Your US i3 actually has 2.4 Gal fuel tank

LowOnCash · 01-19-2015, 06:37 PM

Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Your USA I3 Really Does Have A 2.4 Gal Fuel Tank - Mike Mas

Ok you guys are not going to believe this – I’m sure we’re all aware of the lack of fuel tank size in our I3’s with Europe having 2.4 gallons and here in the US we only have 1.9 gallon tanks.

Words out from some coding experts that both cars have the same exact tank - BMW has cleverly programmed the US cars to run out of fuel at 1.9 gallons when in fact it has 2.4 gallon capacity and there is still fuel remaining in the tank when the gauge shows “0 miles” on the fuel gauge. It appears this is accomplished by shutting off the fuel pump at 1.9 gallons. A quick coding change addresses the problem and the tank will show full 2.4 gallon capacity and additional mileage.

Mike Mas

-c- · 01-19-2015, 09:27 PM

Figured, when I looked up that on realOEM.com they had the same part number for the euro and U.S. spec fuel tanks. Plus it didn't make sense to spend all that money to tool up 2 fuel tanks.

M3 Adjuster · 01-20-2015, 11:03 AM

great article...... and thanks for the full explanation on the beancounters vs the auto manufacturers?

it's great that software guys are finding the " digital screwdriver" in order to bring tuning back to the people.

DeeKay · 01-20-2015, 11:04 AM

Why?!

Doctor///M · 01-20-2015, 11:09 AM

interesting... what does BMW REALLY think of us???

M3 Adjuster · 01-20-2015, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor///M

interesting... what does BMW REALLY think of us???

I though this as well and my first question/post also was " why?" Just like Deekay above....

I went back and read the article that was posted. The OP explained exactly why. It's easy to blame BMW
(certainly a bimmerpost pastime!) , but in this case BMW is simply abiding with US GOVT REGULATIONS.

MCoupeInsanity · 01-20-2015, 11:22 AM

Us, non-engineers, found this interesting but really oddly written.

shatty · 01-20-2015, 11:23 AM

$1.899 for SUPER?!?!?!?!?!?! WOW

MCoupeInsanity · 01-20-2015, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor///M

interesting... what does BMW REALLY think of us???

They explained why, and it has nothing to do with what BMW thinks about you.

Doenermann · 01-20-2015, 11:27 AM

Thanks for posting this! I am not surprised... now legal, CARB and other issues aside, if we could please have fix for this and the charge hold feature, I will be a little happier with mine....

Doctor///M · 01-20-2015, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCoupeInsanity

They explained why, and it has nothing to do with what BMW thinks about you.

Oops! I didn't see the attached image with the explanation on my iDevice. Apologies...

BrokenVert · 01-20-2015, 11:31 AM

Well this is certainly interesting.

Now if only BMW let me turn on the generator manually, is that another US regulation at play? If im going 120 miles I want to be able to run the jenny at a low setting the entire time, dammit.

dclowd9901 · 01-20-2015, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeKay

Why?!

Running a tank dry is very bad for a car. It might've been that they found Americans are more susceptible to this behavior and rather than allowing them to willfully neglect and destroy their cars, they might've coded it as a fail safe to prevent neglectful damage.

Just a hunch though.

DeeKay · 01-20-2015, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor///M

Quote:

Originally Posted by MCoupeInsanity

They explained why, and it has nothing to do with what BMW thinks about you.

Oops! I didn't see the attached image with the explanation on my iDevice. Apologies...

Argh damn. Same here. Sorry for my quick outburst!

Falafel Combo · 01-20-2015, 12:17 PM

I'm going to tell my grand-kids one day, "you guys are screwed!!! gas was so cheap back in my day that you could fill up a BMW for five bucks!!!"

X3paul · 01-20-2015, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor///M

interesting... what does BMW REALLY think of us???

As $$$$ donators

wdeerfield · 01-20-2015, 01:05 PM

more than likely a US Gov't regulation since people dont listen to warnings and would continue to drive anyways and then run out of fuel

Quote:

Originally Posted by shatty

$1.899 for SUPER?!?!?!?!?!?! WOW

thats what i got out of this thread too. and here i thought 2.83 was cheap.

BrokenVert · 01-20-2015, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

thats what i got out of this thread too. and here i thought 2.83 was cheap.

Went on a roadtrip from NYC to Michigan recently. Paid $3.09 when I left and $2.09 when I arrived.

Its insane. Its literally a third difference.

aajami · 01-20-2015, 02:22 PM

DCG · 01-20-2015, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dclowd9901

Running a tank dry is very bad for a car. It might've been that they found Americans are more susceptible to this behavior and rather than allowing them to willfully neglect and destroy their cars, they might've coded it as a fail safe to prevent neglectful damage.

Just a hunch though.

+1, Possibly.

jadnashuanh · 01-20-2015, 04:23 PM

To get the maximum federal credits, the REx augmented distance cannot be larger than the unaided strictly battery range, so to meet CARB regulations, they made the (effective) fuel tank size smaller.

Running a gasoline engine dry is not good for things like pumps or injectors, and the logic to restart it with lots of cranking to get all of the air out puts wear on things, too. And, similar to your house water plumbing, draining the pipes then refilling them can dislodge some crud and create problems even with a good filter. It's best to avoid running one dry.

LowOnCash · 01-20-2015, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dclowd9901

Running a tank dry is very bad for a car. It might've been that they found Americans are more susceptible to this behavior and rather than allowing them to willfully neglect and destroy their cars, they might've coded it as a fail safe to prevent neglectful damage.

Just a hunch though.

