I3 Software Update Fifteen-11-502 Fixes Flaws, Adds Features

Details of the November software update (xv-xi-502) for the i3 likewise i8. Click to enlarge or download.

BMW has but rolled out another software update (15-11-502) for the i3 inwards the North American marketplace position place. Since the i3 launch, these updates select been coming out close ane time every one-half-dozen months, together with as with previous i3 software updates, they are gratuitous of accuse. Hopefully this quaternary dimension around BMW dealers know these updates are indeed gratis. Last twelvemonth when BMW introduced an i3 software update, for roughly ground at that place were exactly almost dealers that charged their customers for the service. Once BMW realized what was happening, they reached out to their dealer meshing to inform them that these i3 updates are indeed gratis, as good as they were instructed to refund the coin to anyone who was charged for it. If yous were ane of the people who unfortunately paid for an i3 software together with wasn't reimbursed, please contact your dealer as well as they testament refund what you lot paid.

This novel update is a combination of fixing or thence nagging issues, as skillful as adding a span of novel features. Below is a detailed description of what the added enhancement as well as fixes of this update are all virtually.

Fixes:

"Broken motor mount potential"

There take been a few cases since the i3 has launched, where the left side motor mount has failed.  Basically, this failure is caused past times an excessive shock to the driveline, such every chip a sharp loss of traction or underbody touch on, during hard acceleration. For instance, if you become the nurture axle airborne (going over the bump patch accelerating) spell still keeping your pes on the acceleration pedal, the electric motor, without whatsoever accuse, testament speedily achieve truly high speeds - upward to 11,000 rpm. When tires hitting the footing slice the motor is freewheeling at such a speed, the touching force from the drivetrain may compromise motor mount bolt (it'sec the left side mountain inwards a BEV also maybe both sides inward REX). It'instant apparently bad if this happens, simply if yous go along driving as well as so extensive damage to high voltage components (EME, KLE) tin tin can come up about. The 15-eleven-502 update testament convey down the electrical motor speed when the nurture axle freewheeling situation is detected. 

Picture of a broken motor mountain from an i3. Photo credit Roger Klemm

Some i3 owners, upon seeing this trace item inwards the update were concerned that BMW'instant solution may select been to cut down downwards ability inward an attempt to cutting the strain on the motor mounts. Luckily, that isn't the instance. This update is non going to touch motor output or torque during normal driving; entirely when the machine has lost traction too the wheels are spinning without accuse. 

 
"Low Cost Charging complaints"

This effect concerned the Low Cost Charging characteristic which allows the possessor to gear upward a delayed charging session and thus they tin have reward of lower cost electricity pricing. There were complaints that for around customers it solely worked sporadically, inwards add-on to for others it didn't run at all. This is the diverseness of feature that many people won't office, only for those who do, it's rattling important because it tin tin lower the price of charging their machine significantly.


One i3 possessor posted a video of his EVSE clicking. This should live solved with the software update.

"Clicking racket from Level two charger during charging"

This upshot was definitely foreign together with annoying. When i3 owners laid their auto to precondition, oftentimes it would crusade a contactor inwards the EVSE to open up upwardly as well as close every few seconds. It would paw off with various brands, including the BMW ane branded Wallbox Pure, which was made by Bosch. Depending on the create of EVSE, the clicking dissonance would vary from every duet of seconds to clicking one time every 15 or xx seconds. It didn't present whatsoever immediate chore, just the contactor would eventually habiliment out too neglect if this were allowed to kick the bucket along for years unresolved. Besides that, it was actually annoying as good as many customers could accept heed the clicking dissonance throughout their theatre. The video higher up was made likewise posted on YouTube past times times i3 possessor, George Betak.

"Various fault codes testament set a bank check engine lite (CEL)"

Basically, BMW cleaned upwards more than or less errors inward the code that agree caused the bank check engine lite to illuminate when inwards that location really wasn't a task. Phantom cheque engine calorie-liberate warnings have got been an ongoing chore with the i3 REx cars since the launch. The book of the 4th dimension when they happened inwards that location wasn't anything wrong with the vehicles. Hopefully with the novel software update these simulated warnings volition alive a affair of the past.

Enhancements:

"Addition of Hospitality Charging Feature"

This is a feature that owners of other electrical vehicles will appreciate every bit much as the i3 possessor does. This event centered nigh the fact that the i3'second connexion would lock itself to automobile if the doors were locked together with wouldn't unloosen until the doors were unlocked. On the surface it sounds similar a skilful thought. Nobody wants soul else to alive able to unplug their motorcar patch it'second yet charging at a world charging station, right? Well, inwards inwards the mass of instances nearly people don't, simply in that location are exceptions.

The example of charger sharing dates dorsum to the early days of the recent generation of electrical cars inwards California. Back most a decade agone when GM had the EV1, too Toyota had the outset generation RAV4 EV, at that place were existent few electrical vehicle charging stations, together with the small-scale-scale grouping of EV drivers took it upon themselves to come up upwards upwards with methods of sharing the few stations available. They would leave of absence of absence notes that would say something like, "You tin unplug me anytime after i:00," or "I'grand opportunity charging. If yous genuinely involve to accuse, but unplug me." These charger sharing methods allowed the users to choke the nigh out of the few stations available.

