RE: BMW i8 | PH Used Buying Guide
Discussion
You just have to park with the door opening scenario in mind. Had mine as a daily driver for 2 1/2 years and never had an issue but most of the time I park end of bay or where no one can park next to you. You can take a risk in a normal parking spot where others can park a little to close but not worth the hassle. Many car parks these days are having the dedicated ev spaces which are wider. Whilst you don't get a great charge over a short time they are always a handy option.
The car charges the same way as the F1 Kers system as well as when you put it in sport mode. Any time you brake or even ease of the accelerator you will see the dash shows the electric motor charging. Cruising on the motorway at around 70 will often see the electric miles available start to creep up or at least sustain. No sport mode needed as the kers system is always looking to replenish. When you hit some of the 30 roads it is easy to make sure you have electric option ready if that is your thing.
Read many posts (not just on here) where people believe the sound is fake. Not quite true in the way many think. The car is primarily a GT so you get the comfort up quite high on the list and with it being a hybrid they make the most of that with good soundproofing in the cabin. The "fake" sound element is just allowing more noise to enter the cabin through the speakers when you are in sport mode. It is still the sound of the actual car. In sport mode, just open the windows and the external noise of the actual car drowns out the internal noise.
Overall, easy car to live with around town and plenty of speed and fun when you want it. If you floor it in sport mode when cruising at 50/60 the pick up on acceleration is great. Not to everyone's taste but never heard a bad word from anyone who as actually owned them...... other than perhaps initial depreciation
The car charges the same way as the F1 Kers system as well as when you put it in sport mode. Any time you brake or even ease of the accelerator you will see the dash shows the electric motor charging. Cruising on the motorway at around 70 will often see the electric miles available start to creep up or at least sustain. No sport mode needed as the kers system is always looking to replenish. When you hit some of the 30 roads it is easy to make sure you have electric option ready if that is your thing.
Read many posts (not just on here) where people believe the sound is fake. Not quite true in the way many think. The car is primarily a GT so you get the comfort up quite high on the list and with it being a hybrid they make the most of that with good soundproofing in the cabin. The "fake" sound element is just allowing more noise to enter the cabin through the speakers when you are in sport mode. It is still the sound of the actual car. In sport mode, just open the windows and the external noise of the actual car drowns out the internal noise.
Overall, easy car to live with around town and plenty of speed and fun when you want it. If you floor it in sport mode when cruising at 50/60 the pick up on acceleration is great. Not to everyone's taste but never heard a bad word from anyone who as actually owned them...... other than perhaps initial depreciation
AlexNJ89 said:
How do i8 owners find the doors to be on a day to day basis?
I'm worried I'll park in Sainbury's car park and come back to find someone parked too close too me, have to linger by my car until the owner returns.
After I get close to pulling the trigger on a new car, I decided the i8 was the car for me so long as the doors were manageable.I'm worried I'll park in Sainbury's car park and come back to find someone parked too close too me, have to linger by my car until the owner returns.
I was so disappointed when I saw the car at the BMW dealer and there was plenty room in between the i8 and the next car, yet I couldn't get the door open due to the other car's wing mirror.
The salesman said it's usually no problem and should still be able to get no problem, I asked him to get in and pull the car out for me, it was such a ridiculous sight that I just had to take a snap.
Have to rule this one out unfortunately
AlexNJ89 said:
Have to rule this one out unfortunately
I suspect you don’t “get” the i8 really - it is not a “first” or “only” car nor a practical choice as a dull-daily-drive. I have had mine for almost five years and I have had that door issue just once.But, I don’t park up at busy dealers, they collect the car. I don’t park up at Asda or Sainsbury, they deliver to my house. In fact I rarely park in high-density car parks full stop so I guess thats why it’s not an issue.
There really is nothing like it in the marketplace, but its not a practical alternative to a regular 2/4 door 5 seat, with hatch, mass-produced eurobox. It has poor stowage space for those trips to B&Q, nor is practical really to take the family of 4 out to Thorpe Park. Its low, wide and pretty much follows the supercar build ethos - but in a more affordable and 2+2 guise..
What it does offer is on-par road performance with anything from the world of GT cars, supercar build materials, billionaire doors, and rarity all for less than the running cost of a posh but dull Golf. (50mpg, zero RFL, cheap servicing).
Buy a nice one for £50k and you’ll be looking at low depreciation and sub £250 a month TCO, assuming you’re not piling on the miles. It is really a second, or third car for most owner households.
MrOrange said:
I suspect you don’t “get” the i8 really - it is not a “first” or “only” car nor a practical choice as a dull-daily-drive. I have had mine for almost five years and I have had that door issue just once.
I think you're right.I think BMW made some marketing mistakes with the car, pushing the official MPG figures to 130mpg+.
Had they said it gets 35mpg, has amazing performance with instant torque and removed the ability to run on pure electric people would've understood it and perhaps even have held their value better.
Instead of having people like me going to drive/buy one expecting it too be a sportier option of a 330e
AlexNJ89 said:
I think you're right.
I think BMW made some marketing mistakes with the car, pushing the official MPG figures to 130mpg+.
Had they said it gets 35mpg, has amazing performance with instant torque and removed the ability to run on pure electric people would've understood it and perhaps even have held their value better.
