BMW WALLBOX PURE - EXTERNALLY MOUNTED

[958SSR]

Hi all,

This is my first post on the forum. I have just placed an order for an i3 w/ range extender to run as my company car. This will be my first electric car and I am trying to understand a lot of the terminology...

I will be having the BMW Wallbox Pure installed at my home address. I want this to be mounted on the outside wall of my garage for convenience. My garage is too small and too full to put the car in each evening. My question is, has anybody housed their wallbox in anything, or provided a cover or canopy of some description?

I have two reasons for asking this question. 1. The info states that it is splash proof. However, would it be susceptible to driving rain? Will it deteriorate with age and begin to look tired? 2. The wallbox is rather unsightly in my opinion.

I was wondering what others had done?

Excited future i3 customer here!

Thanks.

 

[pastyboy]

Hi 958SSR
Not sure of your location but I am in SW UK. I was going to go for the smaller charger but the dealer told me that they had been experiencing some minor incompatibility issues with the smaller units and so I elected for the more expensive BMW unit. Yes I realise he was probably trying to sell me the unit, but he had previously advised me about the cheaper unit from British Gas, so I have taken his advice at face value. I don't dislike the look of it, just the enormous size (and why the big shelf at the bottom?). I was concerned that the brochure stated it needed a housing, as I want to hang it on the wall outside, adjacent the drive. I called them and they confirmed that the box is weatherproof but, if so, why does the brochure state it needs a housing? I took the view that they are guaranteeing it and so I need not worry unduly. I also figured that a housing is going to look a lot less futuristic than their unit. So far I have found the installation process very smooth. They are fitting on 22nd and I expect the car first week of Sept. As well as calls from the installers the i customer care people have called twice to confirm that all is well and noted the install is scheduled.

 

[958SSR]

Thanks for the reply Pastyboy.

I take your point that a housing may not look as futuristic. I suppose it depends whether you want a futuristic box on the side of your garage or house. I can see issues arising if people start bolting these up in conservation areas.

Please update us on how your installation goes. Have BMW arranged this via Schneider Electric for you?

 

[pastyboy]

Yes, Sneider are doing the install. Mine is fairly easy, as it is on the wall with the consumer unit inside. I had to take pics to show where I wanted it fixed and a pic of the consumer unit.

They have not visited the property but if I had a less simple install I might not know until they arrived to do the install. So far it has been very efficient so hopefully it will continue that way.

I was a little concerned that, despite being a BMW fan I might want another make in 4 years time and the charger may not be compatible. I was also conscious that hardly anyone else seems to have gone the BMW charger route. But then the whole buying an i3 thing is a bit of a plunge in the dark for this petrol head who actually wanted a 125i M Sport, so let the excitement of the unknown continue!

 

[Carreraboy]

Schneider contractor installed my wallbox back in May and done a pretty good job. I did have to pay an extra £50 as it was classed as a non standard installation due to the distance between my consumer unit and the garage. They actually took the cabling up through the loft then down into the garage and out through the wall, mounting the box on the brick pillar between the two garage doors.

I was assured that it is weatherproof and have had no problems with it so far - would still be a bit apprehensive about using it in really heavy rain though !!!!!

(had the i3 BEV for 6 weeks and still loving it)

 

[jadnashuanh]

Except for Tesla, pretty much all of the vehicles currently being built have agreed to use the same plug and charging scheme both in Europe and North America...but, each continent chose a different plug, so they are not compatible. Unless you wanted to try to ship your vehicle across the pond, you should not have any issues. It's my understanding that the Euro zone is using the Menekes plug, and the USA and Canada are using the J1772 plug.