Why we sold our BMW i8s - Interview with Rich Rebuilds
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- čas přidán 20. 09. 2023
- @RichRebuilds allowed me to interview him about his BMW i8 ownership experience. We shared some of the same highs and lows. It was a great attention getting car, but the BMW i8 had some inherent issues that prevented us from feeling nothing but anxiety during ownership. Similar to range anxiety that EV owners like Rich Rebuilds may talk about on his channel, the i8 had it's own problems that could crop up and result in a breakdown, shortened trip, etc. Join me as I go to Rich's shop in New England and talk about our collective BMW i8 experiences. @WatchJRGo owned the car after Rich sold it. So glad to see my custom built engine cover on his video! • Here's Everything That...
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I'd take this with a pinch of salt for anyone who is doing their research. My i8 hasn't missed a beat and Ive owned it for nearly 4 years, it's what you expect from bmw, it's solid. I used mine as a daily drive for nearly 2 years without issues. There are plenty of independent i8 specialist in the UK if BMW prices aren't your thing so you do have options. Owning an i8 is a game changer, unless you have £5k to £10k just to replace a clutch a lambo etc are more fun, but for the outlay, it can't be beaten imo. Lastly, look how many high mileage i8's there are, it's already tried and tested for longevity. P.S lookup IMS bearing issues on 911's let alone blown engines. If you are worried about the i8 breaking, wait until you get the porsche bills!
Driving the I8 for almost 4 years now....still loving it
i8 is always gonna be unique 👌🏻 - it's good to see Rich so peaceful and easy
Still got mine and plan to keep it forever .Close to 8000 miles on it , 2018 but with the slightly wider wheels and display key from factory,I really drive it really with the most respect just wipe the seats down once a year and keeping it as perfect as can be . I did recently raced a bike and won ha-ha but it was like a one time thing . I also have my Porsche911 LS turbo which I bought in 1997 ,so I really do keep cars for as long as possible . I also have to say BMW here in South Africa has got the best service I have ever experienced , even the cappuccino while You wait for Your car has the BMW on the top cream .
i8 is still my dream car. Im not much of a speed person but I STILL want one and I will get one :). Thank you for your imput on this video!
We own an i8 and I agree with Uncle Rich saying it’s a mix between a sports car and a GT.
Great conversation to listen to 👍
Thanks for listening
Ive had my 19 roadster for a while now. The attention is out of this world. I havent had any issues with it.
I have a Protonic Red i8 - it gets a LOT of looks and "what IS that".
mee too brother! Love it especially the reds
When I had my 16’ i8. I was on the toll roads in Texas. I raced a Chevy SS from 50mph to about 130mph. Straight we were neck and neck. Even though i8 had more narrow tires, it outperformed in terms of handling corners at higher speeds of course.
Hi Pat. Regarding the i8, I had a 2016 that had an "electrical module" failure problem. I had it taken to the dealership for repair (no one else would touch it). The dealer had the car for 2 months. The repair cost $14,000. That was to replace the module. (I was told that the module cost around $8,000). I'm not alone with this type of problem, as I found out when checking the forums. So, you and Rich are right when you say the car looked great, but if you get one, you're riding in a time bomb. It has many issues that BMW does not acknowledge that they exist. I sold mine as soon as I got it back from the dealership. Knowing that there was the possibility of having the AC compressor going bad, with the cost of about $18,000, solidified my decision to sell the car. It was my dream car but, unfortunately, the reality of the potential cost of future repairs blew the dream apart.
are these problems limited to pre 2018 models?
No. The parts are the same.
@@PatsGarageOnline thanks for the quick reply
I don't know how I missed this video! I plan on keeping my i8 forever. It has been super reliable and I have driven it back and forth from Southern California to Utah and back. I had no issues until just recently in that the pedestrian warning braking system has kicked in a few times and it is very disconcerting. I bought it for only $53K over 3 years ago and I feel like I have gotten more than my money's worth. I also own a McLaren 570GT, Maserati GTS, Bentley CGT and Fisker Karma yet I still like driving my i8 for a few days every couple of weeks. I put on the Alex Myers tune thanks to both or your reviews and a Pedal Commander and the car isn't as fast as my other cars, but it is quick enough for cruising around. I really had't felt any anxiety about the car's reliability until I watched this video. LOL! I have had none of the issues y'all have mentioned on my 2016 after 13K miles, and for some reason, I don't think I will. (Knock on wood!)
EU law states that manufacturers must carry parts to support their cars for 10 years after the car has ceased production, so parts will be available from the factory until 2030.
