I own an i8 since 1,5 years now. The maintenance costs are about 600 USD a year. The services that are being made are changing the fluids, replace filter,s etc. Repair costs since now: 0 USD. The fully charged battery is good for 53km of range. Parts are no issue since now, but that might change in the future - but that is not a specific problem with the i8. My 2004 Z4 is sitting at the BMW dealership for about 3 weeks now, waiting for parts...
An i8 is the biggest waste of money. A g80 is far superior in every way. It’s more reliable and can make much more power. The bmw i8 was a disappointment as it looks cool but has a 3 cylinder engine
@@2seep I have a different perspective. I wanted an electric convertible. There aren't many on the market. The i8 Roadster is one of them. And I wanted a car that holds its value on the long term. Compare it with the Z8. Limited production model, cool looks, but the Z8 is not the fastest car either. The Z8 was not a sales success, but now the values are 1-4x of the original new car price tag. The BMW M3 of its day is worth less (0,5-1x of the original new car price).
Had an i8 since 1.5 years ago. Love it!! No issues whatsoever. Just done the annual oil change for 400 Canadian dollars and that's all. I did wrap the car for 3000 bucks and got spacers to push out the rims for a better ride and looks good too.
I’d have to agree when I saw this the first time 9 years ago, I thought it was a technological well situated hyper car. Despite what people say, BMW had some great innovation with this vehicle and it’s still one of those vehicles that I see drive by that I would love to have a drive through some scenic roads.
I think that in order to understand the philosophy of i8, one has to own one. Preferably here at the “old continent”. As I think that i8 was mainly designed for “EU kind of use”, meaning 6x higher gas prices & emission taxes, shorter commuting & shorter distances, 10x better public charging network (compared to US), 2x better home charging speeds (220V house hold network) etc. The problem that i8 faces is that used car buyers (especially at the US) compares it only to Corvettes, newer Mustangs and Camaros, older 911’s etc. When it was targeted to whole different type of audience. It was never meant to be a 500bhp track day sports car, 0-60 under 3 sec type of super car, despite the “supercar” design. The design was meant to relay futuristic, efficient dynamics, similar to the i3 (which no doubt is kind of anomaly in the USA). There’s plenty of books out there regarding the whole philosophy of designing a i8, shame that almost no-one will ever understand as they won’t read anything. They just judge anything, cars and other crap simply by looks, by numbers. Without ever understanding anything more in depth. But in order to fully enjoy the i8, one has to understand its philosophy rather than complain about 3 cyl engine or “slower than Corvette” ¼ mile numbers. I’ve owned my fair share of sports cars and the i8 has really grown into me. Here in EU one really can take full advantage of the “plugin hybrid” system, one can charge the car every night at home and every day at work or during grocery run, one gets huge tax benefits, insurance benefits and when gas cost 4-5-6 times more than in US - one saves $300-400-500 per month on gas alone. Last smiles per miles and miles per miles; I put 39 liters (10,3 US gal) of fuel into the car and got 1409km (875,5 miles) out of one tank of fuel. Simply by charging the car when ever I could, and here in EU one really has plenty of places to charge EV vehicles. I wonder what type of transportation would your average US citizen use, if the gas would cost as much as here in Europe; around $7-8 ... even 9 dollars per US gallon. I assume that i8 kind of cars would actually make some sense then...
Agreed. It would be a no-brainer. My workplace garage has 3 level 2 chargers for about 500 parking spaces but I have a variable rate electric plan offered by my local utility where I only pay $0.07 per kWh at night, charge my Volvo T8 overnight, and use one tank of gas for about every 1500 miles of use since it covers my commute and errands almost completely.
I picked one up a few months back and am delighted with it. It has more than adequate power and works without fault whatsoever. I find that the looks are captivating, easily the most visually appealing BMW in years (apart from the Z8, 1M and M2). I have managed to crack the ingress part, but have yet to adequately find a consistently dignified method of egress. This is the ONLY downside. By the way, I greatly enjoyed your Alaska to USA adventure and hope you compile more i8 adventures.
Both this and the i3 may have been flawed vehicles when they came out but as the vehicle landscape has changed they are some of the few cars that became more stylish with age with many features and ideas people are begging modern cars to have
I had the i8 roadster as a Company Car in the UK for 3 years. I bought it from the local BMW dealer second hand, a year Old. One owner, just a few K miles. Big discount on new. Problem was I put too many miles on it. No faults or unscheduled days off road. Only expenses were tyres all round, front brake pads & discs. Looked great especially with the roof down. It was great learning curve from ICE to Hybrid. I got the Home Charger with Government Grant. Train myself to to plug it in every night. Left home in an ambient car with a full battery every morning. Gave me the confidence to go Full EV. So, I bought a second hand Porsche Taycan. Had it 16 months now. Big learning curve with charging regimes! The car itself is great will serve its purpose for the next few years! Would go back to ICE? Well, I've had 3phase 100Amps/phase fitted at home! What do you think?
Agree on the BMW interiors from the late 2010s - especially the preset buttons, which you can actually set to almost any function in IDrive, one of the best features I’ve seen in an infotainment system.
