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BMW I12 i8 coupe and roadster buyer's guide
2014–2020 · i8 (B38)
Last updated
Engines by year Model-year changes Known problems Other issues Warranty extensions Recalls Inspection checklist Red flags Specs Coding Ownership costs Production Sources
Models and engines by year
| Model | US model years | Engine |
|---|---|---|
| i8 | 2014–2020 | B38 plug-in hybrid |
US-market models. Chassis codes: I12, I15. Not sure which one you have? The VIN check decodes year, model and engine.
Model-year changes
| Model year | What changed |
|---|---|
| Launch | Production version unveiled at Frankfurt in 2013, released in Germany in June 2014; US deliveries followed.3 |
| 2014 | US lineup in the EPA listings: 1.5L 3-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid: i8.4 |
| Roadster | The roadster launched in May 2018, and the battery grew to 11.6 kWh gross for both body styles.3 |
| 2019 | US lineup in the EPA listings: 1.5L 3-cyl turbo plug-in hybrid: I8 Coupe, I8 Roadster.4 |
| End | Production ended June 2020.3 |
US model years unless noted. "LCI" (Life Cycle Impulse) is BMW's name for a mid-cycle facelift.
Known problems and when they show up
Mileages are what the cited shops, specialists and owner forums report. They are typical ranges, not predictions for any one car.
B38 engine
i8 (2014–2020) · B38 bulletins
| Problem | When it shows up | What to know | Repair prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo coolant line O-rings | with age | Two coolant lines feed the turbo and their rubber O-rings harden and leak; unexplained coolant loss is the sign. The O-rings are a cheap fix.1 | No price yet |
| Water pump and thermostat | with age | A leaking pump or thermostat loses coolant and can overheat the engine; watch for temperature spikes.1 | No price yet |
| VANOS solenoids | any | A failing solenoid sets a check-engine light or limp mode; diagnosis by fault code is straightforward.1 | No price yet |
| Carbon build-up | high mileage | Direct injection lets carbon build on the intake valves; walnut blasting clears it.1 | No price yet |
| i8 version | n/a | The i8 uses a high-output B38 (228 hp) with upgrades. PistonHeads rated the i8 very reliable with an excellent record; its reported faults (fuel flap not opening, sometimes with a fuel pressure sensor; rear-window heater) are not engine faults.2,1 | No price yet |
Known I12 issues beyond the engine
Fuel flap that won't open. Reported more on hot days or around a quarter tank. A new flap didn't always fix it; sometimes the fuel pressure sensor had to be replaced, which means dropping the tank. There is a backup release cable in the trunk.2
Rear-window heater. Heater elements in the rear glass can fail.2
Overall record. PistonHeads rated the i8's reliability record excellent, apart from occasional electronic faults; the hybrid battery carried an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty and total failures are rare.2
Warranty extensions and service campaigns 6
Warranty extensions (5)
- SIB 01 13 25 EVAP system warranty extension EVAP system warranty extension on BMW G12/F30/I12/I15 models (2016–2022); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · May 2026
- SIB 01 09 24 Battery warranty extension Battery warranty extension on BMW F15/I12/I15 models (2014–2018); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Mar 2025
- SIB 01 11 24 Battery warranty extension Battery warranty extension on BMW G12/F30/I01/I12 and other models (2014–2019); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Warranty extension · Dec 2024
- SIB 01 01 24 EVAP purge valve warranty extension EVAP purge valve warranty extension on B38 engines (2016–2017); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Apr 2024
- SIB 01 13 18 Fuel tank warranty extension Fuel tank warranty extension on BMW F15/I01/I12/I15 models (2014–2017); BMW extended the warranty on this part for eligible cars. Service bulletin · Jun 2018
Service campaigns (1)
- SIB 84 03 26 Telematics unit failure Telematics unit failure on BMW I01/I12/I15 models (2020); BMW repairs affected cars free under a service campaign. Service campaign · Jul 2026
Filed by BMW with NHTSA. Extensions usually follow the car to later owners and can reimburse earlier repairs; a BMW dealer can confirm by VIN.
NHTSA safety recalls 6
- Recall 20V601: high-voltage battery module 330E, 530E, 745LE, I8, X3, X5, 2020–2021. Debris may have entered one or more of the hybrid battery cells during their production.
- Recall 19V599: hybrid propulsion system I3, I8, 2019. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high-voltage electrical power.
- Recall 18V652: electrical 330E, 530E, 740LE, I3, I8, X5, 2018–2019. Capacitors within the TurboCord Portable Chargers may fail, possibly resulting in a shock hazard or a fire.
- Recall 16V914: air bags 430I, 440I, 528I, 535D, 535I, 550I, 640I, 650I, I3, I8, M4, M5, M6, X1 SAV, 2016–2017. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
- Recall 15V882: electronic stability control (esc) I8, 2015. Improperly drilled holes within the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) hydraulic unit may restrict one or more pistons impairing the DSC functions, including braking.
