BMWi8

[Blobcat]

This is turning into the Tupperware Battery Box forum!

It’s not mine, I’m driving it in the dark so I’m not seen

Is it more comfortable than my SLK (not even close) is it more fun (I refer you to my previous answer). Would I buy one, no. Unknown Battery costs and 50 mile range means a no from me.

Is it a competent (although needs smaller wheels and more comfortable suspension) commuting city car. Yes it is and for that very small requirement it fairs well. Very responsive from the lights and fun to chuck around.

 

[Blobcat]

Some decent thickness electric string on this...

Only 125 amp...

 

[John Laidlaw]

Got it back from BMW this afternoon- happy days
Now toasty heating ...
So conditioning set for my am departure time ..... fingers crossed

 

[Blobcat]

Got it back from BMW this afternoon- happy days
Now toasty heating ...
So conditioning set for my am departure time ..... fingers crossed

I did notice the i3 warms up fast, guessing it’s some form of ceramic heater like my airscarfe. The heated seats get very hot very fast as well. No issues with the -6’ I had this moaning. Quick scrape and away I went.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Couple of members were asking about the plug in aspect.
I got pod point to install a tethered charge point- this one is a 7kwh model which is sufficient for PHEVs and slow charge to full electric vehicles. There is still a £500 OLEV grant so this ended up costing me nett £359. Comes with wireless and connects to your hub and an app so you can see what its been doing and cost. It also maps any pod point charge points in your vicinity you can also use, sometimes free, sometimes at a cost ( my local M & S at Cheshire oaks has 2 pod points which are free). All quite neat...

 

[John Laidlaw]

Also an update as to the seating position...
Now got it right, or thereabouts. The car lends itself to a considerably more ‘laid back’ position which is hardly surprising I guess. Anyway after a couple of attempts it’s about right.
The lack of auto hold is still a bit of a strain, but I’ll just MTFU on that!
Any Mercedes I’ve had or jumped into takes much less fiddling about with the seating than the BMW’s I’ve now encountered (including the 530d I had on loan), but once right it’s comfortable.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

How are you finding the Bridgestone runflats John? My 4 series runs on 19in rims and Bridgestone runflats which are too firm for our third world roads so will change to standard tyres when the time comes. I might even consider 18in wheels if that doesn’’t sort the ride out. Grip on smooth roads is good but as we’re not blessed in that respect runflat tyres choppy ride over anything else doesn’t instill confidence

 

[keefysher]

View attachment 47769 View attachment 47770 Couple of members were asking about the plug in aspect.
I got pod point to install a tethered charge point- this one is a 7kwh model which is sufficient for PHEVs and slow charge to full electric vehicles. There is still a £500 OLEV grant so this ended up costing me nett £359. Comes with wireless and connects to your hub and an app so you can see what its been doing and cost. It also maps any pod point charge points in your vicinity you can also use, sometimes free, sometimes at a cost ( my local M & S at Cheshire oaks has 2 pod points which are free). All quite neat...

With my co-countryman thinking hat on... Is your office beyond Cheshire Oaks from home?? You could pop in, put on charge (leave overnight) as you get dinner, go to the cinema etc, and save a few pennies.

Did you need a 30A supply to put the charger into if you run at full 7Kwh? Any other house wiring mods? Or is it just on the ring?

Do you constantly top it up, or full discharge / recharge cycles? Wonder if charging cycle affects battery life / condition.

Glad you are a guinea pig for us to learn from

 

[ajlsl600]

thats a grand looking motor ,and i not generally a bmw fan . i will try to look at one when next in uk. and dress smart enough for the salesman to think i might have a chance of affording it!!!!. whats a realistic battery life/replacement cost .

 

[John Laidlaw]

How are you finding the Bridgestone runflats John? My 4 series runs on 19in rims and Bridgestone runflats which are too firm for our third world roads so will change to standard tyres when the time comes. I might even consider 18in wheels if that doesn’’t sort the ride out. Grip on smooth roads is good but as we’re not blessed in that respect runflat tyres choppy ride over anything else doesn’t instill confidence

The Bridgestone RF’s are very unforgiving for sure. I’ve no doubt commented my disdain for runflats in the past in general too, but the i8 comes with them whether you like it or not....the wheels are also 20in which doesnt help of course as you mention . Not a car to change these sort of things on though...

 

[John Laidlaw]

With my co-countryman thinking hat on... Is your office beyond Cheshire Oaks from home?? You could pop in, put on charge (leave overnight) as you get dinner, go to the cinema etc, and save a few pennies.

Did you need a 30A supply to put the charger into if you run at full 7Kwh? Any other house wiring mods? Or is it just on the ring?

Do you constantly top it up, or full discharge / recharge cycles? Wonder if charging cycle affects battery life / condition.

Glad you are a guinea pig for us to learn from

Cheshire Oaks is unfortunately the opposite direction Keith, however the Pod Point parking spots are in a great spot....
The charge point can be on a seperate 30a from the consumer board, or in my case straight from the meter on it’s own (even better if they’d wired it before the meter )
Last thing on the charging cycle is an ongoing learning cycle, frankly not sure yet. Still studying. It also seems very variable. When I got it back from BMW I got up to 18 miles range, as opposed to the 13 miles beforehand, how settled on 16 possibly (theoretical 21 miles...)
This guinea pig will continue their reports as and when.....

 

[Blobcat]

The charge point can be on a seperate 30a from the consumer board, or in my case straight from the meter on it’s own (even better if they’d wired it before the meter )

The “economy” supply...

The Bridgestone RF’s are very unforgiving for sure. I’ve no doubt commented my disdain for runflats in the past in general too, but the i8 comes with them whether you like it or not....the wheels are also 20in which doesnt help of course as you mention . Not a car to change these sort of things on though...

The i3 also has 20” runflats, albeit 175 width and 55 aspect ratio. They’re still like riding on solid cart wheels though

 

[LostKiwi]

For that kind of range you could have got one of these and saved some cash!

I actually thought about one for my commute to the station with this new job...

 

[John Laidlaw]

thats a grand looking motor ,and i not generally a bmw fan . i will try to look at one when next in uk. and dress smart enough for the salesman to think i might have a chance of affording it!!!!. whats a realistic battery life/replacement cost .

Neither was I to be honest, having only owned one other BMW- an 840ci in the late 90s
The batteries have an 8 year warranty, BMW say they should last 10-15 years but at some point they will degrade and not hold charge for so long/need charged more often.
Cost has reduced and will reduce further as Lithium prices get more reasonable due to recent large finds of the stuff. At the moment the prices are 5-6k mark....

 

[ajlsl600]

if the car is good for 10 yr +. battery cost not bad, feel that will screw with 10 yr used values. but deffo the best looking since 850csi coupe, i believe ? wonder what 10 yr old prices will be ? still going to look.

 

[SmartAmg]

For that kind of range you could have got one of these and saved some cash!

I actually thought about one for my commute to the station with this new job...

Mmm, LostKiwi in a Twizy,
Might pay to see that!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Mmm, LostKiwi in a Twizy,
Might pay to see that!

The top would have to be removed!

 

[John Laidlaw]

First JDL wash and spruce....

 

[Craiglxviii]

What flow rate did you set your pressure washer on?

 

[John Laidlaw]

What flow rate did you set your pressure washer on?

Blew the ****** doors off!!