Problem with Range Extender

[i3Christina]

Hello to fellow i3 lovers!
I’m so glad to find this group. My 2017 BMW i3 REX with 36,057 mi, is in the shop at BMW because the Range Extender will not start charging the battery when it reaches 5% charge, so the car stops running. BMW will charge $18,423 to replace the generator!

Has anyone else had this happened with the Range Extender?
Thank you for any advice!

 

[alohart]

I’m so glad to find this group. My 2017 BMW i3 REX with 36,057 mi, is in the shop at BMW because the Range Extender will not start charging the battery when it reaches 5% charge, so the car stops running. BMW will charge $18,423 to replace the generator!

A bad REx engine isn't the only reason why this might happen. If the battery management system hasn't calculated the battery pack's charge level correctly, the battery pack could run out of power before the REx engine turns on. This has happened to some REx owners. A recalibration of the charge level can fix this problem.

Can your REx engine be started in emissions mode? If so, it probably doesn't need to be replaced. Even if it doesn't start, there can be repairs that don't require the expensive replacement of the REx engine.