Bottoms up!

rastaman777 · 03-20-2017, 02:54 PM

Just curious as to experiences good or bad people have had with clearance.
Few friends / acquaintances who have bottomed out their cars, some no damage, some significant damage.
Speed bumps? Curbs? etc.

Maxxsirrah · 03-20-2017, 03:12 PM

Seems pretty good tbh on standard wheels and set up, been over some nasty speed bumps, nice n slow but no issues.

ericsi · 03-20-2017, 03:52 PM

I slightly scrapped front spoiler once reversing on a steep drive.

Overall much better than porsche 996/997 turbo for example.

JasH · 03-20-2017, 03:54 PM

Can't get to a friend's house due to his steep drive. Not tried my i8, but did try the demo i8 before I bought mine.

I wish the i8 had Tesla style height adjustable suspension.

I'd certainly never lower mine.

Twitch Massacre · 03-20-2017, 11:29 PM

Mine is lowered and on aftermarket wheels so I scraped the bottom guard bad once on a poorly thought out speed bump, simply had the guard underneath the car changed. No big deal. On to the next guard when I scrape it again.

Mightymousemighty · 03-21-2017, 03:41 AM

My driveway exit at certain angles has a lip (due to the council not fixing the road) that causes an issue, so I have put down some rubber matts to reduce the angle. When I get round to i probably will put some concrete down.

Speed Bumps I have found to be OK

Checked the underside of her recently and the floor pan has a few scratches

stock wheels and setup. I am looking to change the tyres shortly, if I can to MPSS's which I thing will increase ride height slightly.

NGR · 03-21-2017, 05:30 AM

I "bottomed" mine on an aggressive speed bump (10cm in height), made a horrible noise.
Anyway, it was in the dealers shortly afterwards and they noticed I'd sheared a bolt holding the battery CF panel in place. New bolt and panel was just over £100 (maybe $120us) - quite surprised how cheep it was.

There's a proper metal cover under the petrol/gas engine but the battery seems to be only covered by a very thin CF panel.

Apart from that, no other problems, just go slow over speed bumps!

Mattattack · 03-21-2017, 10:05 AM

almost zero issues on stock wheels and suspension. Just like any sports car, just take it slow and at an angle.

now lowered on H&R springs and 22" wheels....thats another question.

MalibuBimmer · 03-21-2017, 10:49 AM

Lots of horrible sounding scrapes at driveways and speed bumps. Avoiding potholes but expect one day to get to one can't avoid. My old CL55 Merc was height adjustable. I wish BMW would do that, too.

Nivarox · 03-22-2017, 02:06 AM

Generally speaking ground clearance is better than I thought would be but I have had it bottomed out when going over speed bumps hence bottom sides of the front bumper covers got scraped because of not braking "efficiently"
Besides that I read that aluminum cover protects the underneath the car that's good anyway . There's also a gradient over the road exactly where I take part the freeway .I rarely use that part of the road and if I have to , I observe it and when it's ready I take a turn at wider circle than I normally do because if I drive straight go over it the chances are scraping the bottom is high .

rastaman777 · 03-22-2017, 04:49 AM

Great info and feedback. Thanks!

drlonline · 03-24-2017, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Lots of horrible sounding scrapes at driveways and speed bumps. Avoiding potholes but expect one day to get to one can't avoid. My old CL55 Merc was height adjustable. I wish BMW would do that, too.

Other than the horrible sounds, what was the damage the car received? I'm particularly interested to know about the front spoiler scraping on steep driveways.

MalibuBimmer · 03-25-2017, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drlonline

Other than the horrible sounds, what was the damage the car received? I'm particularly interested to know about the front spoiler scraping on steep driveways.

Damage to the front spoiler/bumper and sheared off fasteners underneath.

drlonline · 03-26-2017, 09:04 PM

Has anyone tried using skid plates from G Rides? I came across the company when doing a web search for bumper protection. Their web site indicates they deal with a number exotics, though BMW is not listed.

Aye-eight · 03-27-2017, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastaman777

Just curious as to experiences good or bad people have had with clearance.
Speed bumps? Curbs? etc.

Hopefully, good people - no experience; bad people - lots of experience.

rastaman777 · 03-27-2017, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

Hopefully, good people - no experience; bad people - lots of experience.

Lol yup i def had that coming to me with my crappy sentence!

Aye-eight · 03-28-2017, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rastaman777

Lol yup i def had that coming to me with my crappy sentence!

