and combinations thereof down low) is this similar for the M Sport AT? I don't suppose you have night-time photos (I cannot believe I'm asking this on an internet forum...)? :eek2:
Not an issue whatsoever after all this is what the forum is all about, unfortunately I don't have any night-time photographs but I can definitely confirm you can change between white and orange, I don't think we've got a blue on ours and this may be only applicable on a true "M" version as opposed to an M Sport.

I recommended detailing because of your two kiddies which prompted me to think you may have your time fully occupied especially as generally it takes two days for the complete job!

dorsetred :cool2:
 
#26 ·
Seems a long wait February for your new wheels as it doesn't have to travel far not like mine which its delivery was to the bottom of the world.
You'll become a totally different driver with your XE and you'll need to learn a new way of using the petrol engine and battery together to save on fuel. Mine has travelled 5,518 ks with a fuel milage from new at 3.8L per 100ks. The car has traveled 3,121ks on battery and the maximum distance you'll travel on a full petrol tank and battery is 402ks as I have just fuelled up and charged the battery tonight on a warm night. You'll travel more if you charge the battery with the engine as you go and use the battery once charged when driving down hill or slow driving areas.
 
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