i3 from US in EU

[bio84]

Hello!

It so happened that I am the owner of American i3 in Europe.

In the american firmware there are only three languages: English, French and Spanish. I need more European languages ​​(that is, I need a European firmware).

Question: how can I flash the machine with a European firmware, please advise me. I see two options so far:
1) find somewhere VIN of European i3, enter it in the form for downloading the update on www.bmw.com/update and through the standard update procedure through the USB to defame the machine with European firmware (if the system does not check the conformity)
2) download the Bimmercode app and try there to switch the geographic area (if this functionality exist in app)

 

[jadnashuanh]

There are two fully supported areas of code that you can easily update:
- sound/entertainment (free)
- map data (may cost you)

I've not tried to check which switches you might be able to tweak via coding. One that I know is available is to change the FM radio frequency channel spacing.

My guess is that you'd need to talk to a dealer.

What are you planning to do about charging the thing, as the socket is different. Someone might make a conversion cable, but I've not looked. As far as I can tell, the actual protocol is the same. Some US EVSEs may work on 50Hz, but check first. On some of them that are sold internationally, you might be able to swap the cable on the EVSE.

 

[bio84]

Thanks!

I am more interested in European languages.

Charging cable I want to buy this: https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/16A-SAE-J1772-to-IEC-62196-2-type-1-to-type-2-ev-plug-connector-5m/32817195375.html?src=criteo&albslr=223397014&isdl=y&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&src=criteo&albch=remarketing&acnt=RU&isdl=y&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&albcp=lowerfunnel&device=pc&aff_platform=criteo&clickid=5b48790ca7786bed7fc70881a99f47e2_1531476237_32817195375

 

[nashvegasr]

I know this is an old thread but am thrilled to find it!

I have a US market 2015 REX in the US and am moving to Amsterdam. I'd love to take the car, its perfect and only has 15K miles.

I have read CCS /fast charging will not work. Will regular L1 charging work if I buy a EU market charger?

Or not... ?

 

[MagicCarpet]

Most likely if you have a 220V EVSE (mains to car cable) it will be OK for home charging. Mine is ex-Japan and came with a Clipper Creek (USA) unit which is spec'd for 240V and 50/60 Hz 15 Amps which can be fitted with the Europe "commando" plug widely used in campsites here but I dont know about Europe. Apparently the public sockets are a bit of a dogs breakfast as infrastructure is developing.

There is a run-down of the versions here
https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/i01-i3-94-rex-hat/wiring-functional-info/power-train/charge/eme-internal-charging-electronics/1VnYgwaIGd

 

[jadnashuanh]

The protocol is identical, the plugs used are different. In the USA, EVSEs all come with tethered cables. That's not true on all EVSEs in Europe...on those, you may need to supply your own cable. It is possible to swap the car's socket, but I don't know that that would cost. You could also make an adapter to go from the Mennekes plug to the J1772 needed on the car. If you were only going to charge at home, you could use most any 220-240vac 50/60Hz EVSE if you had the right cable connections. Note, taking one from the US may not pass the local electrical certifications (such as UL in the USA). If where you were going to live would allow installation of an EVSE, you could get a local one (maybe subsidized) that did not have a tethered cable, or buy a new cable with the J1772 plug on the end. Trying to use a CCS (high current DC) charger, might be a bit more involved...the odds of getting all of the interlock functions to work properly with an adapter just means more chance for error.

 

[vreihen]

Does BMW offer European Delivery for i3's like their ICE cars, where you can pick it up at the factory, vacation in Europe, and then drop it off for them to put on a ship to the USA? If so, how do they tell USA-spec i3 owners how to charge while in Europe?????

 

[jadnashuanh]

Does BMW offer European Delivery for i3's like their ICE cars, where you can pick it up at the factory, vacation in Europe, and then drop it off for them to put on a ship to the USA? If so, how do they tell USA-spec i3 owners how to charge while in Europe?????

No. Or at least they didn't when I bought mine. In theory, you could make (or maybe buy) a plug converter, but the conversion of the on-board socket would not make it particularly cost effective.

 

[MagicCarpet]

early models sold new in NZ were I think CCS1 but the infrastructure was standardised on rapidcharge plug standards Chademo and CCS2.
So BMW recalled cars already sold and changed the charge port. I'm suggesting that you can probably do the same, get a european port assembly fitted so long as the system is coded. That way AC charging would be with a Europe EVSE cord.

If you cant do the port change, just take an AC EVSE cord with you, change the plug for local conditions.
I recommend the ClipperCreek units (OEM to BMW) they make versions for different countries internally there are links on the PCB that set the current allowed, to suit the outlet you are using it on. If you dont have DC charging available then get the 16 Amp 220V one and use it on 20 Amp outlets.
They dont thermally monitor the plug terminals so you are "supposed" to only fit a plug for an outlet to supply 80% of its max. rating.

 

[vinc]

Reviving this thread because I am entertaining the idea of shipping an i3 REX to the EU. Charging aside, what other things need to be considered?

-Is it required to make any changes to the headlights or tailights? I have seen threads talking about retrofitting the rear fog light, which I believe is mandatory?
-Do the ConnectedDrive services work? I assume the US maps need to be manually replaced with EU ones?
-Any other EU requirements?

 

[alohart]

When I imported a 2000 Honda Insight into Sweden in 2009, all that I had to do to register it was to unplug some yellow lights in the front because only white lights are allowed in the front. I installed DRL's to satisfy the Swedish requirements for DRL's or low-beam headlights to be on while driving. I could have turned on my headlights manually each time I drove, but I would probably have forgotten to do so occasionally, so installing DRL's seemed like the better option although this wasn't a requirement.

When I sold our Insight to a German couple in 2017, I agreed to replace the U.S. headlights with E.U. versions before it could be registered in Germany. The new owner had to install a rear fog light which wasn't required in Sweden.

If the headlights had to be replaced, the cost would almost be prohibitive if you bought new headlights. However, you should be able to sell your U.S. headlights as I did with our U.S. Insight headlights which would recoup some of the cost. Used E.U. i3 headlights should be available.

Replacing the charge port and maybe the KLE and/or EME could be very expensive as well.

So what's required probably depends somewhat on where in the E.U. your i3 would be registered.

You would probably need BMW's cooperation for Connected Services to work. I would not be surprised if BMW refused.

I don't know whether the map region is tied to the market in which an i3 was originally sold. If so, I don't know how the maps would be replaced.

 

[vinc]

Shipping the car might make financial sense, or at least break even?

Checking used prices in the US vs EU, it looks like the same i3 would be around $5000 more expensive overseas. So if we factor in the reduced amount that one would get by selling the US car, even as a private sale, we might be looking at $7000 or so to work with.

So, breaking down the expenses for shipping and retrofitting, in approximate numbers:

-$2000 for shipping.
-$2000 for replacing the headlights (I have seen them for around $900 a piece on eBay).
-$100 for replacing the control switch and code to add the rear fog lights.
-Some tape to black out the side reflectors.

Those things could probably be done in the US before shipping, since I don't believe anybody is checking mods to your headlights or rear lamps after the car has been sold.

Would the additional expenses, mostly replacing the charging port in Europe, be more that $2900?