BMW i8 Year in Review - Would We Buy Again??

[@HeidiandFranny]

Hi Everyone! It has been a little over a year since we bought the i8. Seemed like a fun idea to do a year in review and let you know our thoughts and experiences with the car. Big question: Was it worth it?

[@PatsGarageOnline]

I LOVED this review! I think it's also cool that we both shared our reviews of the car around the same time. You covered so many different aspects that I hadn't considered, so I'll be linking your review in my video. And thanks for the mention on the door struts. I'm looking forward to hearing about your door strut swap!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks Pat! You have a lot of great i8 content on your channel - excellent resource :)

[@rodgerlee7302]

Very informative video. I just bought a 2019 i8 Roadster. I learned a lot about my car from your excellent video. You two do a great job and cover so many great details. Will be watching all your vids. Thank you!

[@Reve14twelve]

My boss had a nice BMW, I told him I wanted to get one. He told me "these cars are not for people like you" he noticed I was not happy and before I could say anything he showed me the maintenance receipts. That's when I realized he was right

[@HeidiandFranny]

It depends on the year of the car and whether or not you want to maintain it yourself.

[@NickMurray]

Great work ladies, beautifully detailed review. I would be interested in your thoughts as owners that love the car why do you think the i8 has gone from being loved at first to now disliked by car people? It is after all just what it sells itself to be yet they sales have pretty much come to a stop, they devalue off the edge of a cliff and people hate on them even though there really is not much wrong with them?

[@HeidiandFranny]

Good question Nick. I have never really got the hate that you hear for the i8. Maybe folks are upset that a major brand like BMW didn't take the whole super-car thing seriously and produced a sheep in wolf's clothing. It is too bad. My suspicion is that most of the naysayers have never driven the car let alone lived with it. It feels quicker than the numbers would suggest and really is fun and interesting to drive. But that was not really the focus from BMW's standpoint. It was to be an efficient, futuristic car with state of the art styling and drive unit. In truth, it isn't the best at anything so it is easy to pick apart. As far a valuation, that follows a bit from the opinions. Also BMW made more than the market really could support. Most luxury cars depreciate so quickly regardless of their quality or functionality and I think the i8 fell into this as well. Also, I believe the vast majority were leased and that gives a depressed valuation of the car as the lease payments are generally lower than loan payments. Maintenance/repair has been a bit all over the map, but there is a strong fear to own one of these out of warranty due to the perceived complexity. Even the extended warranties from BMW are quite expensive. There is a fear of not being able to work on the car or what will it cost of one of those fancy computer modules goes out. The truth is that is just the modern car reality regardless of brand. The up side is that if you want to have a go with this car they are far cheaper than when new and they are a really fun car. There doesn't seem to be some huge achilles heel like the IMSB from the 2000s era Porsches. Maybe this all adds up to the price of driving an interesting car.

[@mayuquitomayu4743]

I also enjoy this channel and the reviews. It would be great to experience all your vehicles. The i8 and i3 were pushed out of the market by Tesla in my opinion. The model 3 made me quit BMW after researching the car for over one year. I recall the test drive began and at 20 feet from the moment I began to drive I knew I would buy one. I sold my M3 and X5M immediately and never looked back. The iDrive, the 60 buttons in the car and the permanent residence at the mechanic made me leave the brand. The carbon fiber tub is the only real merit of the i3 or i8. And if I were to pick a car for that carbon-fiber monocoque technology I would say the Alfa 4C stands out as the most wonderful car in the last decade. It is so simple and just true to its purpose - A baby 308 GTB waiting to become the most iconic car of the last 20 years. BTW - I love all the cars in your videos. Just wanted to give my opinions on the i8 demise. Your 308 is unbelievable and good job on your restoration. My dream car.

[@kalam564]

You made a great point at 23:00 about horsepower and it's a lesson I've had to learn the hard way. It's way more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Totally true! And the i8 isn't slow, it just isn't blindingly fast. With traffic and road conditions you just don't get may opportunities to even use what it has...

