[ZCONNOR_I8]

Hey Bimmer community. Today I found out some very bad news.

I’m wondering if anyone has experience or insight that might be able to help me with my 2015 bmw i8.

Here’s the story … I saved up to get this car and paid $65,000 cash … 2 weeks later I rolled it without insurance. My insurance would not cover it, even though I’m supposed to have 30 days when buying from private seller (nightmare) to start.

So then, I decided to buy used parts, hit yards and put this car back together with a grade A mechanic I was referred to. Everything we did was cosmetic as there was no damage to the motors … paid 24k when it was all said and done.


I finally started it up and drove it … when I got about 2 miles down the road I got an engine overheating warning. I pulled over and towed it to a shop. These guys told me the system needed to be bled and basically they tried their best but couldn’t get all the air out.

So then I towed it to bmw. Bmw diagnosed it and sent me this quote below.

I called the previous shop that tried to bleed it and he said there was NO signs of a blown head gasket.

The car has 9,000 miles on it

Yes , I was involved in a pretty bad accident and am lucky to be alive, thank you to carbon fiber and the man upstairs … but I just don’t understand or believe that this could be a head gasket. I don’t have the money to pay for a new motor , so I’m pretty much desperate at this point to figure out what’s actually going on. Bmw won’t let me talk to the mechanic and they basically said “yeah he believes it’s a head gasket and we recommend a new motor. If you would like me to put the order in, I can have it ready for you next week!” As if 28k is nothing…

Couldn’t believe it. Worst news ever today. Hoping someone have some insight or experience to maybe have an input/advice on this ?

 

[HotGrbg]

Well if the first shop “couldnt get all the air out” and “bled it as best they could” and continued to overheat it trying to purge the air then it’s also a possibility they caused the damage. Yes you can ruin an engine by overheating it especially multiple times.
i8 is notoriously hard to bleed the cooling system on and unless they work on i8s all the time they probably had no idea.
Now this is 100% speculation on my part but I see the events as follows:
Accident destroyed radiator or caused cooling system leaks/damage.
Vehicle was repaired but cooling system not properly bled.
Vehicle overheated probably multiple times trying to get the cooling system bled.
Engine now garbage.

 

[Jerry 745Li]

We FIXED the Blown Head Gasket in my BMW i8 WITHOUT Spending $10,000 at the Dealer - YouTube

This is a youtuber I watch occasionally. Interesting video on the overheating issue of his i8. I think you'll gain some insight by watching the videos.

 

[ZCONNOR_I8]

Well if the first shop “couldnt get all the air out” and “bled it as best they could” and continued to overheat it trying to purge the air then it’s also a possibility they caused the damage. Yes you can ruin an engine by overheating it especially multiple times.
i8 is notoriously hard to bleed the cooling system on and unless they work on i8s all the time they probably had no idea.
Now this is 100% speculation on my part but I see the events as follows:
Accident destroyed radiator or caused cooling system leaks/damage.
Vehicle was repaired but cooling system not properly bled.
Vehicle overheated probably multiple times trying to get the cooling system bled.
Engine now garbage.

Yeah - Makes sense. What’s shitty is that I provided BMW if the report from the previous shop, showing them that they tried to bleed multiple times but could not get the air out.

Then, bmw went ahead and started bleeding it more and running it on idle and trying it over and over until they come to the assumption that it has a blown head. They didn’t say whether it had a blown head or not. They said “believe it has blown head and need new engine”.

Why would bmw continue to try to get the air out and let it overheat when I provided them with a statement from the previous shop saying they tried many times and got a lot out but couldn’t get it all.
They said after about 10 miles or so the engine overheating warning would pop up.

I’m screwed. I think next step is trying a engine block test on it …

Idk what else to do if it’s blown then I’m done and I’m gonna have to try to sell it with a busted motor. Fml

 

[effduration]

Reach out to the shop that fixed the I8 on Youtube, linked above.

 

[HotGrbg]

Well if the BMW dealership knows i8 is notoriously hard to purge and it was at a shop before the dealer then wouldn’t it be possible that the first shop damaged the vehicle?