I own several cars (488 Pista, 992, Portofino) and two i8 roadster. The i8 is not the best handling and by far not the fastest, but none of the other cars give me the feeling of driving a milestone in (BMW) car history and a concept car in one. For me a amsterpiece and future classic, more than a Z8 or M1.
Many thanks for this great review. I wanted an i8 ever since it launched. Bought a 2016 plate in calypso grey this July and I absolutely love it. A fantastic car, amazing looks, awesome drive, real head turner. So many people have commented on it. Why did I wait so long?? Best wishes from the UK 😊
PHEVs are totally underrated. Clearly this one is the best. I have a 2021 Kia Niro SX PHEV and love it. Absolutely bland styling (opposite of i8), but super cool and fun to drive with fantastic gas mileage. Now, I just need to look for a used i8. 😜
I always found the rear body styling fantastic on this car. The way the rear roof line and fender come together and create that aero channel that comes out over the tail light - just brilliant and beautiful. It's like the whole side of the car is a giant NACA duct. I wish this car was a BEV - I'd buy one.
This design is the blueprint for an inexpensive and fast car with great mileage. - Yes, it cost HUGE amounts of money when built. HOWEVER, these days the tech has improved. Today, a front ICE engine/rear electric drive PHEV vehicle could be much less expensive . . . Toyota uses this concept these days, but in a Toyota (efficient, reliable, not fast). If a fast, efficient vehicle was available in the 50k range with better utility space, imagine how many vehicles that a manufacturer would likely sell! Love that car, way ahead of it's time!!! Great video, Roman . . . you delivery is so much better when you love a vehicle . . . sometimes you really over emphasize the negatives.
Absolutely love that I8. They are a steal at 40 K, and definitely future classics. There’s no way they’re not gonna double in price in the next decade.
The most beautiful i8 ever made was the AC Schnitzer version. The body kit and wheels they gave it made it look like a veritable spaceship. Reliable they are not blowing head gaskets and cracking windshields apparently to name a few expensive fixes but still a brilliant vehicle.
8:25 You know that you can program this on i.e. button No. 2, right? The preset buttons are not just for radio stations which makes it even more user friendly.
Great review and what a great idea to buy one. I always loved the looks of it but agree a tough entry and exit especially for a 70 year old. I just bought a Tesla model 3 performance for about same amount after the tax credit. Wish I had seen this first.
Used to have an i8, did everything, best car for me in every way. Paid more than 130,000. Then people on the inter shit on it, especially on the mini engine. Knowing the fact it's not a supercar myself, but it does almost 7L/100 at sport mode is heaven to me. Almost 3L/100 when full charge, great daily drive aswell. Love it personally. Had to switch after having kid, because everybody shits on it, price drops like crazy, sold it at 68000. End story😢 lol still love this car 100% thou, fk what others say
@TheRealCatof this engine has been proven to be reliable. My 2016 340i xdrive was bought after leased at 28k miles now 104k miles no problem whatsoever
The current small engine works well with this car; combined with the motor, it has decent power and still remains light. Dropping the EV powertrain to swap in the B58 would change the weight distribution significantly and make it a completely different car with much different driving characteristics. Might even make the 0-60 times slower since you have less weight and less grip on the rear tires.
@TheRealCatof Really? Why is my daily N52 at 230k miles? Only issue was plastic water pump replacement at 130k. My friends E92 M3 is at 156k, not a single issue. Not even the throttle actuators have gone out. My m3 is at 75k, so still relatively new but zero issues. Check forums. N52’s over 400k miles, 200k+ is common. Guy on RUclips with an E9x M3 with close to 300k miles on it IIRC. Educate yourself on the brand before you go spewing more fake news
All I can think about Rich Rebuilds video where I think the key fob died or the 12v died and it was a nightmare to get moving again. I think the i3 is a better buy
You said that modern McLaren cars copied the performance and abilities of the 2015 BMW i8. However, you got that backwards because the McLaren P1 was produced from October 2013 - December 2015. Before the P1 hybrid cars like the Prius were boring and focused only on maximum gas milage. But McLaren created a car that allowed the driver to use only electric, only gas, or send power from both to the rear wheels at the same time for maximum performance. McLaren made hybrid cars exciting for the first time. The BMW i8 is a milder version of the McLaren P1. I had no interest in electric vehicles or hybrids until I saw a review of the P1 on "Top Gear" because the way McLaren combined the transaxle, inverter, and electric motor into a single unit was a mechanical work of art. Even though the drivetrain components under the car will never be seen they are aestheticly beautiful. I spent hours looking at pictures of the P1 drivetrain components like it was a sculpture in a museum. After that I started researching electric/hybrid technology because McLaren showed that you didn't have to choose performance or fuel economy and in the future you could have both in a fun/exciting vehicle.
McLaren didn't really "create" the type. The Porsche 918 and LaFerrari came out at the same time and were also performance focused hybrids. Top gear or the grand tour did a three car comparison and the McLaren finished third, weird considering the McLaren was the only english car.