[@johncurly6960]

'Yall have become some of my favorite car people ..you compliment each other as well as your audience ....thanx

[@michaelc2254]

Thanks ladies for a very thorough review. I have owned my ‘15 i8 for two years and the CPO warranty runs out today so I’m keeping my fingers crossed, but so far so good. I completely agree that there is really nothing else like it out there for the money. You mentioned faster cars with 0-60 times in the mid threes but Car and Driver and Road & Track tested a ‘15 i8 and got 3.6 and 3.8 to 60 so it does just fine. The power delivery with the quick torque kick is very satisfying. As you said, it’s not the best at anything but the whole package is really special. I have owned more powerful cars but there is way more to this car than horsepower numbers. It’s a sophisticated, elegant machine and I applaud BMW for taking a risk and building such a unique vehicle. I am getting 44 mpg overall - show me another car than can achieve that kind of mileage, get to 60 in under 4 seconds, run all of my errands without burning any gasoline and turn heads everywhere it goes.

[@stevers9918]

Tesla Performance Model 3 or AWD dual motor (can be upgraded to 0-60 in 3.9) if you really need that.... I've had my dual motor since August 2018... do NOT miss having to stop at gas stations. No range anxiety - (supercharger network and charge at my condo.) so NO gas. Very minimal maintenance. Only maintenance I've done since purchase is rotate tires. Probably less maintenance than the I8 and can seat 5. Plus have all the other Tesla benefits such as OTA updates... my car had gotten better with added features for FREE since I purchased. - Received sentry mode, dash cam, slightly improved range, ability to upgrade the 0-60.... When the I8 came out that was definitely a bucket list car.... but I have to say - my M3 is more affordable and has same or better performance than I8 - and it will drive me safely in the same lane in heavy traffic on the freeway.

[@nateyee]

Awesome video! Love how in depth and honest this review was. It really makes me confident in getting the i8 as my next car. Bravo! 👏

[@Cdoggg007]

This was the best review I have found on the i8 :) great job and as a colorado native, hearing it's capabilities during winter was essential! Thanks ladies!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful! It really is a neat car :)

[@richardwhaley8495]

Thanks for the review, I concur completely. I also bought a just off lease '15 i8 one year ago. (Terra, Sophisto Gray, W's), I like it a lot and look forward to another year, not tired of it at all. Usually after a year I am looking for something new. No troubles, no problems except a fuel vent valve, covered under factory warranty. I did spend for the extended warranty at time of purchase. Expensive but to me, worth the peace of mind. BMW labor rate on central coast California is $205/hr. I think the less than positive comments by others is that "they just don't get it". They are comparing it to other ICE exotics. BMW's intent and accomplishment was to create something new and attention getting, a good looking comfortable futuristic GT using fuel for range and electric for torque and mileage. They were successful in my opinion.

[@PatsGarageOnline]

I agree 100 percent!

[@jigtv2126]

This was by far the best natural review given on this car and I’m glad I found it. I’ll be getting the car!

[@Caen-MK]

I'm super late on this but thank you ladies for such a great honest review of my dream car. I'm looking at i8s now and researching what others think and their experiences. Pat's Garage was a great source as well. Glad you enjoyed the car!

[@HeidiandFranny]

We still have ours and we still adore it. It's a great car.

[@davidviner4932]

Here in the UK that dark tint from the B pillar forwards is illegal, because it restricts visibility, so I'm surprised it's legal in the US

[@HeidiandFranny]

It is in a lot of places here too but it can almost be community by community.

[@michaeljamisontigers]

Its the cold that drops the pressure in the shocks , when summer are back the pressure will also be back .

[@HeidiandFranny]

True. Same issue with the boot/bonnet struts on the 911s. It is a sign they are failing. We have to replace the struts on the 993 as well...

[@rodriguezahr]

Ladies, you rock. Love your review, I usually don’t watch long videos but this one kept me focused. Love this car and I think if you’ll ever sell your i8 the buyer is gonna be the luckiest in the world.

[@Djsatile]

I stay in Chicago so this is the video I needed to see a review with snow 😂😂

[@Nathan_Johnson7723]

Good point on the tint. Although I like my tinted windows I was hit in a roundabout at night because the other car had too dark of tint and didn’t see me when merging in.

