2016 i3 Orange Drivetrain Error – Intermittent Warning (66-Plate REX, UK)

[i3Ludwig]

Hi all,

I have a 2016 (66-plate) BMW i3 REX (UK) with ~31k miles, and I’ve recently had an intermittent orange drivetrain error. I've owned the car since Nov 2019 and generally not had any problems.

The message first appeared two weeks ago (early Feb 2025):

“Drivetrain: Possible to continue journey. Have the problem checked by Service.”

I drove for about 10 minutes, and when I restarted the car a few hours later, the error had disappeared. It didn’t return for several more journeys.

Yesterday (late Feb 2025), I started the car and got the same message again. I drove for 10 minutes, but this time, the message remained when I restarted the car later.

Driving performance doesn’t seem to be affected.

Key Details:

• Usage: Mostly local journeys (~500 miles per month), almost entirely on battery. Other than maintenance cycles, the REX was last used 12 weeks ago (Dec 2024).
• 12V Battery: Died completely six months ago. As far as I know, this was the original 12V battery from manufacture, it lasted eight years/30k miles. Car was jump-started with an external pack and driven to a local garage (not BMW) for a 12V battery replacement (Sep 2024). I was nervous about jump-starting, but the garage assured me they had done the same with EVs before without issues.
• Servicing: Last serviced at a BMW dealership five months ago (Oct 2024). No problems found.
• Symptoms: No noticeable performance issues. The warning disappeared initially but has now returned.

What I’ve Checked So Far:

Drivetrain warning disappears after restarting (but has returned).
Car drives fine with no obvious symptoms.
Haven’t yet scanned for error codes (no OBD scanner).

I called my local BMW dealership to ask if they could take a look. The earliest appointment is in three weeks (Mar 2025). They said it’s fine to drive with an orange warning but advised stopping immediately and call for recovery if it turns red.

I’m a bit nervous about continuing to drive the car with the orange warning, especially as I need to travel for work. I have three local flatbed recovery companies on speed dial!

Has anyone experienced a similar issue? Any advice would be appreciated! Many thanks.

 

[Davey1965]

Hi, my BMW i3 (2019 plate) has came up with the same warning. I had assumed that it related to the 12v battery rather than the main battery but the fact you have recently had yours replaced would rule that out. The car is due for a service in March so I will ask them to investigate the problem and get back on here when I know what it is. Sorry I cant be more help right now.

 

[Mondomensch]

Nowadays Bluetooth diagnostic port (obd) scanners that simply plug in and communicate with a smartphone running an app like BimmerLink are cheaply available online. In the US, it’s easy to find one known to be compatible with BimmerLink for $25 or less.

Then, one can view and record all the faulty codes and research them online. You can also use the app to clear the codes and check again after a day or two to see which ones recur and are thus likely associated with the current problem.

As an added benefit, other EV oriented apps allow you to get more detailed information about your battery pack in conjunction with the Bluetooth obd scanner, and optimize your battery health and charging conditions.