RE: BMW i8: Delivery Miles
Discussion
An i3 has actually appeared on autotrader.
For sale with only 400 miles: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
The cheapest i8 (of 6 available the 7th being a build slot) is £120k:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/bmw/i...
For sale with only 400 miles: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...
The cheapest i8 (of 6 available the 7th being a build slot) is £120k:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/bmw/i...
Saw one in the wild today as it was coming toward me in the adjacent lane. I think it was black and I wasn't sure what it was until I saw the blue outline on the grill and then verified on the profile.
Neat, but not for me. Its proportions are not exotic enough, imo. I guess it was done no favors by being black so all of the contrasting stuff it has going on was not readily visible, but I like exotics to be wide, big, and low. This was more like a 911 or z8 sized vehicle, I think.
Neat, but not for me. Its proportions are not exotic enough, imo. I guess it was done no favors by being black so all of the contrasting stuff it has going on was not readily visible, but I like exotics to be wide, big, and low. This was more like a 911 or z8 sized vehicle, I think.
mikEsprit said:
Saw one in the wild today as it was coming toward me in the adjacent lane. I think it was black and I wasn't sure what it was until I saw the blue outline on the grill and then verified on the profile.
Neat, but not for me. Its proportions are not exotic enough, imo. I guess it was done no favors by being black so all of the contrasting stuff it has going on was not readily visible, but I like exotics to be wide, big, and low. This was more like a 911 or z8 sized vehicle, I think.
It's supposed to be 911 or Z8 sized...Neat, but not for me. Its proportions are not exotic enough, imo. I guess it was done no favors by being black so all of the contrasting stuff it has going on was not readily visible, but I like exotics to be wide, big, and low. This was more like a 911 or z8 sized vehicle, I think.
mikEsprit said:
Neat, but not for me. Its proportions are not exotic enough, imo. I guess it was done no favors by being black so all of the contrasting stuff it has going on was not readily visible, but I like exotics to be wide, big, and low. This was more like a 911 or z8 sized vehicle, I think.
Why would you want a car to be wider and bigger than it needs to be? To me that is what made many exotics pretty useless on country roads. Something 911/z8 sized is ideal.i want to share my I8 NIGHTMARE experience via a copy of a letter I wrote not long ago
Letter to
Leading car buff
c/o Leading car review section.
MY BMW I8m NIGHTMARE
Dear Mr Car buff
I am writing to you as I believe you might find my story instructive and hopefully also reconsider how you put together your reviews going forward.
It is a slightly lengthy explanation for which I apologize. I trust that once you start reading you will be so amazed that you will want to continue to the end.
As a young man I was a great admirer of the BMW 850 – a sleek, beautiful car and a proper BMW. For ever since I have always wondered, when would BMW be back with a proper sports car? The Zs were rubbish in my mind and the Ms are just overpowered suburban saloons.
Then, by now some 2 years ago I saw a photo of the I8. First I could not believe it was a BMW. Next the sticker price of around 100K seemed (yes a lot) but not a lot for a true sports car. A beauty to behold and a BMW. On top, strong environmental friendly characteristics placed the car in front. More or less as soon as one could, I put down a deposit. A few months later I had a short test drive. Enamoured as I was, I only managed to ask “is it easy to park?”. I was concerned about the width of the doors when getting in and out. “absolutely, not a problem at all, takes up no more space than any other car” was the prompt answer. I wanted to believe, and did not get to park anyway on this short test drive. I was wrong of course as you surely know.
In fact, the I8 is gorgeous and a fun, although not a truly great drive. But you must live with ridiculous compromises. You can in fact not park this car next to another car. If you do you will have to wait patiently for your neighbour to move out, because unless you are Houdini, there is no way you are going to get into your I8. I have performed the most absurd body contortions to get in. Does not look good on Park Lane.
Should you wish to park in a gated car park, beware as when you wish to retrieve an entry ticket you will hurt yourself on windows that do not open fully. Luggage must be carried in the back seat as there is no boot to speak of. But it is lovely and it is fun so you sort have to live with all this. And you get lots of conversations at the petrol station because you are going there a lot, with only 40 litres on board and batteries that can really only take you 10 miles or so. So here I am, was, set back 106K, service plan included. Why am I unhappy?