[@lamaludwig1470]

Always an enjoyment to watch your videos. Thanks from a BMW fan in Switzerland :-)

[@PearlJan9]

I was considering buying one, but im not too sure Im decideding between the bmw i8 or a porsche panamera, the porsche deff seems more practical. Meanwhile the i8 seems less practical and this is my experience from renting the i8 and trying it out too, but I cant deny the cool/fun factor and all the compliments/motivation it gave me while driving it

[@HeidiandFranny]

They are completely different usages. If you plan on hauling more than yourself and one other person, then the i8 would be impractical.

[@mercator79]

I appreciate this so much. Coming from the future where an early coupe is 40-60 and a roadster is 70-90. I am really into the roadster and debating it and a 911 4S... a wonderful dilemma to be sure, but this is reinforcing my inclination towards the i8. I am not a racer I am a cruiser.

[@gtslaw]

Bimmertech makes a module that adds CarPlay to the iDrive. Just got it for my i8 and love it

[@HeidiandFranny]

Great to know!! I think we'll be looking into that.

[@gtslaw]

www.bimmer-tech.net/category-bmw-carplay-mmi-retrofit

[@sprezzatura8755]

It is helpful to mention that in Europe cars are generally taxed in proportion to their CO2 emissions. That is what sparked the i8's development and just one more aspect that makes it a winner. You can make the argument that super car buyers do not care about fuel efficiency or the environment (I do). But it seems to be a matter of time before regulators adopt similar CO2 punishments here in the United States. And let's be honest, how many all-wheel-drive-energy efficient-hybrid-eco-friendly-futuristic sports cars are there? To be sure, fully electric supercars are right around the corner and you will pay handsomely to be first in line. The i8 is still a groundbreaking car that now represents incredible value for money. It still looks fresh and futuristic, right out of a Kubrick film. I drove an early coupe years ago, but the Roadster is my dream car :)

[@GTRWendy]

Pat's garage is awesome. Loved this video!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Pat is great! Lots of great content on his channel.

[@jerrodlarson8391]

Thanks for the video, this was awesome-I learned a lot 😊

[@henrivangerwen]

This is a very good review of a beautiful car, thanks for that !!

[@helenapicarra476]

I'm thinking in buying the i8. Your review was great! Really highlights some of the points that I was concerned. Thank you!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Glad it was helpful!

[@antbrown1632]

Wow! Where to start? First of all I check out the video and see it gets a big thumbs up from none other than Nick Murray(!) then you describe the method of getting in and out and it matches perfectly what I did nearly 20 years ago for my vx220 (GM version of the Elise sold in the UK), so if I was keen to get an i8 before, I'm crazy for one now! Thank you!

[@ttmezger]

Enjoyed the video! You probably know this already, but you should be able to pretty easily turn off the piped in sound, at least you can on other BMWs. You just need the VeePeak Bluetooth OBD2 scanner (or similar) and Bimmerlink app. I’ve played with it on my M2 so wanted to mention it.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks for that. From what I've read it is a bit difficult to shush that. It isn't too loud and it isn't a bad sound. I think the little three-pot actually has a pretty cool sound. We need to get the Bimmerlink app and change a few other little annoyances.

[@ttmezger]

@@HeidiandFranny Makes sense. From what I’ve read there are two apps: Bimmerlink and Bimmercode. I haven’t messed with the coding one, but that may be what you want. The Bimmerlink one is mainly for checking/clearing CELs and seeing/logging data but they built in two “buttons” for opening exhaust system valves and turning off the piped in sound. The coding one has a lot more functionality for changing the coding. Anyway, looking forward to more content!

[@thisguy1520]

Sometimes those struts can be revived by removing them and allowing them to rest, fully extended, for a couple of days.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Good to know. We will hang.on to them then. We have already ordered new ones. Our passenger door strut is o ky going about 50 percent now.

[@typxxilps]

it's also depending on temperatures, the warmer, the better

[@PatsGarageOnline]

Good advice. I kept my old ones. I think I'll give that a try once my replacements weaken.

[@masterchief586]

I used to live in the Black Forest region of Colorado Springs. It snowed 3 feet on July 4th 1997. That's why I moved to Tucson, AZ.