The car is not really running out of fuel - the processor is just shutting down the fuel pump so the prime is still there!

01-19-2015, 06:37 PM	#1
LowOnCash Private 34 Rep 83 Posts Drives: BMW I8 - I3 - I4 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: North Georgia iTrader: (0)	Your US i3 actually has 2.4 Gal fuel tank - Mike Mas Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Your USA I3 Really Does Have A 2.4 Gal Fuel Tank - Mike Mas Ok you guys are not going to believe this – I’m sure we’re all aware of the lack of fuel tank size in our I3’s with Europe having 2.4 gallons and here in the US we only have 1.9 gallon tanks. Words out from some coding experts that both cars have the same exact tank - BMW has cleverly programmed the US cars to run out of fuel at 1.9 gallons when in fact it has 2.4 gallon capacity and there is still fuel remaining in the tank when the gauge shows “0 miles” on the fuel gauge. It appears this is accomplished by shutting off the fuel pump at 1.9 gallons. A quick coding change addresses the problem and the tank will show full 2.4 gallon capacity and additional mileage. Mike Mas Last edited by LowOnCash; 01-21-2015 at 08:11 AM..
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01-19-2015, 09:27 PM	#2
-c- Colonel 888 Rep 2,736 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chicago iTrader: (5)	Figured, when I looked up that on realOEM.com they had the same part number for the euro and U.S. spec fuel tanks. Plus it didn't make sense to spend all that money to tool up 2 fuel tanks.
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01-20-2015, 11:03 AM	#3
M3 Adjuster Banned 7906 Rep 11,785 Posts Drives: 1M, X1 M Sport, E46 325ic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dallas, Tx iTrader: (0)	great article...... and thanks for the full explanation on the beancounters vs the auto manufacturers? it's great that software guys are finding the " digital screwdriver" in order to bring tuning back to the people. Last edited by M3 Adjuster; 01-20-2015 at 11:13 AM..
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01-20-2015, 11:04 AM	#4
DeeKay Captain 553 Rep 646 Posts Drives: 2021 Tesla Model 3 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Why?! __________________ \| 2021 Tesla Model 3 \|
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01-20-2015, 11:09 AM	#5
Doctor///M Brigadier General 1792 Rep 4,216 Posts Drives: 2023 AUDI RS6 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (14) Garage List 2023 Audi RS6 Avant [0.00] BMW M2 Competition [10.00] 2009 BMW 335i [0.00] 2015 M3 [9.52]	interesting... what does BMW REALLY think of us??? __________________ 2020 F87 M2 Competition /l\ LBB /i\ Executive Package 2013 E70 X5M /l\ Space Grey /i\ Full Silverstone Leather /l\ LED Headlights /i\ Comfort Access /l\ HUD /i\ Ventilated Seats /l\ 22" BBS SV BMW CCA Member
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01-20-2015, 11:22 AM	#7
MCoupeInsanity Lieutenant 74 Rep 569 Posts Drives: cars Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Us, non-engineers, found this interesting but really oddly written. __________________
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01-20-2015, 11:23 AM	#8
shatty Second Lieutenant 162 Rep 266 Posts Drives: 2024 M2 6MT Alpine White Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brooklyn, NY iTrader: (0)	$1.899 for SUPER?!?!?!?!?!?! WOW __________________ 2024 G87 M2. Alpine white. Black seats with Mcolor sides. 6M.
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01-20-2015, 11:27 AM	#10
Doenermann Emperor 22 Rep 189 Posts Drives: mostly, but walks occasionally Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SE Michigan iTrader: (4) Garage List 2018 530e [0.00]	Thanks for posting this! I am not surprised... now legal, CARB and other issues aside, if we could please have fix for this and the charge hold feature, I will be a little happier with mine....
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01-20-2015, 11:31 AM	#12
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 477 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	Well this is certainly interesting. Now if only BMW let me turn on the generator manually, is that another US regulation at play? If im going 120 miles I want to be able to run the jenny at a low setting the entire time, dammit. __________________
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01-20-2015, 12:17 PM	#15
Falafel Combo Banned 3773 Rep 6,673 Posts Drives: X5 xDrive50i Join Date: May 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (3)	I'm going to tell my grand-kids one day, "you guys are screwed!!! gas was so cheap back in my day that you could fill up a BMW for five bucks!!!"
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01-20-2015, 02:22 PM	#19
aajami Brigadier General 432 Rep 4,567 Posts Drives: Space Gray '09 E92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Manhattan Beach, CA iTrader: (4)	__________________ '09 E92 M3: Space Gray, Black, Carbon Leather \| ZTP 2MK ZPP 2MT 6FL \| link 1 / link 2 Mods: M Performance exhaust \| ZCP retrofit \| Euro airbox \| GTS DCT flash \| JPN 240 ECU flash \| Euro LCI taillights \| CRT lip \| OEM alarm retrofit \| Space Gray bumper plugs \| BMW Performance: Mk. II spoiler / Mk. II non-electronic steering wheel / mirror caps / front grilles / side gills / intake louvers / emblem
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01-20-2015, 04:23 PM	#21
jadnashuanh Major 50 Rep 1,061 Posts Drives: 535iGT x-drive; i3 BEV Join Date: May 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	To get the maximum federal credits, the REx augmented distance cannot be larger than the unaided strictly battery range, so to meet CARB regulations, they made the (effective) fuel tank size smaller. Running a gasoline engine dry is not good for things like pumps or injectors, and the logic to restart it with lots of cranking to get all of the air out puts wear on things, too. And, similar to your house water plumbing, draining the pipes then refilling them can dislodge some crud and create problems even with a good filter. It's best to avoid running one dry.
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