You can buy a real BMW i3 or i8 without too much difficulty if you have the money. But collectors looking for something considerably cheaper and far rarer now have another opportunity: a pair of BMW display models representing the two pioneering i-brand cars has returned to Bring a Trailer.
The unusual replicas are not drivable automobiles. Both were reportedly produced by BMW for promotional use at dealerships and have neither interiors nor powertrains. Instead, their fiberglass bodies sit on steel frames equipped with swivel caster wheels.
BMW i3 and i8 Replicas Are Being Auctioned Separately
The two display models were previously auctioned together. This time, the BMW i3 and BMW i8 replicas are being offered separately.
Both cars feature Ionic Silver Metallic paint with black and Frozen Blue accents, closely matching the futuristic color schemes BMW used when launching its i sub-brand. Black panels simulate the windows, while mirrors, windshield wiper arms, BMW badges, faux shark-fin antennas and genuine alloy wheels complete the visual effect.
The BMW i3 Display Model
The i3 replica rides on 19-inch wheels fitted with Bridgestone tires. Black panels behind the wheels imitate brake rotors and calipers.
However, the display model is no longer in showroom condition. Its lighting system is inoperative, the headlight lenses are fogged, and the left fog light and door handle are missing.
The BMW i8 Display Model
The i8 replica has functional LED lighting in its headlight surrounds and taillights, powered through a 120-volt circuit. The left taillight reportedly does not illuminate.
Its 20-inch wheels are fitted with Bridgestone tires and conceal silver-painted calipers and cross-drilled rotors. Some rust is also visible on the brake discs, an ironic reminder that even a BMW incapable of moving under its own power still requires maintenance.
The Real BMW i3 and i8 Changed the Brand
Pairing the display models makes sense because the production BMW i3 and i8 represented two very different sides of the automaker’s original electrification strategy.
The i3 debuted as a concept in 2011 before entering production in 2013. Its carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic passenger cell, aluminum chassis, rear-mounted electric motor and available gasoline range extender made it unlike almost anything else on the road.
BMW continued improving the i3’s battery capacity and driving range before production ended in 2022. More than 250,000 examples were built, making the unconventional model considerably more successful than its unusual shape and premium construction initially suggested.
The i3’s combination of lightweight materials, sustainable interior options and city-friendly dimensions also remains unusual. The article describes it as a vastly underrated automobile.
The BMW i8 Took a Performance-Focused Approach
The i8 followed a different philosophy, emphasizing performance rather than urban practicality. Its turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine powered the rear wheels, while an electric motor drove the front axle.
The resulting all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid produced 357 horsepower at launch, while later versions increased output to 369 horsepower. A Roadster eventually joined the Coupe before production ended in 2020.
The i3 and i8’s Lasting Influence
Neither the i3 nor i8 received a direct successor, but their influence continues throughout BMW’s current electric lineup. The two models demonstrated that electrification did not necessarily mean building conventional-looking vehicles, even though BMW’s newer EVs are generally less experimental.
The exact display models previously sold together on Bring a Trailer for $8,951 in December 2024. The DFW Car & Toy Museum is apparently culling its collection and is now offering the replicas individually at no reserve.
Both auctions end Thursday, August 20. The i8 auction is scheduled to close at 10:27 a.m. Pacific, with the i3 following three minutes later.
