"Drive moderately. Apply additional braking when necessary. Consult nearest service center."

[808Pants]

That was my center-screen alert earlier today. It cleared on its own after about ten minutes.

If this isn't spurious, then does it indicate pads, fluid, or... that the car doesn't appreciate my normal driving style?

 

[mojo]

It seems like it's telling you that regenerative braking might not be working correctly (without actually using those words, which some users wouldn't understand)? Was your battery SOC at 100%? We know that regenerative braking doesn't work as effectively until there is space in the battery for the regen energy to go (and the car is supposed to use the friction brakes instead to compensate) - but I've been in that position on my car many times, and never seen that message.

If you don't intend to take it to a dealership for diagnosis, you may need to have a look at it yourself with Bimmerlink (or similar) and see if any DTCs have been logged?

 

[808Pants]

It seems like it's telling you that regenerative braking might not be working correctly (without actually using those words, which some users wouldn't understand)? Was your battery SOC at 100%? We know that regenerative braking doesn't work as effectively until there is space in the battery for the regen energy to go (and the car is supposed to use the friction brakes instead to compensate) - but I've been in that position on my car many times, and never seen that message.

If you don't intend to take it to a dealership for diagnosis, you may need to have a look at it yourself with Bimmerlink (or similar) and see if any DTCs have been logged?

Thanks Mojo. SOC was moderately high, but not nearly full up. A month or so ago, I was again wondering about what you're describing - I then had it up to 136 miles after re-genning down the long volcanic slope known locally as the "Saddle Road," between two volcanoes on the big island of Hawaii. The next morning I continued down the slope and had no similar complaints...IIRC the available miles kept going up until we ran out of "downhill."

I *do* need to connect again - haven't done so since I exchanged a WIFI dongle for a wired ethernet version, having found the WIFI was objectionably slow. And yes, I'm very late in forking over the $50 or whatever for B-link. Gonna get on that within the next few days.

But I've also never change fluid or inspected pads (fluid level is OK, at least). 47K miles, as I recall.

 

[mojo]

I'm in a similar position with Bimmerlink - got Bimmercode, but not needed to check any codes, yet...

If you're on 47k miles I would be tempted to changed brake fluid or at least have it tested for water content. If for no other reason than to reduce the chances of corrosion within the brake system components.

I don't think the message can relate to worn pads -- if that is the cause, I'm fairly sure that the car displays a more specific message than the one you are seeing.

 

[alohart]

A month or so ago, I was again wondering about what you're describing - I then had it up to 136 miles after re-genning down the long volcanic slope known locally as the "Saddle Road," between two volcanoes on the big island of Hawaii.

That's a pretty long descent. I don't know what the maximum regen power is, but it might be the same as the maximum propulsive power, 125 kW although it doesn't feel that strong. In propulsive mode, 125 kW can be maintained for only 30 seconds before something begins overheating (maybe the uncooled motor rotor) at which point the propulsive power is reduced to 75 kW. In regen mode, even if less than 125 kW, maybe similar overheating occurs eventually at which point regen braking power is reduced. The warning tells you to use the friction brakes more than expected. However, why would the message recommend consulting a service center when normal operation would return upon cooling as it seems to have done in your case? Oh, well, it's fun to guess.

I *do* need to connect again - haven't done so since I exchanged a WIFI dongle for a wired ethernet version, having found the WIFI was objectionably slow.

What have you used with a wired Ethernet connection? I know of ISTA, but I don't believe that BimmerLink works with a wired Ethernet connection. Having used ISTA a bit with its wired Ethernet connection, the OBD port or the electronic modules in the car might be the speed bottleneck, not transmitting the data via WiFi or Ethernet.