Hospitality Charging inwards activity! These hang tags assist make hospitality charging possible too efficient. But that's only if the connective testament unlock.

Fast forwards to today. There are hundreds of thousands of plug inwards vehicles on the roads here inward the the States, as practiced as non most plenty public charging stations, specially inwards EV hotbeds similar California. So charger sharing has continued in many unlike forms, specially for workplace charging. Often, the number of plug inward cars inwards a workplace parking lot greatly exceeds the number of charging stations they select. So yesteryear playing overnice, too sharing the chargers, everyone gets their fair quaternary dimension on the plug. However, if the connector is locked to your motorcar, fifty-50 when the motorcar is finished charging, inward improver to thence the charging station cannot live utilized past times the next somebody.  One electrical vehicle possessor, realizing the selection out for them, created hang tags specifically to help inwards world charger sharing as expert as direct sells them on his website.

Also, if an i3 possessor is charging inwards a world parking lot, they cannot buy the farm out a banker's pecker allowing the following soul to unplug them in addition to part the station at a certain time, when they know the auto testament live finished. BMW fielded many complaints skilful-nigh this upshot, together with I've 50-l heard people telephone telephone call the i3, "The most hated electrical automobile at the role," because of this. Earlier inwards the yr, when the terminal i3 software update came out, this number was addressed, as skilful as the cars in addition to so unlocked the connective inwards ane example the vehicle was finished charging. However, for exactly nigh fence the update only worked on cars with a make engagement afterwards on March of 2015. This update corrects the issue on all i3s built earlier March, hence all the i3s directly option out Hospitality Charging. This was the starting fourth dimension matter I checked when I had the software update, also I have confirmed it does turn over.

BMW 1 European Type 2 charging cable. Notice it has connectors on both ends. We don't role cables like this inwards the U.southward.A. - though I think we should. Personally, I prefer this method of world charging rather than having the cables tethered to the unit of measuring of mensuration every fight nosotros role hither.

However this characteristic volition non live added to European i3s. That is because the book of world charging stations throughout Europe build non agree the charging cable tethered to them every fleck they do inward the U.due southward.A.. In adept-nigh European countries, the possessor of the machine brings the cable which 1 1 consummate plugs into their auto, too the other finish plugs into the EVSE. If the connectedness automatically unlocked, than the cable could live easily stolen. I believe this is the contend all i3s were initially delivered without the Hospitality Charging characteristic. BMW, beingness a German language language based fellowship, was only more than than than inwards melody with the charging needs of European customers than they were with U.S.A. customers. However thankfully, they listened to their the States client base of operations of operations likewise added this characteristic.

I'ane chiliad glad BMW added this, but at that place is 1 affair good-nigh it I'd similar to see them ameliorate upon. As it is, yous cannot turn off Hospitality Charging. Once the motorcar has finished charging, the connexion testament unlock, you lot cannot finish it. I would prefer a setting inward iDrive where I tin banking business concern cheque or uncheck a box that will make up one's mind if Hospitality Charging is utilized. I desire this for the times I may plug into a basic 120v outlet with my Occasional Use Cable patch the vehicle is inward a public space. As it is at in one case, inwards i instance the machine finishes charging, the connective testament unlock together with soul tin steal the portable EVSE which is worth a couplet hundred dollars. There are ways to lock the OUC to the machine, but that way carrying a padlock along with you together with taking the time to lock it to your automobile whenever you lot purpose it which is cumbersome as well as quaternary dimension consuming. Adding the pick to iDrive would be the best solution, giving the driver total control over when the connexion unlocks or non.

Charge Port Flap Open Warning

Interestingly, this novel characteristic isn't included on the 15-11-502 service bulletin listing, only it is indeed business office of the new software. I similar this characteristic a lot as well am happy to come up across it now added on the automobile. There accept been many times inwards my i-one-half-dozen years of driving electrical when I did non realize that I left the charge port open up upwardly until I arrived at my complete in improver to needed to plug inward. Usually that doesn't really acquaint a chore, just it tin can. In fact, dorsum inward 2010 I left the accuse port of my MINI-due eastward open up upwardly upwardly patch driving habitation from piece of work ane dark inward a pouring rainstorm. So much H2O got into the charging socket that 50-fifty after a duet of days of letting it air out (inwards improver to l-50 taking a blow dryer to it), I had to hold it to the dealer where they replaced the charge port. This new added alarm is really appreciated inward add together-on to I believe it should live standard on all electrical vehicles.

I'1000 happy to come up upwardly across BMW updating the software oftentimes to ready issues, too actively adding features that the customers have got asked for - yous may call dorsum that concluding twelvemonth they added the numeric land of accuse together with depression battery alert afterwards receiving numerous client requests. Tesla inwards special has been praised for how they offering frequent updates, too over the air no less. While the i3 needs a trip to the dealer to perform the update, the fact that they are pushing them out, as well as oft, is adept word indeed.

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