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      06-10-2020, 06:48 AM   #1
JBL1984
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Battery issue // not charging from mains

Hi everyone, newbie here so would love some insight on my 2015, 13,000 miles i8 issue.

Apologies the the length of this.. here's a quick run through.

Car has been idle on drive for 6 or so weeks (lock down in UK) Not on charge though as I wasn't using it.

Received an email from 'connected drive' at BMW on June 5th advising if the vehicle has been left for a prolonged period to charge it.

I went to charge it and yep, doesn't charge anymore.

I get the error "mains power too low" and just a spinning disc on the dash (pictures attached, apologies for the dust!).

I spoke to BMW assist who advised I drive to a service station where they have chargers with a higher voltage output so see if this jump starts the charging procedure.. did that it still wouldn't charge.

Strange thing is in sport mode the battery charges up absolutely fine.. its currently up to 11 miles of electric range but it still will not charge from the mains or a service station.

Has anybody else had this issue or have any experience with BMW when battery/charging issues arise?

I am booked in for July 1st (earliest they could do) and I'm hoping this will come under the battery warranty as the 3 year warranty has lapsed.

I'm sure they will try and say the charger isn't the battery but I would say they are intrinsically connected.. so i'm hoping the fact BMW emailed advising to charge after a prolonged period of being idle, would mean they're aware of potential issues and hopefully its covered.

Really appreciate any feedback or advice, if anyone has questions please let me know.
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      06-10-2020, 07:34 AM   #2
Elmar
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did you already read this chapter in the manual ?
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File Type: pdf i8-Manual.pdf (130.5 KB, 497 views)
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      06-10-2020, 09:28 AM   #3
eswimm
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Sounds like a bad charger, which unfortunately isn't a part of the battery. Level 1 or 2 charging is going to go through the car's charger, so not charging off either the OUC or another level 2 points to it. Regen or generation in sport mode wouldn't be going through the charger.
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      06-10-2020, 10:03 AM   #4
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I would drive it in sport until the main is fully charged, then hope a reboot will reset the charger settings. Fill up your petrol while you are at it...
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      06-10-2020, 12:30 PM   #5
JBL1984
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Thank you fro your reply... bad charger is what scares me..
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      06-10-2020, 12:32 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stressdoc View Post
I would drive it in sport until the main is fully charged, then hope a reboot will reset the charger settings. Fill up your petrol while you are at it...
Thank you Stressdoc, I will try your idea.. once its fully charged is there anything specific I need to do to initiate the 'reboot'? Or just turning the engine off and on again would do it?
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      06-10-2020, 12:38 PM   #7
JBL1984
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Elmar View Post
did you already read this chapter in the manual ?
No I didn't unfortunately read that.. although it does say "if possible".. if it was more important I'd of hoped it would be made more a big deal of.. Because I got the connected drive email saying to charge before driving I'm thinking other people may of had a similar issue during lockdown for them to initiate an email?
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      06-10-2020, 01:26 PM   #8
eswimm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JBL1984 View Post
No I didn't unfortunately read that.. although it does say "if possible".. if it was more important I'd of hoped it would be made more a big deal of.. Because I got the connected drive email saying to charge before driving I'm thinking other people may of had a similar issue during lockdown for them to initiate an email?
Parking for a long time unplugged isn't going to kill your charger, but it could potentially destroy your battery and would almost definitely not be covered under battery warranty.