Sorry - couldn't resist. ;-)

03-20-2017, 02:54 PM	#1
rastaman777 Lieutenant 71 Rep 449 Posts Drives: 2020 i8 coupe,2019x5,2019 740i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Bottoms up! Just curious as to experiences good or bad people have had with clearance. Few friends / acquaintances who have bottomed out their cars, some no damage, some significant damage. Speed bumps? Curbs? etc.
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03-20-2017, 03:12 PM	#2
Maxxsirrah First Lieutenant 118 Rep 328 Posts Drives: BMW i8 2017, Crystal White Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Leicestershire, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 Audi TT Roadster [0.00] 2017 Abarth 595 Com ... [0.00] 2020 Audi S3 Sportback [0.00] 2017 BMW i8 [0.00]	Seems pretty good tbh on standard wheels and set up, been over some nasty speed bumps, nice n slow but no issues.
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03-20-2017, 03:52 PM	#3
ericsi Lieutenant 124 Rep 407 Posts Drives: On my 2nd i8 already Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I slightly scrapped front spoiler once reversing on a steep drive. Overall much better than porsche 996/997 turbo for example.
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03-20-2017, 03:54 PM	#4
JasH Lieutenant Colonel 621 Rep 1,646 Posts Drives: McLaren & Ferrari & i8 & i3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Kent, UK iTrader: (0)	Can't get to a friend's house due to his steep drive. Not tried my i8, but did try the demo i8 before I bought mine. I wish the i8 had Tesla style height adjustable suspension. I'd certainly never lower mine.
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03-20-2017, 11:29 PM	#5
Twitch Massacre Major 320 Rep 1,299 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW i8 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List I12 BMW i8 [0.00] F13 BMW M6 [0.00]	Mine is lowered and on aftermarket wheels so I scraped the bottom guard bad once on a poorly thought out speed bump, simply had the guard underneath the car changed. No big deal. On to the next guard when I scrape it again. __________________ 2015 BMW i8 in Matte Metallic Grey: H&R Springs 21" ADV.1 ADVNL2 MV2 CS Wheels Coming Soon: 2016 BMW M4 GTS De-Winged and Bagged on 22s
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03-21-2017, 03:41 AM	#6
Mightymousemighty Second Lieutenant 96 Rep 244 Posts Drives: i8(16) RangeR (15) TeslaX (17) Join Date: May 2015 Location: Kingdom of Fife iTrader: (0)	My driveway exit at certain angles has a lip (due to the council not fixing the road) that causes an issue, so I have put down some rubber matts to reduce the angle. When I get round to i probably will put some concrete down. Speed Bumps I have found to be OK Checked the underside of her recently and the floor pan has a few scratches stock wheels and setup. I am looking to change the tyres shortly, if I can to MPSS's which I thing will increase ride height slightly.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-21-2017, 05:30 AM	#7
NGR Lieutenant 102 Rep 407 Posts Drives: i8 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Needed new cover underneath I "bottomed" mine on an aggressive speed bump (10cm in height), made a horrible noise. Anyway, it was in the dealers shortly afterwards and they noticed I'd sheared a bolt holding the battery CF panel in place. New bolt and panel was just over £100 (maybe $120us) - quite surprised how cheep it was. There's a proper metal cover under the petrol/gas engine but the battery seems to be only covered by a very thin CF panel. Apart from that, no other problems, just go slow over speed bumps! __________________ 2014 i8 2002 x5 4.6is
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03-21-2017, 10:05 AM	#8
Mattattack Private 51 Rep 58 Posts Drives: BMW I8 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: IG @m.attattack iTrader: (0)	almost zero issues on stock wheels and suspension. Just like any sports car, just take it slow and at an angle. now lowered on H&R springs and 22" wheels....thats another question.
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03-21-2017, 10:49 AM	#9
MalibuBimmer Founder, Knights of the Roundel website 967 Rep 1,723 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 and 2018 AMG GT Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Santa Monica Mountains, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 Mercedes AMG GT [0.00] 2018 Audi Q3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M4 [10.00]	Lots of horrible sounding scrapes at driveways and speed bumps. Avoiding potholes but expect one day to get to one can't avoid. My old CL55 Merc was height adjustable. I wish BMW would do that, too. __________________ Previously: 2014 i8; 2013 650i convertible; 2013 650i Gran Coupe; 2013 X1; 2010 550i GT; 2010 535 GT; 2010 Z4 3.5; 2008 535ixt; 2007 M6 convertible; 2006 650i convertible; 1996 Z3; 1980 633CSi; 1978 630CS; 1972 3.0CS; 1971 Bavaria. (1971; 1979-2005 & 2017 - ? -- the Mercedes years.)
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03-22-2017, 02:06 AM	#10
Nivarox Quadrex 1093 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: W212 Mercedes=Benz E Class Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Close To German Car Dealer iTrader: (0)	Generally speaking ground clearance is better than I thought would be but I have had it bottomed out when going over speed bumps hence bottom sides of the front bumper covers got scraped because of not braking "efficiently" Besides that I read that aluminum cover protects the underneath the car that's good anyway . There's also a gradient over the road exactly where I take part the freeway .I rarely use that part of the road and if I have to , I observe it and when it's ready I take a turn at wider circle than I normally do because if I drive straight go over it the chances are scraping the bottom is high . __________________
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03-22-2017, 04:49 AM	#11
rastaman777 Lieutenant 71 Rep 449 Posts Drives: 2020 i8 coupe,2019x5,2019 740i Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Great info and feedback. Thanks!
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03-26-2017, 09:04 PM	#14
drlonline Lieutenant 138 Rep 514 Posts Drives: 2019 i8 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: L.A., CA iTrader: (0)	Has anyone tried using skid plates from G Rides? I came across the company when doing a web search for bumper protection. Their web site indicates they deal with a number exotics, though BMW is not listed.
	Appreciate 0 Quote