Compressor BMW i8

Blimey mate, that's a proper nightmare! The start/stop button on the i8 should be right there in the centre console, can't miss it really. Just press it whilst holding the brake pedal down and the car switches off. Maybe your mechanic wasn't familiar with hybrid systems? Had something similar happen to a mate of mine with his i3 – the garage he went to had never worked on electric BMW's before and were completely lost!​​

I reckon they might have been looking for some sort of master switch or high-voltage disconnect? On the i8 there's actually a special procedure to deactivate the whole system when working on it – you have to pull out the connector switch fuse under the bonnet to properly isolate the high-voltage components. If they didn't know about that, probably not the right garage for hybrid work tbh​

@user_9518 Were these genuine BMW compressors you bought? I've heard the i8 AC compressor is a right pain to replace because it's an electric one and you need someone who's certified to work on high-voltage systems. If your mechanic couldn't even find the start button I'd be seriously worried about them touching the electrical bits...​

lol sounds like they've never seen a keyless start system before 😂 It's literally just the button, nothing fancy. You don't even need the key out of your pocket​

To be fair though, if they're replacing the AC compressor they should be deactivating the battery system properly anyway. There's a black deactivation plug you need to pull, then disconnect the 12v battery negative terminal. But yeah if they don't know where the start button is I wouldn't trust them with a hybrid​

@f_green Exactly what I was thinking! The i8 compressor job isn't like a normal car, it's got high-voltage connections and everything. I'd only let a BMW specialist or someone properly trained on EVs touch it. My cousin had his done at an independent and they made a right mess of it – ended up having to go to the dealer anyway

@user_9518 Genuinely curious how much you paid for the compressors? I've seen aftermarket ones on eBay and AliExpress but always wondered if they're any good. The BMW ones are stupidly expensive​

That's mental that they couldn't work it out. The start/stop button is literally labelled "START STOP" in big letters. Makes you wonder if they've ever worked on modern cars at all​​

@Baker-98 To be fair, on the i8 there's also the eDrive button and the auto start-stop function button which is just below the main start button. Maybe they got confused? Still doesn't excuse not knowing the basics though​

I had a mechanic try to tell me once that he needed some special tool to turn off my 3 Series. Turned out he just didn't know you had to press the brake pedal first 😂 Some people really shouldn't be working on cars

@user_9518 Seriously mate, find yourself a proper specialist. The i8 AC compressor replacement is complex – you've got to remove the front passenger wheel, go through the CV axle area, disconnect high-voltage connectors... it's not a job for someone who doesn't know what they're doing. You don't want them bodging it​

@Oscar T/G I actually used an AliExpress compressor on a different BMW and it worked alright for about a year, then started making weird noises. Ended up replacing it with OEM. You get what you pay for I suppose

The fact they accepted the job without knowing the car is worrying. Any decent garage should've said "sorry mate, we're not familiar with hybrids" rather than winging it. I'd get your compressors back and find someone who actually knows i8s​

@Archie Adams Yeah the high-voltage deactivation is critical. I watched a video where they showed the whole process – there's orange cables everywhere and if you don't isolate it properly you could get a proper shock. Not something to mess about with​​

@user_9518 Where are you located? Might be able to recommend a decent independent specialist who actually knows these cars. BMW dealer will charge you an arm and a leg but at least they'll know what they're doing

I've heard the i8 compressor issue is quite common actually. Seals wear out and they start leaking refrigerant. At least you sorted the parts with warranty – just need to find someone competent to fit them now!​

This whole thread is making me nervous about my i8's AC 😅 It's still working fine but reading about all these failures... might get it checked before it goes