@rmarevalo I have no interest in Ferrari or Porsche. The reason I liked the McLaren was that it was a rear wheel drive car. I know that all wheel drive is better for certain situations, but rear wheel drive is more fun. Unless you are racing these cars on a track then first place or third place is meaningless. I like the mechanical design of McLaren cars from the chassis to the way they route fluid lines. New cars are all about taking control away from the driver in the name of safety, which is why I have no interest in modern cars. The P1 sent all the horsepower/torque to the rear wheels, creating a fast and terrifying hybrid car. Companies like Hennessey don't create high horsepower cars in the name of safety but for driver enjoyment and thrills. I respect any technology (internal combustion or hybrid) that gives the driver full control and allows you to take it to the ragged edge.
An early BMW hybrid! What could possible go wrong? A BMW Mini 3cyl powerplant with all the complexity of 10-year-old BMW electronics. But it's so pretty!!
@@AgonxOC For now! There are TWO separate cooling systems and each one is very complex and prone to issues. Overheating is common on these and youtubers like Samcrac and Pat's Garage can totally explain why it's often a nightmare to diagnose and fix. For a car to go up in value over time it has to not grenade itself!
@@fboomerang Very complex for those who do not understand how systems work. The issue of the modern car mechanic is the inability to diagnose system due to their lack of basic understanding of those systems. Again nothing new, people just lack understanding of how things work.
TFL used to swear that range rovers are the best 4wd vehicles bar none. This is sort of the same. The i8 and i3 are such software nightmares and so unique that every well known independent BMW shops in the SF Bay Area refuses to tackle major issues. Hybrid EV specialists also pass on attempting major repairs. The dealership experience is spending a $10k chunk every few days as they try to figure out the car. It’s also the one car rich rebuilds completely gave up on.
Their best cars are still their best though. M2,m3,m4, x5m,x6m,m8 .. I even like the new m5 but I can def see it's not as good looking as the older f90.
@@G82Watts I dont agree, they are more expensive than the AMG and their tech is confusing, BMW is completly wrong about the car reality. Well, they sell, but they are selling overpriced crap for people that really dont care about driving or looks, they only care about status.
@@jonascampelo871 dude what? Bmw has been blowing audi and Mercedes away in every track and drag race. The b58 and s58 are the most renowned engines in the car community
@@G82Watts Real World, I drive in the real world, with very twisty roads, speed bumps and lots of cars around me. BMW no longer makes cars for the real world, thats a fact. Sad but true. I had two BMW's in the 90's and 2000's, amazing machines, great quality and great mileage, today BMW's are a joke, very expensive joke.
I'm a forever fan of internal combustion, and hate full electric cars, for now. But I do think that this BMW is a perfect example of what should be on the market right now, until battery technology can properly compete. I just bought a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with the H.O 4.7, and if I drive it normally and not like a jerk, it barely burns more fuel than my old anemic 2.5L, 4-banger manual 1998 Ford Ranger single cab.... And as also shown with the LS in Corvettes, V8s can actually be reasonnable on gas in everyday driving; now imagine that with that kind of hybrid tech!!!! Range, torque, and fuel economy!!!! I'd buy that right now instead of electric!!!!
BMWs are beautiful vehicles and fun to drive. However, you will probably need mental health counseling as soon as you see how much they depreciate and the emergency room if it need to have any type of repairs.😢
That’s why you buy them AFTER they depreciate and get a good deal; avoid models with low reliability, but this one is an exception in that it has quality components that are mostly shared and thus reasonably serviceable. Just don’t get into a minor fender bender, as any damage to the body is impossible to repair and totals the car.
@@michaelc2254 Agree. I have owned a 2019 i8 Roadster for 2 years now. Best, most enjoyable car I've ever owned. No problems whatsoever. You will never own a car that gets more attention. It's insane how interested people are in looking and talking about it where ever I go. Don't mind what Markcollins says above. It is overstated criticism.
Don't get me wrong the i8 is a lovely vehicle but I just bought an i3 black-and-white panda and it is absolutely far more I think stylish more room more practical 0 to 60 and 2.9 seconds has the Rex motor at the back gets a combined range of 380 km ...charges in 2 1/2 hours fit two adults in the back easily definitely check out the i3's ... lot less maintenance cost far less moving parts all of Electric the small 9 L gas tank ...
Nice review. I have my i8 over 2 years. I adore it. Your 100% right above the idrive. Its a pleasure to use. When my car was getting serviced they gave me a brand new bmw and the new idrive is awful. All touch screen and over completed. I8 has everything you need with out being completed with buttons. I daily drive mine and i still enjoy it the same way as when i bought it. The excitement did not wear off for me. Have a full titanium exhaust which makes it sound a lot better.
I just looked up prices. From $39K to $75K. I am saving for a Hyundai Ioniq 5N. All electric, track ready 3 second 0 to 60 and 11.1 quarter mile time and room in back for all the stuff.
I dont think they are asking you what it is because it timeless, its probably more like they've never seen one before. The front end looks old already. Now the rest of the car is fantastioc.
