[geraldm2012650vert]

2015 BMW I8, 20,000 miles.
12-Dec-17 drove from Miami to Houston, no problem
27-Dec-17 drove from Houston to Indianapolis, no problem
1-Jan-18 departed Indianapolis at 11:00 AM, 10 minutes into trip
"drivetrain malfunction" flashed briefly then went away
10 minutes later
"engine overheating" flashed briefly then went away
5 minutes later
"low oil pressure" flashed and I pulled onto the shoulder
I looked out the drivers side window
flames were shooting out from under the car
I opened the door, swung my legs sideways and stood in the flames to exit the car, if my Dad was in the car, I would not have had time to get him out

[Msizzle]

omg so happy you are ok

[MichaelJohn]

You already posted about this in your “20,000 mile Surprise” thread. It’s a shame your car caught fire but this post is much more provocative and foreboding than the first. Are you trying to warn us about the i8? Have you found out what caused the fire? I would like more info and less fear mongering.

[evanevery]

This is why I don't have kids.

[geraldm2012650vert]

Originally Posted by MichaelJohn

You already posted about this in your “20,000 mile Surprise” thread. It’s a shame your car caught fire but this post is much more provocative and foreboding than the first. Are you trying to warn us about the i8? Have you found out what caused the fire? I would like more info and less fear mongering.

Definition of Fear Mongering "Fearmongering or scaremongering is the spreading of frightening and exaggerated rumors of an impending danger or the habit or tactic of purposely and needlessly arousing public fear about an issue."
This is not an exaggerated rumor, it's a fact, I'm simply letting people know what could happen.

[geraldm2012650vert]

My reason for posting this a second time is simple, only a few people read my last post. I had a nightmare where this happened again and not everyone got out. BMW has had 8 months to let people know that this could happen. I Truly Love the I8 and I believe that this was an isolated incident. I just think that I8 owners should know that it could happen.

[MichaelJohn]

Originally Posted by geraldm2012650vert

My reason for posting this a second time is simple, only a few people read my last post. I had a nightmare where this happened again and not everyone got out. BMW has had 8 months to let people know that this could happen. I Truly Love the I8 and I believe that this was an isolated incident. I just think that I8 owners should know that it could happen.

I don’t mind a good definition to make a point. “Fear mongering” was too strong and I apologize. I would have liked to see the above paragraph in your original post as it adds your very personal and powerful reaction to the event rather than just the facts. Nonetheless, I am sure you were traumatized and rightfully so. It must have been terrifying. Please let us know what transpires with BMW.

[geraldm2012650vert]

The accident occurred on 1-Jan, BMW Corporate was contacted 2-Jan. I spoke with a person that claimed to handle the I8. I told him to report this incident as far up the chain of command as he could. Tell them to secure the car and ship it to Germany or Spartanburg. It took them 3 weeks to look at the car at a salvage yard and 3 months to tell me they couldn't do anything because they claimed the Fuel Cap was missing and the car was not secured properly. I had asked them to replace my car so that my Insurance Company would not have too. The fact that they never took the car and did a thorough inspection in their shop tells me that they new what happened. At one point they suggested that it was my fault and then retracted it. I would have at least expected to inform all of the I8 owners to the series of events that occurred before the car caught fire.

[NGR]

Unfortunately you don't have much to go on. A message from BMW to all i8 owners saying you might be killed in a car fire isn't going to happen.

Several models of cars have been known to have combustion problems inc Porsches, and Audis. The GM/Opel/Vauxhall Zafira in Europe had many, many fires which were eventually traced to something like a resistor pack in the dashboard overheating close to the pollen filters. It took many fires before the cause was established, a friend of mine had this happen to his Zafira.

I doubt one fire in an i8 will lead to a root cause being determined, the fact that it appears to be an isolated incident means it could well be completely unique to your car or even your behaviour. I'm sure BMW would love to know what caused it, if there were several fires I'm sure they would be desperately trying to establish the cause especially as many of the i8's components are now found in the rest of the range include 3, 5 and X series.

Unfortunately, this may be a case of let the insurer pay up and walk away. If you're not satisfied with BMW, there are plenty of other cars to chose from, all of which will have experienced a vehicle fire...

[Jason B]

Let your insurance pay, that's what they're there for, and don't the road if bmw replaces it, you'll have 2.

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Jason B

Let your insurance pay, that's what they're there for, and don't the road if bmw replaces it, you'll have 2.

That would be felony insurance fraud... Just Sayin'

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by evanevery

That would be felony insurance fraud... Just Sayin'

iF bmw wants to gift him a new ride, nothing wrong with that, after the insurance pays him. He's under no obligation to tell bmw that his insurance covered it.

[evanevery]

Originally Posted by Jason B

iF bmw wants to gift him a new ride, nothing wrong with that, after the insurance pays him. He's under no obligation to tell bmw that his insurance covered it.

I'm quite sure the insurance company will have something to say about it...