2014 i3 REX w/ 11.9 Batt Kappa Max warranty

[daniel1]

Hello. Need advice pls. As noted, my 2014 I3 rex has a batt Kappa Max of 11.9 so I brought it to the BMW dealer in NJ where the warranty is 10 year 150k miles.

They ran their test and told me the high voltage battery is still within threshold from BMW. The charging state is 42.9% and the actual charing state is 32.4%. They said they also checked individual cells and found no irregularities.

This doesnt make sense to me being the Kappa is so low but I am no expert. Can folks please advise if there is anything else I can ask BMW to check?

Tyia!

 

[EvanstonI3]

You should have received a printout of the results of the test. That printout should clearly show a PERCENTAGE of 70% or above to "pass" the test. I don't have a copy of one as an example. It sounds more like they plugged in to the OBDII port and just read info rather than do the actual test which requires completely discharging, then recharging the battery while monitoring it. I believe the "name" of the test is "High Voltage Battery Capacity Test".

 

[daniel1]

You should have received a printout of the results of the test. That printout should clearly show a PERCENTAGE of 70% or above to "pass" the test. I don't have a copy of one as an example. It sounds more like they plugged in to the OBDII port and just read info rather than do the actual test which requires completely discharging, then recharging the battery while monitoring it. I believe the "name" of the test is "High Voltage Battery Capacity Test".

Thanks. See attached is what they showed me. Is this what you are referring to?

 

[EvanstonI3]

Here is one example of what they should have provided you for the results. A general google search shows more exactly like this as well. It does not look like they performed the proper test:

 

[Mondomensch]

From reading on the forums, it seems the proper test would take all day or longer (full discharge then full charge I think). Dealers seem to have sometimes been charging a few hundred dollars to do it.

 

[alohart]

Thanks. See attached is what they showed me. Is this what you are referring to?

Those are just screenshots of BMW's ISTA diagnostic software based on BMS data, not on data from a usable battery capacity test which, as @Mondomensch wrote, takes many hours and for which BMW dealers typically charge a few hundred dollars. You want to make a warranty claim against the capacity warranty, not the warranty against battery pack defects.

 

[daniel1]

This is all very helpful. The dealer said they "are performing the other tests now, we just perform the basic testing first sorry for the confusion".

Please continue to provide any advice I may need to know to. Thanks again all!

 

[Joff]

The first time I tried to get the capacity test done, BMW of Annapolis told me it was "fine" I had ISTA and the ability to run the test myself and ran the test 3 times, failing every time. I asked them how they got it to pass the test, and where was the print out the test was supposed to make, and they admitted they only hooked up a scanner to the 2014 i3, saw no errors, and figured it was fine. After running the test, it failed and they replaced it under warranty. The first battery warranty they ever did.
You should try running the battery all the way down and recharge it all the way back up in one charging session. This will help your car get a more accurate estimate of it's true capacity.

 

[Joff]

By the way, I can install a tested and guaranteed 94ah with more than 27kwh into your car for $6000. I have one ready to go right now.

 

[daniel1]

Update. BMW called and said my battery is below the 70% threshold (but couldn't tell me what number it is) but BMW won't cover the replacement because there are no defects to the battery. They indicated the warranty is for 8 years only and that the 10 years 150k miles is for defects only where therr are no defects to my battery. This is not how I am reading the warranty documents...

Can anyone advise of this is an accurate statement or what I should do? I was under the impression the battery is covered for 10 years 150k miles and of the battery is below 70% it's covered under this policy.

 

[EvanstonI3]

Update. BMW called and said my battery is below the 70% threshold (but couldn't tell me what number it is) but BMW won't cover the replacement because there are no defects to the battery. They indicated the warranty is for 8 years only and that the 10 years 150k miles is for defects only where therr are no defects to my battery. This is not how I am reading the warranty documents...

Can anyone advise of this is an accurate statement or what I should do? I was under the impression the battery is covered for 10 years 150k miles and of the battery is below 70% it's covered under this policy.

You are in NJ AND you have a REX so you should be covered under CARB States warranty. I've seen others get pushback from Dealers because they don't understand the CARB thing. Someone else will have to chime in with better info on how to proceed as I have a BEV and am not in a CARB State.

 

[Mondomensch]

Also if you don’t already, get a copy of the exact warranty for your year and model so you can refer to the official wording in your discussions with bmw.

 

[daniel1]

Thanks. I have the 2014 warranty and have read it over and over. I understand that the battery is covered under the CARB warranty (see attached) list but their argument is that this covered defects and that capacity loss under 70% is not considered a defect but normal degrading of the battery.

I'm confused why they would perform the test in the first place it was not covered...

Any other thoughts on next steps.