Pretty impressive for a vehicle this complicated and out of the ordinary for BMW. One man, however, continues to experience significant drive train and overheating issues. Might …
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Although new technology hasn’t been thoroughly tested, the BMW i8 seems well-made.
The BMW i8 was released with a ton of new technology, which made projecting long-term reliability a little difficult than usual. However, no significant issues have been reported in the years since then. The car’s battery has a lengthy guarantee and a BMW TeleServices system that notifies you when the car requires maintenance but also when your nearby dealer has a spot open.
The BMW i8’s Resale Value
The BMW i8 was last manufactured in 2020, hence the model year 2020 would be the most recent. You’ll weigh your alternatives and select the one that best suits you.
But occasionally, you may count on a few difficulties. Most of its problems, including those listed above, can be avoided with routine servicing and maintenance.
Although not Euro NCAP-tested, the technology and architecture of this automobile make it exceptionally safe, and BMW parts provide dependability.
An illustration of a Personal Contract Purchase: Cash price PS10,000, deposit PS150, and borrowing PS8,500 for 4 years at a representative 7.4% APR (fixed). A total of PS4127.50 will be paid after 47 instalments of PS132.04. PS1833.38 is the total cost of credit. Payable in total is PS11,833.38. 8,000 miles per year as a base. If excess miles is used, there are fees. Finance subject to status; only those 18+.
With so much cutting-edge hardware inside, it can be easy to worry about the i8’s dependability. Although much of the switchgear will be familiar to BMW customers, the basic structure of this three-cylinder engine has previously been seen in the most recent MINI lineup as well as BMW’s 2 Series Active Tourer MPV.
Although the i8 itself wasn’t included in the poll, BMW came in 25th place out of 30 automakers in our 2019 Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, indicating there is space for growth. BMW owners were pleased with the interior design and drivetrains of their vehicles, although 22.3% of those polled said their vehicles had problems.
Due to the relative lack of moving components in electric motors, they are generally quite dependable, and the motor’s regeneration over time causes less stress on the brake pads.
Due to its high price and relative scarcity, the i8 hasn’t been tested by Euro NCAP and never will, but you can still anticipate it to provide exceptional safety. Front, side, and curtain airbags are standard, and its carbon fiber body and CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) body shell are extremely sturdy. A crash structure provides additional protection for the battery.
It includes ESP and traction control, and a standard head-up display aids in maintaining the driver’s constant attention on the road. The closest headlights can go to genuine daylight are LED headlights, which are also standard equipment and lessen eye fatigue when driving at night.
Blind spot detection and low speed automatic braking are available as part of a paid option for the i8.
Here are some potential issues with a secondhand i8.
The video’s opening advice from the owner of the involved BMW i8 is to pay strict attention to the battery’s condition. This is due to the possibility of premature wear with these first-generation battery packs. Therefore, a new owner of an i8 could run into serious problems if the battery is not covered by warranty. In fact, the battery on Heidi and Franny’s Garage on YouTube’s i8 completely died. Thankfully, some of the original warranty on their car was still in effect.
It won’t come as a surprise to you to learn that the BMW i8’s windshield is prone to cracking given its status as a sports car. Additionally, a shattered windshield isn’t exactly inexpensive because the i8 doesn’t share any body parts with other BMW cars.
One user on the Bimmerpost site claimed to have experienced serious electrical problems after driving their BMW i8 for 5,000 miles. Later on, a different user replied to the thread and said they had a similar issue as well. The owner ultimately needed a new wire harness to resolve the problem.
As a result, before making a purchase, you should carefully inspect the quality of these affordable specimens. The failure of any of the intricate and important parts could lead to high repair costs.
BMW i8
The i8 is a low-slung, all-wheel drive plug-in hybrid sports car that comes in roadster and coupe forms. It has been updated for 2019.
A 1.5-liter three-cylinder gasoline engine with 228 horsepower drives the back wheels, giving the vehicle a total of 369 horsepower, 12 more than before. The front wheels are propelled by an electric motor with 129 horsepower.
According to BMW, the coupe version can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds.
Are BMW i8 vehicles dependable?
i8 BMW’s dependability BMW placed 27th overall in the 2020 edition (down two spots from 25th in 2019), with 20.4% of owners reporting one or more problems within the first year of ownership.
The BMW: a dependable vehicle?
Fortunately, ratings of BMW dependability from several organizations support that excellent reputation: Customer Reports Every BMW in the lineup received a score above average in the 2020 rankings. The i3 electric car and the X6 midsize SUV are BMW’s most reliable models, and the brand as a whole is ranked seventh.
The BMW i8 is useful, right?