They sell for around 50k used. For that kind of money, you could get used Tesla Plaid that is only 2 years old though not a hybrid, can give you 1000hp
One day when you get a little older and it's cold and rainy outside you will understand and appreciate the easy of ingres and engres of a dinky hybrid SUV that flies below the radar... But between now and then enjoy 😊
I wonder if these can get an updated battery swap with a newer tech battery (larger too?). It could then provide better speed, performance, range, and efficiency.
It takes a lot for me to forget about a car ..... And I legitimately forgot about the I8... Ahead of it's time, sure... It's just a shame it didn't have a turbo 6.
What was your take on battery risk? It seems like dropping 50 grand on a car whose battery is out of warranty is a big risk. I'm guessing its not cheap to replace/repair. Do you know if there is any way to circumvent it, to use petrol only of the drive battery fails?
360 horse power pulls my chevy 2500HD great , just like a scalded dog , pulling a 25 foot toy hauler weighing 7,000 pounds all day , barely gets 10 mph but thats another story .
I know in the i3 they did a bunch of updates/improvements, I wonder if the i8 got those as well. In the i3 world the 2018+ are the ones to get. I wonder how it is with the i8. I also wonder if BMW offers a warranty on those if you go in and try to purchase one.
I own an i8 since 1,5 years now. The maintenance costs are about 600 USD a year. The services that are being made are changing the fluids, replace filter,s etc. Repair costs since now: 0 USD. The fully charged battery is good for 53km of range. Parts are no issue since now, but that might change in the future - but that is not a specific problem with the i8. My 2004 Z4 is sitting at the BMW dealership for about 3 weeks now, waiting for parts...
An i8 is the biggest waste of money. A g80 is far superior in every way. It’s more reliable and can make much more power. The bmw i8 was a disappointment as it looks cool but has a 3 cylinder engine
@@2seep I have a different perspective. I wanted an electric convertible. There aren't many on the market. The i8 Roadster is one of them. And I wanted a car that holds its value on the long term. Compare it with the Z8. Limited production model, cool looks, but the Z8 is not the fastest car either. The Z8 was not a sales success, but now the values are 1-4x of the original new car price tag. The BMW M3 of its day is worth less (0,5-1x of the original new car price).
Like if you paused this video half way through to check autotrader 😅
Just make sure you have the funds to maintain a $150K German car that the manufacturer doesn’t support anymore.
I made it 3 minutes into the video, found a 2015 close by for 40k 😅
Same! Lol 😆
No it's say it worth 21k to 35k the 2015 the one that's 100k plus is 2020 n up
They are 30 k here in uk have seen couple at 28 k with 160,000 plus miles
A car way ahead of its time. Still looks good today. Glad you were finally able to purchase an i8.
That car was ahead of its time
Had an i8 since 1.5 years ago. Love it!! No issues whatsoever. Just done the annual oil change for 400 Canadian dollars and that's all. I did wrap the car for 3000 bucks and got spacers to push out the rims for a better ride and looks good too.
I’d have to agree when I saw this the first time 9 years ago, I thought it was a technological well situated hyper car. Despite what people say, BMW had some great innovation with this vehicle and it’s still one of those vehicles that I see drive by that I would love to have a drive through some scenic roads.
I think that in order to understand the philosophy of i8, one has to own one. Preferably here at the “old continent”. As I think that i8 was mainly designed for “EU kind of use”, meaning 6x higher gas prices & emission taxes, shorter commuting & shorter distances, 10x better public charging network (compared to US), 2x better home charging speeds (220V house hold network) etc.
The problem that i8 faces is that used car buyers (especially at the US) compares it only to Corvettes, newer Mustangs and Camaros, older 911’s etc. When it was targeted to whole different type of audience. It was never meant to be a 500bhp track day sports car, 0-60 under 3 sec type of super car, despite the “supercar” design.
The design was meant to relay futuristic, efficient dynamics, similar to the i3 (which no doubt is kind of anomaly in the USA). There’s plenty of books out there regarding the whole philosophy of designing a i8, shame that almost no-one will ever understand as they won’t read anything. They just judge anything, cars and other crap simply by looks, by numbers. Without ever understanding anything more in depth. But in order to fully enjoy the i8, one has to understand its philosophy rather than complain about 3 cyl engine or “slower than Corvette” ¼ mile numbers.
I’ve owned my fair share of sports cars and the i8 has really grown into me. Here in EU one really can take full advantage of the “plugin hybrid” system, one can charge the car every night at home and every day at work or during grocery run, one gets huge tax benefits, insurance benefits and when gas cost 4-5-6 times more than in US - one saves $300-400-500 per month on gas alone. Last smiles per miles and miles per miles; I put 39 liters (10,3 US gal) of fuel into the car and got 1409km (875,5 miles) out of one tank of fuel. Simply by charging the car when ever I could, and here in EU one really has plenty of places to charge EV vehicles.
I wonder what type of transportation would your average US citizen use, if the gas would cost as much as here in Europe; around $7-8 ... even 9 dollars per US gallon. I assume that i8 kind of cars would actually make some sense then...