About a month into my ownership I was going to a concert at the O2 with my wife. I am not very familiar with the area so we had the GPS on. By the way BMW proudly talks about their toggle wheel and how you can write on it – works great I am sure if you drive in a left hand drive version. Here in the UK any right handed person will find using the system a new test in dexterity.
Back to the story. I missed a turn on our way to the O2 and did a near 360 in a roundabout. The GPS screen flashed a few times, with a floating “I8” crossing the screen and then the screen went dark. All information systems were down. “Ok” I thought just some software glitch. BMW kindly picked the car up from my home and after a good week -ten days it was returned “all systems had been tested”.
2 weeks later the same happens. Back to the garage again. Another ten days or so. “we have our specialists on it”
On my first drive after the car had been returned, at a speed of about 40 mph all four wheels locked up and the car made a mighty jump. Warning bells went off and lots of quick flashes on the info screen ensued. I pulled over and finally settled down with the message “recovery system not available”. The car has a brake energy recovery system – really not a novel idea has been found on lorries and busses for decades. The system was malfunctioning and the car needed specialist attention again.
This is where I finally had had enough and I asked BMW to take the car back as I believed they had not delivered a product which reasonably performed against normal expectations (lots of jingoisms form the Sales and Good act). After initial stonewalling “I have to refer to my manager” I was told “the car comes with a three year warranty in order to take care of your problems”. I am still gum smacked that someone actually said that, but the BMW person did. I referred the matter to our family solicitor. BMW UK got involved and stonewalled me as well. I could probably have pursued this with more expensive legal advice, but in the end settled for them buying back this fiasco for 77K. This translates into more than 1K per trip I have had in the car. The car entered my garage on January 30, 2015 and was gone by October the same year.
To add spite to injury they did not pay. Only after repeated reminders and finally subtle threats from my solicitor did they pay in March 2016, months after the price had been agreed. Needless to say I shall not be doing business with BMW UK again, ever.
Why did I write to you in the first place? Your reviews matter an enormous amount to someone like me. I am not an expert on cars. I believe you are. You were raving about this thing and I believe you played a big role in getting the I8 voted car of the year 2014. I would suggest you live with these cars for some time before making your mind up. It is a gorgeous car and it bends your mind. You want to believe it is a wonder, it is not, it is rubbish.
Kind regards
PS. Will copy this to complaints BMW headquarters in Germany assuming they have such a department.
NOTE – they sent my letter to BMW UK, who reiterated that I should be pleased about the warranty cover and simply noted I no longer owned the car!
I never heard anything from the car buff of course
Letter to
Leading car buff
c/o Leading car review section.
MY BMW I8m NIGHTMARE
Dear Mr Car buff
I am writing to you as I believe you might find my story instructive and hopefully also reconsider how you put together your reviews going forward.
It is a slightly lengthy explanation for which I apologize. I trust that once you start reading you will be so amazed that you will want to continue to the end.
As a young man I was a great admirer of the BMW 850 – a sleek, beautiful car and a proper BMW. For ever since I have always wondered, when would BMW be back with a proper sports car? The Zs were rubbish in my mind and the Ms are just overpowered suburban saloons.
Then, by now some 2 years ago I saw a photo of the I8. First I could not believe it was a BMW. Next the sticker price of around 100K seemed (yes a lot) but not a lot for a true sports car. A beauty to behold and a BMW. On top, strong environmental friendly characteristics placed the car in front. More or less as soon as one could, I put down a deposit. A few months later I had a short test drive. Enamoured as I was, I only managed to ask “is it easy to park?”. I was concerned about the width of the doors when getting in and out. “absolutely, not a problem at all, takes up no more space than any other car” was the prompt answer. I wanted to believe, and did not get to park anyway on this short test drive. I was wrong of course as you surely know.
