bought a 2019 i3 rex. do i need to code gas tank?

[goto35]

Or is for 2016 and below only?

I will code hold mode. But someone told me the bigger gas tank is only for 2016 below models. is that right?

 

[derekgates]

But someone told me the bigger gas tank is only for 2016 below models. is that right?

Absolutely correct, you do not need to code the gas tank. You will notice when coding that the settings are already applied for your vehicle (which is what I found when I tried to code my 2018).

 

[jadnashuanh]

FWIW, the actual tank size is identical for all i3's...the amount you can use is controlled via software. A bit of history:
- To meet a CA requirement and get certain credits, the electric only range has to be larger than the engine augmented range. BMW chose to secure that credit. But, as the battery capacity got larger, that restriction in 'size' of the tank became a mute problem.

 

[goto35]

AWESOME THANKS!!!!!!!

i have a 2016 rex so excited to pick up my 2019 tomorrow! got mebourne red with every option.

going to code before i take off dealer lot. lol

 

[goto35]

i HAD a 2016. was a 2 year lease. gave up in 2017.

 

[sipabit]

The logic with the coding is that the gas tank had to be dumbed down in operable size due to the percentage of miles vs the electric miles. To meet requirements, the gas range can't be even with the electric range nor even within close proximity. I forget the exact numbers but that's the logic. So since the newer models have significantly higher electric range, BMW doesn't have to lower the gas range to meet their requirements. The gas range is already low enough at the actual tank size. No need for them to dumb it down.

 

[goto35]

Thanks boys. Didn’t know that

 

[bwilson4web]

There are some codings you might enjoy:

• ECO mode - moderates acceleration to extend EV range with little impact on driving.
• tire temperature and pressure - something I use to see if a problem is developing.

Bob Wilson

 

[robthebold]

The logic with the coding is that the gas tank had to be dumbed down in operable size due to the percentage of miles vs the electric miles. To meet requirements, the gas range can't be even with the electric range nor even within close proximity. I forget the exact numbers but that's the logic. So since the newer models have significantly higher electric range, BMW doesn't have to lower the gas range to meet their requirements. The gas range is already low enough at the actual tank size. No need for them to dumb it down.

I'm not sure "dumbed down" is quite the term I'd use when it was done to make one eligible for tax and utility incentives and perhaps other benefits. It wouldn't have helped me specifically, but would have made the car more affordable for some folks.

But it's certainly better that the battery capacity has increased in 2017 to where no tricks are needed to get your tax credit or HOV sticker or whatever.

 

[sipabit]

As far as the description, each to their own. The point is that software purposely doesn't recognize the full physical capacity of the tank.

 

[alohart]

I'm not sure "dumbed down" is quite the term I'd use when it was done to make one eligible for tax and utility incentives and perhaps other benefits. It wouldn't have helped me specifically, but would have made the car more affordable for some folks.

Those familiar with the negotiations between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and BMW that led to the creation of the new BEVx class of extended range battery electric vehicles have written that to qualify as a BEVx vehicle, the i3 REx had to have less gasoline range than electric-only range. To meet this requirement, the amount of gasoline that could be used was restricted by software rather than gasoline tank size. Only North American i3 REx's had this software limit that can be eliminated by changing the values of parameters that set this limit (a.k.a. coding).

Every BEVx class vehicle that BMW sold gave it credits that it could use to allow the sale in CARB states of more gas-guzzling ICE vehicles. BEVx credits were more than credits given for the sale of plug-in hybrid vehicles like the Volt, so it was valuable to BMW to do what was necessary to get BEVx credits.

However, "crippling" the i3 REx did not make it more affordable for anyone and did not provide tax or utility incentives or other benefits for buyers or lessors. It advantaged only BMW.