[@JeffKing310]

What a great review! Love this channel! Proud to be a Patreon supporter of Heidi and Franny's Garage.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks soooo much Jeff!!

[@FulNitro]

Great video! Hoping to purchase one soon! Very informative video

[@HeidiandFranny]

They are super fun! Let us know if we can help with any questions.

[@Lolise1265]

Stumbled upon your videos just today, and I gotta say you both do an amazing job !

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks so much!

[@duanetoney1]

Doesn't the large battery have to be replaced at some point? Cost to replace?

[@HeidiandFranny]

It is warrantied for 8 years/100,000 mi. We have quite a ways to go...

[@etelfort]

Just subscribed. Looking to buy this car, and you guys helped sealed the deal.

[@HeidiandFranny]

That's awesome! Congrats!

[@BIGLARRY100]

BMW climate was always 74 degrees Fahrenheit until recently. Unfortunately I lost app connectivity w/ the 3g sunset 😑

[@paulmoe1]

Good stuff! Interesting to hear your opinions about owning the car and the joy it gives you. I share the same with my 16 i8. I have to confess that watching Pat's video about his year of ownership and the issues as well as his hint that it might be ending when his warranty runs out, bummed me out. To me its a fantastic car. I never thought that I would own a car that looks like it is from the future. It was your review of the i8, when you purchased it, that helped me with my decision to purchase my car. Thanks for the help. Great work on your channel. Thanks for the info on the i8.

[@HeidiandFranny]

We do really like the car. It is so special to drive and, even a year later it is a sense of occasion. I'm a little bummed that Pat is feeling a little blue. He has had a few weird issues though.

[@rocketbird]

You guys need to check out the movie Best of Show. Specifically , the couple that own the standard poodle. All in good fun! Insightful video. Thank you

[@HeidiandFranny]

We have seen the movie several times. I am not sure I get your reference. Heidi

[@renerebe]

Yes

[@georgeholloway3981]

I agree with you about the problem with tinting. I think it really does change the way people interact, when they can't see the person inside the car. I live in Taiwan and lots of people have tinted windows; it feels much more impersonal.

[@HeidiandFranny]

I totally agree... I understand for hotter areas but I'm just not a fan...

[@sjllee2588]

Thank you for a wonderful review. I enjoyed it. it is a great review.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks so much!

[@duderu4real94]

Love the review ladies. . . Do you do shopping in the i8 and if so, how you manage with the small trunk?

[@HeidiandFranny]

We do! The back is a little small but still holds a good amount. But having the back seats makes up for it. You can get quite a bit back there. If you are by yourself, then you also have the passenger seat. I think it holds more than the 911s. That and it is a fun ride to the store ;)

[@Tracks777]

amazing stuff

[@TekMoliGy]

that ceramic coating and stuff you put on the front bumber is a great idea. i never even knew such a thing existed. i'll have to look into that

[@HeidiandFranny]

It is pretty sweet...

[@marcusd2380]

To get a jack under the car when it is low to the ground. First drive the wheel onto a block of wood to give u a little more access for the jack

[@HeidiandFranny]

If you are referring to our flat tire video, there was no way you could drive it. The valve stem was broken and no air was left in the tire. I appreciate your idea, but there was no moving it without damage to the rim.

[@marcusd2380]

We do it at work to allow access for jacking cars that are lowered with out issue. All u are doing is placing a small bit of wood right in front of the wheel and then drive it on to it... even with the wheel being flat the wheel should not come in contact with the car body.. and wood won’t damage ur rim. The knowledge Franny has around cars would put many mechanics to shame. Great videos best on you tube

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks so much Marc! Great advice :)

[@will4688]

Very informative video. Beautiful car.

[@judih.8754]

The Hakka winter tires are awesome. I've run them on my cars since the early 80s. Good choice! After listening to the complete review I was a bit surprised to hear you both say you would buy it again. It seems it is an emotional purchase much more than logical.

[@HeidiandFranny]

I think there is a big emotional component to our decisions ;) I always want a car I feel passionate about from the little 356 through the Ferrari to the i8. We are completely nuts - not a practical car in the garage... The i8 is a blast to drive and just such a nice place to be.