In fact, the I8 is gorgeous and a fun, although not a truly great drive. But you must live with ridiculous compromises. You can in fact not park this car next to another car. If you do you will have to wait patiently for your neighbour to move out, because unless you are Houdini, there is no way you are going to get into your I8. I have performed the most absurd body contortions to get in. Does not look good on Park Lane.
Should you wish to park in a gated car park, beware as when you wish to retrieve an entry ticket you will hurt yourself on windows that do not open fully. Luggage must be carried in the back seat as there is no boot to speak of. But it is lovely and it is fun so you sort have to live with all this. And you get lots of conversations at the petrol station because you are going there a lot, with only 40 litres on board and batteries that can really only take you 10 miles or so. So here I am, was, set back 106K, service plan included. Why am I unhappy?
About a month into my ownership I was going to a concert at the O2 with my wife. I am not very familiar with the area so we had the GPS on. By the way BMW proudly talks about their toggle wheel and how you can write on it – works great I am sure if you drive in a left hand drive version. Here in the UK any right handed person will find using the system a new test in dexterity.
Back to the story. I missed a turn on our way to the O2 and did a near 360 in a roundabout. The GPS screen flashed a few times, with a floating “I8” crossing the screen and then the screen went dark. All information systems were down. “Ok” I thought just some software glitch. BMW kindly picked the car up from my home and after a good week -ten days it was returned “all systems had been tested”.
2 weeks later the same happens. Back to the garage again. Another ten days or so. “we have our specialists on it”
On my first drive after the car had been returned, at a speed of about 40 mph all four wheels locked up and the car made a mighty jump. Warning bells went off and lots of quick flashes on the info screen ensued. I pulled over and finally settled down with the message “recovery system not available”. The car has a brake energy recovery system – really not a novel idea has been found on lorries and busses for decades. The system was malfunctioning and the car needed specialist attention again.
This is where I finally had had enough and I asked BMW to take the car back as I believed they had not delivered a product which reasonably performed against normal expectations (lots of jingoisms form the Sales and Good act). After initial stonewalling “I have to refer to my manager” I was told “the car comes with a three year warranty in order to take care of your problems”. I am still gum smacked that someone actually said that, but the BMW person did. I referred the matter to our family solicitor. BMW UK got involved and stonewalled me as well. I could probably have pursued this with more expensive legal advice, but in the end settled for them buying back this fiasco for 77K. This translates into more than 1K per trip I have had in the car. The car entered my garage on January 30, 2015 and was gone by October the same year.
To add spite to injury they did not pay. Only after repeated reminders and finally subtle threats from my solicitor did they pay in March 2016, months after the price had been agreed. Needless to say I shall not be doing business with BMW UK again, ever.
Why did I write to you in the first place? Your reviews matter an enormous amount to someone like me. I am not an expert on cars. I believe you are. You were raving about this thing and I believe you played a big role in getting the I8 voted car of the year 2014. I would suggest you live with these cars for some time before making your mind up. It is a gorgeous car and it bends your mind. You want to believe it is a wonder, it is not, it is rubbish.
Kind regards
PS. Will copy this to complaints BMW headquarters in Germany assuming they have such a department.
NOTE – they sent my letter to BMW UK, who reiterated that I should be pleased about the warranty cover and simply noted I no longer owned the car!
I never heard anything from the car buff of course
750turbo said:
He will be forlornly posting it on ever car forum in the Western Hemisphere in the dire hope that BMW actually give a s
t, they will not.
Maybe not but what do you do if you buy a lemon from a major manufacturer?t, they will not.You'd have thought a halo model for that price would attract a degree of enhanced customer service
However he does seem to have gone to town on it
nielsdecon said:
i want to share my I8 NIGHTMARE experience via a copy of a letter I wrote not long ago
Letter to
Leading car buff
c/o Leading car review section.
MY BMW I8m NIGHTMARE
Dear Mr Car buff
I am writing to you as I believe you might find my story instructive and hopefully also reconsider how you put together your reviews going forward.
