In these engines the water pump is not belt driven but has its own electric motor.
Applies to the engine B38K15T0.
2014–2020. The fault list covers this generation and the engines in it. If the listing gives the exact version, pick it below.

Alexander-93 / CC BY-SA 4.0
What to watch for
The list covers the generation, the engines and the transmissions. Once you pick the version, only the faults that apply to it stay.
In these engines the water pump is not belt driven but has its own electric motor.
Applies to the engine B38K15T0.
The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done. The list covers the whole generation. We did not filter it by model year. Some apply only to a narrower production window.
Most recent: 14 August 2019
19V599000HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEMHYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM14 August 2019 · NHTSA (USA)BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019 i3 BEV, i3 REx, and i8 vehicles. A circuit board problem within the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module may shutdown the supply of high-voltage electrical power.
Risk: A shut down of high-voltage electrical power would result in a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EME module, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
16V914000AIR BAGSAIR BAGS20 December 2016 · NHTSA (USA)BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
Risk: If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
15V882000ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)28 December 2015 · NHTSA (USA)BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 i8 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2015, to June 5, 2015. Improperly drilled holes within the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) hydraulic unit may restrict one or more pistons impairing the DSC functions, including braking.
Risk: Impaired DSC functionality may negatively impact vehicle handling and braking and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the DSC hydraulic unit, and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 8, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
14V674000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANKFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:AUXILLARY TANK27 October 2014 · NHTSA (USA)BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 i8 vehicles manufactured from May 16, 2014, to September 16, 2014. A bolt used to attach a ground cable between the tank and the vehicle chassis may not have been properly welded during manufacturing.
Risk: An inadequate weld of the bolt to the fuel tank could cause a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fuel leak could lead to a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel tank if necessary, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
A12/0036/17Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety GateThe side, head and knee protection airbags of the front passenger seat may not work. This could increase the risk of injury to the occupant in the event of an accident.
Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown
Engines and transmissions in this generation
A fault is often tied to the engine, not to the whole generation. You find the engine code in the registration document.
I12 · 2014–2020
The fault list opens on the version page.
6 versions
1.5 l · 1499 cm³
B38K15T0
i8
2014–2018 · i8
1.5 l · 1499 cm³
B38K15T0
i8 Coupé
2018–2020 · i8 Coupé
1.5 l · 1499 cm³
B38K15T0
i8 First Edition
2014–2018 · i8 First Edition
1.5 l · 1499 cm³
B38K15T0
i8 Protonic Black Edition
2014–2018 · i8 Protonic Black Edition
1.5 l · 1499 cm³
B38K15T0
i8 Protonic Red Edition
2014–2018 · i8 Protonic Red Edition
1.5 l · 1499 cm³
B38K15T0
i8 Roadster
2018–2020 · i8 Roadster
Neighbouring generations
I12/I15 (2014-2020). If the listing is from the changeover year, look at the neighbour too.
Previous generation
This is the earliest.
This generation
I12 · 2014–2020
Next generation
This is the latest.
Common questions
2014–2020. The changeover year can fall in two generations. If the listing is from that year, look at the neighbour too.
No. It depends on the engine and the transmission too.
The fault list is.
We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.