Instead of having people like me going to drive/buy one expecting it too be a sportier option of a 330e
Yes and no. I’ve averaged 51mpg and regularly run in “pure electric” mode getting “infinite” mpg. I think “expecting a sportier 330e” was wildly out, but hey ho.I think BMW made some marketing mistakes with the car, pushing the official MPG figures to 130mpg+.
Had they said it gets 35mpg, has amazing performance with instant torque and removed the ability to run on pure electric people would've understood it and perhaps even have held their value better.
Instead of having people like me going to drive/buy one expecting it too be a sportier option of a 330e
Biggriff said:
My best advice to anyone looking at an i8 is don't.
The Trade hates them.
Car insurers hate them.
Depreciation is savage (good thing if you want one, but remember that aint stopping when you own it)
The seating was designed by Colonel Gadaffi's chief torturer
The ride is like a steam roller and makes the car squeak and rattle
The 'carbon' bits look like tupperware
I think you can say I didn't enjoy mine!
I love mine. I disagree with most of what you say. The ride is smooth (like a magic carpet compared to my old 911) and the driving position/ comfort is way better than anything I've driven. The carbon fibre looks very cool too. Athough depreciation was savage from new, buy one now and it will probably hold its value very well, especially as production has ceased. Also my car insurance was pleasantly inexpensive. 👍🙂The Trade hates them.
Car insurers hate them.
Depreciation is savage (good thing if you want one, but remember that aint stopping when you own it)
The seating was designed by Colonel Gadaffi's chief torturer
The ride is like a steam roller and makes the car squeak and rattle
The 'carbon' bits look like tupperware
I think you can say I didn't enjoy mine!
keo said:
I would love one of these as an economical daily. Most of the time I am on my own so I don’t really need practical. I do about 20k a year in my diesel so guessing one of these would be a suitable replacement
I had the same plan until I tried the doors. You can't just nip to Tesco without needing to find an end space, or one day you'll need to park in a multi-storey which is impossible.I a hda 2 of them now, and recently sold mine. ( missed it as soon as I left the dealership) One of the best cars I've ever owned, and wouid happily have another! A later one with the extended electric range wouid be good. such a good mix of cheap running costs, and performance. I only sold it, as we needed more practicality. I don't think I've owned a car that turned as many heads, all good reactions as well.
it's quite a wide car. It was great if you knew where you could park it, but I did have one occasion where I couldnt open the door when I got back from shopping, because of another cars wing mirror.. They weren't even that close to me. I always got nervous if I had to park somewhere unknown..
it's quite a wide car. It was great if you knew where you could park it, but I did have one occasion where I couldnt open the door when I got back from shopping, because of another cars wing mirror.. They weren't even that close to me. I always got nervous if I had to park somewhere unknown..
Had one briefly last year.
Had an engine issue that after 3 attempts, where they confirmed it had been fixed, it remained broken. I eventually returned it and got my money back.
In truth, the moment I drove it away from the dealership I knew I had made a mistake (God bless the subsequent engine issues!)
From a driving perspective it was a bit dull, synthetic, felt slow and sounds meh.
Love the looks still and weirdly would still have another one...in white...on turbines.
Had an engine issue that after 3 attempts, where they confirmed it had been fixed, it remained broken. I eventually returned it and got my money back.
In truth, the moment I drove it away from the dealership I knew I had made a mistake (God bless the subsequent engine issues!)
From a driving perspective it was a bit dull, synthetic, felt slow and sounds meh.
Love the looks still and weirdly would still have another one...in white...on turbines.
The biggest issue i have with the i8 is that i can't help thinking how good it would be just as a sports EV, ditch the stupid ICE and just fit more motors and batteries.
With an i3s motor in each end for 400ish ponies, and say 50 kWh of battery,it would be a proper sports EV, not something that currently exists outside of the flawed and rather impractical original Tesla Roadster......
With an i3s motor in each end for 400ish ponies, and say 50 kWh of battery,it would be a proper sports EV, not something that currently exists outside of the flawed and rather impractical original Tesla Roadster......
Picked a coupe up in December 2020 with 5k miles on the clock on an 18 plate for just over £50k.
BMW approved dealer that sold it was awful, but took it to my local BMW place and they diagnosed a software issue, fixed it and am getting 22 miles fully charged on a non LCI model which is not bad.
It's no supercar, but you can certainly hustle it along when you want to. 4wd so grips OK but skinny tyres.
No issues with comfort - can also (just) fit two teenagers in the back for short journeys if necessary. Doors need about 35cm space to open safely so best to park away from others if you can (but charging spaces are often wider than normal ones for some reason).
If you are looking for one the LCI model (late 2018 iirc) has a "coupe" badge on the pillar and these are the ones with higher capacity battery and larger fuel tank.
BMW approved dealer that sold it was awful, but took it to my local BMW place and they diagnosed a software issue, fixed it and am getting 22 miles fully charged on a non LCI model which is not bad.
It's no supercar, but you can certainly hustle it along when you want to. 4wd so grips OK but skinny tyres.
No issues with comfort - can also (just) fit two teenagers in the back for short journeys if necessary. Doors need about 35cm space to open safely so best to park away from others if you can (but charging spaces are often wider than normal ones for some reason).
If you are looking for one the LCI model (late 2018 iirc) has a "coupe" badge on the pillar and these are the ones with higher capacity battery and larger fuel tank.
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