It is a slightly lengthy explanation for which I apologize. I trust that once you start reading you will be so amazed that you will want to continue to the end.
As a young man I was a great admirer of the BMW 850 – a sleek, beautiful car and a proper BMW. For ever since I have always wondered, when would BMW be back with a proper sports car? The Zs were rubbish in my mind and the Ms are just overpowered suburban saloons.
Then, by now some 2 years ago I saw a photo of the I8. First I could not believe it was a BMW. Next the sticker price of around 100K seemed (yes a lot) but not a lot for a true sports car. A beauty to behold and a BMW. On top, strong environmental friendly characteristics placed the car in front. More or less as soon as one could, I put down a deposit. A few months later I had a short test drive. Enamoured as I was, I only managed to ask “is it easy to park?”. I was concerned about the width of the doors when getting in and out. “absolutely, not a problem at all, takes up no more space than any other car” was the prompt answer. I wanted to believe, and did not get to park anyway on this short test drive. I was wrong of course as you surely know.
In fact, the I8 is gorgeous and a fun, although not a truly great drive. But you must live with ridiculous compromises. You can in fact not park this car next to another car. If you do you will have to wait patiently for your neighbour to move out, because unless you are Houdini, there is no way you are going to get into your I8. I have performed the most absurd body contortions to get in. Does not look good on Park Lane.
Should you wish to park in a gated car park, beware as when you wish to retrieve an entry ticket you will hurt yourself on windows that do not open fully. Luggage must be carried in the back seat as there is no boot to speak of. But it is lovely and it is fun so you sort have to live with all this. And you get lots of conversations at the petrol station because you are going there a lot, with only 40 litres on board and batteries that can really only take you 10 miles or so. So here I am, was, set back 106K, service plan included. Why am I unhappy?
About a month into my ownership I was going to a concert at the O2 with my wife. I am not very familiar with the area so we had the GPS on. By the way BMW proudly talks about their toggle wheel and how you can write on it – works great I am sure if you drive in a left hand drive version. Here in the UK any right handed person will find using the system a new test in dexterity.
Back to the story. I missed a turn on our way to the O2 and did a near 360 in a roundabout. The GPS screen flashed a few times, with a floating “I8” crossing the screen and then the screen went dark. All information systems were down. “Ok” I thought just some software glitch. BMW kindly picked the car up from my home and after a good week -ten days it was returned “all systems had been tested”.
2 weeks later the same happens. Back to the garage again. Another ten days or so. “we have our specialists on it”
On my first drive after the car had been returned, at a speed of about 40 mph all four wheels locked up and the car made a mighty jump. Warning bells went off and lots of quick flashes on the info screen ensued. I pulled over and finally settled down with the message “recovery system not available”. The car has a brake energy recovery system – really not a novel idea has been found on lorries and busses for decades. The system was malfunctioning and the car needed specialist attention again.
This is where I finally had had enough and I asked BMW to take the car back as I believed they had not delivered a product which reasonably performed against normal expectations (lots of jingoisms form the Sales and Good act). After initial stonewalling “I have to refer to my manager” I was told “the car comes with a three year warranty in order to take care of your problems”. I am still gum smacked that someone actually said that, but the BMW person did. I referred the matter to our family solicitor. BMW UK got involved and stonewalled me as well. I could probably have pursued this with more expensive legal advice, but in the end settled for them buying back this fiasco for 77K. This translates into more than 1K per trip I have had in the car. The car entered my garage on January 30, 2015 and was gone by October the same year.
To add spite to injury they did not pay. Only after repeated reminders and finally subtle threats from my solicitor did they pay in March 2016, months after the price had been agreed. Needless to say I shall not be doing business with BMW UK again, ever.
Why did I write to you in the first place? Your reviews matter an enormous amount to someone like me. I am not an expert on cars. I believe you are. You were raving about this thing and I believe you played a big role in getting the I8 voted car of the year 2014. I would suggest you live with these cars for some time before making your mind up. It is a gorgeous car and it bends your mind. You want to believe it is a wonder, it is not, it is rubbish.
