Very good and comprehensive review! I got one of these, the pre-LCI model (7,4kwh battery) one month ago. Its early one, 2014 model with 74k km / 46k miles) on the odometer. My daily commute is 25km one way and I'm able to charge the car at home and at work. I'm achieving around 1400-1500km per one tank of fuel (37-38L). So far my average consumption has been 2-3L/100km (95-140 UK MPG). I can achieve up to 30km on pure electric range with "Eco Pro" -mode and with using of the Sat Nav system and keeping AC off when its not too warm. When the car knows when its heading, it is using the electricity far more efficiently. So far really good car, I used to own 2018 BMW 740Le plugin hybrid and even it had larger battery (9,2kwh) the weight and air resistance etc. made it far less efficient car, I could only achieve around 3km more with it. The i8 has so small "air resistance" and good "rolling rate" making it really efficient car. Even with battery depleted it'll do around ~6L/100km when driving at "B-roads" (80km/h / 50mph). I'm totally in love with the car even it is a plugin hybrid with only a 3-cyl petrol engine. And I consider myself a true petrolhead, I've had multiple Scooby STI's, a Porsche 911 4S (997 gen) and a Ferrari 360 Modena.
I have a i8 Roadster my wife owns a 992 convertivle. The 992 has the better handling but the i8 offers more fascination. You allways have the feeling to drive a concept car that made it on the road. A technological milestone for BMw and a future classic for sure.
Most people do not really understand and drive PHEVs appropriately. The real advantage is the ability to switch between EV, auto switching, and sport modes. If you drive short distances and can regularly charge… EV is awesome. If you drive further distances or do not have easy access to a charging system, then auto (comfort mode). However, if you want some pep or to charge your battery while driving sport mode is fantastic. Expecting the i8 to rival an ice hyper car is silly. It is what it is and does the job very well. These cars will become highly sought after by collectors. Especially when the new 2025/2026 version comes out!
Being a petrol head with a history of V8’s, M4 & Subaru WR1, I’m surprised how much I love mine! Had for 4 years and longest I’ve kept a car!! Just don’t know where I would go from here. It’s not really an electric car, just supplements the torque for me and it’s very light and agile like the old school hot hatches! As fast as my M4 in sport mode and with much cheaper running costs, I’m happy 😁 Also holding its price very well now that the initial drop from the 115k price tag has flattened out so a lot of car for the money!
Nice to see i getting the respect it deserves, no BMW coupe ever a success on arrival, but price original 328, 507, M1 or Z8 now, this will be more of the same.
@@unowen-nh9ov After 5 years owning one, now taken the plunge and crossed the line! Replaced with a Porsche Taycan Turbo. It’s blisteringly fast but time will tell if it lives up to the 5years of i8!
Superb in-depth review. Top marks to narrator for his knowledge and passion. I bought an i8 after watching this, and can honestly say that after 6 months ownership, I absolutely love it. Jawdropping styling, awesome interior, great handling and responsiveness. A real head turner that very few cars in this era can claim. Only negative is that I should have bought one years ago 😊
While you can drive it without ever plugging it in, doing so would limit your use of its electric-only capabilities and reduce overall efficiency. Using sport mode frequently will recharge the battery through regenerative braking, but this won't provide the same electric range as charging via a plug. For the best performance and efficiency, we recommend plugging in the i8 regularly 👍
You can drive it indefinitely in sport mode and unless you are constantly accelerating you will not flatten the battery. Driving at a constant speed or braking will charge the battery. Even stopped at a red light with the engine running in sport will charge the battery. The downside is the fuel consumption is massively reduced.
I parked next to a white i8 in a car park so had time to have a close at it, and boy did it spun my motor! It is absolutely gorgeous in the flesh much more so than seeing it in a video. I drive BEV now but would go back to a hybrid with this car. I was amazed how cheap you can buy one for as well, I'm very tempted!
It is a beauty, if you're still interested in the BMW i8, our Vehicle Experts can find you the best deal 👍 Fill-in this quick form, and we'll get in touch: bit.ly/39YHCml
Theoretically, yes. But that doesn't happen once you understand the car. If the battery tends to run down, you recharge it in Sport mode. And that happens pretty quickly with the powerful generator. You can play creatively with this option, and an empty battery never happens that way.
only thing to blame... you enter the car wrong....stand back to the i8, bend your knees slightly, pop your butt in, pull your leg up and turn it in (in the direction of travel🙈). It works even if the steering wheel is in the glove compartment of this i8. (possibly a badly done total loss? - who knows)
So wished I had one. It looks like a great white shark from the front. Kind off. It has a striking look. I've found companies that sell them in the USA, from 8 to 15 grand. The Roadster is great. But not practical. I'd need the back seats of the COUPE *
Very good and comprehensive review! I got one of these, the pre-LCI model (7,4kwh battery) one month ago. Its early one, 2014 model with 74k km / 46k miles) on the odometer. My daily commute is 25km one way and I'm able to charge the car at home and at work. I'm achieving around 1400-1500km per one tank of fuel (37-38L). So far my average consumption has been 2-3L/100km (95-140 UK MPG). I can achieve up to 30km on pure electric range with "Eco Pro" -mode and with using of the Sat Nav system and keeping AC off when its not too warm. When the car knows when its heading, it is using the electricity far more efficiently.
So far really good car, I used to own 2018 BMW 740Le plugin hybrid and even it had larger battery (9,2kwh) the weight and air resistance etc. made it far less efficient car, I could only achieve around 3km more with it. The i8 has so small "air resistance" and good "rolling rate" making it really efficient car. Even with battery depleted it'll do around ~6L/100km when driving at "B-roads" (80km/h / 50mph).