I 100% agree.
Agreed. It would be a no-brainer. My workplace garage has 3 level 2 chargers for about 500 parking spaces but I have a variable rate electric plan offered by my local utility where I only pay $0.07 per kWh at night, charge my Volvo T8 overnight, and use one tank of gas for about every 1500 miles of use since it covers my commute and errands almost completely.
Excellent insight for us Americans. Thanks!
At last, a post that understands the ethos of i8. Leave the numskulls to their own devices
Bought my 2019 i8 Coupe 3 years ago, absolutely love it only have 14k miles on it. Still one of the most unique cars on the road
I picked one up a few months back and am delighted with it. It has more than adequate power and works without fault whatsoever.
I find that the looks are captivating, easily the most visually appealing BMW in years (apart from the Z8, 1M and M2).
I have managed to crack the ingress part, but have yet to adequately find a consistently dignified method of egress. This is the ONLY downside.
By the way, I greatly enjoyed your Alaska to USA adventure and hope you compile more i8 adventures.
Just wait until something breaks. Your delightfulness will go away real fast.
@@andyleo8418 The engine is just out of a cooper mini. Now all the hybrid drive stuff, that could be a problem.
@@andyleo8418 BMW Warranty! Purchase one for peace of mind.
This car looked like a spacecraft when it came out. I love the looks.
Both this and the i3 may have been flawed vehicles when they came out but as the vehicle landscape has changed they are some of the few cars that became more stylish with age with many features and ideas people are begging modern cars to have
I had the i8 roadster as a Company Car in the UK for 3 years. I bought it from the local BMW dealer second hand, a year Old. One owner, just a few K miles. Big discount on new. Problem was I put too many miles on it. No faults or unscheduled days off road. Only expenses were tyres all round, front brake pads & discs. Looked great especially with the roof down. It was great learning curve from ICE to Hybrid. I got the Home Charger with Government Grant. Train myself to to plug it in every night. Left home in an ambient car with a full battery every morning. Gave me the confidence to go Full EV. So, I bought a second hand Porsche Taycan. Had it 16 months now. Big learning curve with charging regimes! The car itself is great will serve its purpose for the next few years! Would go back to ICE? Well, I've had 3phase 100Amps/phase fitted at home! What do you think?
Have fun paying all the taxes for your EV clownery...
Agree on the BMW interiors from the late 2010s - especially the preset buttons, which you can actually set to almost any function in IDrive, one of the best features I’ve seen in an infotainment system.
I love that part of iDrive. Had it in the i3 and loved it.
I own several cars (488 Pista, 992, Portofino) and two i8 roadster. The i8 is not the best handling and by far not the fastest, but none of the other cars give me the feeling of driving a milestone in (BMW) car history and a concept car in one. For me a amsterpiece and future classic, more than a Z8 or M1.
Many thanks for this great review. I wanted an i8 ever since it launched. Bought a 2016 plate in calypso grey this July and I absolutely love it. A fantastic car, amazing looks, awesome drive, real head turner. So many people have commented on it. Why did I wait so long?? Best wishes from the UK 😊
Keep us updated on repair/service, I hear both good and bad things about these things. Those 3cyl mini engines are not so good sometimes.
PHEVs are totally underrated. Clearly this one is the best. I have a 2021 Kia Niro SX PHEV and love it. Absolutely bland styling (opposite of i8), but super cool and fun to drive with fantastic gas mileage. Now, I just need to look for a used i8. 😜
I always found the rear body styling fantastic on this car. The way the rear roof line and fender come together and create that aero channel that comes out over the tail light - just brilliant and beautiful. It's like the whole side of the car is a giant NACA duct. I wish this car was a BEV - I'd buy one.
It is a beauty, that’s for sure.
This design is the blueprint for an inexpensive and fast car with great mileage.
- Yes, it cost HUGE amounts of money when built. HOWEVER, these days the tech has improved. Today, a front ICE engine/rear electric drive PHEV vehicle could be much less expensive . . . Toyota uses this concept these days, but in a Toyota (efficient, reliable, not fast).
If a fast, efficient vehicle was available in the 50k range with better utility space, imagine how many vehicles that a manufacturer would likely sell!
Love that car, way ahead of it's time!!!
Great video, Roman . . . you delivery is so much better when you love a vehicle . . . sometimes you really over emphasize the negatives.
As someone still driving a 2014 BMW 535i, I kindof enjoy someone enjoying my old school buttons
Absolutely love that I8. They are a steal at 40 K, and definitely future classics. There’s no way they’re not gonna double in price in the next decade.
Maybe only roadsters will go up in price. There was a lot of coupes made and sold. Also, I wouldn't call $40k as a "steal price" lol
Super review from a UK owner of 4 years of a 2018 i8.👍
Amazing car im sitting in mine right now. Very low maintenance cost bar any major repairs. Seems to be dependable if you treat it well
The most beautiful i8 ever made was the AC Schnitzer version. The body kit and wheels they gave it made it look like a veritable spaceship. Reliable they are not blowing head gaskets and cracking windshields apparently to name a few expensive fixes but still a brilliant vehicle.