For the majority of people, the car’s practicality is one of the most crucial factors to take into account when choosing a daily driver. Unbelievably, the BMW I8 is an extremely useful car.
Even though it doesn’t look like it, the BMW I8 has two back seats. Even though they might not be large enough for an adult or even a teenager, a small child could ride in the back seat in comfort and safety. Although getting out of the car to let the rear passengers out may not be convenient for the driver or another passenger, this is a feature of every coupe with a back seat and isn’t a significant concern. What’s significant is that, if dropping the kids off at school is part of your daily routine, the compact back seats make this a practical daily driver.
A surprising amount of cargo capacity is available in the I8. Opening the trunk hatch reveals a lot more space than you’d anticipate, and perhaps more than you’d find in many other exotic sports vehicles. For briefcases or a monthly grocery run, there is adequate room. The back seats are leather-wrapped pads woven into the carpet that runs around the back of the cabin, so if you need more room, you can use them as extra storage without having to worry about damaging the leather.
BMW i8: Was it a failure?
According to Andrew Frankel, the BMW i8 was an innovative vehicle that was ahead of its time, but it will be viewed as a failure when it expires without being replaced.
Is the BMW i8 cozy?
The BMW i8 features a dashboard with significantly more personality than the conventionally styled Audi R8, Porsche 911, and Porsche Panamera, despite the extreme futuristic design that may not be to everyone’s taste.
With an extremely low set seating position for the driver and passenger, the dashboard almost completely encircles the driver like the cockpit of a fighter jet. The dashboard is covered in numerous blue highlights, which is the color of the BMW I electric car brand. You also get the brand’s iDrive system, which uses a rotary dial to handle things like the stereo and navigation system. The climate control and primary stereo panel are identical to those in other BMWs.
There are three driving modes available for the BMW i8: Eco Pro, Comfort, and Sport. The i8’s suspension is softened by Eco Pro and Comfort to create an incredibly comfortable ride. Sport tightens up the suspension to reduce body lean and increase cornering enjoyment in the vehicle.
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.
How far can a BMW i8 travel?
Experience Driving a BMW i8. With no tailpipe emissions, the BMW i8 can go up to 34 miles around town in pure electric mode.
BMW i8: Supercar or not?
The BMW i8 is a cutting-edge supercar that shows hybrid vehicles don’t have to be dull. In order to give serious performance, a potent turbocharged petrol engine and a cutting-edge electric motor team up, plus some look-at-me style ensures that you’ll stand out wherever from Kensington High Street to a Green Party convention.
The i8 initially went on sale in 2014, but in 2018 it gained an upgraded electric powertrain and increased electric range. Even with the upward-hinging doors splayed wide open, the BMW’s outrageous appearance still looks more dramatic than cars like the Honda NSX and Audi R8.
Although the cabin is less theatrical, it nevertheless features a sophisticated minimalist design with plenty of soft materials and a digital driver’s display as standard instead of traditional dials.
The BMW i8 has four seats, which is unusual for supercars and helps to make it surprisingly simple to live with. The 154-liter boot may not have enough room for a set of golf clubs, but it is larger than the Audi’s load bay, and the front seats in the BMW provide plenty of room for taller passengers to sit comfortably.
The i8 is one of the quietest and greenest supercars available, but it’s definitely not a car for wimps – just look at those ridiculous doors!
The i8 is also more enjoyable to drive than the majority of conventional supercars, in part due to its unnervingly silent electric motor and reassuringly plush suspension. Driving in the city isn’t particularly challenging because of the reasonable visibility and the lack of bothersome wind or tyre noise at freeway speeds.
But when you switch to sport mode, things get a little rowdier. The i8’s speakers broadcast synthetic engine noises into the cabin as the three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine whirrs to life. The BMW i8 will sprint from 0-62mph in a still-pretty-blooming-exciting 4.4 seconds thanks to the quick shove from its electric powertrain, albeit it’s not quite as thrilling as hearing a 5.2-liter V10 screaming away behind you as in a R8. That outruns a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 in speed.
The i8’s extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber maximizes its electric-only range while also making it as maneuverable as feasible on a winding country road. You can travel up to 75 mph for about 30 miles and practically silently on a three-hour charge from a dedicated wall charger. When you run out of electrical power, the gasoline engine automatically kicks in to propel you forward while also recharging the batteries.
This means that, unlike many other electric vehicles, the BMW i8 will never cause you to experience range anxiety. The many safety features you receive as standard, such as automatic emergency braking, which applies the brakes if the vehicle detects an obstruction on the road ahead, also aid in relieving your concerns.
The i8 is a very accomplished sports hybrid and a worthy alternative to models like the more traditional Porsche 911 and the more expensive Honda NSX, even though it isn’t the most thrilling supercar to drive.