👍👍 Rich is the man 👍👍
Pat brings up reliability and then Rich goes straight into how great the car looks lol
I own a 488 Pista, a SF 90 Spider and some other sportscars. But my i8 roadsters gives me the most special feeling. Power is not everything, especially in Switzerland where we have very strict speed Limits...
Honestly Pat, I love your channel. You are the reason why I wanted to get an i8. What year would you recommend me getting? 2019? (To avoid problems)
Thank you! All years have problems. All the same parts are used. It's a gamble whether yours would or not.
@@PatsGarageOnline Oh wow.... I thought they would fix a couple of things as the years went on...
I bought a 2016 recently after LOTS of research. My recommendation is just do the due diligence, avoid the earlier models, and get the pre delivery inspection from a bmw dealer. I also got a 3rd party warranty - 3 years for $5k (talked down). I know I’ll have to fight for any hybrid related repairs, but it gives piece of mind for everything else. And worst case listen diligently for the AC compressor failure noise so you can replace for $3000 immediately. Other than that enjoy! But seriously I Love it as a daily driver.
@@jasonasilver1 I have a strong preference for the roadster version, and after considering your advice, I’ve decided to go with the 2019 model. Your response has been immensely helpful, and I genuinely appreciate it.”
Got my i8 in June. Best car I've owned. Had one issue, but since then it's been solid. Extremely fun car to drive, fuel economy is AWESOME. I charge the car at night at home with free solar night plan that I have. I was worried about the seats at the back, but I tested this out. My wife and I bought 2 large paintings, we folded the passenger seat so they could fit, she sat at the back sit behind me and she fit perfectly. She's 5'5. Great car.
I'm glad you had a great experience! Some i8 cars never have issues. Some have thousands of dollars in issues. It's a real gamble and I get multiple messages per week asking how to fix a problem out of warranty from people who don't have 10k in cash as a reserve to fix the problem. I enjoyed the car and daily drove it for 2 years. But the anxiety of costs and issues after hearing multiple complaints per week convinced me to sell.
The i8 is a very reliable car, maybe the reliablest hybrid car ever. And the good thing is if something happens you will get all the parts from BMW also the batteries if you need to change it sometime. The car has already been designed in such a way that a possible battery replacement only takes 1 hour. The batteries used in the i8 are the most stable batteries in the entire automotive sector. and since the i8 was a prestige object for BMW, a spare parts guarantee is guaranteed up to classic car status.
I'm definitely not worried and enjoy this incredibly advanced car every day and will never sell it again. There definitely won't be a car like this again anytime soon
Battery replacement requires draining the air conditioning system, draining the coolant, removal of panels, pipes, tubes and wires, setting up a rig to mount to the battery enclosure, unmounting the battery enclosure, opening the enclosure, swapping out 6 cells, reversing it all, vacuum filling the coolant. A friend had this done and his i8 was on a lift at a BMW service center for 9 weeks until parts could arrive. Expect to pay around 5k out of warranty for the labor alone. 6 replacement cells cost about 8k.
most reliable hybrid car would go the toyota prius and if we're talking a car in the same league as the i8, then it would be the lc500h
911 was better in every aspect BUT WOW factor…
911s are BORING apart from the GT3RS/ GT2RS
i8 gets respect ALL DAY EVERY DAY
Future CLASSIC 👀
Rich has a Turbo S which is absolutely amazing.
@@PatsGarageOnline 911 Performance-wise -yes.
Aesthetic 911 design- no.
Little has changed in the 911 over the years, tiny uninspired droningly minor conservative risk-less incremental 911 body changes since 1963.
i8 lacks PERFORMANCE but excelled in design and character, especially the Roadster, which I acquired.
It is the DMC-12 of the modern era, a future classic, 1 of 3,884 in the world 🌎 and with nearly 400hp and light weight carbon tub and composite material construction, the chassis feel doesn’t disappoint, though understeer is noticeable at the limit.
Your upgrade Pat to the NSX is a nice leap into PERFORMANCE for sure, together with low production numbers you have a future classic there for sure.
BUT - Park an i8 Roadster (top down, butterfly door up, of course) next to your NSX and ask your average woman or twenty-something which car is the “ SuperCar “, you may not like their answer 🤨
@@EmetYAHUNSX is larger and has better exterior proportions, it’s likely the NSX that will be the first choice as to looking like a supercar. The i8’s skinny tires don’t help it
Hi Pat. There is a clicking noise coming from the front wheels. It started clicking only when turning left or right. Now it's doing it in Straight line. At garage twice and they can't explain it. Any ideas
I would remove the wheels and thoroughly clean the surface of the wheel where it contacts the hub, as well as the hub side as well. Then reinstall the wheel and see if that makes the noise go away.
@PatsGarageOnline someone said they got a service bulletin to replace the wheel studs. I'll try the cleaning first. Thanks Pat for your quick response 👍
@@seosamh8388 Correct, that service bulletin is SI B36 03 15. But folks have had this done only for the noise to come back. After that, people started cleaning the mating surfaces to eliminate the sound for a while. Other's put a tiny bit of high temperature anti-seize on the surfaces to totally prevent it. I ended up doing the latter but never talked about it on my channel.
Pat, how do you remove the rear emblem on the i8??? Help would be greatly appreciated!
You have to remove the rear bumper to get to a screw on the back of the emblem. That screw is what keeps it attached.
@@PatsGarageOnline No way! I was afraid of that! Do you have any links to help me try to pull this off?
These sort of videos never come out before selling, always afterwards. I wonder why?....
BMWs on two and four wheels seem to have the same problem when things fall apart.
Not all of them
Taycan Turbo should be on the short list
I understand how difficult it would be to swap a 6 or V-8 into the i8. How about swapping a Honda 3 cylinder turbo? Seems like it would fit and use an aftermarket turbo and/or some JDM parts to get big power out of the motor?
The issue is getting the parts to talk together.
Wanna do a video on the i8 fuel pump control module location
@patsgarage
I drive a MR2 spider, looking for a bump up. After this a I8 might not be the best choice. perplexed
❤ At First Pat's garage got me into the BMW i8 even I'm not a huge BMW person 🎉 ( I had Porsche before). But 😮 with the economy and electric ⚡ thought driving in the city to work electric ⚡. Then I see rich and others how you can modify the car and I found a company in 🌏 Austria or Germany to get bigger battery 🔋 for a range allegedly up to 100 km/h..... So I m in Germany now eventually I will purchase a used 2017-2019 by end 2025.... Just to have important from USA to Germany.🎉 Just got to change charging plug 🔌 before returning back 🔙🇺🇲🔙. I8 ist just the Look
I own a 2019 i8 Roadster with just over 20k on the clock, fresh off its 20k mile checkup / maintenance. Not worried. If the traction battery has issues you have the 8yr 100k warranty on all of the EV drive components. Battery availability will not be an issue during this period of time. As I understand it, pre-LCI model EV parts (2015-2018) availability should go till at least 2026 and LCI (2019-2020) should be available until 2030. There are also third party outfits that rebuild OEM batteries replacing bad cells / components.
Both of you guys have tinkered quite a bit with your former i8s, and I enjoy watching these videos for sure, but I would imagine a properly cared for and unmodified i8 will be relatively problem free, like a Prius, amiright? Maybe not, time will tell but Im not gonna lose sleep over it.
I've received many messages from folks from other countries who are can't modify their cars due to regulations and they also have had the same expensive failures of SME controllers failing inside the HV battery enclosure, A/C compressors that implode and send swarf throughout the entire system, or coolant leaks leading to an air bubble getting into the head of the engine causing warping. In all these cases, most service centers just tear everything out and replace entire systems at the cost of up to 20k USD in the worst case. Some service centers are also at a loss as to what to do, as the cars are rare and they have no familiarity with doing repairs. It's hard to watch people either not have the money out of warranty or watch people who have cars in warranty have them sit for up to 8 months waiting on parts or hesitant service centers eventually work on their car. If the owner financed the car and pays expensive insurance, that is a hefty amount of money being spent per month to have a car sit on a lift. The issues I've had with my i8 resulted in the service center working on the car since it was CPO. However, I had to make 7 trips to the service center for repairs or for them to fix something they broke when doing the original repair. Lots of downtime and coordinating travel. In comparison, my 2017 Acura NSX Hybrid has never seen the inside of an Acura service center because it doesn't need one. I can't get behind i8 ownership again even if I do dearly miss the car. I just have too much anxiety around it.
@@PatsGarageOnline The impression I get from folks in BMW forums, Reddit, and CZcams comment sections is that there are plenty of owners that are happy with their i8s. Of course youre gonna get feedback from people who are having a bad time and I can see that causing anxiety for you. Nobody is gonna complain about ownership without drama. It also sounds like you have had bad experiences yourself. Thats a real bummer, I get it. We owned (wife's car) one of the few RAV4 EVs outside of CA and you wanna talk about horror stories... checking out the RAV 4 EV forums you would figure every single one was a lemon. Perhaps we were extremely lucky as we logged 96k miles with two visits to Toyota service centers for recalls. They had to fly a guy out from CA just to update the software. Anyway, I hope you enjoy your NSX, that is a sweet car! The 1st gen had been my dream car for many years and the new one is off the charts cool. Im glad youre happy with your purchase. As for me and my i8, I will be fine, we have more than enough cash on hand, and the i8 is under an extended warranty. GL.
😎
Sold mine too bro
These 2 were kneeling to the i8 gods just a while ago and now dumping on it like it’s trash. Sad to see what they are doing here. It’s a great car.
Sometimes people get burned. Lessons learned.
I would really like one as I think 10 years on, they still look fantastic. But of course, this big issues scare my rational brain. The other thing I don't get with it is, if you're going say 100kmh and the battery goes to zero, then the engine kicks in. But then isn't the engine going from stone cold to running at high revs under load. Surely that can't be good for the engine. Note : As you probably guessed, I know nothing
You are correct. Starting the engine in immediately and revving high isn't naturally good for it. But other devices operate the same way (like automatic generators) and they function well for many years. There may be some wear but BMW considered this when they chose to use this engine. I haven't seen engine failures due to wear. Most fail due to a coolant leak
@@PatsGarageOnline Thank you very much and greetings from Prague, CZ where I've only seen 2 of these : 1 back in 2015 outside the BWM dealership up the street, and there's one a kilometre away in some promotion wrap for some small business. Even with a tacky wrap it looks cool !
See Rich's last i8 video: czcams.com/video/gL9Lcib6M70/video.html
See WatchJRGo's i8 video czcams.com/video/mB4mFxZKLic/video.html
Not a forever car?
Talking about dumping money in i8 repairs, all while an old used pickup truck is in the background 😂😂😂 love my i8, it is what it is. Nothing insecure about it. I also who also own a ferrari 296 too btw
I actually this week just traded my 17 Protonic Blue i8 for a 2020 Porsche Taycan Turbo S. I absolutely loved owning the i8 but this Porsche is rediculous!!
So got it tuned where it was capable of 0.60 in 3.9 and then complains it’s “Not a fast car” worrying it will be out paced buy a Camry...You lost me at that point. What a load of bullshit.
We get comments all the time that the BMW is not a fast car. I don't know what people compare it to. But either way, it's easy to get into a faster car at a similar price on the used market.
Is it possible to engine swap with b58 hybrid ?
This is a very common question and I don't believe it's even possible. You're probably going to have to sink so much money into making it work. Then it's cheaper to buy a super car
@@PatsGarageOnline mmmm ok
Oh my new i8 content but looks like the last ever. Now who will I rely on for tips and tricks…the dealer??? 😂
Rich, the answer to your question about buying an older car is simple. Do not buy a BMW, new or otherwise.
.......And this was the point I stopped searching for an i8.
OOh Debbie Downer and Negative Nancy I don't care I'm still getting my i8😆🏁
Please keep 20k on hand for repairs.
Sad about the I8. I am concerned about batteries, even with an EV. I do not think batteries will least the test of time. I like it and do not own it. I'd move for a 911Ferrari and or a Vette Z06. I'd even get an Elise.
I agree. And I hope to own a Lotus some day.
Do they not have warranty’s in America? I’ve never had issues with my i8, you can also update the software fairly easily if you understand the coding, I do not think either of these two have that level of comprehension whatsoever…….
We have warranty but no one would warrant Rich's i8. Mine, BMW would only warranty for 2 years, not longer. Many warranty companies stopped offering coverage on the i8 because they pay out more than they take in with premiums. Rich was turned away from BMW and he was trying to pay cash. I used my warranty multiple times. Either way the car has very expensive flaws that may or may not pop up. If they do pop up, expect to pay tens of thousands in repairs. I drive an Acura NSX now. No repairs necessary because it was engineered to last. The i8 was not. They cut corners. I have plenty of videos discussing how.
@@PatsGarageOnline that doesn’t negate the fact that warranties are readily available within the 50 states of the USA that will fully cover these mechanical complications with the i8, you also disingenuously didn’t mention that Rich’s i8 was salvage, clapped out and repaired by himself in which no genuine dealership will warranty or work on would just be common sense and obvious. He purposely purchased the vehicle to rebuild for content intentions to monetize views then has the audacity to complain and whine when he’s turned away by a dealer. This seems to be a victim mentality and not taking accountability for his choices. I also viewed his video with Tavarish on the P1 in which he didn’t understand how the hybrid system worked or how to actually program the coding and came to the conclusion that it should just be ditched, which shows he’s not able to assimilate complex programming or multiple programs working together. Anyone can change parts or make modifications to a vehicle but actually understanding the complexity of all interactions and triggers within the cpu of a vehicle is a whole different ball game. Also, as 2023 US dependability study shows brand rankings of BMW at 184 and Honda at 205 ( which is below industry standards) highest ranked compact premium car was bmw 4 series, highest ranked compact sporty car was a Mini Cooper which is a very similar engine to the engine in the i8, I seen some of your videos and they are very basic and blatantly obvious and simple to DIY. This is the problem with most CZcams mechanics they do just general straightforward tasks and act as tho they are saviours in which you both are not at all. You both have minimal understanding of complex mechanics / coding.
