VW ID.3

I bought a 212 with 89000kms at the end of July. I find it to be a good car, reliable for 300km range. But, on the couple of occasions I used the fast charger it was slower than I had expected other than that I think its a great car, very comfortable and with good extras. (Be sure to get the matrix headlights they really are impressive!)

As regards the price, I paid 22,500(private sale, would be more from a dealer Im sure) so yeah I think you could get it cheaper even with the lower mileage. Don't know if the prices will fall in the new year but there seems to be opinion that they will?

I need to figure out my options soon. Have a 212 ID3 Family 107kw model. Coming up to 50k on the clock. My PCP ends in August of next year. Can’t see myself getting another VW - the value doesn’t seem to be there compared to other brands (especially the Chinese ones) and the software drives me crazy.

Every month that I hold on to the car I’m knocking 400€ off the capital but is the car depreciating at a faster rate? Sell / trade-in now or wait a few more months? Second hand prices seem to be plummeting atm.

There's a private sale one on DD for 20k already.

If you are referring to this one, marked as Sold on DD.

I would suggest, this one can be gotten for €21,000, quite long for sale (not the cleanest inside but better spec):

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volkswagen-id-3-family-panoramic-roof-145hp-58kwh/34945501

But note. is the lower powered 145 hp model, and has over 112kms on the clock, which is way above average.

Battery warranty stays with new owner, for most if not all EV’s.

VW have a standard 3 year warranty, which also transfers to the new owner, so dealer is not giving anything away here, as it comes with the car until its 3 years old.

Check if the car has a 4g signal. If not, the easiest fix is to pull fuse 19 for about 10 minutes to get it back online.

So a 3 year old ID3 will still have 5 years of battery warranty left. Can't argue with that.

Awesome, thanks a million, worked a treat!

What's the lowest battery percentage the car can be at to remote start the preheating?

FYI if anyone gets the parking sensor fault. VW won’t replace it under warranty. Default response is ‘stone chip’ damage- covered in a service bulletin.

I left mine in for 3.2 and asked them to check the faulty sensor. I was quoted €355 to replace the sensor. And then a further €108 for the diagnostic which I refused to pay.

I picked up a second hand sensor off a buddy of mine- 30second job to replace, they pop out with two pins on the side.

Total cost of replacement €0 but Beers bought for Karma sake.

Sensor can be got new from €50-€100 online. Id4 running the same sensor I think.

Well after spending yesterday morning sliding sideways down the hill near home, I'm back looking at options for winter driving.

I already have a spare set of wheels, with Nokian winter tyres. But living on top of a hill in rural Donegal with bugger all road treatment other than the sand that the residents toss out, it's still not cutting it. Every year I tend to lose a few days to being stuck at home. Funnily enough my best years were when I had the i3. Those skinny wee tyres loved the snow.

I saw someone online recommending "Autosocks". Basically a cheaper option than snow chains. About €80 for a pair, they just slip on and off easily and no risk of damaging the car like with chains.

Anyone ever used them?

I think they're a bit of a gimmick to keep BMW drivers happy, as you say completely useless on patchy roads.

Studded tyres are the way to go;) Pity they are probably prohibited in Ireland. Works a treat when renting a car in Lapland;)

And a danger once you turn on to a regular tarmac road.

Your issue is the ice, and the type of ice. No standard winter tyre can grip on pure ice, particularly ice in the recent Irish context that was laid down fast. The air hit its dew point quickly and covered the ground in water, which then quickly froze to a polished surface. The temperature then didn’t fall low enough for that deep freeze effect to happen so there was nothing for the tyre to grip.

A light dusting of snow, lower temperature or hail stones would have allowed the tyre to bite.

Last Friday was particularly bad and very dangerous, I had to use the Y which is on standard Hankooks and it wasn’t pleasant. There was zero grip but my i3 would have been the same. Any other time it’s so well planted on winters, nothing but studded would work in the most recent case. Luckily we don’t get that too much.