If you want a spot in line for the first BMW i3 sedans, here's the short version: configure one on bmwusa.com, enter ZIP code 20852, choose BMW of Rockville as your preferred dealer, and put down a refundable $1,000 deposit once your client advisor confirms the build. The 2027 i3 50 xDrive starts at $61,500 plus destination and handling, with deliveries expected in early 2027. Here's how the process actually works from the dealership side, what to expect while you wait, and what DMV buyers should know about range and charging.
What You're Reserving
The launch model is the i3 50 xDrive: 463 horsepower combined, a built-in NACS charging port, and a BMW-estimated range of up to 468 miles. Reporting indicates a 60 xDrive variant is planned for later. US deliveries are expected in the first quarter of 2027, and US-spec cars haven't been built yet, which is why this is a reservation and not a delivery date. Everyone gets excited about a new BMW, and this one is not going to disappoint.
How to Reserve, Step by Step
Start by configuring an i3 on BMW's website, entering 20852 as your ZIP code, and selecting BMW of Rockville as your preferred dealer. Your inquiry hits our systems, and a client advisor will reach out to confirm your online build. In the meantime, BMW of North America will email you to confirm the build too.
Once you've confirmed your build, you'll get an email from Stripe for the $1,000 deposit. Pay it, then forward the confirmation email to your client advisor so they have it on record if they ever need proof or you need the deposit refunded. BMW's reservation terms make the deposit refundable and allow one reservation per customer and up to two per household.
Then comes a quiet stretch while we wait for allocations to become available. That's normal. Once your allocation arrives, your advisor gives it to you so you can add it to the garage in your MyBMW app and track the car's progress once it goes into production.
Your Build Isn't Set in Stone
That first confirmation email doesn't finalize anything. You have time to make any and all adjustments to your build right up until the car actually goes into production. It's important to work with a dealership whose client advisors take orders every day and can modify your build right away. With a car this new, communication is the key to getting your i3 exactly the way you want it.
What It Costs
The starting price is $61,500, plus a $1,175 destination and handling fee. There shouldn't be any surprises with your final MSRP, because you'll see it when you finalize your online build. Once your order is on the list, your client advisor can also email you a PDF of the build that should match exactly what you put together on bmwusa.com.
Who the i3 Is For
Current 3 Series owners are at the top of the list, and I expect more traction as more information comes out and more people read up on the car. Some Tesla Model 3 owners will see that the i3 costs more than a Model 3 and pass before they ever read about the technology, and that's fine. It may just not be for them. And because buyers are still choosing compact SUVs and crossovers over sedans, I doubt many X3 clients will switch to the i3 instead of the iX3.
Lease Ending Before Your i3 Arrives?
If you currently lease a BMW and it matures before your i3 shows up, you can request to extend your current lease. BMW Financial Services works to keep clients in their current leases so they can move into a new BMWFS lease later. Your payment stays the same and the mileage is adjusted accordingly. They'll need either the production number or the VIN of your factory order, so ask your advisor to confirm eligibility for your situation.
Range and Charging in DC, Maryland & Virginia
With a BMW-estimated range of up to 468 miles, range anxiety shouldn't be the issue it once was. More people are installing 240-volt Level 2 chargers at home, more apartment garages have them, and fast chargers are all over the DMV. A fast-charging stop is often in the 30 to 40 minute range depending on the charger and how low you start, and that's about the length of a typical grocery trip.
Plenty of everyday stops have fast charging nearby, including the Aldi in Gaithersburg, the Harris Teeter in Park Potomac, the Bank of America location at Falls Road and River Road in Potomac, Montgomery Mall, near the Wheaton Metro station, the Walmart on Georgia Avenue NW in DC, the LaSalle charging station in Tysons West, Tysons Corner, Fair Oaks Mall, Burke Centre, the Target in Springfield, the Royal Farms in Oxon Hill, and several spots near N. Washington Street in Alexandria. Chargers change, so confirm availability in your charging app before you go. And since the i3 has a built-in NACS port, it can plug into the hundreds of Tesla Superchargers around the DMV that are open to other brands. It's still worth keeping a CCS-to-NACS adapter (Lectron makes one) in the car for non-Tesla fast chargers, just in case.
Seeing One Before It Arrives
BMW of Rockville should have an i3 to test drive early next year. In the meantime, BMW of North America typically hosts public events with i3 and other BMW EV test drives, usually in the parking lot at FedEx Field, and Washington Commanders players sometimes stop by for special events. Watch for announcements and check with your client advisor.
Planning to reserve an i3? Run your real DC, Maryland, or Virginia numbers first, with finance, lease, and Select Term side by side.
Based on 20 years of direct BMW dealership experience. Pricing, allocation, and timelines can change, so confirm current details with your client advisor.
Sources: BMW USA reservation terms · Electrek · electrive