@@PWNrickyOk we get it, you are a coding nerd. Got it. If you had ever turned a wrench, you would know that everything you wrote may as well have been written by a 6 year old. The way you view people who can't code is how we all look at you when you make silly claims about how BMWs and Mini Coopers are so dependable. Anyone with an ounce of wrenching knowledge knows that the turbo Mini Coopers are lucky to make it to 80k miles before blowing up. BMW using that engine is a joke. Also anyone with an ounce of wrenching knowledge knows that the smaller more basic BMWs are moderately dependable while 5 series and up are junk. And almost every BMW that's older than 5 years old *_will leak oil worse than an old Harley Davidson_*
BTW thank for this I am un subscribing your channel based on your lovely i8 destruction video. Have a nice life.
I would never ever buy a car, that had a tag price of 160K, for 30/40K. That just means you are buying into problems, no matter what car you buy. And then you complain because hey the car has problems and nobody wants to touch it...and it surprises you? I think people should stop blaiming the cars/manufacturer/engine/bla bla bla when they are the ones at fault not understanding what they were buying into and not making any research that goes above 'how fast does it go?'
P.S. it's a shame 'cause I usually like their video, but this one is full on non-sense imo.
Man oh mam sorry but really???
Hey, Pat, great channel ! I have a question - it is possible to replace original BMW battery with another, NOT BMW battery, because is CRAZY those gangsters to ask 20 000 dollars for 11.6 or even 7 kwh battery. It is insane !
Good question. I don't know of anyone who has tried yet. I was hoping Rich Rebuilds would have. But he gave up on the platform.
@@PatsGarageOnline thank you for the answer, Pat. And because you and Rich notice R8 (first gen I guess - and honestly the more beautiful generation), do you think that first gen R8 have the same futuristic face, but in more elegant and beautiful way and actually is the better car to have with v8 or v10 engines who are highly predictable and well known ? Yes i8 is way more futuristic but honestly I really think that R8 first gen overall is more beautiful not only in front but especially in the REAR where honestly I really think the only ugly part ot I8 is the rear end (my opinion but maybe not just main) and in the rear R8 first and even second gen are way more beautiful like design. And honestly I think your NSX is also MORE BEAUTIFUL than I8 like a car design overall (I don't mind the QUALITY - Honda is way above ANY german car maker in this sense).
@@ivonnikolova503 oh I love the R8s
You can buy and replace individual battery modules, I think there are six per pack IIRC. Quick google shows they are around 3k each. Its not often an entire pack goes bad, usually just individual modules or even cells.
@@jay-ru-me The labor to do that is incredibly expensive. In order to get the high voltage battery enclosure out, remove the underbody panels, drain the high temperature coolant circuit, remove the high temperature coolant pipes, drain the A/C system, remove the A/C connection to the high voltage battery, remove the high voltage connection to the enclosure, have a rig that mates to the high voltage battery on the floor and mate that to the high voltage battery enclosure, remove the high voltage battery enclosure from the vehicle and leave the vehicle on the lift. Lower the battery enclosure to working height, and once you get the enclosure open, you will need to disconnect the cabling that inside, remove the cell supervision circuitry, use a special BMW tool called a lifting gear in order to remove individual cells, you'll need an end of service tester to test the cells, and you'll need to remove the A/C lines that run between the series of cells as a cooling manifold in order to get to the bottom row, if necessary. You'll need a state of charge adjuster before the new cell goes into the enclosure so the cells are similar in voltage and an end of service diagnosis tester to do checks on all of the cells just in case more than one is having an issue. Those have BMW part numbers but I don't know if they are available on the public market as well. Seals and bolts will need to be replaced as the enclosure is put back together. Then, you have to work backwards to install everything back into the car, including recharging the A/C system and hopefully vacuum refilling the coolant so that the engine doesn't overheat (this part requires multiple drain-downs and vacuum filling for even the most experienced BMW service center).