[Barago]

The handling is a tad more precise, the whole car feels tighter, RPM in heads up display, memory seats, folding mirrors upon lock and a bit better Nav system are all nice. And of course extended range.

But it definitely is not as loud as my 2016 was in sports mode...it’s seems to have a deeper yet almost quieter/less raspy sound. The idle is also a bit deeper but to me the sound is definitely toned down. Does anyone else want to chime in on this?

Verdict: I wouldn’t say the changes are revolutionary- and they likely aren’t extreme enough to to force you into a new one if you own your 2014-2017 coupe outright- but they are noticeable and well done. If you wanted a convertible like me or like the idea of these upgrades, then it may just be worth it for you.

Pics to come when I have a chance.

[i8_2018]

Big things:

1. Roadster
2. Range, I get 52km in real life
3. Improved steering feel

Small things:

1. Improved infotainment
2. Improved seats
3. Improved sound (maybe you get better with more miles?)

[F5506m]

Originally Posted by Barago

The handling is a tad more precise, the whole car feels tighter, RPM in heads up display, memory seats, folding mirrors upon lock and a bit better Nav system are all nice. And of course extended range.

But it definitely is not as loud as my 2016 was in sports mode...it’s seems to have a deeper yet almost quieter/less raspy sound. The idle is also a bit deeper but to me the sound is definitely toned down. Does anyone else want to chime in on this?

Verdict: I wouldn’t say the changes are revolutionary- and they likely aren’t extreme enough to to force you into a new one if you own your 2014-2017 coupe outright- but they are noticeable and well done. If you wanted a convertible like me or like the idea of these upgrades, then it may just be worth it for you.

Pics to come when I have a chance.

I have a 2019 Coupe and do not have memory seats? Also how do you program mirrors to fold on locking?

[Barago]

That’s odd since I have the memory seats and have all kinds of driver profile options.

Ive noticed that the mirrors fold when I hold down the lock button to close the top from the outside- I actually am not totally sure if they can do this with just locking alone.

Still trying to figure out how my 2016 coupe was louder.

[fbuzila]

Originally Posted by Barago

That's odd since I have the memory seats and have all kinds of driver profile options.

Ive noticed that the mirrors fold when I hold down the lock button to close the top from the outside- I actually am not totally sure if they can do this with just locking alone.

Still trying to figure out how my 2016 coupe was louder.

I have the 2019 coupe and I don't have the memory seats....or probably I don't know I have them? On my X5 I have extra buttons on the seats for memory settings...it's the same on yours?

[Keysh2oboy]

Folding mirrors on my 2019 Roadster - just hold the remote ‘lock’ button for 2-3 seconds after the car locks. Then you will see mirrors fold inward.

[BanjoPaterson]

Originally Posted by fbuzila

I have the 2019 coupe and I don't have the memory seats....or probably I don't know I have them? On my X5 I have extra buttons on the seats for memory settings...it's the same on yours?

I've looked up the specs in the carsales.com.au site (see Features tab and Seating); and it looks as if the coupe does NOT come with memory seats whereas the roadster does. I guess that's where part of the additional $30,000 AUD goes...

... apart from also having a roadster.

[Maxxsirrah]

Originally Posted by Keysh2oboy

Folding mirrors on my 2019 Roadster - just hold the remote ‘lock’ button for 2-3 seconds after the car locks. Then you will see mirrors fold inward.

Same for my 2017 coupe, not a new feature.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by Maxxsirrah

Same for my 2017 coupe, not a new feature.

Yes, even the oldest i8 cars are the same.

[askmeaboutkfc]

They also have that new partition in the trunk that is very useful

[Ranchroundel]

Greetings folks, first post on this forum. Like the OP, I traded in my 2016 coupe for a 2019 roadster. Prior to doing so three weeks ago, I was somewhat set on an m850 convertible or waiting for an m8. Part of my initial desire to get something other than another I8 was the whole “been there, done that” idea. Historically, when I have bought a new version of a car I previously had, I got bored with it prematurely. Hopefully, this first world problem is not just limited to me.

That being said, I am glad my dealer called me about the amazing lease deals they are running on the current I8s (like many on this forum, I have bought a number of BMWs from my local dealer - 20 in the last 19 years for myself, my wife and my kids). This is because I find the 2019 roadster to be improved and distinct enough from the 2016 coupe to feel like a different vehicle.

Obviously the body type is the biggest difference, including the cool as heck buttresses behind the driver and passenger, but the idrive 6.0 versus 5.0 is a nice change. The great carbon fiber rather than grey plastic is nice and the leatherette rather than mouse fur on the a pillars and other areas is an improvement. Further the performance increases, while nominal, are noticeable.

