i Series - CALLING ALL i3 AND i8 OWNERS

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CALLING ALL i3 AND i8 OWNERS

Printed From: BMW Car Club Forum
Category: Cars & Registers
Forum Name: i Series
Forum Description: Discussion forum for the i Series
URL: https://www.bmwccgbforum.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=12648
Printed Date: 26 Mar 2026 at 9:07pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: CALLING ALL i3 AND i8 OWNERS

Posted By: johnwallis
Subject: CALLING ALL i3 AND i8 OWNERS
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2016 at 9:51am

I would love to have a meeting of BMW i8 and i3 cars. the BMW Car Club has a handful of i owners it would be great to have a meeting and show other owners what they are missing, so please post here or email me on iregister@bmwcarclubgb.co.uk lets get the electric ball rolling.

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John BMW i8

Replies:

Posted By: Mike Fishwick
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2016 at 4:30pm

'What they are missing?' that sounds rather condescending! The Daily Telegraph did not even manage to drive from London to Brighton in an i3 before they had to use the expensive optional auxiliary PETROL engined generator - otherwise their wonder car would have ground to a halt beside the road, and on arrival they could not find any charging points!

Keep your over-priced, over-complicated, and over-sold fashion accessories - I am more than happy with my eighteen-year old Z3, which I can mend! Perhaps we should have a meeting to show what YOU are missing, and maybe offer you a tow home . . .

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A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!

Posted By: johnwallis
Date Posted: 17 Apr 2016 at 5:04pm

Hi Mike,
I drive an i8, yes I know the electrics will be interesting my day job is power electronics so I am not worried, the little 3 cylinder mini engine shouldn't be to much of a problem and it wont rust! it's horses for courses The i3 is ideal for commuting, taking the children to school shopping you know the real world. Even my i8 has 4 seats. Years ago we had sailing ships then steam came along progress. My father had a video recorder in 1965 people said he was mad what was the point you could watch the program when it was on, and today how do we manage without smart phones? You should try an i8 or i3 the turbine like linear power will seduce you as it did me, If you are over here I will be happy to show you.

John

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John BMW i8

Posted By: Mike Fishwick
Date Posted: 18 Apr 2016 at 8:01am

No thanks John - I do not need or want four seats, and when your i8 is, like my Z3, eighteen years old it will probably have had several expensive failures, made more expensive because 'We do not support that unit any more, but . . .' not to mention the inability of any BMW dealer to handle even basic electrical problems. They will of course replace electronic modules in the hope that it may cure the problem - and if they do not effect a cure they will still charge for it!

I would certainly not buy a new type of car where there seems to be no important information available - for example, what is the projected (or hoped for) battery life, and how much will a new one cost? Here in France, Renault charges extra for the battery - every year, as it is only leased - like paying extra for an engine in a normal car! How much do the various control modules cost to replace, or has BMW established a support system for them?

Against that background a comparativly simple car is a far better bet, unless you can afford to keep replacing an almost-new car to stay abreast of new technology. Fine for those whose cars are basically paid for by their company or the taxman, but not such a shining example for us common folk. No - I will keep my old car and enjoy it - and save a lot of money in the process!

If you need a tow, you know where to come!

PS: I do not own a smart phone, and use my old Nokia about once a year . ..

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A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!

Posted By: Chris Holmes
Date Posted: 12 Nov 2024 at 11:26am

Well this group didn't get off to a good start in 2016 so perhaps now 8 years on iot will start a new lease of life. I bought my car in February this year and have driven 8500 miles without any problems at all. The car has completed a track day at Mallory Park and a track sessions at Castle Combe and performs really well on track, my previous cars were an E92 M3 V8 and a Supercharged Mazda RX-8 which were both tracked so I can make a qualified comparison on the i8s track performance.

The car has also completed a weekend tour from Swansea to Llandudno and also we participated in the excellent "Northumbria Job" last month so the car is seeing plenty of varied driving.

Posted By: Norrie
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2024 at 7:45pm

Ho ho the i8 rrp 106,310 to 116,305 . How many club members own one? This is a little like the situation some of the Alpina owners have, that the owner is judged on the price of the car originally.

Apart from the fact the i8 seems to depreciated like a baby falling off of Everest what is the real interest. Is it I have one because I can, I have one to be different, its an elitist car in the context of the majority of owners in this club that I have met. It almost makes me wish I still had my 500 pounds E39 523i just to be an equal member. Its a minority interest item.