Browsing: Bimmer Life

Like many modern cars, the BMW i8 comes with an interior lighting pack. Some people love it, others criticise it for the reflections in the glass, but personally, I think it’s a cool feature. You can cycle through a range of colours, but I’m sticking with blue—my favourite. The Mystery of the Missing Lights When I first bought the car, I didn’t think it had the lighting pack. The light strips that a lot of BMW i8s have simply weren’t switched on. Was it a deliberate choice by a previous owner, or just personal preference? I wasn’t sure. A few…

I absolutely love the BMW i8. The fact that it’s a hybrid and looks as cool as it does makes it almost the perfect pairing. In my previous blog, I mentioned that one of the first things I wanted to check was the condition of the 12V battery – Supercar Ownership: The Unexpected Fixes & Mods I Didn’t See Coming. I had read online that if your 12V battery is old and not holding charge well, it may start drawing power from the EV battery and, in turn, pull down its range. However, I couldn’t find too much concrete information…

A full month into owning the BMW i8, and I’m already itching to see what I can do to enhance it—and maybe tackle some necessary repairs. If you’ve read my three-week ownership blog (here), you’ll recall my first impressions—from boot space to ingress and egress challenges. I briefly mentioned some niggles and my temptation to upgrade to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While I’d still love to do that, other priorities have emerged. Nonetheless, my decision to buy a bargain £100,000 supercar (full story here) remains unwavering. In fact, I’m determined to make this the best budget supercar money can…

Can an air filter really make a difference? When it comes to enhancing a car’s performance, an air filter might not seem like the most exciting upgrade, but it can make a noticeable difference. I’ve replaced air filter panels and even complete air intake systems before, such as the Eventuri on my Mini Clubman JCW. In my experience, swapping the OEM panel filter for a performance one often delivers tangible improvements, though results can vary from car to car. When I purchased the BMW i8, I knew it wasn’t a traditional sports car. It has the looks, some performance, and…

A little over three weeks into owning the BMW i8, I thought it would be a good time to share my early impressions of this unique hybrid supercar. Spoiler alert: it’s been an exciting ride so far. First Impressions: The Looks Let’s start with the obvious—the BMW i8 is absolutely stunning. Its futuristic design, with its sleek lines and iconic scissor doors, makes it look like it’s been plucked straight out of a sci-fi movie. Wherever I go, it turns heads and sparks conversations. Kids point and stare, adults whisper in awe, and car enthusiasts come over to ask a…

When it comes to ticking boxes off a car enthusiast’s bucket list, this one’s a biggie. I’ve just bought myself what many would call an affordable supercar. Yes, I recently said goodbye to another dream car of mine—my Tesla Model 3 Performance—and you can read all about that journey here. But as one chapter ends, another begins. Allow me to introduce its stunning replacement: the BMW i8. Is It Really a Supercar? Now, is the BMW i8 strictly a supercar? That depends on who you ask. On one hand, its performance figures don’t quite reach the dizzying heights of traditional…