[@klausnielsen7102]

I had my Roadster delivery with Nokian on the 517 style, 215 front 245 back. They cost a fortune new. List price incl 25% vat in Norway is $ 9-10.000! They are the best winter tyres for the i8 in real cold snowy condition.

[@carlitoxb110]

hi guys awesome video as always

[@jasonstewart1227]

I bought one. I’d do it again. But anyone who buys this car without a warranty or as a CPO is really just an idiot and shouldn’t complain as it’s a high end unique car. It’s going to be expensive if anything breaks. Most people who knock the vehicle have improper expectations on what the car is-it’s not a GT car. It’s not a Tesla. It’s not a Prius. It’s not a true Exotic Super Car. It’s an innovative mashup and a car which proves you can get a mix of super car looks, good performance and be economical and functional enough to be a daily driver. Its a true statement piece. It’s a future classic for sure. I’d recommend getting a 2019-20 so you get the better battery and Apple Car Play. While the tech is not the latest I-platform, it’s reliable and functional. Great review!!

[@mrfiera]

Hello , did you guys had any problems with the ac compresor ?

[@HeidiandFranny]

It's always cold in Colorado, so we rarely run the A/C. We are probably not the best people to ask about that issue, but so far we have not. Perhaps I have now jinxed us. Heidi

[@reginaram3944]

Is it for sale ?

[@meinwarcrafttagebuch5142]

Interesting I expected Heidi to be in love with the car and expected Franny to be more on the puristic petrol side. Thank you for the quality review.

[@samanthanazish1915]

Thank you❤️ you ladies are so knowledgeable

[@volooooo]

Great review ladies 👍🏼

[@Tracks777]

lovely stuff

[@964tractorboy]

A very comprehensive video. Great!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks!

[@peterjones596]

Dontcha just love these two! It's great to hear women's perspectives on cars, guys are all just power, power, power, it handles great, blah, balh blah.. Not about just living with the car.. This is what I wanted to know, thanks a lot ladies, I now know that I really want one, because it's fairly practical, for a supercar, and I already knew it had power, power, power! Love yas. X

[@caduceus33]

Can you snip the wire to the augmented sound?

[@HeidiandFranny]

Not quite that simple ;) It is possible to pull a wire out of the harness I think, but even that can throw a code.

[@richardpowell6096]

What year did you say your BMW i8 is

[@HeidiandFranny]

It's a 2015. Six years later, we still love our car.

[@wernerdanler2742]

Hi Heidi and Franny! This just popped up after watching a more recent video on the Carrera. Do you still have this car? I've not seen it in the garage. So winter tires are made to not get as hard as regular tires in the cold so they will give better traction on slick surface. I usually just go with all-season tires. Samcrac on KZbin bought one of these and is having a really hard time with the cooling system on the gas engine. Aparantly it is hard to bleed the air out of them which causes overheating problems if something has to be replaced in the system or the engine needs work. You might want to get an extended warranty on it just in case especially since it is a BMW. Gas at Costco or Sam's club is usually cheaper than anyplace so if there is one around close enough you might want to go to one of those. Of course you have to be a member. I pay around $2.50 for premium for my Mercedes-Benz here in Vegas. If they built cars that used a small turbine to turn a generator to power electric motors like diesel-electric locomotives I'd be in but these kind of hybrids are just way to complicated. Have fun!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Sure do! Ours has been just great. I have been following and speaking with Sam. That really is a head scratcher. His issues are just with the engine. It can't be all that complicated. These cars really aren't any more complicated than any other plug in hybrid. They look crazy, but really not that bad at all. It really is a great car!

[@stevenzurheide225]

Awesome review!

[@deercreeker]

Why would a 12V battery need to be VIN linked? Legit need or service revenue generation policy?

[@theogantenbein7870]

I think it‘s a thing with the battery monitor thingy (Sorry, no idea what‘s its name in english). I‘ll ask an electrician tomorrow. Same thing with Porsches.

[@HeidiandFranny]

That's what we heard too. It helps the car know how to charge it based on age...

