Want to buy a BMW i8, will I need to buy a new battery?

[Mrinsignia]

I have been in love with the BMW i8 ever since BMW started to release them in the UK. Unfortunately until now I have been (and probably am) too much of a poor pauper to be able to buy one. My budget would stretch to a decent early model one. The problem is that I am thinking that the older ones within my price bracket will have batteries that are not as effective as new and will soon need replacing. Does anyone know how much a new battery will be, and will they cost much to replace. Is there going to be an exodus of i8 owners dumping their cars onto the market because they do not want to shell out on a new battery?

[rassi]

If you bought AUC would it really matter?

[RUSSELLM]

rassi said:

If you bought AUC would it really matter?

I presume the AUC warranty covers the HV battery ? Or is it a case that they don’t sell i cars over 7 years old, to avoid running past the 8 year warranty ?

Either way, once that year runs out, the official extended warranty doesn’t cover i batteries.

[VeeTenM]

Batteries cost around £900 each and you need 6 of them

[Hoofy]

Interesting thread as it's a car that I'm considering in a couple of years' time.

VeeTenM said:

Batteries cost around £900 each and you need 6 of them

Do you know when you're likely to need them? Is there a way to test them?

[VeeTenM]

Will have to visit the dealers for them to check the batteries, they do a printout. Maybe a good idea if you thinking of buying.
Apparently if it does more than 16 miles on a full charge then the batteries are fine (with heating, aircon etc off)

Edited by VeeTenM on Monday 13th September 16:34

[Hoofy]

VeeTenM said:

Will have to visit the dealers for them to check the batteries, they do a printout. Maybe a good idea if you thinking of buying.
Apparently if it does more than 16 miles on a full charge then the batteries are fine (with heating, aircon etc off)

Edited by VeeTenM on Monday 13th September 16:34

[Locknut]

Hoofy said:

... if it does more than 16 miles on a full charge then the batteries are fine ...

What? You would go further on a bad pair of roller skates!

(Sorry, I should have attributed that post to VeeTenM)

Edited by Locknut on Monday 13th September 20:30

[MGirl]

VeeTenM said:

Will have to visit the dealers for them to check the batteries, they do a printout. Maybe a good idea if you thinking of buying.
Apparently if it does more than 16 miles on a full charge then the batteries are fine (with heating, aircon etc off)

Edited by VeeTenM on Monday 13th September 16:34

The battery millage is like estimated miles in the tank based on previous driving so if someone has a been giving it some then it might not show 16 miles at a full charge. Best way is to check the battery capacity and KW within the ‘hidden menu’ there is a few how to’s for this on YouTube and the internet.

[Hoofy]

MGirl said:

The battery millage is like estimated miles in the tank based on previous driving so if someone has a been giving it some then it might not show 16 miles at a full charge. Best way is to check the battery capacity and KW within the ‘hidden menu’ there is a few how to’s for this on YouTube and the internet.

I did wonder if that was possible given that you can do it on a Prius.

[darreni]

Last I looked the BMW insured warranty excludes the batteries.

[VeeTenM]

Pat knows his 5hit lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppd2f-W5wQA

Like I said take it to the $tealers to check it properly

There is one on ebay with 120000 miles on the clock, wonder what batteries are like in that one

Edited by VeeTenM on Monday 13th September 22:57