- Recall 14V674: auxillary tank I8, 2014. A bolt used to attach a ground cable between the tank and the vehicle chassis may not have been properly welded during manufacturing.
Matched from NHTSA's public recall file by model and model year. A recall may cover only some cars from a year, and it may already have been done on yours. Check by VIN →
Test drive and inspection checklist
- Run the VIN for open recalls. Open safety recalls are free at any BMW dealer. Check on NHTSA's site or our recall page before you buy.5
- Scan for stored fault codes with a BMW-capable tool. A generic OBD reader misses most BMW modules. Specialist guides recommend a BMW-level scan (ISTA or similar) to catch faults that have been cleared from the dash but still stored.6,7
- Start it from cold. Ask the seller not to warm the car up first. Chain rattle, VANOS rattle, lifter tick and rough idle show most clearly in the first seconds after a cold start.6,8,9
- Ask a BMW dealer about warranty extensions and campaigns. Several BMW warranty extensions follow the car, not the owner, and some reimburse earlier repairs. A dealer can check the VIN. The list for this chassis is below.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a BMW specialist. A few hundred dollars for an independent BMW specialist is the usual advice, especially for M cars and high-mileage turbo engines.10,6
- Fuel flap. Open the fuel flap during the inspection.2
- Model year. Cars from the 2018 update, when the roadster arrived, have a larger battery and a stronger front electric motor (143 hp instead of 131 hp).2
Engine items to listen and look for are in the known problems section.
Service-history red flags
- Oil changes only at the long computer interval. Several guides advise changing oil more often than the onboard service indicator (CBS) suggests, especially with lots of city driving.9,11
- Gaps in the records around known failure mileages. If the engine section below lists a job that usually comes due at the car's mileage, ask for the invoice. A missing record isn't proof it wasn't done, but it is a negotiating point.
- Tuned or "deleted" cars. Tunes, emissions deletes and removed parts complicate warranty claims and inspections and raise wear on turbo cars. Ask, and look for aftermarket intakes, downpipes and charge pipes.
- B38: ask for records of Turbo coolant line O-rings; Water pump and thermostat; VANOS solenoids; Carbon build-up.
I12 specs
BMW's US figures we have on file run from 357 hp (i8) to 357 hp (i8), with 0-60 mph as quick as 4.2 s.
No manual gearbox appears in the EPA listings for this chassis. Full I12 specs: every US engine, transmission and drive by year →
Coding
The coding apps' own lists show 172 settings that owners can change on the I12 with a phone and an OBD adapter, in areas such as Welcome Lights, Seat heating/cooling, Convenient opening/closing, Display options iDrive system, Headlight cleaning, Mirrors. 136 come from BimmerCode's list and 36 more appear only in Carly's list.
Ownership costs
Routine maintenance: oil service prices by engine size, published BMW Value Service prices (brakes, spark plugs) from 16 US dealers, and the I12 maintenance schedule.
By model year
| Year | Models and engines | NHTSA recalls | Warranty extensions | Repairs we price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | i8 B38 plug-in hybrid | 1 | 3 | — |
| 2015 | i8 B38 plug-in hybrid | 1 | 3 | — |
| 2016 | i8 B38 plug-in hybrid | 1 | 5 | — |
| 2017 | i8 B38 plug-in hybrid | 1 | 5 | — |
| 2018 | i8 B38 plug-in hybrid | 1 | 3 | — |
| 2019 | i8 B38 plug-in hybrid | 2 | 2 | — |
| 2020 | i8 B38 plug-in hybrid | 1 | 1 | — |
Recalls and warranty extensions are counted when their published model-year range includes that year. Each one may cover only some cars, so check by VIN. Repairs counted are the ones whose engine was offered that year.
Production
| What | Units | Source |
|---|---|---|
| i8, total built 16,581 coupes and 3,884 roadsters | 20,465 | BMWBlog |
Figures are copied as each source publishes them (retrieved October 18, 2026). "Sold" figures are BMW's reported sales, not production counts. Where we add numbers up, they come from one source. We leave out anything that hasn't been published.
Sources
- WapCar: BMW B38 maintenance and common problems
- PistonHeads: BMW i8 used buying guide
- Wikipedia: BMW i8
- EPA/DOE fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov)
- NHTSA recall lookup by VIN
- The Stable: E92 M3 buyer's guide
- Euro Premium Parts: E60 M5 reliability guide
- carsales: buying a used F30 3 Series (2015–20)
- carsales: buying a used E90 3 Series
- Road & Track: E46 M3 buyer's guide
- Drive-My: E60 5 Series buying guide (six-cylinder petrol)
Retrieved 2026-10-18. Bulletins and recalls come from NHTSA filings; owner prices come from the public posts linked on each job page.