[JasH]

In cold weather, if you can't pre-condition from the mains, I'd expect it is most efficient to run ICE at least until the car is properly warmed up.

At the very least waste ICE heat will be used to heat the cabin, if not the batteries as well.

[SteveB_UK]

North Oxford BMW have rung to say my car is ready. Not sure if they've replaced anything. But they did mention two parts they were ordering in.

Here's the weird thing and completely unconnected to the coolant issue. I've just used the iPhone app to see where the car was and how far they drove it during the last test drive. It's currently plugged in, charged and showing a range of 19 miles. I've never see a range over 16!!

How has the dealer managed to get more range from the batteries? Software update, better charger?

[MalibuBimmer]

Estimated range is based on an algorithm keyed to recent driving. It doesn't mean your range will be different or better. Just that recently someone got a little more out of the battery than you did before.

(I live in the middle of the Santa Monica mountains at 1050 feet above sea level. The road next to my house goes to one of the mountain's peaks, about 2500 feet more in elevation in 4 miles. Just for fun I've motored up the mountain with the gas engine and then coasted down in electric. I've gotten the displayed range to 30 miles. But I never got anywhere near that.)

[YWGT3]

Originally Posted by SteveB_UK

North Oxford BMW have rung to say my car is ready. Not sure if they've replaced anything. But they did mention two parts they were ordering in.

Here's the weird thing and completely unconnected to the coolant issue. I've just used the iPhone app to see where the car was and how far they drove it during the last test drive. It's currently plugged in, charged and showing a range of 19 miles. I've never see a range over 16!!

How has the dealer managed to get more range from the batteries? Software update, better charger?

I believe it's the dealer's charging unit.

With the wall mounted charger, I've been able to achieve an average range of 19-21 miles. Whereas, the range drops between 15-18 electric miles utilizing the charge cable. However, the primary reasons why I use the wall mounted charger is that it offers greater electrical surge protection while delivering a substantially quicker charge (less than half the time it would take with a charge cable).

[NGR]

Originally Posted by SteveB_UK

North Oxford BMW have rung to say my car is ready. Not sure if they've replaced anything. But they did mention two parts they were ordering in.

Here's the weird thing and completely unconnected to the coolant issue. I've just used the iPhone app to see where the car was and how far they drove it during the last test drive. It's currently plugged in, charged and showing a range of 19 miles. I've never see a range over 16!!

How has the dealer managed to get more range from the batteries? Software update, better charger?

It's been mentioned before, they probably did a reset of some kind when it was in for repair and the algorithm defaults to a 'perfect scenario' indicating a large range, then after you've covered a few miles, it learns how far you can really go.
Mine did the same when it was in, I was hoping a software upgrade meant an improved efficiency but it soon dropped back to 13-16 miles.

Think of it like using a normal petrol/gas car but instead of looking at the fuel gauge, you're looking at the range meter - it fluctuates wildly depending on driving style, road conditions, traffic etc...

My X5 recently indicated a 5 mile range when I got in it (thanks to the wife emptying the tank), then it was saying 25 by the time I'd coasted to the bottom of my hill on the way to fill up!

[SteveB_UK]

Thanks for he feedback. Dealer did indeed charge it on their Chargemaster. And they also performed the software update.

Interestingly when I got home after using some eDrive it showed 11 miles left when I parked up but I've just looked at the reported range from the iRemote app and it's already dropped to 9 miles yet it's all turned off!!

[SteveB_UK]

Forgot to say that the dealer believes they have fixed the coolant issue. The expansion tank was changed.

Apparently there have been a fair few cars reporting the issue lately (another at my dealer this week) so wanted full details of the car's usage just before the warning appeared.

M4 loaner was a proper let down. Felt really "clumsy" to drive in comparison. I've for an M2 when it goes in for new door hinge struts

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by SteveB_UK

Thanks for he feedback. Dealer did indeed charge it on their Chargemaster. And they also performed the software update.

Interestingly when I got home after using some eDrive it showed 11 miles left when I parked up but I've just looked at the reported range from the iRemote app and it's already dropped to 9 miles yet it's all turned off!!

I've found there are often significant differences between what my iPhone app tells me the car is doing (or has done) and the same data from the vehicle itself.

I hate to disagree with one of my friends here, but range does not appear to be affected by which charging unit one uses. The same number of electrons get crammed in, it just takes longer with a lower amped unit.

[hytek]

My dealer says they topped it off. No trouble so far. Only time will tell.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by SteveB_UK

Here's the weird thing and completely unconnected to the coolant issue. I've just used the iPhone app to see where the car was and how far they drove it during the last test drive. It's currently plugged in, charged and showing a range of 19 miles. I've never see a range over 16!!

How has the dealer managed to get more range from the batteries? Software update, better charger?