Kind regards
PS. Will copy this to complaints BMW headquarters in Germany assuming they have such a department.
NOTE – they sent my letter to BMW UK, who reiterated that I should be pleased about the warranty cover and simply noted I no longer owned the car!
I never heard anything from the car buff of course
Letter to
Leading car buff
c/o Leading car review section.
MY BMW I8m NIGHTMARE
Dear Mr Car buff
I am writing to you as I believe you might find my story instructive and hopefully also reconsider how you put together your reviews going forward.
It is a slightly lengthy explanation for which I apologize. I trust that once you start reading you will be so amazed that you will want to continue to the end.
As a young man I was a great admirer of the BMW 850 – a sleek, beautiful car and a proper BMW. For ever since I have always wondered, when would BMW be back with a proper sports car? The Zs were rubbish in my mind and the Ms are just overpowered suburban saloons.
Then, by now some 2 years ago I saw a photo of the I8. First I could not believe it was a BMW. Next the sticker price of around 100K seemed (yes a lot) but not a lot for a true sports car. A beauty to behold and a BMW. On top, strong environmental friendly characteristics placed the car in front. More or less as soon as one could, I put down a deposit. A few months later I had a short test drive. Enamoured as I was, I only managed to ask “is it easy to park?”. I was concerned about the width of the doors when getting in and out. “absolutely, not a problem at all, takes up no more space than any other car” was the prompt answer. I wanted to believe, and did not get to park anyway on this short test drive. I was wrong of course as you surely know.
In fact, the I8 is gorgeous and a fun, although not a truly great drive. But you must live with ridiculous compromises. You can in fact not park this car next to another car. If you do you will have to wait patiently for your neighbour to move out, because unless you are Houdini, there is no way you are going to get into your I8. I have performed the most absurd body contortions to get in. Does not look good on Park Lane.
Should you wish to park in a gated car park, beware as when you wish to retrieve an entry ticket you will hurt yourself on windows that do not open fully. Luggage must be carried in the back seat as there is no boot to speak of. But it is lovely and it is fun so you sort have to live with all this. And you get lots of conversations at the petrol station because you are going there a lot, with only 40 litres on board and batteries that can really only take you 10 miles or so. So here I am, was, set back 106K, service plan included. Why am I unhappy?
About a month into my ownership I was going to a concert at the O2 with my wife. I am not very familiar with the area so we had the GPS on. By the way BMW proudly talks about their toggle wheel and how you can write on it – works great I am sure if you drive in a left hand drive version. Here in the UK any right handed person will find using the system a new test in dexterity.
Back to the story. I missed a turn on our way to the O2 and did a near 360 in a roundabout. The GPS screen flashed a few times, with a floating “I8” crossing the screen and then the screen went dark. All information systems were down. “Ok” I thought just some software glitch. BMW kindly picked the car up from my home and after a good week -ten days it was returned “all systems had been tested”.
2 weeks later the same happens. Back to the garage again. Another ten days or so. “we have our specialists on it”
On my first drive after the car had been returned, at a speed of about 40 mph all four wheels locked up and the car made a mighty jump. Warning bells went off and lots of quick flashes on the info screen ensued. I pulled over and finally settled down with the message “recovery system not available”. The car has a brake energy recovery system – really not a novel idea has been found on lorries and busses for decades. The system was malfunctioning and the car needed specialist attention again.
This is where I finally had had enough and I asked BMW to take the car back as I believed they had not delivered a product which reasonably performed against normal expectations (lots of jingoisms form the Sales and Good act). After initial stonewalling “I have to refer to my manager” I was told “the car comes with a three year warranty in order to take care of your problems”. I am still gum smacked that someone actually said that, but the BMW person did. I referred the matter to our family solicitor. BMW UK got involved and stonewalled me as well. I could probably have pursued this with more expensive legal advice, but in the end settled for them buying back this fiasco for 77K. This translates into more than 1K per trip I have had in the car. The car entered my garage on January 30, 2015 and was gone by October the same year.