I had an i3 and loved it. I don't think BMW calls it carbon fiber. It was carbon reinforced plastic.
Either way, it’s impossible to repair if damaged :(
@@Cloud30000 I agree as my insurance was cranked because of the high cost of repair
@@Cloud30000says who? Carbon fiber is just expensive fiberglass. You can fix it the same way you would do any boat hull.
People try to look and ask “what is it?”
Ohhhh crap. Here we go gents!!! Prices are about to go up.
Remember the ISF??? Prices went up by about 20k on a used one.
8:25 You know that you can program this on i.e. button No. 2, right? The preset buttons are not just for radio stations which makes it even more user friendly.
Yes correct i have it programed on mine. I only drive my i8 on hold state of charge.
Ive always loved this car, such a bargain, and incredibly beautiful. Thanks for bringing it some attention. I wonder if the values will start going up
Great review and what a great idea to buy one. I always loved the looks of it but agree a tough entry and exit especially for a 70 year old. I just bought a Tesla model 3 performance for about same amount after the tax credit. Wish I had seen this first.
Used to have an i8, did everything, best car for me in every way. Paid more than 130,000. Then people on the inter shit on it, especially on the mini engine. Knowing the fact it's not a supercar myself, but it does almost 7L/100 at sport mode is heaven to me. Almost 3L/100 when full charge, great daily drive aswell. Love it personally. Had to switch after having kid, because everybody shits on it, price drops like crazy, sold it at 68000. End story😢 lol still love this car 100% thou, fk what others say
From what I understand, the backseat in the I eight is actually roomier than the backseat of the 2+2 from Lotus.
Agree! Old things are the best. Like ICE, B52, U2, F14, battleships etc
This car should have been the Hallo car for BMW if done right. BMW should have debut the famous B58 3 liters straight 6 in this car
@TheRealCatof this engine has been proven to be reliable. My 2016 340i xdrive was bought after leased at 28k miles now 104k miles no problem whatsoever
@TheRealCatof to make matters worse I turned this car 4 months ago still robust
The current small engine works well with this car; combined with the motor, it has decent power and still remains light.
Dropping the EV powertrain to swap in the B58 would change the weight distribution significantly and make it a completely different car with much different driving characteristics. Might even make the 0-60 times slower since you have less weight and less grip on the rear tires.
@TheRealCatofwhat are you talking about? The N52 is still one of the most reliable engines BMW has ever produced.
@TheRealCatof Really? Why is my daily N52 at 230k miles? Only issue was plastic water pump replacement at 130k. My friends E92 M3 is at 156k, not a single issue. Not even the throttle actuators have gone out. My m3 is at 75k, so still relatively new but zero issues.
Check forums. N52’s over 400k miles, 200k+ is common. Guy on RUclips with an E9x M3 with close to 300k miles on it IIRC.
Educate yourself on the brand before you go spewing more fake news
All I can think about Rich Rebuilds video where I think the key fob died or the 12v died and it was a nightmare to get moving again. I think the i3 is a better buy
It does look new.
Respect, Roman, for this video.
You said that modern McLaren cars copied the performance and abilities of the 2015 BMW i8. However, you got that backwards because the McLaren P1 was produced from October 2013 - December 2015. Before the P1 hybrid cars like the Prius were boring and focused only on maximum gas milage. But McLaren created a car that allowed the driver to use only electric, only gas, or send power from both to the rear wheels at the same time for maximum performance. McLaren made hybrid cars exciting for the first time. The BMW i8 is a milder version of the McLaren P1. I had no interest in electric vehicles or hybrids until I saw a review of the P1 on "Top Gear" because the way McLaren combined the transaxle, inverter, and electric motor into a single unit was a mechanical work of art. Even though the drivetrain components under the car will never be seen they are aestheticly beautiful. I spent hours looking at pictures of the P1 drivetrain components like it was a sculpture in a museum. After that I started researching electric/hybrid technology because McLaren showed that you didn't have to choose performance or fuel economy and in the future you could have both in a fun/exciting vehicle.
McLaren didn't really "create" the type. The Porsche 918 and LaFerrari came out at the same time and were also performance focused hybrids. Top gear or the grand tour did a three car comparison and the McLaren finished third, weird considering the McLaren was the only english car.
@rmarevalo I have no interest in Ferrari or Porsche. The reason I liked the McLaren was that it was a rear wheel drive car. I know that all wheel drive is better for certain situations, but rear wheel drive is more fun. Unless you are racing these cars on a track then first place or third place is meaningless. I like the mechanical design of McLaren cars from the chassis to the way they route fluid lines. New cars are all about taking control away from the driver in the name of safety, which is why I have no interest in modern cars. The P1 sent all the horsepower/torque to the rear wheels, creating a fast and terrifying hybrid car. Companies like Hennessey don't create high horsepower cars in the name of safety but for driver enjoyment and thrills. I respect any technology (internal combustion or hybrid) that gives the driver full control and allows you to take it to the ragged edge.