Software update resets the car. It then assumes you are a "perfect driver".... until it learns otherwise after you drive it

[Louv]

Originally Posted by hytek

My dealer says they topped it off. No trouble so far. Only time will tell.

Which dealer?

[SteveB_UK]

Originally Posted by JasH

Software update resets the car. It then assumes you are a "perfect driver".... until it learns otherwise after you drive it

Just charged it at home after flattening the battery. Now fully charged and showing a record 17 miles from full charge.

However the last drive was showing 60 mpg so perhaps I was too gentle with the family in there and it hasn't learnt my solo driving yet

Annoyingly the software update has broken the Bluetooth music playback from my iPhone. No track info is loaded into the display and sound kept dropping out and coming back. Prior to update it never failed and always displayed track info and album covers. Running from an iPhone 7 on Bluetooth and not plugged into the universal charger.

[hytek]

Originally Posted by Louv

Which dealer?

Stevens Creek BMW (Bay Area).

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

I've found there are often significant differences between what my iPhone app tells me the car is doing (or has done) and the same data from the vehicle itself.

I hate to disagree with one of my friends here, but range does not appear to be affected by which charging unit one uses. The same number of electrons get crammed in, it just takes longer with a lower amped unit.

Agreed. You can't fit in more energy by using a stronger charger. All it does is shorten the charging time - and even that only to the point that the car's internal charging unit can take it. No matter how much power you feed it, an i8 will always require at least a little over 2 hours for a full charge.

The range is determined by your driving and the electric consumers you use. The range is just an indication. You can get 20+ miles out of a full charge, even if the car gives you a range indication of 15.

[Louv]

Originally Posted by hytek

Stevens Creek BMW (Bay Area).

That explains it. They are... shall we say: Less than competent. They claimed they couldn't find any problem with mine either. (it's happened 8 times since) The whole dealership is a shitshow of incompetence these days.

After Sonic bought the dealership they've gone downhill. Service department, Parts, and Finance. After having a 20 year relationship with the dealership, I shall never darken their door again.

[hytek]

Originally Posted by Louv

That explains it. They are... shall we say: Less than competent. They claimed they couldn't find any problem with mine either. (it's happened 8 times since) The whole dealership is a shitshow of incompetence these days.

After Sonic bought the dealership they've gone downhill. Service department, Parts, and Finance. After having a 20 year relationship with the dealership, I shall never darken their door again.

I've also not been too happy with them lately. They're cutting corners on rentals, incorrect time estimates, etc. Where do you shop?

[Louv]

Originally Posted by hytek

I've also not been too happy with them lately. They're cutting corners on rentals, incorrect time estimates, etc. Where do you shop?

BMW of Monterey.

Mountain View has been good in the past, but I haven't been there in a few years.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by SteveB_UK

Annoyingly the software update has broken the Bluetooth music playback from my iPhone. No track info is loaded into the display and sound kept dropping out and coming back. Prior to update it never failed and always displayed track info and album covers. Running from an iPhone 7 on Bluetooth and not plugged into the universal charger.

You can update the media drivers yourself in the i8 by plugging in a USB. That might fix it. Just download the latest ones from BMW. I recall doing this a couple of years ago.

[skinrock]

Originally Posted by Louv

That explains it. They are... shall we say: Less than competent. They claimed they couldn't find any problem with mine either. (it's happened 8 times since) The whole dealership is a shitshow of incompetence these days.

After Sonic bought the dealership they've gone downhill. Service department, Parts, and Finance. After having a 20 year relationship with the dealership, I shall never darken their door again.

Sonic?

[Louv]

Originally Posted by skinrock

Sonic?

Not the hamburger joint.

http://www.sonicautomotive.com/locations/index.htm

Sonic Automotive is buying up independent dealerships across the country. According the the employees I've talked to about it, there is major cost-cutting that happens after the acquisition.

For example: service technicians get pressured to get the job done in a certain, fixed period of time. They aren't allowed to research a problem, or spend extra time on hard problems. They just send the car back out: No Problem Found. The technician, if (s)he chooses to further investigate, has to do it on their own time, at their own expense. Why would they do that, they don't own the dealership.

All the financials are taken care of at headquarters. So (in my experience) they are handled slowly, and incorrectly.

Profit for the dealership is now far more important than a Happy Customer. And it shows in every interaction. IMHO.

[skinrock]

Originally Posted by Louv

Not the hamburger joint.

http://www.sonicautomotive.com/locations/index.htm

Sonic Automotive is buying up independent dealerships across the country. According the the employees I've talked to about it, there is major cost-cutting that happens after the acquisition.

Ah, I wanted to make sure it was Sonic MS

[ntingle]

Originally Posted by hytek

Stevens Creek BMW (Bay Area).

Interesting that was the dealer that replaced my tank after they topped it off a couple of times. Hasn't gone wrong since. Adviser was Julie.