To add spite to injury they did not pay. Only after repeated reminders and finally subtle threats from my solicitor did they pay in March 2016, months after the price had been agreed. Needless to say I shall not be doing business with BMW UK again, ever.
Why did I write to you in the first place? Your reviews matter an enormous amount to someone like me. I am not an expert on cars. I believe you are. You were raving about this thing and I believe you played a big role in getting the I8 voted car of the year 2014. I would suggest you live with these cars for some time before making your mind up. It is a gorgeous car and it bends your mind. You want to believe it is a wonder, it is not, it is rubbish.
Kind regards
PS. Will copy this to complaints BMW headquarters in Germany assuming they have such a department.
NOTE – they sent my letter to BMW UK, who reiterated that I should be pleased about the warranty cover and simply noted I no longer owned the car!
I never heard anything from the car buff of course
Edited by saaby93 on Saturday 14th May 19:47
That's impressive. I only got to "The Zs were rubbish in my mind and the Ms are just overpowered suburban saloons." before realising the kind of person, and therefore customer, you are.
You didn't properly test a car that cost £100k and then when something unfortunately went wrong, you didn't seem to give BMW the chance to resolve the issue before throwing your toys out of the pram.
From your posting style, and comments like the one I highlighted above, I imagine you're quite an awful person to deal with. Perhaps if you'd have been less of a cock, BMW would have been more helpful.
Sorry bud, but you're getting no support or sympathy from me.
You didn't properly test a car that cost £100k and then when something unfortunately went wrong, you didn't seem to give BMW the chance to resolve the issue before throwing your toys out of the pram.
From your posting style, and comments like the one I highlighted above, I imagine you're quite an awful person to deal with. Perhaps if you'd have been less of a cock, BMW would have been more helpful.
Sorry bud, but you're getting no support or sympathy from me.
750turbo said:
Chebble said:
^ You ressurected a two year old thread for that?
He will be forlornly posting it on ever car forum in the Western Hemisphere in the dire hope that BMW actually give a st, they will not.nielsdecon said:
i want to share my I8 NIGHTMARE experience via a copy of a letter I wrote not long ago
Letter to
Leading car buff
c/o Leading car review section.
MY BMW I8m NIGHTMARE
Dear Mr Car buff
I am writing to you as I believe you might find my story instructive and hopefully also reconsider how you put together your reviews going forward.
It is a slightly lengthy explanation for which I apologize. I trust that once you start reading you will be so amazed that you will want to continue to the end.
As a young man I was a great admirer of the BMW 850 – a sleek, beautiful car and a proper BMW. For ever since I have always wondered, when would BMW be back with a proper sports car? The Zs were rubbish in my mind and the Ms are just overpowered suburban saloons.
Then, by now some 2 years ago I saw a photo of the I8. First I could not believe it was a BMW. Next the sticker price of around 100K seemed (yes a lot) but not a lot for a true sports car. A beauty to behold and a BMW. On top, strong environmental friendly characteristics placed the car in front. More or less as soon as one could, I put down a deposit. A few months later I had a short test drive. Enamoured as I was, I only managed to ask “is it easy to park?”. I was concerned about the width of the doors when getting in and out. “absolutely, not a problem at all, takes up no more space than any other car” was the prompt answer. I wanted to believe, and did not get to park anyway on this short test drive. I was wrong of course as you surely know.
In fact, the I8 is gorgeous and a fun, although not a truly great drive. But you must live with ridiculous compromises. You can in fact not park this car next to another car. If you do you will have to wait patiently for your neighbour to move out, because unless you are Houdini, there is no way you are going to get into your I8. I have performed the most absurd body contortions to get in. Does not look good on Park Lane.
Should you wish to park in a gated car park, beware as when you wish to retrieve an entry ticket you will hurt yourself on windows that do not open fully. Luggage must be carried in the back seat as there is no boot to speak of. But it is lovely and it is fun so you sort have to live with all this. And you get lots of conversations at the petrol station because you are going there a lot, with only 40 litres on board and batteries that can really only take you 10 miles or so. So here I am, was, set back 106K, service plan included. Why am I unhappy?