 

[Newsmanbg]

We FIXED the Blown Head Gasket in my BMW i8 WITHOUT Spending $10,000 at the Dealer - YouTube

This is a youtuber I watch occasionally. Interesting video on the overheating issue of his i8. I think you'll gain some insight by watching the videos.

You beat me to it, Jerry! OP, if you're not trolling by posting a fake problem inspired by watching this video, then this video is directly, and I mean directly on point with your situation. He struggled with it for weeks.

Newsman

 

[ZCONNOR_I8]

Well if the BMW dealership knows i8 is notoriously hard to purge and it was at a shop before the dealer then wouldn’t it be possible that the first shop damaged the vehicle?

Yes - makes sense. I don’t know why they would be purging it then driving it. It says on the computer to run it at idle. The shop told me he would drive it for about 10 miles and then the engine overheating warning would pop up.

I highly doubt he would be towing it back to the shop. So yes it’s very likely they damaged it.

With that said, after we repaired it and I started it for the first time, I would let it run for 30 minutes to an hour while I worked on some things. When I first drove it, to go get an alignment, that’s when I got the temperature hot warning and to drive carefully. Then, I figured I would try to make it to the shop since it was only about another mile up the road and that’s when I lost most all power and the wouldn’t go over 10 mph. Luckily when that happened I was right around the corner and I made it.

So yeah, I was having issues before bringing it there but they may have overheated it too many times like you said.

I found a shop called Integrity Motorcar about 20 minutes from me. This guy I heard has taken courses in Germany and knows porches, Ferrari’s and BMW very well. I talked to him today and he said to bring it over and to diagnose it, it’s gonna be about $300-1000 depending on what he finds.

At this point it’s a glimmer of hope and I don’t really have another option besides sell it.

I’m watching all Samcracs videos on this now. Seems like 100% the same thing and I’m through his 3rd video on it.

I’ll keep you guys updated on the results. I appreciate all the response!

Note* I want to throw this out there. When the dealership send me back my inspection report, the only 2 issues they reported were the very 2 issues I told them was happening. I find it very odd that they checked off that my headliner controls are working (when they’re not) my dash and drivers door led light is working (which it is not). Etc. Few different issues I knew I still had to take care of, they didn’t report on the diagnostic. Makes me think the tech is lazy and clearly didn’t do a full inspection / isn’t working hard enough to fix the issue at hand. I’m going to talk with them about that when I pick it up Monday. Makes no sense to me.

 

[ZCONNOR_I8]

We FIXED the Blown Head Gasket in my BMW i8 WITHOUT Spending $10,000 at the Dealer - YouTube

This is a youtuber I watch occasionally. Interesting video on the overheating issue of his i8. I think you'll gain some insight by watching the videos.

Thank you! On the 3rd video now and yes seems like the same exact situation.

 

[ZCONNOR_I8]

You beat me to it, Jerry! OP, if you're not trolling by posting a fake problem inspired by watching this video, then this video is directly, and I mean directly on point with your situation. He struggled with it for weeks.

Newsman

Watching now. Shit , I might need to contact them and find out where there shop is located. I’m taking it to one more bmw specialist to get a solid answer on whether the head is blown or not. I don’t like how BMW is saying “Believe head is blown and recommend new engine.” It’s either blown or not and they should find that out if they expect me to pay the huge tab I’m about to get hit with ?

 

[HotGrbg]

You seem dead set on the dealer damaging the car and giving you bad information. Obviously I’m not involved but it would seem that the accident caused the problems, the first shop smoked your ride and your pissed at the dealership for taking it there after the fact and not wanting to take responsibility for a head gasket repair on an engine that’s been overheated. I wouldn’t quote you a head gasket either. The liability if it doesn’t work is huge. Would you be happy to pay many thousands for a head gasket repair that doesn’t fix the car? Didn’t think so

 

[Newsmanbg]

Watching now. Shit , I might need to contact them and find out where there shop is located. I’m taking it to one more bmw specialist to get a solid answer on whether the head is blown or not. I don’t like how BMW is saying “Believe head is blown and recommend new engine.” It’s either blown or not and they should find that out if they expect me to pay the huge tab I’m about to get hit with ?