[@HeidiandFranny]

We had folks say that about the MINI battery too when we replaced it with an off-the-shelf. It seemed just fine. The dealership said it was to aid the car in charging by knowing how old the battery is. They say that the battery will only last 2-3 years. That seems super short to me. When we had it done it was under warranty so, ok, I guess ;) Not sure I would bother next time... It added two days to the repair time.

[@klausnielsen7102]

As far as I know all bmw has to have. In order for the monitoring of the battery the car has to know exactly what battery is is looking at.

[@theogantenbein7870]

So I asked our electrician. I work at a Porsche dealership so maybe this is only right for Porsche vehicles. The battery isn't VIN-locked as in one couldn't use it in another car or the battery wouldn't work in a different car at all. The battery is "trained" (sorry, that is the literal meaning of the german expression - angelernt- I don't know the proper english term) to the car. So the battery management system is told the capacity and built of it. But you could train the battery to any other car, too. Since the 12V battery is charged through the DC/DC-converter from the high-voltage battery, as there is no generator*, this is necessary for the 12 V battery not to be charged too much or vice versa. This would be bad for battery life and also influence the range of the car (as you can see what hapened to the BMW's range with the bad cell.). A trainer from Audi once told me that they go for every single detail to extend range of the hybrid and fully electric cars. That's why the newer Audis have a camera on a stick and two monitors in the door panels for review mirrors. Even if the monitors consume a bit of juice, it's still better for the car's range than two big review mirrors with a much bigger wind resistance. Besides, the battery monitor is the box on the negative terminal of your battery. LiPo batteries (like the 992's) have a built-in monitor, that's why there is an extra cable plugged in to the battery. If you charge your battery, you must NOT use the negative terminal of the battery. There is always a dedicated spot for the negative clamp of the external charger. In the 991, there is a stud on the windshield wiper mechanic for instance. Otherwise it could damage the battery monitor, wich is a bit expensive. At least if you have to have it repaired in a Porsche centre ;) . * The high-voltage battery is solely charged through recuperation from the electric motor/s. Please note that english is my 2nd language and this tech-talk is a bit too deep for my language skills. Plus, I'm a sheet metal guy. Even though that makes me the swiss army knive of the automotive trade, I'm more familliar with ancient techniques like welding, hammering and leading... I hope i could make myself clear, anyway.

[@nothingheretowatch7371]

I love the car 😍😍😍

[@dewajtis]

The coolest channel on youtube. Love from Poland. 😘

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks and Welcome!

[@moorechocolate]

I might have missed this. But, what is the exact range you are getting?

[@HeidiandFranny]

The all electric is around 15mi. It fluctuates based on driving behavior. Full range on the car I have see over 400mi, but I think 360-ish mile is more reasonable. It has a small gas tank (less that 12 gal).

[@elvindelacrur2160]

Great reviews.

[@robtron3]

Great video - i8pat is the man

[@WOOOPdoctorFROGhere]

This is a really good video, I'm thinking of buying one and wasn't aware that there is an app. Could the dealership install this app and access the information for the car? As I have some questions for them and it would be useful if they could send me screenshots from the app, so I know about any upcoming servicing due etc.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Well, there is a phone app. You can download it and once you buy the car, you put in the VIN.

[@peterrandall1229]

Great video, when’s the next 3.2 video ☺️

[@HeidiandFranny]

Coming... We just got the plating back! The powder coating will be a few more weeks and we need to order what else we need, but we'll do some un-boxing of the parts. That should be fun :)

[@elvindelacrur2160]

Very Informative video.

[@stevereilly]

I sold my LCi, I couldn't bond with it, it just felt a little like Google Glass, slightly dated tech, and it missed "soul". I prefer my i3/Bullitt combo. Having owned both the LCi is a much better car over the earlier i8, better handling and more useable range.

[@FLJAMESFL]

Awesome video peeps.

[@malcolmscott4150]

Love this car it’s great - however I would live permanently in your 308 however as it and the Porsche’s are brilliant - great update 😍

[@HeidiandFranny]

That 308 need to be driven!!! We have a cross pipe out and down with the 911 parts getting ceramic coating. When it gets back ;)

[@Rip_Luff16]

keep it up i super love your channel i liked the i8 is my dream car i hope one day is see one but one day my dream will come true white i8 with blue rims

[@johnhowell316]

Interesting! Some of those things I never would have thought about. It definitely is a unique car and very beautiful. Never thought about the size of it. And not sure about the doors either. Maybe I'm just too traditional. Great job ladies. Thank you!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Yup, it's not for everyone... But it is pretty unique...

