[Kutsuki]

I am going on a trip to BMW HQ and Welt in Munich, Germany. I will arrive on 3/31 for 3 days. I'm going to try to talk to a customer representative about the i8 and I'll be happy to ask any questions this forum may have. I think this may fall on deaf ears but it doesn't hurt to try.

My current dealership situation:
I was told they will build my i8 to my specifications and production is slated to happen in May. I asked my dealer at what point is this car officially mine? He replied, only if no one outbids you by the time it reaches the dealership.

I intend to first ask them to sell me the i8 and ship it to USA.
After they say no, I will complain about:
The American dealership practices.
Being forced into the Pure Impulse Package.
The Pure Impulse Card being worthless in USA.
Try to get them to sell me the laser lights. (take it as a carry on back home)

display key fob
enhanced battery life
retrofitting comfort access
blindspot detection
adaptive cruise control
collision avoidance
auto parking

[mystopolis]

Originally Posted by Kutsuki

I am going on a trip to BMW HQ and Welt in Munich, Germany. I will arrive on 3/31 for 3 days. I'm going to try to talk to a customer representative about the i8 and I'll be happy to ask any questions this forum may have. I think this may fall on deaf ears but it doesn't hurt to try.

My current dealership situation:
I was told they will build my i8 to my specifications and production is slated to happen in May. I asked my dealer at what point is this car officially mine? He replied, only if no one outbids you by the time it reaches the dealership.

I intend to first ask them to sell me the i8 and ship it to USA.
After they say no, I will complain about:
The American dealership practices.
Being forced into the Pure Impulse Package.
The Pure Impulse Card being worthless in USA.
Try to get them to sell me the laser lights. (take it as a carry on back home)

You should have stuck with my dealership that we talked about! MSRP, no forced PIP, and no outbidding...that's outrageous.

Check with them about the display key fob and when/if it will be available and see if they will give you any details regarding the rumor of the i8s.

Good luck and enjoy Munich its a wonderful place!

[Kutsuki]

Originally Posted by mystopolis

You should have stuck with my dealership that we talked about! MSRP, no forced PIP, and no outbidding...that's outrageous.

Check with them about the display key fob and when/if it will be available and see if they will give you any details regarding the rumor of the i8s.

Good luck and enjoy Munich its a wonderful place!

I should have! I was hoping to get it sooner, at the time they had 11 in line. I should of wrote a check then and there.

[ChiTownM]

Ask about imminent enhancements for the next MY, and when to expect an enhanced i8 with the rumored higher battery capacity. I also agree to ask them about Pure Impulse Card and what else to expect from being an exclusive (whatever....) PI owner, forced owner.....lol.

Enjoy Munich too!

[MalibuBimmer]

Any chance of retrofitting comfort access? Any other features where the hardware is there but the software hasn't been programmed for it. (Dynamic cruise control, side view warning, etc.)

[JasH]

Originally Posted by Kutsuki

I'll be happy to ask any questions this forum may have.

Ask them to add the following, all via software update:

- gear indicator to HUD in sport mode

- interior LED lighting scheme colour match to drive mode e.g. comfort blue, sports red

- blindspot detection

- adaptive cruise control

- collision avoidance

- auto parking


The last 4 are all available on the i3. I believe the i8 already has the hardware (cameras) required for these.

[Epirali]

Could not ready prime time software have something to do with omissions?

http://bmwi3.blogspot.com/2014/10/bm...ntrol.html?m=1

[Pitkis]

Try to ask how's display key situation.

[ChiTownM]

Here are 2 more:

When will it get the new iDrive with the touchscreen. Will CarPlay work for the current version of the iDrive?

Does the car charge more using the wall box vs the supplied cable resulting in a better battery range, something another poster here eluded to possibly?

[JasH]

Originally Posted by JasH

Ask them to add the following, all via software update:

- gear indicator to HUD in sport mode

- interior LED lighting scheme colour match to drive mode e.g. comfort blue, sports red

- blindspot detection

- adaptive cruise control

- collision avoidance

- auto parking


The last 4 are all available on the i3. I believe the i8 already has the hardware (cameras) required for these.

Everyone, can I please also ask you to please email BMWi with your suggestions and requests. They will only add things if they see there is demand from customers.

In the UK, email corporatecustomerservice@bmw.co.uk

I am sure there are other email addresses here, and also equivalents in the USA and elsewhere.

I have found BMW in the UK to be extremely helpful, and FAR more effective than their dealers.

[AndyDubbya]

Originally Posted by JasH

Everyone, can I please also ask you to please email BMWi with your suggestions and requests. They will only add things if they see there is demand from customers.

In the UK, email corporatecustomerservice@bmw.co.uk

I am sure there are other email addresses here, and also equivalents in the USA and elsewhere.

I have found BMW in the UK to be extremely helpful, and FAR more effective than their dealers.

I've been emailing with the top technical chap at BMWUK about a few things like these. I don't want to sound too secretive, but he asked me not to mention too much publicly about some things we discussed in case hopes were raised unduly - but I guess I can confirm that ACC with the current hardware isn't possible, nor is self-parking, and blind spot detection isn't currently planned, although he's checking whether the hardware is in place.

[ChiTownM]

I am dealing with an iConcierge escalation agent over here in the US, need to get a name of somebody much higher. Can you ask your British contact to provide the contact info for his counterpart in the U.S.......thank you!

[JasH]

Originally Posted by AndyDubbya

I've been emailing with the top technical chap at BMWUK about a few things like these. I don't want to sound too secretive, but he asked me not to mention too much publicly about some things we discussed in case hopes were raised unduly - but I guess I can confirm that ACC with the current hardware isn't possible, nor is self-parking, and blind spot detection isn't currently planned, although he's checking whether the hardware is in place.

Thanks, that is useful, albeit disappointing news on those features.

However, you should point out to him that:

1/ BMW should not have installed lower spec components in i8 vs i3
2/ If current hardware does not allow it, surely it must still be easy enough to retrofit new hardware (like from i3) that does allow these features.

We don't expect that for free. BMW can charge a reasonable cost

[Kutsuki]

I am flying into Munich tomorrow. I will update the first post with the questions I will ask.

display key fob
enhanced battery life
retrofitting comfort access
blindspot detection
adaptive cruise control
collision avoidance
auto parking

[YWGT3]

Thanks for asking on everyone's behalf. Looking forward to hearing BMW HQ's response to the questions. Meantime, have a great trip to Munich!

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by JasH

Thanks, that is useful, albeit disappointing news on those features.

However, you should point out to him that:

1/ BMW should not have installed lower spec components in i8 vs i3
2/ If current hardware does not allow it, surely it must still be easy enough to retrofit new hardware (like from i3) that does allow these features.

We don't expect that for free. BMW can charge a reasonable cost

Speak for yourself! I paid $12k like a moron for some lettering and an engine cover! I want this s**t retrofitted for free!

[Kutsuki]

TL;DR Fell on deaf ears.

I went to BMW HQ and Welt in Munich today. I asked a few representatives about the i8. The most informative response I got was from one of the (slightly) higher up. He apologized that there was nothing they could do about the National Automobile Dealership Association. He said that BMW is aware that the US dealerships were buying the i8s then selling them for over sticker.

He thinks retrofitting maybe unlikely. He is farmilar with the process on how i8's were built and he thinks retrofitting the comfort access into 2014 models is very unlikely because of the door cut. If we wanted the laser lights, we could buy it as a separate part and just install it ourselves. He said it should fit right in and the cords will plug right into the electrical components, he's not sure if the software will be compatible though.

I have attached some bmw i8 concept photos from the BMW museum.