Charge flap won't open

[davesw1]

So the charge flap won't open. Pulled the blue emergency release and that's also not working. Great! Owned the car 1 month and already second trip back to dealer

 

[davesw1]

So I found the problem. The top charging cap is not round. There is a flat on the bottom of it. In the dark and rain I managed to put it on upside down it will go on half way. Then the flap will close. But it won't move in far enough to spring out on the release. Worth putting done coloured tape on the top of it so you can easy see which way is up.

 

[epirali]

So I found the problem. The top charging cap is not round. There is a flat on the bottom of it. In the dark and rain I managed to put it on upside down it will go on half way. Then the flap will close. But it won't move in far enough to spring out on the release. Worth putting done coloured tape on the top of it so you can easy see which way is up.

Thanks for the heads up, its good to know. I had noticed it is not symmetrical (it won't really grab in one direction) but had no idea it could jam up the flap.

How did you manage to get the flap to open?

 

[davesw1]

So I found the problem. The top charging cap is not round. There is a flat on the bottom of it. In the dark and rain I managed to put it on upside down it will go on half way. Then the flap will close. But it won't move in far enough to spring out on the release. Worth putting done coloured tape on the top of it so you can easy see which way is up.

Thanks for the heads up, its good to know. I had noticed it is not symmetrical (it won't really grab in one direction) but had no idea it could jam up the flap.

How did you manage to get the flap to open?

i tried the emergency pull thats hidden in the doorjam, it comes out about 6 inches with a tug, but then i pulled it until it felt like it would snap as its tiny. BMW guy told me, give it a really good yank not a slowly increasing pull, and it popped open, - felt like it would snap the cord but it didnt

 

[Dfw1098]

Raising this from the dead, I had the same issue with my 21, I was about to take it to the dealer. I could get the door open but i needed to gently pry while pushing the door in, this had been happening the last few times I went to charge it. Can’t believe the fix was so simple, feel like a dummy now

Many thanks to the OP

 

[Kippy]

Raising this from the dead, I had the same issue with my 21, I was about to take it to the dealer. I could get the door open but i needed to gently pry while pushing the door in, this had been happening the last few times I went to charge it. Can’t believe the fix was so simple, feel like a dummy now

Many thanks to the OP

I don’t think this is how it is supposed to perform. I believe it’s just supposed to open once you push in. I am having the same issue where I need to pry the door as I’m opening it.

 

[mojo]

I believe it’s just supposed to open once you push in.

I thought that too, but it's not supposed to work that way - you are supposed (according to the Owner's Manual) to "tap" it. If you push it in and then release it (i.e. as a 2-stage operation), it won't work reliably (or not on my 2021 car).

 

[Dutchi3]

I thought that too, but it's not supposed to work that way - you are supposed (according to the Owner's Manual) to "tap" it. If you push it in and then release it (i.e. as a 2-stage operation), it won't work reliably (or not on my 2021 car).

I have to push quite firmly for a few mm's to let the switch engage the mechanism. So push and release. Nothing wrong with the operation, but a gentle tap won't work.

 

[mojo]

But... the opposite doesn't work either! Try pushing it in fully, holding and then releasing. On mine, it won't open if you do that (or maybe occasionally). But if I tap it, it opens every time. Perhaps "tap" is not quite the right word, but it's the one that is used in the (UK English) manual.

 

[scottybiff]

I have this problem with the petrol door. Occasionally need to use manual latch in frunk.

 

[brdeleo49]

But... the opposite doesn't work either! Try pushing it in fully, holding and then releasing. On mine, it won't open if you do that (or maybe occasionally). But if I tap it, it opens every time. Perhaps "tap" is not quite the right word, but it's the one that is used in the (UK English) manual.

Same with my 2018, I need to push, release, and sometimes several times before the flap opens.

 

[mojo]

Same with my 2018, I need to push, release, and sometimes several times before the flap opens.

Have you tried just tapping it - with a simple in/out movement, rather than a push and then release? On mine, it works every single time with just the "tap". I have to admit that I actually booked it in for warranty repair, before reading about it being described as "a tap".

 

[Minotaur]

I have this problem with the petrol door. Occasionally need to use manual latch in frunk.

 

[Minotaur]

I have this problem with the petrol door. Occasionally need to use manual latch in frunk.

I have this problem with the petrol door. Occasionally need to use manual latch in frunk.

I used to have a lot (only occassionally currently - fingers crossed ) I sprayed some silicon lub into the locking pin area and the hole of the door area - So far, it appears to alleviated the issue considerably

 

[brdeleo49]

Have you tried just tapping it - with a simple in/out movement, rather than a push and then release? On mine, it works every single time with just the "tap". I have to admit that I actually booked it in for warranty repair, before reading about it being described as "a tap".

Yeah, sometimes the "tap" works. I say sometimes. If it does not, then push and release.

 

[brdeleo49]

I used to have a lot (only occassionally currently - fingers crossed ) I sprayed some silicon lub into the locking pin area and the hole of the door area - So far, it appears to alleviated the issue considerably

Hmmm, maybe I will try some white lithium grease in that area. Thanks....

 

[jtheires]

Scott,
I have had this issue with the gas flap as well, then someone said there is a proper way to release the fuel door: inside the cabin, press and hold the release button while watching the display, which shows the pressure releasing as a percent. When pressure is released, display will indicate that the door is open, and you can release the button.

 

[johnheddy]

I have this issue on my 2017 i3 REX. I use a rubber band slid under the corner of the flap then push in and release while lightly pulling withe the rubber band. I need to get this fixed. My brother can't open it so he leaves it unplugged when he drives it.

If I time it right, I can push, release, then grab the top edge with my other hand and pull it open with my fingertips. but the timing is really tricky.

Oh, and if you locked your car by habit when you got out of the car, the door won't open until you unlock it again. Sometimes it locks itself (timeout) and doing a lock/unlock cycle on the car helps.

From what I have seen I am pretty sure I need to replace the locking solenoid mechanism, but I will try the grease option mentioned above.

 

[johnheddy]

BTW, I also have the gas lid issue. This is a real pain. If you hold the button down for about 25 seconds, it will either signal a error with the gas cap and suggest the manual release, or eventually say it is possible to refuel. If I get the error, I just wait 5 seconds and press it again (for another 25 seconds), and it eventually says it is ok to refuel. It has taken 3 cycles of this before though. I have used the manual release before, but the button always works, just takes much longer than my patience allows for while sitting at the pump waiting to re-fuel with cars behind me. Also, I snapped the thin plastic cable for the battery door release by jerking it like it says to above. They are more fragile as the car gets older.

 

[JohnKelly]

BTW, I also have the gas lid issue. This is a real pain. If you hold the button down for about 15 seconds, it will either signal a error with the gas cap and suggest the manual release, or eventually say it is possible to refuel. If I get the error, I just wait 5 seconds and press it again, and it eventually says it is ok to refuel. I have used the manual release before, but the button always works, just takes much longer than my patience allows for while sitting at the pump waiting to re-fuel with cars behind me.

Have you tried pushing the button and ignoring the screen... just go out and try the flap? Also... it was a very common issue for the fuel tank pressure sensor to need replacing, but it sounds like yours might be some other issue.