[KevCap]

Hello All,

Placed a deposit on a Ultimate edition coupe 2020 i8

Will share picts and first impressions upon collection in March.

Was a real hard time deciding to pull the trigger - I think I have seen every review available but I thought this might be my last chance to own a i8 they through in 2 years bmw warranty too..

In the end it was a toss up btw a 991 base a Lotus Evora GT410 Sport and the I8 all priced at more or less the same level and 2+2’s

The DB11 V12 was also a contender but couldn’t quite stretch to the extra 30-40,000 francs

Anyway happy days

[Coastali8]

Congratulations!
You will love the i8 and its multiple driving personalities.

[KevCap]

Originally Posted by Coastali8

Congratulations!
You will love the i8 and its multiple driving personalities.

Thanks man 👍 looking forward to the experience

[F5506m]

Welcome to the i8 Club. The Ultimate edition is a cool car.

[KevCap]

Originally Posted by F5506m

Welcome to the i8 Club. The Ultimate edition is a cool car.

Thanks Sir 👍 happy to play a part in the i8 club

Initially I was looking for a white with blue accents or the e copper but this limited edition popped up for a good price so went for it

[KevCap]

So I picked the i8 up yesterday :-)

My first impressions ..

Very very smooth car especially on motorways

I was impressed with how little outside noise comes into the cabin , you really feel like your are in a different dimension 😃 super comfortable

Oddly I found that in eco pro mode the steering felt heavier than in comfort 🤷*♂️

In Sports mode obviously it sounds more fitting to the exterior looks however I felt a bit short changed in the visceral feel perhaps in manual mode it’s better admittedly I was not pushing super hard so need to re assess ..

My last sports cars were a 997 Carrera and a Lotus Evora S so maybe that’s the reason I feel like that ..

Fit and finish top notch

I am going to swap the tyres around and put the 245’s in the front and new 275’s in the rear the aim is to perhaps see some heavier steering feel kill a bit of the under steer and improve a bit the visuals overall

Anyway so far so good it’s a fun car 👍

[F5506m]

That was also the most surprising aspect of the i8 for me the car is very smooth and comfortable.

[Coastali8]

You will like the tire swap you mentioned. It makes the steering a tiny bit heavier, stiffens the ride and makes the car feel more stable. The car also looks much better.

[thesubmitter]

Anybody who keeps the i8 on stock tires is committing sacrilege.

[F5506m]

Originally Posted by thesubmitter

Anybody who keeps the i8 on stock tires is committing sacrilege.

Mine is on stock tires

[Tazzie]

Yes on stock tyres as well. What size of tyre would I need on using Michelin 4s on bigger sizes?

[Coastali8]

Originally Posted by Tazzie

Yes on stock tyres as well. What size of tyre would I need on using Michelin 4s on bigger sizes?

245/40x20
275/35x20

[stressdoc]

IMO the i8 benefits from reduced unsprung weight. Steering feel improved. Michelin Pilots are excellent tires for i8.

[Coastali8]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

IMO the i8 benefits from reduced unsprung weight. Steering feel improved. Michelin Pilots are excellent tires for i8.

True…about unsprung weight, but we’re not racing.

[F5506m]

The i8 is a Daily Driver for me and i find the drive/handling vey good in the stock setup.

[Flasher]

the tyres are fine for good fuel economy but the looks and handling improves drastically with the wider tyres....

[thesubmitter]

Originally Posted by Flasher

the tyres are fine for good fuel economy but the looks and handling improves drastically with the wider tyres....

sacrilege - do we really care about fuel economy with our i8 that sips gas like a Mazda 3?

[thesubmitter]

Tire/Wheel Size discussion
https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s...&highlight=285

[Flasher]

Originally Posted by thesubmitter

sacrilege - do we really care about fuel economy with our i8 that sips gas like a Mazda 3?

mine does not sip like a Mazda, i guess my right foot is heavier than yours....

[F5506m]

My car is still on factor tires. When it comes time to change them I plan on changing them with a Michelin tire, but will keep the standard tire size as per stock setup. Agree with reducing unspring weight.

[KevCap]

Originally Posted by thesubmitter

Tire/Wheel Size discussion
https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s...&highlight=285

I’m gonna be running 245’s fronts and 275’s rear summer tires and 215’s on all 4 corners winter tires

Narrow tires normally offer good traction on snow/Ice

[thesubmitter]

I have had the car in 3 sets of tires

245 all around
245/285 (they touch a bit)
And stock


I beg you all please don’t leave the i8 on stock tires, its a totally different experience on the wider tires