I3 Engine Start Mod

[Idleup]

I don't think your assessment of the service departments is correct, maybe Vinnie can jump in here. Certainly, here in Silicon Valley, the dealers are very savvy in detecting firmware changes. After years of seeing "chipped" cars and coding changes, I wouldn't assume BMW doesn't have some tracerware that traps changes.

I will probably opt for the Rex hold option, but with my eyes open to the risks of running a foul of the warrantee.

Word is from some pretty responsible sources is the I3 is being dropped by the majority of the BMW dealers - the reason are they don't enough "good" manpower to dedicate to electric cars. For these reasons, you're going to see only regional dealers handing the I3 where they can specialize on those vehicles.

While I rather not mention the dealers names, I can tell you right now the dealers who had a small inventory those cars are on trucks right now as we speak being transported to these specialized regional Electric dealers. Most BMW dealers are happy with their traditional services and models and do not want to the fuss and responsibility that these cars are requiring.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Sparky]

I'm not concerned. Say, why don't you fill in your profile with your location. Then we can understand some of your comments better .

 

[jadnashuanh]

At least at the dealership I bought my i3 from, they've sent several technicians on more than one occasion to get training on the i3. As a result, I wouldn't say they were clueless! Then, I've not had things go wrong with mine, either, so other than a couple of s/w updates, that's essentially all it has been in for. Scheduled in early Jan for a new KLE and related software and expect that to go well, but time will tell.

 

[Idleup]

I'm not concerned. Say, why don't you fill in your profile with your location. Then we can understand some of your comments better .

Not sure what if anything why my profile has to do with it but we're in N Ga.

Don't take my word for it check some of the major city BMW dealers and you'll see few have any I3 inventory.

 

[Sparky]

My service writer owns an i3. Easy to communicate with.

 

[Idleup]

Please don't misinterpret me - I'm sure not saying there are no knowledgeable techs working for BMW- I'm just saying the technology is new and the mechanics are not - unless you're living in a make believe world, you have to understand in most cases you can't even get a conventional gas powered car fixed right and when you get that same mechanic working on a I3, you're in real trouble.

Regretfully, a lot of I3's stay parked in shop or are under Lemon law because there is no "Electric Experts" available that can physically work on the car - they have to reply on a phone expert to get things right.

Keep in mind most good mechanics are in their 40's from old school and don't want to sit in class to learn something they know nothing about!

 

[Sparky]

:roll:

 

[WoodlandHills]

Please don't misinterpret me - I'm sure not saying there are no knowledgeable techs working for BMW- I'm just saying the technology is new and the mechanics are not - unless you're living in a make believe world, you have to understand in most cases you can't even get a conventional gas powered car fixed right and when you get that same mechanic working on a I3, you're in real trouble.

Regretfully, a lot of I3's stay parked in shop or are under Lemon law because there is no "Electric Experts" available that can physically work on the car - they have to reply on a phone expert to get things right.

Keep in mind most good mechanics are in their 40's from old school and don't want to sit in class to learn something they know nothing about!

When last at my dealer for service I asked my Advisor about how they selected the i3 techs for training and said that they first sent their electrical and computer "experts". These were not specialists, but just guys who turned out to have an inclination for that part of the job. Usually that was the younger employees who were most recently in school and had the most up to date background. He mentioned that their most senior techs didn't want much to do with cars with software or "computer" problems since there was a good chance that they would get stuck troubleshooting as opposed to replacing broken parts, so-called electrical problems were not very popular either for the same reasons.
I didn't ask if the dealership billed by flat rate, if so, that is another reason to avoid complex jobs with a lot of troubleshooting and research. Why spend hours on a single sick i3 when you can do 3 mechanical jobs in the time the rate book says you can do 2?

 

[Idleup]

Let's look at it in a logic manner!

If you get the very best auto mechanic for electric cars, he will only have 1-3 years of experience.

What I'm trying to get at here is there is no "long time experts" in this field - I guarantee there is 100 times the knowledge on this very forum than you'll find at a BMW dealer!

 

[WoodlandHills]

I downloaded the files, but now I am having trouble installing them. The instructions are written for an ICE car and are not very clear at all for our cars.The first try using the radio button to reboot the iDrive was a fail, now I am trying the lock the doors and wait 10 minutes method while awaiting an email response from Lucie at dvdinmotion.
It looks like the car is reading the USB drive, but I cannot get it to reboot with the new files. I will keep you all I formed of my progress. BTW I got the Rex Hold and the removal,of the confirm screen.

 

[Idleup]

I downloaded the files, but now I am having trouble installing them. The instructions are written for an ICE car and are not very clear at all for our cars.The first try using the radio button to reboot the iDrive was a fail, now I am trying the lock the doors and wait 10 minutes method while awaiting an email response from Lucie at dvdinmotion.
It looks like the car is reading the USB drive, but I cannot get it to reboot with the new files. I will keep you all I formed of my progress. BTW I got the Rex Hold and the removal,of the confirm screen.

Hey thanks for the update - am I to understand that you pay them then download the file then we put it on a USB flash drive?

 

[WoodlandHills]

I downloaded the files, but now I am having trouble installing them. The instructions are written for an ICE car and are not very clear at all for our cars.The first try using the radio button to reboot the iDrive was a fail, now I am trying the lock the doors and wait 10 minutes method while awaiting an email response from Lucie at dvdinmotion.
It looks like the car is reading the USB drive, but I cannot get it to reboot with the new files. I will keep you all I formed of my progress. BTW I got the Rex Hold and the removal,of the confirm screen.

Hey thanks for the update - am I to understand that you pay them then download the file then we put it on a USB flash drive?

Yes

 

[Idleup]

Here's the instructions from the coding source: