Massachusetts man buys $50,000 BMW i3 EV for $500 because the dealer said it wasn't worth fixing to see if he can prove him wrong
Published on Dec 14, 2025 at 8:12 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Dec 11, 2025 at 2:33 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
A Massachusetts YouTuber, Rich Rebuilds, bought a BMW i3 EV for $500 from a dealer, when they retailed at $50,000, all because the dealer told the previous owner it wasn’t worth fixing.
The BMW i3 was the first mass-produced zero-emissions vehicle BMW made, and launched the i sub-brand for the company, with production running from 2013 to 2022.
While small and with a relatively limited range, the i3 made a great city car, and its diminutive stature allows it to easily get around cramped cities and towns.
Rich took the plunge and bought the car for just $500, determined to work out what was wrong with it and get it back on the road.
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What was wrong with the BMW i3?
Rich had bought the electric BMW from a dealer.
In the upload, Rich and his team decided to work out what was wrong with the EV via a diagnostic tool.
This threw up the various error codes, giving them an idea of what needed to be fixed.
Although it’s primarily an EV, the BMW i3 has a two-cylinder gas engine in the trunk that works as a range extender.
The diagnostics tool suggested that cylinders one and two were both misfiring.
The crankshaft position sensor was also throwing an error code.
In order to fix the misfiring, Rich bought new coils and spark plugs for the i3’s range extender.
That set him back just $142.
Was the German EV put back onto the road?
As the video progressed, the team worked hard to try and get through as many of the problems as they could.
Further inspection showed corrosion around some of the cabling for the heater under the hood.
Just this issue with the high-voltage cables can cause the car to effectively shut down, as it’s a major safety concern.
Rich and his team suspected that with a new heater inside, the BMW might suddenly spark itself back into life.
The contacts in the cables were actually clean, which was a relief.
While they didn’t get the heater to pump out warm air, they managed to get the i3 to charge again.
That was a big win for Rich!
That means there is hope in future videos that this BMW might get back on the road again.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