[@AbadonPers]

I love this car

[@HeidiandFranny]

It really is a cool car :)

[@crgmrgn]

Don't take this the wrong way, but each of your points leads me to believe that an recent i3/i3s would have been a "best fit", especially given that you've got the multiple Porsches to fall back on for fun/trips/etc ...

[@HeidiandFranny]

The i3 is really only good out here for close in driving. Even with the on-board generator it can't make it up the mountains. If you are driving 5mi to work every day it is a good choice, but I really like the style and driving of the i8. We did make a video compare of the two...

[@hussilveridico3002]

Great Car

[@JeffersonMartinSynfluent]

Sounds like this car was the auto industry's version of a UAT cycle. But, the cars which follow will benefit from that.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Ya know, I really hope so too, but all that carbon reinforced plastic technology doesn't seem to be finding its way into the new cars. Maybe the i line was a bit too much show but I think, at least the i8 will be somewhat sought after like the Z8 is now. Time will tell...

[@JeffersonMartinSynfluent]

@@HeidiandFranny True that on the i8 being a sought after collectible car- as leading edge models seem to always survive the passage of time. Regarding the current reticence for industry acceptance of carbon-fiber materials this, too, will pass since Boeing and Airbus appear to favor CF layups over the aluminum sheet as the material of choice for their wing members. This should go a long way toward general industry acceptance of the material. As we move toward totally-electric cars, a shapeable material with an acceptable strength to weight ratio; a high shear modulus and a high dielectric constant should be in high demand. Thanks for the video! Look forward to the next one.

[@ThomasTomiczek]

Yeah, those OLD BMW's - i listen to your advantages and all are fixed in the 2019 model ;) Larger scren, better navi, 50km battery range.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Good to know. Maybe we'll update some day :)

[@klausnielsen7102]

I can confirm that! My Roadster has a 11.6 battery, range app 54 km and the latest iDrive.

[@jeffkeryk3550]

Beautiful car. For $150K I would expect a lot more car. And the value drops like a rock. A Tesla Model 3 is a much better choice, doncha think?

[@HeidiandFranny]

No, not at all... I did a review on the 3P and it feels like a $25K car at best. The interior feels cheap and cold and the fit and finish was terrible on the car I reviewed. The i8 currently trades for the mid 60s which puts it very close to the 3P and there is no comparison. I took the owner of the 3P I reviewed out for a drive in the i8 and his first words were "Wow... This is a real sense of occasion". BMW lost money on every i8 they built. It was proof of concept and a truly unique car with great usability and great styling. 100 times over I would pick the i8. You should drive both and see...

[@abernathymonsoon4638]

Great review! I cannot believe that's all you pay for premium???? Close to $4 here, if not more.

[@HeidiandFranny]

$2.94 as of today for premium.

[@abernathymonsoon4638]

@@HeidiandFranny EEEEK! $3.93 here =(

[@operationwolverines1709]

you need to get run flat fires for your i8,

[@recklesslyarrogant7242]

This video just now popped up on my feed.

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks so much for the note. YT is funny... The only thing I can say is to have the notifications on and on the app. We have other friends that have the same issues on their channels.

[@caduceus33]

I support my 2000 Neon for the foreseeable future.

[@jamesgeese]

Really??

[@caduceus33]

@@jamesgeese Yes. As much as I reasonably can.

[@paulthorpe766]

I predict Ladies that the i8 is the next Z8, SLS low volume cult investment. The car goes out production this month after 5.5 yrs. It cost BMW $200k to make, and when it's long gone in ten years from now will be appreciating like the above two cars that at the time were heavily discounted (about 30% - I see this as depreciation up-front btw) to shift them - I know because I bought them both at the time and they both started rising in value after 5-6 yrs. I've put my money where my mouth is and bought a i8 Roadster last month (30% discount).. Let's see 🤔

[@HeidiandFranny]

Thanks for that Paul. I feel the same way. The Roadster will be the one to have. How do you like yours? Any issues with loosing the storage of the two rear seats?

