[Carac]

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880 miles on the clock (see delivery thread). Since I was originally expecting the car in Feb/March and winter is quickly approaching I had some catching up to do. Here's some observations. The MPG for those 880 miles was 35.1. That is with the dealer not charging the car and not charging anywhere, gas only for those miles.

Couple of things. Before you do anything else, turn on "Prefer Expressways" or something similar in the Nav Options, or the Nav system will take you over the river and through the woods in an attempt to achieve the "fastest" route, even if that means selecting a winding 45 mph back road that shaves a minute off staying on the interstate 3 more exits.

There's a lit box with "AUTO" on top in the climate display, with a bar with five positions. I thought this was telling you what speed the fan was running in auto, but it's how energy intensive you want the Auto setting to be.

Don't switch driving modes right before you move from a stop, say at a red light right as it changes to green. There is a good 2-3 second pause when stationary when the car changes to a different mode, it's instant and unnoticeable when moving but jarring right as you're pulling out.

Turn off "Sport" when entering a parking lot/parking. For two reasons: One, Sport makes the car very aggressive from a standstill. Lunging towards a spot with a high curb is no fun. Two, if you go to make a multi point turn, pushing forward on the stick while in sport doesn't put the car in reverse...it will only go into reverse if it's in the non-sport position.

The speed limit reading camera is going to ruin me in other cars. As is the "gods-eye" camera when parking.

The bluetooth audio is the best implementation I've come across. The stereo is excellent.

The trunk is big enough for a overhead bin roller carry-on suitcase and not much else. The back seat is your trunk for everything else.

I'm 6'0" and can't sit in the back seat without breaking my neck/turning my head to a 45 degree angle. And even then it wouldn't be comfortable with my broad shoulders. It would be tight for a 5' person, kids are probably fine.

The switch to lean the seats forward is in the back of the headrest.

I've filled up twice and haven't had any issues with the gas release. Took 5-6 seconds one of those times but that was it.

Getting in and out is a challenge for anyone not used to wide sills for unconventional doors on cars (which is pretty much everyone), but I don't find it an issue...but most people probably will. My girlfriend loves everything about the car except having to "crawl" out of it.

GOOD LORD, The attention. I don't know if I could take the level of attention this car gets if the SLS hadn't been my training wheels for people staying in your blind spot, riding your tail, or merging in front of you for pictures. I was approached by at least 5 people at EVERY gas station I stopped at, sometimes more...and that isn't an exaggeration. At one point on a highway with three lanes per side, there was no traffic in front of me because the three cars in the three lanes behind me were all taking pictures and blocking traffic. If you aren't used to it, IT WILL GET OLD FAST. Don't expect to go anywhere without a conversation at some point. People yelling at you from their cars. Basically, people go crazy when they see it.


Some pics:

[jwestfield]

Great tips!! Mine still at Bremerhaven. Hoping it boards a ship this wk

[mu2002cs]

Carac,

Thanks for the update. I too experienced the "won't go into reverse in sport mode" issue. I almost ran over someone thinking I had put the car in reverse!

Here's my observations after measly 130 miles:

I'm having no trouble charging at 110 at home overnight. Not sure how long it takes, just know its fully charged in the morning.

I'm getting about 33 MPG when driving in sport mode (rather aggressively I must say). I did run a bunch of errands on Friday in comfort mode and got 74 MPG!

BMW NAV Systems are the worst, in any mode! Its very disappointing. I was driving an X5 in Monterey and it kept telling me to turn right, into the ocean! Where I live, it has an interesting, repeatable, issue that tells you to exit the tollway at each exit, then reenter at the next entrance! I have sent video to BMW.......

Speaking of attention....I love it!

[ericsi]

what is 35.1 mpg US gallon converted in mpg per UK gallon?

[Carac]

Originally Posted by ericsi

what is 35.1 mpg US gallon converted in mpg per UK gallon?

It's 42.2 Imperial MPG

[ericsi]

Thank you for the update... What do you prefer then, the sls or the i8?

Before i bought my aston v12v, i seriously considered a sls.

Since i drove the i8, i don't feel the need for either...

[Carac]

Originally Posted by ericsi

Thank you for the update... What do you prefer then, the sls or the i8?

Before i bought my aston v12v, i seriously considered a sls.

Since i drove the i8, i don't feel the need for either...

I told a friend my SLS (and previously my CLK63 Black Series) felt like the end of a long progression in sports cars that has been going on for 50+ years. The i8 (and the much more expensive LaFerrari, P1, and 918) feel like the first of a new type of sports car and in my analogy, the i8 is the most advanced because it isn't clinging tooth and nail to the past reliance on large displacement and huge HP numbers. Both generations of sports car have their appeal, but the i8 and the driving experience it provides is much more exciting to me at the moment.

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by Carac

Turn off "Sport" when entering a parking lot/parking. For two reasons: One, Sport makes the car very aggressive from a standstill. Lunging towards a spot with a high curb is no fun. Two, if you go to make a multi point turn, pushing forward on the stick while in sport doesn't put the car in reverse...it will only go into reverse if it's in the non-sport position.

The stereo is excellent.

The trunk is big enough for a overhead bin roller carry-on suitcase and not much else. The back seat is your trunk for everything else.

