Rich Rebuilds has made yet another adjustment to the performance PHEV in an effort to make his BMWi8 as fast as he believes it should be based on how it seems. In his most recent video, he removes an intake flap to allow the engine to breathe more smoothly in addition to installing a louder exhaust.
You might recall that he remapped the 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine of the i8 in his previous video. In order to increase power and ultimately make the car faster, this was done. Has it succeeded?
Rich then takes his i8 to the drag strip and, after installing the aforementioned custom exhaust, records quarter-mile timings of 12.2 to 12.3 seconds with a trap speed of just under 115 mph (185 km/h). An i8 can still run sub-13 seconds when stock, therefore the upgrades have somewhat increased performance.
What will happen to Rich’s modified i8 next? He’ll need to replace the factory turbo and add a custom downpipe to the car in order to make it even faster. Depending on how radical he wants to make the turbo/downpipe combination, that ought to be enough to reduce its quarter-mile time below the 12-second mark.
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BMW i8 gains 409 horsepower and improved fuel efficiency
Although it might seem strange at first, the BMW i8’s fuel economy was one of its design objectives. BMW intended to show that you could have supercar looks and respectable performance without needing to source your own oil field, but that was obviously not the main goal. Because of this, the engine “under the hood” is a three-cylinder, 1.5 liter little engine that has been turbocharged to insanity. And that engine’s power output is still capable of increasing.
The DTE Systems experts claim that by simply tuning the ECU, the automobile is capable of producing even more power. They assert that the i8’s overall power output may be increased up to 409 HP without causing internal harm. They have been tight-lipped about the specifics, but they have stated that this was accomplished using their own PowerControl RX chip tuning module, which manages nine channels in a multimap and interfaces with the i8’s stock ECU.
As a result, they may produce an additional 40 horsepower and 49 pound-feet of torque, bringing the total to 409 horsepower and 469 pound-feet. The i8’s powertrain consists of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, therefore we assume that the ICE generates all of the additional power. While turbocharged engines have a completely different personality than electric motors, the latter cannot actually be tweaked to produce additional power.
Even though the i8 was never thought of as a “thirsty” car in the first place, the DTE Systems experts claim that this increase in power reduced the car’s fuel consumption by 15%. The business claims the performance should be closer to the 4-second threshold because the i8 will accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.4 seconds, but they did not provide a precise estimate.
I8 BMW tuning
We provide a variety of performance options, from stage 1 to a full bespoke stainless steel exhaust system with remote control valve and the world’s first PROVEN recorded pops, bangs, and burbles package map. Performance tweaking your BMW I8 has never been easier.
Remapping is the first option if you’re searching for more power for racing, fast roads, or if, like the majority of owners, you feel the factory-installed car lacked feel or “soul” and feedback.
Our stage 1 remaps, by far our most popular choice for stock-parts-running cars with no modifications, provide the best balance of power, driveability, dependability, and fuel efficiency.
Our stage 1 map settings are shown here, but there is a bonus. This map should be used with our stainless steel custom exhaust system.
This map makes use of weeks of study and restless nights spent improving the I8 engine’s sound.
As of right now, we think our lift of pops and bangs, overrun burbles, and shift dumps are the ideal combo.
When coupled with our custom exhaust, the I8 becomes an addictive, quick, visceral, and responsive machine with increased 0-60 times, faster throttle response, and amazing aural feedback from the exhaust, something most owners always felt was lacking.
Watch Pats Garage’s recent video featuring one of our custom i8 maps, which features a softer version and cuts his 0-60 time by 0.4 seconds right out of the box, here.
Rich’s I8 on “rich rebuilds,” who scored a 3.8 0-60 on his car, was also tuned by us; watch it here!
We provide this service utilizing a small “slave” device; all you have to do is use the tool to “read” the car’s ecu after saving your own file to the unit and scanning it. Then, send us the “read” signal.
Do not forget that our Powergate is open to all vehicles, so you are not limited to tuning the BMW I8. This level of flexibility is unmatched by any other supplier.
Each slave unit has the ability to download your factory tune at any moment and upload it back, allowing you to use any of our maps whenever you like without paying for an expensive outside tuner. This way, you just need to buy the kit once and you’re set for life!
Once the original file is flashed back into the original car, all of our devices will function on the majority of other vehicles as an ADDED BONUS. In other words, you only need to buy this kit once, and it will work on your next car and the one after that!