[@paulthorpe766]

@@HeidiandFranny it's pretty much the same as my 2014 coupe. However the main improvement is that of you drive it in electric alone for 27-28 miles with new range it has, and the new front axle set up means it no longer badly understeers as the 14 car did in full electric. Put it in sport and with both (or all 3 if you include the motorcycle power starter that BMW fitted to provide torque-fill on boost) power plants then it now is a bit more we edgy as it rear end now moves about and I'm less inclined to switch the DSC off when in the wet as I did in the 14 coupe, when you could just obliterate wet weather twisty roads with gay abandon. The non Lazer headlights are still only ok, fit and finish are great, I never used the rear seats so no loss there for us (other cars for that). Best of all despite it having a fabric roof it feels and drives like coupe (something the AMG SLS definitely did not, it was a squeakandrattlefest ) and is silent...and when the roof is down its magic, especially in full electric, as you can hear the birds at 75 mph🙂

[@1rexrex]

Windows roll down. Thats how I deal with tinted windows at night.

[@johnme4579]

what year is it????? errrrrrrrrr

[@HeidiandFranny]

2015. We did a complete review on this exact car: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWWcmXiJnr6oeaM

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

Been waiting for you to do a video like this. Glad you enjoy it. The only thing I don't like about the i8 is it's design doesn't kind of serve a purpose. In a Ferrari for example it's more of a frame to hold a huge engine as close to the ground as possible. Then a Ferrari would not like the way you use the i8. I did keep thinking during the video that a Mini would be easier for running the errands. But that's boring in comparison...

[@HeidiandFranny]

The i8 is really a highway cruiser (like the 308 weirdly) and is really great for that. So that is its intended purpose. It makes a great medium distance commuter. I think it also looks great doing it. The MINI and I just didn't get along. It was fine and did it's thing just fine, but I grew not to trust it. It never felt premium and at its cost it should feel at least special. Personal taste I suppose... If you get a chance, take an i8 out for a spin and see if you feel different. I'd be curious as to what you think.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@@HeidiandFranny I think you sum it up well. I might try an i8 one day. Thanks

[@dillon155minecraft]

Yall should do some vlogs lol

[@HeidiandFranny]

Totally! We really should.

[@dillon155minecraft]

@@HeidiandFranny ayyyy

[@WilliamAndrewPhilipBodie]

when are you 2 getting the car of the future ? The DeLorean :-)

[@zeroChannelJJ]

Are they a couple... This is an Odd channel, but interesting nevertheless...

[@HeidiandFranny]

Why is it odd? Tell me, I really want to know...

[@fw1421]

Dark tint tends to get more attention from cops,attention I don’t want.

[@HeidiandFranny]

I agree...

[@masterchief586]

Give me a 993 or a 996 anyway 😎🤓

[@mikebreen2890]

Tint kills

[@HeidiandFranny]

Yeah, we hated the tint.

[@typxxilps]

real world price in germany: 0,3€ or 0,33$ /kWh 1,5€ or 1,65$ / L premium or 6,10$ / gallon That price would change the american taste what car to buy easily. Efficiency is king ... and trucks or pickups a no go ... Therefore american car imports are low except Tesla and mercedes + bmw from american plants. That leads to energy efficiency awareness from childhood on ...

[@steffydog]

How cheap is your fuel, wowza, just changed UK litre to gallon, then pound to dollars, we are $5.5 per gallon, our cost is £1.25 per litre. Go you!

[@HeidiandFranny]

Fuel is really cheap here, which is why there is very little incentive to switch to alternative fuels with cars. The government is even going to remove tax breaks for E vehicles and hybrids. This last year I had to PAY an additional tax on the i8 by my state because I have a plug in car.

[@richardsmith9509]

I think its foolish to drive this car in winter.....in the garage until spring no doubt

[@MrQmie]

Electricity 0.12 US-$/kWh... Here in Germany 0.32 €... 14 without taxes... Gasoline 5+ €/gal here... Never vote ecosocialist! The newer model has an 11 kWh battery Thank you for the review.