I'm totally in love with the car even it is a plugin hybrid with only a 3-cyl petrol engine. And I consider myself a true petrolhead, I've had multiple Scooby STI's, a Porsche 911 4S (997 gen) and a Ferrari 360 Modena.
Hello 👋 Thanks for watching and your honest review of the BMW i8 and 740Le plug-in hybrid model, this will be very useful for other buyers 👍
I have a i8 Roadster my wife owns a 992 convertivle. The 992 has the better handling but the i8 offers more fascination. You allways have the feeling to drive a concept car that made it on the road. A technological milestone for BMw and a future classic for sure.
Hi did you have any problems with the i8 and is it good for very long trips also running costs eg services tyres etc ?
I have a bicycle 😢
I can't see how you will ever sell your i8! Please keep it forever!
This is absolute the very best review of i8!!!! How come one can explain and present such a Marcel so eloquently and to the point
Many thanks for watching, and that's very kind of you to say! If you enjoyed the video, make sure to subscribe: bit.ly/319ZKoT
Most people do not really understand and drive PHEVs appropriately. The real advantage is the ability to switch between EV, auto switching, and sport modes. If you drive short distances and can regularly charge… EV is awesome. If you drive further distances or do not have easy access to a charging system, then auto (comfort mode). However, if you want some pep or to charge your battery while driving sport mode is fantastic. Expecting the i8 to rival an ice hyper car is silly. It is what it is and does the job very well. These cars will become highly sought after by collectors. Especially when the new 2025/2026 version comes out!
Since my wife and I are considering buying a used I8, this review accelerated the purchase decision.
Action will be taken on Monday.
Fantastic to hear! Wishing you the best with your new BMW 👍 If you enjoyed the review, make sure to subscribe: bit.ly/319ZKoT
@@rivervalegroup Sure you love it like I did for an all round car!
Best car I've owned. Feels more refined and special than the 911 I drove.
Being a petrol head with a history of V8’s, M4 & Subaru WR1, I’m surprised how much I love mine! Had for 4 years and longest I’ve kept a car!! Just don’t know where I would go from here. It’s not really an electric car, just supplements the torque for me and it’s very light and agile like the old school hot hatches!
As fast as my M4 in sport mode and with much cheaper running costs, I’m happy 😁
Also holding its price very well now that the initial drop from the 115k price tag has flattened out so a lot of car for the money!
Sounds like it's influenced M5 V8 Hybrid, Joe Achilles says it has eliminated torque curve, power instantaneous.
Nice to see i getting the respect it deserves, no BMW coupe ever a success on arrival, but price original 328, 507, M1 or Z8 now, this will be more of the same.
@@unowen-nh9ov After 5 years owning one, now taken the plunge and crossed the line! Replaced with a Porsche Taycan Turbo. It’s blisteringly fast but time will tell if it lives up to the 5years of i8!
Superb in-depth review. Top marks to narrator for his knowledge and passion. I bought an i8 after watching this, and can honestly say that after 6 months ownership, I absolutely love it. Jawdropping styling, awesome interior, great handling and responsiveness. A real head turner that very few cars in this era can claim. Only negative is that I should have bought one years ago 😊
Can I have one and never need to recharge it via plug. Will having it in sport mode be enough all the time ?
While you can drive it without ever plugging it in, doing so would limit your use of its electric-only capabilities and reduce overall efficiency. Using sport mode frequently will recharge the battery through regenerative braking, but this won't provide the same electric range as charging via a plug. For the best performance and efficiency, we recommend plugging in the i8 regularly 👍
You can drive it indefinitely in sport mode and unless you are constantly accelerating you will not flatten the battery. Driving at a constant speed or braking will charge the battery. Even stopped at a red light with the engine running in sport will charge the battery. The downside is the fuel consumption is massively reduced.
Best review on the i8, on TH-cam 👏🏻
Gorgeous car this bmw, arguably the best they made 😍!
Best review i have seen on this vehicle , Keep up the good work .
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A very comprehensive review . Thank you 🙏.
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Does it have a nose / front axel lift, or can it have ?
I parked next to a white i8 in a car park so had time to have a close at it, and boy did it spun my motor! It is absolutely gorgeous in the flesh much more so than seeing it in a video. I drive BEV now but would go back to a hybrid with this car. I was amazed how cheap you can buy one for as well, I'm very tempted!
It is a beauty, if you're still interested in the BMW i8, our Vehicle Experts can find you the best deal 👍 Fill-in this quick form, and we'll get in touch: bit.ly/39YHCml
He likes to open and close the doors a lot of time. With every subject door open, door closed 😂 But i gave him a thumbs up.
Great review 👏
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great review
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If the car isn't charged, does it lose power from the electric engine portion of the horsepower?
Theoretically, yes. But that doesn't happen once you understand the car. If the battery tends to run down, you recharge it in Sport mode. And that happens pretty quickly with the powerful generator. You can play creatively with this option, and an empty battery never happens that way.
Bu arabanın direksiyonunda problem var. Alttan traşlasaymışlar hiç inip binmek problem olmayacakmış.
only thing to blame... you enter the car wrong....stand back to the i8, bend your knees slightly, pop your butt in, pull your leg up and turn it in (in the direction of travel🙈). It works even if the steering wheel is in the glove compartment of this i8. (possibly a badly done total loss? - who knows)
if these mfers had given it even a 6 cylinder it would have had supercar performance
0-60
So wished I had one. It looks like a great white shark from the front. Kind off. It has a striking look.
I've found companies that sell them in the USA, from 8 to 15 grand. The Roadster is great. But not practical. I'd need the back seats of the COUPE *
Lexus lc500h competitor