About a month into my ownership I was going to a concert at the O2 with my wife. I am not very familiar with the area so we had the GPS on. By the way BMW proudly talks about their toggle wheel and how you can write on it – works great I am sure if you drive in a left hand drive version. Here in the UK any right handed person will find using the system a new test in dexterity.
Back to the story. I missed a turn on our way to the O2 and did a near 360 in a roundabout. The GPS screen flashed a few times, with a floating “I8” crossing the screen and then the screen went dark. All information systems were down. “Ok” I thought just some software glitch. BMW kindly picked the car up from my home and after a good week -ten days it was returned “all systems had been tested”.
2 weeks later the same happens. Back to the garage again. Another ten days or so. “we have our specialists on it”
On my first drive after the car had been returned, at a speed of about 40 mph all four wheels locked up and the car made a mighty jump. Warning bells went off and lots of quick flashes on the info screen ensued. I pulled over and finally settled down with the message “recovery system not available”. The car has a brake energy recovery system – really not a novel idea has been found on lorries and busses for decades. The system was malfunctioning and the car needed specialist attention again.
This is where I finally had had enough and I asked BMW to take the car back as I believed they had not delivered a product which reasonably performed against normal expectations (lots of jingoisms form the Sales and Good act). After initial stonewalling “I have to refer to my manager” I was told “the car comes with a three year warranty in order to take care of your problems”. I am still gum smacked that someone actually said that, but the BMW person did. I referred the matter to our family solicitor. BMW UK got involved and stonewalled me as well. I could probably have pursued this with more expensive legal advice, but in the end settled for them buying back this fiasco for 77K. This translates into more than 1K per trip I have had in the car. The car entered my garage on January 30, 2015 and was gone by October the same year.
To add spite to injury they did not pay. Only after repeated reminders and finally subtle threats from my solicitor did they pay in March 2016, months after the price had been agreed. Needless to say I shall not be doing business with BMW UK again, ever.
Why did I write to you in the first place? Your reviews matter an enormous amount to someone like me. I am not an expert on cars. I believe you are. You were raving about this thing and I believe you played a big role in getting the I8 voted car of the year 2014. I would suggest you live with these cars for some time before making your mind up. It is a gorgeous car and it bends your mind. You want to believe it is a wonder, it is not, it is rubbish.
Kind regards
PS. Will copy this to complaints BMW headquarters in Germany assuming they have such a department.
NOTE – they sent my letter to BMW UK, who reiterated that I should be pleased about the warranty cover and simply noted I no longer owned the car!
I never heard anything from the car buff of course
Sounds like you've had a bad time. Hope that BMW sort you out. If I were you I'd document it all Nick Murray style when he took on Porsche via youtube. Seems like you've got a lemon.Letter to
Leading car buff
c/o Leading car review section.
MY BMW I8m NIGHTMARE
Dear Mr Car buff
I am writing to you as I believe you might find my story instructive and hopefully also reconsider how you put together your reviews going forward.
It is a slightly lengthy explanation for which I apologize. I trust that once you start reading you will be so amazed that you will want to continue to the end.
As a young man I was a great admirer of the BMW 850 – a sleek, beautiful car and a proper BMW. For ever since I have always wondered, when would BMW be back with a proper sports car? The Zs were rubbish in my mind and the Ms are just overpowered suburban saloons.
Then, by now some 2 years ago I saw a photo of the I8. First I could not believe it was a BMW. Next the sticker price of around 100K seemed (yes a lot) but not a lot for a true sports car. A beauty to behold and a BMW. On top, strong environmental friendly characteristics placed the car in front. More or less as soon as one could, I put down a deposit. A few months later I had a short test drive. Enamoured as I was, I only managed to ask “is it easy to park?”. I was concerned about the width of the doors when getting in and out. “absolutely, not a problem at all, takes up no more space than any other car” was the prompt answer. I wanted to believe, and did not get to park anyway on this short test drive. I was wrong of course as you surely know.
