The BMW i8 is a feat of engineering, and it still lacks a true direct competitor. It may become collectible in the future, similar to earlier BMW supercars like the M1 and Z8, and hence could be a wise long-term investment. Although the initial purchase price is still high and maintenance fees are high, you will undoubtedly save money on fuel compared to a petrol-powered sports car, which consumes significantly more fuel.
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A thorough guide for used buyers of the BMW i8 that includes the i8 Mk1 (2014-date)
The BMW i8 has no significant competitors because the company put all of its effort into developing it. The i8 is a highly sought-after vehicle due to the engineering that went into its creation, the way it drives, the available performance, and the low fuel consumption. The i8 is one of the most technologically advanced vehicles to ever on the road, despite the fact that it is rather expensive. Although the i8 is pricey to purchase, operating costs are acceptable given the performance. It is also demonstrating its dependability, with only a small number of serious flaws revealed.
BMW is known for producing no-compromise automobiles, but many questioned if the German company would ever put anything so outrageous into production when it debuted the i8 concept in 2011.
But only three years later did we see the i8 Coupe, which resembled that demonstration car very little. The i8 was quintessentially BMW with its futuristic look, cutting-edge technology, and spectacular handling, yet this was a vehicle with economy at its core.
To do this, a twin-turbo 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine tuned to produce 228 horsepower provided the majority of the power. The front wheels were propelled by a 129 horsepower electric motor, while the rear wheels were propelled by this. The end result was 357bhp with official fuel economy of more than 100mpg and CO2 emissions of just 49g/km. incredibly impressive
CHASSIS
The i8 drive is unique not because of its extremely impressive performance, but rather because of how it conducts itself. The ride is smooth and flat. Because the front tires are thinner than the back ones, there is less tire noise and extremely good steering feel.
Hard drivers often weren’t sure which side of neutrality the i8 would select for itself when power was delivered out of a greasy turn because early cut-in of the traction control systems can significantly reduce ultimate enjoyment at the limit. The integration of the ICE and electric motor was at least partially to blame for this mild schizophrenia. All i8s had a highly pleasant experience, but the refresh cars from 2018 on gained a stronger front anti-roll bar and newly tuned front dampers.
I8s aren’t really designed for hammering along at a breakneck speed, but you’ll be astonished at how quickly you get there without seeming to try very hard. Although the stoppers on the i8 are adequate assuming that you don’t need to use them frequently, Tesla has better braking feel.
Are BMW i8 vehicles dependable?
BMW i8 reliability In the brand rankings for the 2020 edition, BMW came in 27th (down two spots from 25th in 2019), with 20.4% of owners reporting one or more problems in the first year of ownership.
Can you operate a BMW i8 every day?
As a daily driver, the i8 really shines. Comfortable seats, good visibility, and ease of traffic maneuverability are all present. It may throw you around a little on a rough road, but it won’t ruin your trip. The doors are not too bad in terms of quality.
Is the BMW i8 a rare vehicle?
This BMW has the infamous dual kidney grills up front, but from the side it appears futuristic with lots of angles and curves instead of a large, offensive grill. When viewed from the side, body panels seem to have been molded by the wind. especially when there is a path allowing the wind to pass through the body rather than around, over the rear wheels. Since this is a rare plug-in hybrid, there are no doors that open normally; instead, the doors flip up.
Additionally, the cost of almost $166,000 is a little foreign. The optional Tera World Cooper paint treatment perfectly complements the fall season, and the power roof looks good when it is closed. When driving the i8, allow more time because many people stop to comment and have a look.
The i8 Roadster’s interior is more formal and resembles other BMW vehicles, which is a plus. It is completely covered in leather, but the seats have a pop of color. The seats support you well and keep you in place. When open, those amazing scissor doors can be challenging for little riders to access. Additionally, it displays a carbon fiber tub, which improves safety but makes access and escape more difficult. There is enough room for a wide range of persons. 6’5″ seemed to be the maximum height for a fit with the top up, based on the persons I had sit in the car with.
The futuristic ride might be lacking in the newest drivers’ aids since the i8 Roadster is brand-new while the i8 coupe has been around for a few years, so don’t expect the latest tech and safety features like blind-spot monitoring or automatic emergency braking. NAV is standard and works well, revealing some cool routes I didn’t know about in my commute.
The i8 offers those exotic good looks plus the performance of a sports car with the efficiency of a plug-in hybrid, making enjoying this futuristic ride even more enjoyable. If you can afford it, choosing to drive green doesn’t have to be boring. With the BMW Ultimate Care, your maintenance cost for the first three years will cost $0 as well.
Will the BMW i8 be phased out?
In June 2020, the BMW i8’s manufacture came to an end after a little over six years. Alpina lost the opportunity to produce its first hybrid or electric vehicle by abandoning the i8 project. BMW doesn’t intend to create a precursor, but it will soon broaden its selection of hybrid vehicles, opening the door for Alpina to someday enter this market.
Since 1965, Alpina has been in business. In the beginning, the company focused on tuning BMW engines for racing, but in the 1980s it changed into an automaker. Alpina has altered several models of the BMW 3 Series, 5 Series, 7 Series, and 8 Series over the years, but it also created a limited-edition Z8 roadster variant.
Now available at BMW dealerships, Alpina models include the B7 and XB7, based on the 7 Series and X7, respectively, in the U.S. lineup.
What does the I in the BMW i8 stand for?
Born Electric served as the tagline for the 2011 launch of the BMW I brand. The letter I which once stood for injection in BMW’s gasoline and diesel engines, is now used to represent the future of mobility. A comprehensive approach to sustainable mobility is embodied by the BMW i. BMW considers not only the final product but also the manufacturing process, which now makes use of 100% green energy, renewable and recycled materials, and digital services while using 70% less water.