An early BMW hybrid! What could possible go wrong? A BMW Mini 3cyl powerplant with all the complexity of 10-year-old BMW electronics. But it's so pretty!!
Seems to be working just fine!
@@AgonxOC For now! There are TWO separate cooling systems and each one is very complex and prone to issues. Overheating is common on these and youtubers like Samcrac and Pat's Garage can totally explain why it's often a nightmare to diagnose and fix. For a car to go up in value over time it has to not grenade itself!
@@fboomerang Very complex for those who do not understand how systems work. The issue of the modern car mechanic is the inability to diagnose system due to their lack of basic understanding of those systems.
Again nothing new, people just lack understanding of how things work.
TFL used to swear that range rovers are the best 4wd vehicles bar none. This is sort of the same. The i8 and i3 are such software nightmares and so unique that every well known independent BMW shops in the SF Bay Area refuses to tackle major issues. Hybrid EV specialists also pass on attempting major repairs. The dealership experience is spending a $10k chunk every few days as they try to figure out the car. It’s also the one car rich rebuilds completely gave up on.
10 years ago BMW cars looked amazing, today BMW's look, bad... Sad but true.
Ain’t that the truth. My god, what a fall from grace. They need to fire everyone in their design department and start over. It’s that bad.
Their best cars are still their best though. M2,m3,m4, x5m,x6m,m8 .. I even like the new m5 but I can def see it's not as good looking as the older f90.
@@G82Watts I dont agree, they are more expensive than the AMG and their tech is confusing, BMW is completly wrong about the car reality. Well, they sell, but they are selling overpriced crap for people that really dont care about driving or looks, they only care about status.
@@jonascampelo871 dude what? Bmw has been blowing audi and Mercedes away in every track and drag race. The b58 and s58 are the most renowned engines in the car community
@@G82Watts Real World, I drive in the real world, with very twisty roads, speed bumps and lots of cars around me. BMW no longer makes cars for the real world, thats a fact. Sad but true. I had two BMW's in the 90's and 2000's, amazing machines, great quality and great mileage, today BMW's are a joke, very expensive joke.
This video brought to you by, BMW the ultimate driving experience.
I legitimately loved that cat when it came out
Good luck servicing it....a lot of dealers won't even touch it.
Really?!?! never heard of a dealer who didn’t love making money.
I'm a forever fan of internal combustion, and hate full electric cars, for now. But I do think that this BMW is a perfect example of what should be on the market right now, until battery technology can properly compete. I just bought a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with the H.O 4.7, and if I drive it normally and not like a jerk, it barely burns more fuel than my old anemic 2.5L, 4-banger manual 1998 Ford Ranger single cab.... And as also shown with the LS in Corvettes, V8s can actually be reasonnable on gas in everyday driving; now imagine that with that kind of hybrid tech!!!! Range, torque, and fuel economy!!!! I'd buy that right now instead of electric!!!!
Roman, you hurt my back watching you getting out of the i8 😅. It's definitely a sweet collector item, though!
Always loved this car.
Remember when super car blondie had this as her first car on the channel
BMWs are beautiful vehicles and fun to drive. However, you will probably need mental health counseling as soon as you see how much they depreciate and the emergency room if it need to have any type of repairs.😢
They don't depreciate much further when they are already 9 years old (no car does really), repairs though...yeah, that's a different matter.
Low mileage models are about half of the original sticker. It's the repairs that bleed you white.
@@weirdshibainu Yup, although that's not nearly exclusive to the BMW. Pretty much all modern expensive cars are also expensive to maintain.
@@HenrySomeone Yeah. Try owning an audi
That’s why you buy them AFTER they depreciate and get a good deal; avoid models with low reliability, but this one is an exception in that it has quality components that are mostly shared and thus reasonably serviceable. Just don’t get into a minor fender bender, as any damage to the body is impossible to repair and totals the car.
From what I have read, the i8 is eye candy and thats where it all ends. It doesn't have a good track record and that comes from many sources.
Which sources? I have had one for 7 years and it has been great. On the i8 forum, there are very few major problems reported.
@@michaelc2254 Agree. I have owned a 2019 i8 Roadster for 2 years now. Best, most enjoyable car I've ever owned. No problems whatsoever. You will never own a car that gets more attention. It's insane how interested people are in looking and talking about it where ever I go. Don't mind what Markcollins says above. It is overstated criticism.
thats why im driving my 2017 protonic red. This car is so goood. Also i upgrade it with apple car play and thats it.
I will say, the last shot in the car park, Roman has already got the hang of the “park like a BMW driver” lifestyle 😂
True that because in an empty parking lot used for filming you must park the car between the lines like you’re at the busiest Trader Joe’s in America🤔
I think the thumbnail " odd but true" is the reason why I was singing sad but true in my head the whole video
Aren’t the mini engines destined to fail because of plastic chain tensioners?
This car looks awesome!!