All in all, based upon the great changes to the shape of the car and other incremental changes, the 2019 roaster feels like a much different car to me and I enjoy the heck out of it.

[JasH]

Yes, it's a whole different car and feels it. Also, subjectively it's about 50% faster.

[Barago]

Originally Posted by Ranchroundel

Greetings folks, first post on this forum. Like the OP, I traded in my 2016 coupe for a 2019 roadster. Prior to doing so three weeks ago, I was somewhat set on an m850 convertible or waiting for an m8. Part of my initial desire to get something other than another I8 was the whole “been there, done that” idea. Historically, when I have bought a new version of a car I previously had, I got bored with it prematurely. Hopefully, this first world problem is not just limited to me.

That being said, I am glad my dealer called me about the amazing lease deals they are running on the current I8s (like many on this forum, I have bought a number of BMWs from my local dealer - 20 in the last 19 years for myself, my wife and my kids). This is because I find the 2019 roadster to be improved and distinct enough from the 2016 coupe to feel like a different vehicle.

Obviously the body type is the biggest difference, including the cool as heck buttresses behind the driver and passenger, but the idrive 6.0 versus 5.0 is a nice change. The great carbon fiber rather than grey plastic is nice and the leatherette rather than mouse fur on the a pillars and other areas is an improvement. Further the performance increases, while nominal, are noticeable.

All in all, based upon the great changes to the shape of the car and other incremental changes, the 2019 roaster feels like a much different car to me and I enjoy the heck out of it.

Would love to know what color combo you had and now went with?

I’m very happy with the roadster...the only thing I would trade it for is a used Ferrari/lambo which is apples vs oranges and not a daily anyway.

[Ranchroundel]

Coupe was ionic silver with frozen blue highlights. The roadster is crystal white with frozen grey highlight. I think the white against the black really shows the lines of the car very well.

[Barago]

Very nice. My coupe was white and my roadster is sophisto on black with black wheels w/lasers. I’ve been getting more compliments on the roadster probably since everyone has the white coupe in LA. Both are great

[Barago]

Also after some time in the car, I believe the idle sounds deeper than in my coupe. The engine note upon acceleration also seems a bit deeper which may account for why I assumed a lesser decibel level.

[Ranchroundel]

As to engine sound, I agree. My wife has mentioned a number of times that the engine note is different. Given that her assessment has not been while she has been the car, I would think that this is not due to ‘speaker noice’ but rather actual engine sound.
That being said, I would suspect that an inline 3 does not have the low rumble that we hear.
As to color I have always had grey, black or silver vehicles (a goldish 911 targa being the only exception), so white is a change for me. While I like the white for the reason I mentioned in an earlier post, I the think the color of your car is the one to have.
I have had lasers on both. A buddy of mine that I completed the advanced M school with asked me what it was like at night when, in the rare instance, that the lasers deployed. My answer, Day.

[Barago]

Your wife is very perceptive- my gf still thinks it’s quite loud in sport (I’ve heard there is an exterior speaker outside the car?). God help her if I ever get a 458.

Yes I’ve also had lasers in both and agree they are excellent for night driving. I also prefer their daytime running light pattern.

[evanevery]

Bear in mind, not that it matters too much, YOU are likely hearing the INTERNAL sound generated by BMW. What you are hearing INSIDE the car is NOT the same as what folks hear OUTSIDE the car.

While BMW generates sound both inside and outside the car, the interior sound is different than the exterior sound. ...and its likely you can not hear the external sound over the interior sound augmentation.

Ask me how I know? More information at the end of this thread: https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s....php?t=1335982

[Barago]

I checked that post and saw where the interior and exterior speakers are.

On my coupe the inside noise was very aggressive through the speakers at higher RPM.

You hear more of the outside noise with the roadster and it seems like they may have put more emphasis on the outside speaker because of this. The tone is also deeper at lower RPM and idle to my ears vs my last car.

[evanevery]

I would disagree...

I specifically DON'T hear ANY of the outside sound with the Roadster. The interior sound completely covers anything I might hear coming from the outside.

In order to hear the OUTSIDE sound, I actually tapped into the i8's external speaker with a bluetooth audio transmitter and then carried a battery powered portable bluetooth speaker in the car with me. Until I actually did this, all I could hear was the internal sound.

You might THINK you're hearing the outside sound, but until you do something like this you won't know...

The interior sound is VERY good but its different than what is being piped to the outside speaker.

[mptpa]

2019 i8 coupe lease for $1099!!! I'm thinking of returning my M850i and go for the Roadster (1,299). I bought the 850 and has only 900 miles so far. Perhaps I'm craving for a better eye candy (i had a 2015 i8 before the 850).