BMW i8
Author
Discussion

CaymANTH

Original Poster:

198 posts

138 months

Tuesday 1st May 2018
quotequote all
So I bought myself one of those new fangled i8 thingymybobs today. Love the looks and the scissor doors and with the car having shed 45% of its value and having only 5k on the clock, surely this can't be a bad buy?

Question - the car wasn't charged up when I drove it so as I understand it, the electric motor wasn't working and I was driving just on the 1.5 litre engine. Does this mean I only getting 225 of the 360 odd horsepower ? Certainly didn't feel sluggish.

Appreciate your confirmation / comments.

MitchT

17,158 posts

240 months

Tuesday 1st May 2018
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Another i8 question for anyone who knows ...

If I set off to drive 400 miles and use up the battery on the slow bits getting to the motorway, will energy recovery alone be enough to recharge the battery before I get to the slow bits at the far end of the journey, or does it need to be plugged in to get a full charge from flat?

Vroomer

1,889 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
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You can now get an 'Approved Used' i8 for £50k. Seems like an attractive buy.

PrancingHorses

2,726 posts

238 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
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You guys would get a better response in this thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

PrancingHorses

2,726 posts

238 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
quotequote all
Vroomer said:
You can now get an 'Approved Used' i8 for £50k. Seems like an attractive buy.
Can you? I can't see any on the AUC network for £50k? Link please...

Vroomer

1,889 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
quotequote all
No problem.

Here's a nice one at Sytner Sheffield up at £52k. Gentle negotiation should get this down to £50k!

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201802223956122...

PrancingHorses

2,726 posts

238 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
quotequote all
Vroomer said:
No problem.

Here's a nice one at Sytner Sheffield up at £52k. Gentle negotiation should get this down to £50k!

https://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/vehicle/201802223956122...
Wow - thanks

Ninja59

3,691 posts

143 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
quotequote all
Ahem local to me this one...a few less miles as well.

http://www.broadoakashfordbmw.co.uk/used-cars/?pag...

Vroomer

1,889 posts

211 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
quotequote all
Ninja59 said:
Ahem local to me this one...a few less miles as well.

http://www.broadoakashfordbmw.co.uk/used-cars/?pag...
...and a few more ££s wink

MKA29

400 posts

166 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
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Ninja59 said:
Ahem local to me this one...a few less miles as well.

http://www.broadoakashfordbmw.co.uk/used-cars/?pag...
Are these cars sensitive to high mileage?

8Tech

2,212 posts

229 months

Thursday 3rd May 2018
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MKA29 said:
Are these cars sensitive to high mileage?
With a 1.5l engine boosted to hell to get any power then yes, I suspect the engines will be very sensitive to high mileage.

iain123

64 posts

135 months

Tuesday 8th May 2018
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You could argue that being a hybrid the highly stressed IC engine may only be on half the time or depending on the cars use, never…but that’s maybe just wishful thinking. I suspect the continual restarting of the motor also won’t do it any longevity favours.

anonymous-user

85 months

Tuesday 8th May 2018
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iain123 said:
You could argue that being a hybrid the highly stressed IC engine may only be on half the time or depending on the cars use, never…but that’s maybe just wishful thinking. I suspect the continual restarting of the motor also won’t do it any longevity favours.
Isn’t the electric range very low? I would have thought the engine would be on quite a lot unless the car’s used on a short commute all the time and then why have a car like this for that sort of use?

culminator

618 posts

240 months

Friday 11th May 2018
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Putting the car in Sport mode will gradually charge the battery. Useful Energy recovery can be had after a relatively short time.

To me, the i8 is one of the biggest automotive revelations for years. It's quite simply the most rewarding "toy" car I've had and that includes several high spec Caterhams, a genuine Ac Cobra, Eagle E Type etc. It does everything, feels genuinely quick, does 50 mpg, handles and is very comfortable over a long distance.

Right now, they are a used car bargain, go for it!

GEETEETHREERS

121 posts

246 months

Monday 14th May 2018
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CaymANTH said:
So I bought myself one of those new fangled i8 thingymybobs today. Love the looks and the scissor doors and with the car having shed 45% of its value and having only 5k on the clock, surely this can't be a bad buy?

Question - the car wasn't charged up when I drove it so as I understand it, the electric motor wasn't working and I was driving just on the 1.5 litre engine. Does this mean I only getting 225 of the 360 odd horsepower ? Certainly didn't feel sluggish.

Appreciate your confirmation / comments.
Even if the car was fully discharged it will quite quickly have regenerated enough energy to fill the "Boost" dial on the dash. So after a few miles you probably had full power when you put your foot down.

GEETEETHREERS

121 posts

246 months

Monday 14th May 2018
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MitchT said:
Another i8 question for anyone who knows ...

If I set off to drive 400 miles and use up the battery on the slow bits getting to the motorway, will energy recovery alone be enough to recharge the battery before I get to the slow bits at the far end of the journey, or does it need to be plugged in to get a full charge from flat?
In this instance you should use the sat nav, even if you know where you're going. Using the nav will allow the car to work out your route and when best to use electric or petrol, it takes into account gradients etc and when it will be able to recoup most energy. Doing this when my destination is a city generally sees me with enough electric stored up to sail around town to where I'm parking.