Used car buying guide: BMW i8

And when you do, it’s remarkable how economical the i8 can be: out on the open road you will seldom get less than 40mpg, and should see more if you plug it in regularly and your journeys are short. 

Of course, if you approach the i8 hoping for a shrapnel-spitting rival to the likes of a Porsche 911 or an Audi R8, you’re likely to come away disappointed. 

In essence, it’s really a grand tourer and as such feels more like a BMW 6 Series coupé, with steering that is light, responsive and accurate, without the drama of some of its sportier rivals. The chassis, too, is beautifully damped, and it’s supremely well matched to the powertrain - the i8 really is a lovely thing to drive. 

Some complained that it didn’t have enough character, but it is not for a car to have character, but for its driver to have it. Punt it down your favourite road and you’ll find the i8 is an immensely and easily enjoyable thing and a surprisingly couth car - unlike many of its rivals.

What we said then

17 September 2014: “The i8 is one of the most compelling cars we’ve tested in years, not only because of its fascinating powertrain and unusual but appealing dynamics but also because of how exquisitely finished it feels as a product – both inside and outside – and how easy it would be to live with.

An owner's view

David Leney: “I love my i8, especially its handling and refinement. I’ve owned it for five years and it’s never given me any major trouble. The electric range is realistically only 18 miles and visibility can be a problem. Servicing isn’t too expensive, but electrics seem to be a thing, with warning lights occasionally popping on and off. I thought about the Roadster but it cost more and you lose the rear seats, and my children used to love doing the school run in the car.”

Buyer beware

Engine: The engine is based on the 1.5-litre unit in the Mini Cooper. So it’s reliable and the six-speed automatic gearbox is robust. There have been issues with the fuel pressure sensor, which is prone to failure. One or two owners have reported engine failure, but the vast majority noted excellent reliability. 

Warnings of a low coolant level when the levels are correct suggest a sensor issue. There have also been reports of problems with overheating and a few complaints about the central controller. 

Brakes: Most parts prices for an i8 can be expensive, but consumables are generally okay. For instance, front brake pads should cost you no more than those for a 3 Series. 

Body: As a sports car with a six-figure price when new, the i8 is the kind of model that owners tend to cherish. Even so, it’s worth checking the wheels for scrapes and scratches, looking for bodywork damage (particularly around the doors, which require a lot of space to open) and ensuring the tyres are in good condition. 

Many owners find the butterfly doors can be a pain. The door struts have been known to fail and cost a lot of money to repair, so check carefully when buying. Some fuel tank covers have been sticky too, refusing to open. 

Electrics: While some owners have had to return their i8s to dealers to address warning lights, it tends to be for isolated cases rather than faults that are common to i8s. Software issues are not uncommon, though, so check the service and MOT history carefully. 

Recalls: There have been five recalls. Cars built in 2014 had a possible fuel leak; i8s built in 2015 had a faulty sensor that could cause stability issues; cars built in late 2016 could have an airbag fault; i8s were recalled in 2019 to replace a faulty printed circuit board; and in 2020 an issue with impurities in the high-voltage batteries was addressed. 

Also worth knowing 

Along with 2018’s facelift came a roadster weighing just 60kg more than the coupé but losing its rear seats. At the press of a button, it stows its roof in 15 seconds beneath a panel within the buttresses behind the cabin.

Other facelift changes included increased battery capacity, from 7.1kWh to 11.6kWh, with a claimed range of 33 miles for the Roadster and 34 miles for the coupé. The dihedral doors provide tremendous visual impact when the car is stationary. They weigh around 50% less than normal doors thanks to their aluminium, carbonfibre and thermoplastic construction. 

There’s a two-speed automatic transmission attached to that front-mounted electric motor. This gearbox, manufactured by GKN Driveline, is controlled in harmony with the primary engine and gearbox, and it shifts ratios seamlessly. It also allows the electric motor to chime in with all of its 184lb ft at much higher road speeds than would otherwise be possible.