When you purchase your new vehicle, we will still be around, and so will your tool. Buy once, keep forever. Please be aware that some 2019 and later models may require sending the ECU to us for unlocking.
A BMW i8 can travel how fast?
The i8 has a top speed of 155 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in under 4.4 seconds. As a result, its straight-line performance is comparable to that of a genuine BMW M vehicle.
The i8’s engine, which BMW expertly designed, is responsible for the power. Unbelievably, the 1.5-liter, three-cylinder MINI Cooper served as the engine’s source. However, it has been altered to provide more naughtiness, producing 231 horsepower while receiving an additional 143 horsepower from an electric motor. The i8 is by no means slow thanks to the innovative hybrid configuration.
As a result, the i8 not only has a sharp appearance but also has the ability to move quickly when necessary, and since it is a BMW, the driving experience is also rather good.
How quick is the BMW i8 when the restriction is off?
The M5 is undoubtedly the best, but there are other quick BMW alternatives available. Speed is provided by the 4.4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine used in the X5 M and X6 M. Both vehicles can reach 60 mph in less than 4.0 seconds. Although you wouldn’t anticipate a large SUV to have much power, BMW has succeeded in doing so. These two have a 155 mph limited top speed, but without the limiter, it would probably be much faster.
The i8 offers a somewhat speedier option; with this car, it takes 3.9 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Two electric motors and a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine are available. However, the vehicle’s small weight helps it reach a top restricted speed of 155 mph.
The M6 Gran Coupe must be mentioned when talking about quick BMW vehicles. When the competition package is selected, the horsepower increases from 560 to 600, adding significant power that allows it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 3.8 seconds. However, the electronically restricted speed stays the same at 155 mph.
Another very quick choice is the M4 GTS. This vehicle has a 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 engine that produces 493 horsepower and can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds. But it needs to be coupled with the DCT gearbox in order to reach that speed. It offers speed for an affordable price, starting at $64,200.
But the M3 is no slouch either. While the CRT has a top speed of 180 mph, the M3 GTS has a top speed of 190 mph.
Despite its weight, the M760Li, a Series 7 model, deserves to be on the list. A 6.6 liter twin-turbocharged engine with 600 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque powers the vehicle. In 3.6 seconds, it can accelerate to 60 mph.
This brand is known for being quick, but if you’re seeking for the fastest BMW currently on the market, one of these is probably your best bet.
Is Tesla faster than the BMW i8?
A software cap limits the top speed of the BMW i8 at 155 mph. The BMW i8 can be used on a racetrack or a salt flat in the desert thanks to its software. Additionally, the Tesla S incorporates software that caps the highest speed at only 130 mph. As a result, the maximum speed of the BMW i8 is marginally higher than that of the Tesla S.
Why did BMW discontinue the i8?
On Thursday, the final i8 to be produced rolled out of the Leipzig BMW facility. Actually, the PHEV’s manufacturing was scheduled to stop in the middle of April. However, because of the factory’s closure due to the coronavirus outbreak, manufacturing was delayed until June.
Since manufacturing on the i8 began six years ago, exactly 20,448 vehicles have been sent from the factory. According to a press release from BMW, the final vehicle was an i8 Roadster in “Portimao Blue” and it was sold to a buyer in Germany.
The i8 was the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the whole BMW Group when it made its debut in 2014. The hybrid sports car was never successful outside of its specialized market due to its intricate carbon body and six-figure base price. The i8 “embodies the departure into electric mobility like no other car,” according to Hans-Peter Kemser, head of the BMW plant in Leipzig. The model served as the inspiration for the current variety of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Currently, one shift of production for the Leipzig-based BMW i3 produces 116 units per day. Hans-Peter Kemser, the plant manager, claims that if demand for e-cars in Germany increases, production of the i3 might be expanded to two shifts and thus boosted to 250 units per day.
There won’t be a straight replacement for the i8. In the interim, there have been rumors that the 2019 Vision M Next concept car may be produced in large quantities. The BMW board of directors reportedly decided against the 441 kW sports car, also against the backdrop of the Corona crisis, primarily due to “costs and the volume,” according to media reports. However, the hybrid sports car (this time with a four-cylinder petrol engine instead of the three-cylinder in the i8) did not get beyond the planning stage.