In fact, the I8 is gorgeous and a fun, although not a truly great drive. But you must live with ridiculous compromises. You can in fact not park this car next to another car. If you do you will have to wait patiently for your neighbour to move out, because unless you are Houdini, there is no way you are going to get into your I8. I have performed the most absurd body contortions to get in. Does not look good on Park Lane.
Should you wish to park in a gated car park, beware as when you wish to retrieve an entry ticket you will hurt yourself on windows that do not open fully. Luggage must be carried in the back seat as there is no boot to speak of. But it is lovely and it is fun so you sort have to live with all this. And you get lots of conversations at the petrol station because you are going there a lot, with only 40 litres on board and batteries that can really only take you 10 miles or so. So here I am, was, set back 106K, service plan included. Why am I unhappy?
About a month into my ownership I was going to a concert at the O2 with my wife. I am not very familiar with the area so we had the GPS on. By the way BMW proudly talks about their toggle wheel and how you can write on it – works great I am sure if you drive in a left hand drive version. Here in the UK any right handed person will find using the system a new test in dexterity.
Back to the story. I missed a turn on our way to the O2 and did a near 360 in a roundabout. The GPS screen flashed a few times, with a floating “I8” crossing the screen and then the screen went dark. All information systems were down. “Ok” I thought just some software glitch. BMW kindly picked the car up from my home and after a good week -ten days it was returned “all systems had been tested”.
2 weeks later the same happens. Back to the garage again. Another ten days or so. “we have our specialists on it”
On my first drive after the car had been returned, at a speed of about 40 mph all four wheels locked up and the car made a mighty jump. Warning bells went off and lots of quick flashes on the info screen ensued. I pulled over and finally settled down with the message “recovery system not available”. The car has a brake energy recovery system – really not a novel idea has been found on lorries and busses for decades. The system was malfunctioning and the car needed specialist attention again.
This is where I finally had had enough and I asked BMW to take the car back as I believed they had not delivered a product which reasonably performed against normal expectations (lots of jingoisms form the Sales and Good act). After initial stonewalling “I have to refer to my manager” I was told “the car comes with a three year warranty in order to take care of your problems”. I am still gum smacked that someone actually said that, but the BMW person did. I referred the matter to our family solicitor. BMW UK got involved and stonewalled me as well. I could probably have pursued this with more expensive legal advice, but in the end settled for them buying back this fiasco for 77K. This translates into more than 1K per trip I have had in the car. The car entered my garage on January 30, 2015 and was gone by October the same year.
To add spite to injury they did not pay. Only after repeated reminders and finally subtle threats from my solicitor did they pay in March 2016, months after the price had been agreed. Needless to say I shall not be doing business with BMW UK again, ever.
Why did I write to you in the first place? Your reviews matter an enormous amount to someone like me. I am not an expert on cars. I believe you are. You were raving about this thing and I believe you played a big role in getting the I8 voted car of the year 2014. I would suggest you live with these cars for some time before making your mind up. It is a gorgeous car and it bends your mind. You want to believe it is a wonder, it is not, it is rubbish.
Kind regards
PS. Will copy this to complaints BMW headquarters in Germany assuming they have such a department.
NOTE – they sent my letter to BMW UK, who reiterated that I should be pleased about the warranty cover and simply noted I no longer owned the car!
I never heard anything from the car buff of course
Just so you know though, I had a loan i8 that did 5000KM in one in the space of three weeks this April and had none of these problems. Found it a fairly pleasant place to be if a bit boring. It isn't the car journalist's fault that your car is a snotter, its BMW's.
Edited by caminator11 on Saturday 14th May 21:42
Blakewater said:
Can't be that hard to get in and out of. I witnessed a couple who must have been in their eighties getting out of one on a tight garden centre car park. The guy just needs to take his cod liver oil.
It's actually a bit awkward, the sill is high and the seat well below so you find yourself sliding across the sill and then down into the seat and you have to clamber out feet first and pull yourself up. (it's not a nightmare of course) I was being very careful as it was in the showroom but still on a daily basis you'd have to get used to it.
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