The first vehicle in the I Series was the BMW i3, which was introduced in 2014. Due to the combination of aluminum and carbon fiber, the i3 is an eco-friendly electric vehicle for city driving that isn’t any heavier than a regular vehicle. comprising a synchronous electric motor with a single gear and utilizing a 94Ah lithium-ion high-voltage battery (33kWh). It has 170 horsepower, enabling a 0-62 mph time of 7.3 seconds, but it also has a 186-mile range.
Eighty percent of all surfaces visible to front passengers on the i3 are constructed of recyclable or renewable materials, making it a showcase for environmentally friendly products. When it comes to resources, BMW I is also thinking along those lines; starting in 2021, its electric motors will utilize two-thirds less cobalt and no rare earths. One of the most popular high-end electric vehicles in Europe is the BMW i3.
Can the BMW i8 just operate on gas?
As a result, the BMW i8 can be operated normally, economically, with gasoline, with batteries, or with both. The i8 is near-silent and incredibly smooth when running on electricity, and it has front-wheel drive.
How much does a BMW i8 cost to insure?
Make sure your auto insurance is priced as affordably as possible. Compare the best quotations
You should browse around and compare costs to get the greatest deals on BMW i8 insurance. For the same car, different companies offer varying rates. Depending on the model year or your driving history, a different carrier might offer better service.
A typical BMW i8 insurance quote is $2,810 annually, vs $1,428 for the typical automobile type.
Depending on the provider, the cost of BMW i8 insurance might vary by as much as $2,192 annually.
Depending on the model year, BMW i8 insurance costs can vary by up to $562. Older vehicles typically cost less to insure.
How many BMW i8s exist worldwide?
BMW i8 production is over, but the Germans made sure the hybrid sports vehicle made a statement by painting each of the remaining 18 units in a distinctive shade. These were colors that had never been used on the car during its entire manufacture run.
BMW claimed that producing 18 vehicles in a row in a unique color presented a hurdle. It required technicians to manually paint them. To obtain some components in the specific shade, the organization had to liaise with vendors.
Does the BMW i8 allow for in-car charging?
Although you can plug in the i8 to fully charge the battery, if you drive in EV mode and completely drain the battery, you can recharge it while you’re on the road. This is especially noticeable in Sport mode.
Are repairs on BMWs expensive?
BMWs are by far the most expensive car manufacturer to repair, claims Your Mechanic. The competition is not even close. With an average maintenance cost of $17,800 over ten years, BMW comes in #1. Mercedes-Benz came in second with an average maintenance cost of $12,900 during a 10-year period. In contrast, the typical Toyota only cost $5,500 to maintain during a 10-year period because they are recognized for requiring less maintenance.
According to Your Mechanic, such high maintenance costs are usual in German premium vehicles. Audi comes in sixth with an average $12,400 maintenance expense over a 10-year period. This is primarily a result of the pricey, high-end parts that these luxury vehicles require. Naturally, it will cost a lot of money to fix those pieces when they break or need maintenance.
However, while being premium vehicles, they also have ongoing problems. For instance, according to Your Mechanic, a BMW is four times more likely to not start than a typical automobile. It was ranked seventh overall as a result. Additionally, the window regulator on the BMW required replacement 18 times more frequently than the window regulator on the ordinary car.
How long does the BMW i8’s battery last?
Under the NEDC cycle, the production i8’s 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which had an useable capacity of 5.2 kWh, provided an all-electric range of 37 km (23 mi). The range in EV mode was 15 miles (24 kilometers) under the EPA cycle, and the overall range was 330 miles (530 km).
According to the NEDC test, the production model’s fuel efficiency was 2.1 L/100 km (134.5 mpg-imp; 112.0 mpg-US), with carbon emissions of 49 g/km. With an energy consumption of 43 kW-hrs/100 mi and a gasoline consumption of 0.1 gal-US/100 mi, the i8 combined fuel economy in EV mode was rated at 76 equivalent (MPG-equivalent) (3.1 L gasoline equivalent/100 km; 91 mpg-imp gasoline equivalent). In the city, the combined fuel efficiency when using only gasoline (after the battery had been completely discharged) was 28 mpg-US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg-imp), and on the highway, it was 29 mpg-US (8.1 L/100 km; 35 mpg-imp).
Utility factors for plug-in hybrids were added to the 2014 edition of the Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to indicate the proportion of miles that an average driver would cover in electric only or blended modes. The BMW i8 Coupe’s utility factor in EV mode was 37%, while that of the BMW i3 REx was 83%, the Chevrolet Volt was 66%, the Cadillac ELR was 65%, the Ford Energi models were 45%, the McLaren P1 was 43%, the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid was 39%, and the Toyota Prius PHV was 29%.
The 2018 BMW i8 Roadster and i8 Coupe’s battery capacity was increased, reaching a gross energy content of 11.6 kWh. Both the BMW i8 Coupe and BMW i8 Roadster now have an all-electric range of 55 km (34 mi) and 53 km (33 mi), respectively, in the NEDC test. According to U.S. The range only rose from 15 miles (24 km) to 18 miles under the EPA driving cycle (29 km).
The BMW i8 U.S. is as follows. Ratings from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the i8’s fuel economy and all-electric range for the model years 2014 to 2020.
- In EPA tests, the i8 went the first 18 kilometers without using any gasoline. Depending on how it is driven, it may need gas.
- In EPA tests, the i8 went the first 15 kilometers without using any gasoline. Depending on how it is driven, it may need gas. There was no MY rating for 2018.