And I see little use for Sport when driving in parking lot & downtown. Sport keeps on running gas engine all the time and the whole idea of i8 is sailing in silence through the city. Sport fits this lousy, IMO.

Stereo is about the same quality as in F30 Harmann Kardon and works pretty ok. My former M3 with Individual Audio had significently higher quality. But I understand you have to cut weight from every corner, including audio system.

Trunk is designed to fit airline hand baggage size bag. So if it fits airline cabin requirements, it fits i8 also. I have just exactly sized bag from Tumi to fit i8 trunk like made by measures. I'll send you model later on.

[Carac]

Originally Posted by Pitkis

And I see little use for Sport when driving in parking lot & downtown. Sport keeps on running gas engine all the time and the whole idea of i8 is sailing in silence through the city. Sport fits this lousy, IMO.

Stereo is about the same quality as in F30 Harmann Kardon and works pretty ok. My former M3 with Individual Audio had significently higher quality. But I understand you have to cut weight from every corner, including audio system.

I used sport to charge for silent city running since I didn't have access to a charger for the weekend, otherwise I was always in Comfort/Eco Pro.

And the stereo is great for a "lightweight" unit. The $6,600 1000-watt B&O in the SLS is one of the biggest disappointments I've ever experienced in a car. Their engineers even said they didn't have the geometry, space, or weight they needed to make it sound good...but the alternative was a 100-watt unit from a base C-Class. So it sounds like a Custom Audiophile-grade system by comparison.

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by Carac

I used sport to charge for silent city running since I didn't have access to a charger for the weekend, otherwise I was always in Comfort/Eco Pro.

And the stereo is great for a "lightweight" unit. The $6,600 1000-watt B&O in the SLS is one of the biggest disappointments I've ever experienced in a car. Their engineers even said they didn't have the geometry, space, or weight they needed to make it sound good...but the alternative was a 100-watt unit from a base C-Class. So it sounds like a Custom Audiophile-grade system by comparison.

I understand the use of Sport in that situation. I've noticed that running gas in slow ride feels a bit rude - much rather try to use eDrive. But the town I live is pretty small, easy to optimate eDrive with i8.

M3 Individual Audio has been really good throught the years. I have H&K on my X1 and F30 but they both are clearly inferior. i8 sound is slighly better, but far from M3 quality. I haven't had B&O BMW yet, so hard to compare. Anyway, some really high end audio would have been nice to see at i8 options list

[Diver]

Some of these tips apply other BMW's. My car has an aggressive throttle tip in.

[ZEEM3R]

Originally Posted by mu2002cs

Carac,

Thanks for the update. I too experienced the "won't go into reverse in sport mode" issue. I almost ran over someone thinking I had put the car in reverse!

Here's my observations after measly 130 miles:

I'm having no trouble charging at 110 at home overnight. Not sure how long it takes, just know its fully charged in the morning.

I'm getting about 33 MPG when driving in sport mode (rather aggressively I must say). I did run a bunch of errands on Friday in comfort mode and got 74 MPG!

BMW NAV Systems are the worst, in any mode! Its very disappointing. I was driving an X5 in Monterey and it kept telling me to turn right, into the ocean! Where I live, it has an interesting, repeatable, issue that tells you to exit the tollway at each exit, then reenter at the next entrance! I have sent video to BMW.......

Speaking of attention....I love it!

I hate that thing when it makes you take an exit then get right back on the highway the next exit. Makes me look like a complete idiot when with friends.

[kinimod]

Great notes, thanks.

Especially the "Prefer Expressways". I was wondering why BMW navigations don't do that by default. Many times I was routed through stupid roads just to save a minute or two.

Not very relevant to the topic, but when did you place your order on the i8?

I'm wondering what is generally the waiting time (is there a waiting-preorder list?) if I wanted to purchase one now.

[davesaddiction]

Looks great - congrats!

[Doctor///M]

one day... such a cool car.

[jadnashuanh]

Originally Posted by kinimod

I'm wondering what is generally the waiting time (is there a waiting-preorder list?) if I wanted to purchase one now.

Production for the entire 2015 model year has been sold out for many months. That doesn't mean that someone who ordered one might decide not to get it and one may become available. Some were purchased for resale, I'm sure, but you'd then likely have to pay a bunch more over sticker to get theirs. Some have reported spending nearly double sticker!

[exclusivo]

nice car, I'll have to remember to set my navi to prefer expressways next time I'm in it. I always wondered why it did that, almost made me late for an interview by taking the scenic route.

[wakeboarder109]

I knew I recognized that BMW store in the first pic. Congrats and can't wait to see this beast rolling around West Broad.

[PhantomCypher]

Originally Posted by wakeboarder109

I knew I recognized that BMW store in the first pic. Congrats and can't wait to see this beast rolling around West Broad.

Haha I just noticed that right after you mentioned it. Hard to believe I forgot after sitting for hours and hours buying a car from them. Wish I could still be there to witness the car.

[Car22]

I believe the attention. Awesome looking car!

[shwettee]

Originally Posted by ZEEM3R

I hate that thing when it makes you take an exit then get right back on the highway the next exit. Makes me look like a complete idiot when with friends.

You have in Nav options the avoid "Toll
Roads". De-select it.

[JustChris]

Great tips and awesome looking car in the black. Very sharp!