Don't get me wrong the i8 is a lovely vehicle but I just bought an i3 black-and-white panda and it is absolutely far more I think stylish more room more practical 0 to 60 and 2.9 seconds has the Rex motor at the back gets a combined range of 380 km ...charges in 2 1/2 hours fit two adults in the back easily definitely check out the i3's ... lot less maintenance cost far less moving parts all of Electric the small 9 L gas tank ...
Nice review. I have my i8 over 2 years. I adore it. Your 100% right above the idrive. Its a pleasure to use. When my car was getting serviced they gave me a brand new bmw and the new idrive is awful. All touch screen and over completed. I8 has everything you need with out being completed with buttons. I daily drive mine and i still enjoy it the same way as when i bought it. The excitement did not wear off for me. Have a full titanium exhaust which makes it sound a lot better.
The vest hybrids are toyotas
I don’t like wearing vest hybrids
I never liked BMWs but I would buy this one. Maybe someday I will but right now I can only afford a Skoda 105L ☹️.
I just looked up prices. From $39K to $75K. I am saving for a Hyundai Ioniq 5N. All electric, track ready 3 second 0 to 60 and 11.1 quarter mile time and room in back for all the stuff.
But does it look like a timeless masterpiece?
and the 5,10 year warranty… who wants to buy a old BMW and go through the headache..
I dont think they are asking you what it is because it timeless, its probably more like they've never seen one before. The front end looks old already. Now the rest of the car is fantastioc.
Thanks for the review Roman. It's a beautiful car. I have never seen one here in Longmont but it sounds like Sam's Club is the place to look :).
You are right!
Does it still smell like gasoline when you first get in? Just a hint of it?
They sell for around 50k used. For that kind of money, you could get used Tesla Plaid that is only 2 years old though not a hybrid, can give you 1000hp
It is a brilliant buy imo.
Good decision, enjoy.
One day when you get a little older and it's cold and rainy outside you will understand and appreciate the easy of ingres and engres of a dinky hybrid SUV that flies below the radar... But between now and then enjoy 😊
It looks great! I do shudder at BMWs terrible reliability as they age though, more so with a complicated system like that.
Everyone says it's a mini engine lol truth is it's the i8 engine but they liked it so they then put it in the mini as well
Great video, what is the range of the battery now over when it was new?
Can you charge it with a regular outlet and if so, how long would it take to fully charge? Thanks.
I’ve always loved this car!
Jeremy Clarkson also loved the i8.
I agree with you. Although looking for 2nd hand ones in Aus they're still at least $100k. Too much for me.
One of the BEST cars BMW made. I don't understand why in the heck they stop selling it.
Whats the price on these.... I've managed to reach the age of 40 without kids and without wife 😅
About $50k for the oldest ones if you are patient and avoid the those asking too much.
@@Cloud30000Even at that price it’s such a waste. Rather have a Jaguar F Type R
Get a Porsche
I wonder if these can get an updated battery swap with a newer tech battery (larger too?). It could then provide better speed, performance, range, and efficiency.
If I have to take unreliability I’ll keep my 24 4XE Wrangler Willys 😅
How long do battery’s hybrid cars last? If it’s just 10yrs then it’s not worth it
Going to be worth a ton in future.
SPOILER. this car is about $50,000. it's not until 13:55 that its price is mentioned.
It takes a lot for me to forget about a car ..... And I legitimately forgot about the I8... Ahead of it's time, sure... It's just a shame it didn't have a turbo 6.
What was your take on battery risk? It seems like dropping 50 grand on a car whose battery is out of warranty is a big risk. I'm guessing its not cheap to replace/repair. Do you know if there is any way to circumvent it, to use petrol only of the drive battery fails?
So true
Still relevant today great car
Beautiful car then and more so now
straight pipe it and put some wider wheels, a stage 2 tune and you will beat everything! trust me
Sex on wheel made me cringe 😂 But I'm happy for Roman. He loves the car and that's ok.
These cars are pretty cool but if I were to buy a used 4 seat PHEV that’s sporty I’d go for a 2018 Porsche Panamera 4 Ehybrid
At 4.30 min. you said it So quickly: 'legless ' 😁
Only problem people have with this car is it’s not fast, but not every car needs to be blistering fast
Wish they refresh the i8 with the i4 drivetrain and going fully electric
360 horse power pulls my chevy 2500HD great , just like a scalded dog , pulling a 25 foot toy hauler weighing 7,000 pounds all day , barely gets 10 mph but thats another story .
What's the replacement cost on a bmw battery?
My knees hurt just watching Roman get in and out. I wonder what the insurance is for something like that. The carbon body must be giga-bux to fix.
Can you add grab handles to the A-pillar to make entering and exiting it easier?
What’s an alternative exotic looking car that can be had under 85k? Love the doors on these
I know in the i3 they did a bunch of updates/improvements, I wonder if the i8 got those as well. In the i3 world the 2018+ are the ones to get. I wonder how it is with the i8. I also wonder if BMW offers a warranty on those if you go in and try to purchase one.
Is battery replaceable?
Until you need major repairs. It’ll be shockingly expensive and probably more than the car is worth
I think the best phev it's the Chevrolet volt Mark 2
The Delorean of it’s day 😎