The shop in the Samcrac video is this one: Eurocharged Orlando | European Automotive Specialists | Florida

Eurocharged Ecu Tuning-Engineered Performance Software-Home

Eurocharged Ecu tuning is on some of the fastest cars in the world! Eurocharged engineers customize your tune for your mods, elevation, fuel, and driving style!

www.eurocharged.com

Newsman

 

[ZCONNOR_I8]

You seem dead set on the dealer damaging the car and giving you bad information. Obviously I’m not involved but it would seem that the accident caused the problems, the first shop smoked your ride and your pissed at the dealership for taking it there after the fact and not wanting to take responsibility for a head gasket repair on an engine that’s been overheated. I wouldn’t quote you a head gasket either. The liability if it doesn’t work is huge. Would you be happy to pay many thousands for a head gasket repair that doesn’t fix the car? Didn’t think so

Nah that’s not it at all. You’re prob right about what happened with the car but I’m not blaming the dealership or wanting them to be responsible. I already know, nobody will take responsibly for something like this if in fact they fucked it up.

With that said, im just stating that I think it’s bullshit that I pay for a full inspection at the dealership and they come back with a CLEAN report (besides the 2 things I informed them about) when I know of multiple other things wrong with the car. That to me indicates the tech didn’t go through my car thoroughly and he’s a lazy schmuck.

I always take my cars to the dealership for a full inspection before buying from a private party but due to this encounter I think it’s best to chop it up that the dealership just wants your money and to get out, so I need to find an honest mechanic.

Yeah you’re right I’m pissed off tho. First my insurance doesn’t cover it. Then I repair it out of pocket and then It overheats first time I drive it. Shitty situation and I wish their was a solution but at this point I’m gonna do a block test and then take it to one more mechanic for a 3rd inspection. Hoping for the best. I worked hard for this car.

 

[HotGrbg]

I really hope this works out in the end for you. While it’s 100% speculation I think the first shop did the damage but you should demand your money back from the dealer for the sub-par inspection. I’m not sure that anybody is willing to accept the liability of quoting a head gasket over a “plug and play” engine on a car that’s been overheated several times. I’d say if you have an honest conversation with the next shop and let them know your willing to gamble a few K on a gasket repair then it may just see the road again. You also have the possibility of a home project. Find a shop willing to remove it and take it back home to your garage. Whatever happens good luck!

 

[gobmwe60]

Hey Bimmer community. Today I found out some very bad news.

I’m wondering if anyone has experience or insight that might be able to help me with my 2015 bmw i8.

Here’s the story … I saved up to get this car and paid $65,000 cash … 2 weeks later I rolled it without insurance. My insurance would not cover it, even though I’m supposed to have 30 days when buying from private seller (nightmare) to start.

So then, I decided to buy used parts, hit yards and put this car back together with a grade A mechanic I was referred to. Everything we did was cosmetic as there was no damage to the motors … paid 24k when it was all said and done.


I finally started it up and drove it … when I got about 2 miles down the road I got an engine overheating warning. I pulled over and towed it to a shop. These guys told me the system needed to be bled and basically they tried their best but couldn’t get all the air out.

So then I towed it to bmw. Bmw diagnosed it and sent me this quote below.
View attachment 1050528



I called the previous shop that tried to bleed it and he said there was NO signs of a blown head gasket.

The car has 9,000 miles on it

Yes , I was involved in a pretty bad accident and am lucky to be alive, thank you to carbon fiber and the man upstairs … but I just don’t understand or believe that this could be a head gasket. I don’t have the money to pay for a new motor , so I’m pretty much desperate at this point to figure out what’s actually going on. Bmw won’t let me talk to the mechanic and they basically said “yeah he believes it’s a head gasket and we recommend a new motor. If you would like me to put the order in, I can have it ready for you next week!” As if 28k is nothing…

Couldn’t believe it. Worst news ever today. Hoping someone have some insight or experience to maybe have an input/advice on this ?

Very very interesting, I can’t believe it!
Now I bought this vehicle from an auction and everything thing the same, can you tell me more about the dealer!
I’ve done the bleeding on it like 5 times and still overheat after about an hour, I did head gasket test multiple time and came back negative!
Have you ever replaced the radiator or anyone removed/replaced the thermostat
The worst part that all of the airbags been deployed/some completely removed and the auction didn’t disclose it!