[igu]

The weather is getting pretty cold here and the snow is expected within a few weeks so the plan is to have the i8 going into storage for a few months.

I tried getting any information from my dealer about how to best store the car but I'm still waiting to get any definitive answers. If I ever get any...
I know how to do this on a classic car but not really sure how to approach the electrical side of things with this car. The dealer said "they think" it should be on trickle charge, but that doesn't sound too convincing so I'm turing to the forums for help.

Anyone else planning on letting theirs stand still for a longer period and how do you approach it?

[MalibuBimmer]

What's "snow"?

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by igu

The weather is getting pretty cold here and the snow is expected within a few weeks so the plan is to have the i8 going into storage for a few months.

Anyone else planning on letting theirs stand still for a longer period and how do you approach it?

We already have had snow here but it has melted away. i8 suit well for winter driving I'll be getting winter tyre tomorrow and continue all the year. How can you leave her alone for several months..?

[JWDnl]

Pitkis; How was it on snow?
I've heard some people saying that the i8 4wd system isn't performing too well on snow, then again I've seen some prototypes nicely drifting on frozen lakes so what is is it like?

I won't put my i8 in storage for the winter, it makes sense for Ferrari's, etc. but this is 'just' a DD BMW.

[Carac]

Originally Posted by igu

The weather is getting pretty cold here and the snow is expected within a few weeks so the plan is to have the i8 going into storage for a few months.

I tried getting any information from my dealer about how to best store the car but I'm still waiting to get any definitive answers. If I ever get any...
I know how to do this on a classic car but not really sure how to approach the electrical side of things with this car. The dealer said "they think" it should be on trickle charge, but that doesn't sound too convincing so I'm turing to the forums for help.

Anyone else planning on letting theirs stand still for a longer period and how do you approach it?

I don't believe there are any user accessible battery terminals for the regular battery. I'm under the impression the EV battery pack steps down the voltage and charges the standard car battery. In theory that means just leaving the charger plugged in over the winter. I'm getting curious myself. Storing the SLS for the winter is straight forward, the i8 is something of a mystery in this department.

[igu]

Originally Posted by Pitkis

How can you leave her alone for several months..?

They put salt and sand (more like gravel) on the roads for the ice and I would like to have the car not being sand blistered at least the first year, so no winter driving this season for me.

Still looking for advice on how to handle batteries and stuff. What happens if they get depleted during storage?

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by igu

They put salt and sand (more like gravel) on the roads for the ice and I would like to have the car not being sand blistered at least the first year, so no winter driving this season for me.

I understand. i8 is such a great machine to drive that downgrading for winter feels no option for me right now.

If I had to storage the car, I'd keep it charged all the time. Some people drive their car just once a month and they still work with no problem.

JWDnl: i8 works very well in snow. We had a serious snowing two weeks ago, there was a thick ice on freeway & fair layer of snow everywere. 4 wheel drive was stable and used all the time even with Comfort. The car had really good connection to frozen road and even lane changes went fine. No slipping, no surprises. Driving with summer tyres in those conditions is dangerous, but I managed to make my trip home (almost 100 km) in heavy snowing, completely dark. I've been in similar condition with F430 couple years ago. And believe me, that was the most frightening experience in my life, ever. The constant fear of losing the car that had no control at all was something I never forget.

I'll report more after I get winter tyres and real driving experiences in frozen snowtrack. I have had long talks with BMW factory drivers who have driven i8 in Lapland earlier. They said it works brilliantly on ice and snow, better than ordinary xDrive models.

[DoctaM3]

Originally Posted by Pitkis

I understand. i8 is such a great machine to drive that downgrading for winter feels no option for me right now.

If I had to storage the car, I'd keep it charged all the time. Some people drive their car just once a month and they still work with no problem.

JWDnl: i8 works very well in snow. We had a serious snowing two weeks ago, there was a thick ice on freeway & fair layer of snow everywere. 4 wheel drive was stable and used all the time even with Comfort. The car had really good connection to frozen road and even lane changes went fine. No slipping, no surprises. Driving with summer tyres in those conditions is dangerous, but I managed to make my trip home (almost 100 km) in heavy snowing, completely dark. I've been in similar condition with F430 couple years ago. And believe me, that was the most frightening experience in my life, ever. The constant fear of losing the car that had no control at all was something I never forget.

I'll report more after I get winter tyres and real driving experiences in frozen snowtrack. I have had long talks with BMW factory drivers who have driven i8 in Lapland earlier. They said it works brilliantly on ice and snow, better than ordinary xDrive models.

What is the winter setup that you are getting on the i8? What tire/wheel combination or tire only? Mine will be a winter warrior so I am curious.

[Pitkis]

Originally Posted by DoctaM3

What is the winter setup that you are getting on the i8? What tire/wheel combination or tire only? Mine will be a winter warrior so I am curious.

I'll inform you all once the car has been adjusted. The set-up in my car is a global premiere for this application and I don't know if they want to tell it out yet. It's the size of that certain M+S tyre that does not exists officially right now. But, I can promise, it will be absolutely the most capable winter tyre available for i8.

[TheTraveler]

"For phases of standing of up to 3 months", the user's guide suggests keeping the i8 "plugged into a suitable power source or virtually fully charged".

[igu]

Originally Posted by TheTraveler

"For phases of standing of up to 3 months", the user's guide suggests keeping the i8 "plugged into a suitable power source or virtually fully charged".

That's about as far as I've gotten too. Everyone seem clueless what to recommend for longer periods than that.

I'll update the thread as soon as any official response is given.