2019 i3s AC Compressor Failure, $4k+, Extremely Disappointed

[Heather Gunaratne]

They may have been sold in 2022 but I wonder if they would have been 2021 model years. I have never seen a 2022 model year listed before, and I have searched high and low. I am, however, in the US.

Edit: I stand corrected. I did not appreciate that in the European market the i3 was sold as a 2022 model. The 2021 was the last model year in the US. I learned something today.

We have just bought a 2022 i3 in the UK

 

[ImaBigD]

We have just bought a 2022 i3 in the UK

Congrats on you purchase. I hope you have many happy miles in your 2022. I'm a bit envious that across the pond we never received the 2022's but I suspect there weren't many if any updates.

If anyone knows of any vs the 21's I'd be very curious to know.

 

[ImaBigD]

The cabin and battery pack coolant loops are 2 independent loops that are both connected to the A/C compressor.

There is more than one A/C failure mode. If the failure involves the rotating portion of the compressor rubbing against its housing (bearing failure?), small metal particles could be pumped throughout the refrigerant system. The passageways in the battery pack cooling plate are indeed tiny and could be clogged by there small metal particles.

If the compressor's electric motor or motor electronics fail, catastrophic damage would not occur.

I meant to say that there are independent loops that are connected to the A/C compressor - thanks for clarifying that.

Yes, the compressor does not necessarily have to cause catastrophic damage and the failure mode does matter. Unfortunately, there are many documented cases of the bearing failure sending shrapnel into the coolant loops causing catastrophic damage especially in model years before 2019.