I think your issue and the email are unrelated beyond the fact that even if you had been plugged in, you would have eventually got the low battery warning since your charger isn't working.
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      06-10-2020, 04:02 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JBL1984 View Post
No I didn't unfortunately read that.. although it does say "if possible".. if it was more important I'd of hoped it would be made more a big deal of.. Because I got the connected drive email saying to charge before driving I'm thinking other people may of had a similar issue during lockdown for them to initiate an email?
I’m in the UK and never got an email?
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      06-10-2020, 05:27 PM   #10
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If you lucky it might sort itself out. Is this using a wall charger or a 3 pin plug? Maybe try changing the charging rate (buried in the menus somewhere) to Low or a different rate to whatever it’s set to. It might reset something if your lucky.
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      06-11-2020, 02:51 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ionicsilveri8 View Post
I’m in the UK and never got an email?
Me too (UK) and me neither (no email), I suspect that it was an automated message from the car that spotted that it needed a charge. Could be a software issue, I do hope so for your sake, these are complex cars that can get easily confused...
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      06-11-2020, 06:38 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Iain123 View Post
If you lucky it might sort itself out. Is this using a wall charger or a 3 pin plug? Maybe try changing the charging rate (buried in the menus somewhere) to Low or a different rate to whatever it’s set to. It might reset something if your lucky.
Using a 3 pin plug.. I tried increasing the rate when I went to a service station charge point but havent tried it at home, I will give that go, thank you
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      06-11-2020, 06:51 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maxxsirrah View Post
Me too (UK) and me neither (no email), I suspect that it was an automated message from the car that spotted that it needed a charge. Could be a software issue, I do hope so for your sake, these are complex cars that can get easily confused...
Thats a good point.. I forget how clever these cars are and its quite probable the car initiated it... I've attached the email I got..
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      06-11-2020, 01:21 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by JBL1984 View Post
Using a 3 pin plug.. I tried increasing the rate when I went to a service station charge point but havent tried it at home, I will give that go, thank you
Have you tried a different cable?
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      06-30-2020, 06:17 AM   #15
JBL1984
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UPDATE - Early diagnosis is a new charging unit.. which runs at £7500 GBP.. they are in discussion with BMW to see if "anything" else can be done.
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      06-30-2020, 08:18 AM   #16
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One idea. Assuming that the high voltage battery was discharged so deeply that a safety in the charging unit kicked in to avoid that there is a fire when trying to charge up again. Assuming again that this safety doesn't check the battery voltage ever again and stays in that safety state until it is actively told charging the high voltage battery is fine again. In that case not a replacement but a full reset, maybe a new setup of the charger would do? I would at least try to completely remove it from any power supply for a hard reset.
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      06-30-2020, 08:20 AM   #17
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Do you have a BMW extended warranty and is it covered ?
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      07-01-2020, 09:38 AM   #18
JBL1984
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Leto1701 View Post
One idea. Assuming that the high voltage battery was discharged so deeply that a safety in the charging unit kicked in to avoid that there is a fire when trying to charge up again. Assuming again that this safety doesn't check the battery voltage ever again and stays in that safety state until it is actively told charging the high voltage battery is fine again. In that case not a replacement but a full reset, maybe a new setup of the charger would do? I would at least try to completely remove it from any power supply for a hard reset.
Thank you for your suggestion, I will ask them about this possibility today.
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      07-01-2020, 09:41 AM   #19
JBL1984
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Quote:
Originally Posted by re66ell View Post
Do you have a BMW extended warranty and is it covered ?
I did not take the extended warranty.. I use the car for maximum 5000 miles a year... keep it in a garage.. its done 13,000 miles in 5 years.. I genuinely thought it would be a waste of money.. of course now it seems like a no brainer. Although as you're right in asking if it would even be covered under the extended warranty. I'm hoping I can link this to the battery warranty (somehow) as that still has time on in.
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      11-07-2022, 08:10 AM   #20
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Hi, I've got the exact same problem with my BMWi8. I drove it in sports mode till 9 miles available but plugged in when I got home to find same massage "mains power to low to charge" I have bought a new charger & same issue. Took to neighbours house to charge same issue so not my electricity supply or charger. Please has anyone else got any idea's to help.
Many Thanks in advance.
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      11-09-2022, 10:37 AM   #21
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Hi, did you ever get your battery charging problem fixed ? I've got the same issue. I bought a new charger but still have the same issue.
Thanks in advance.
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      11-09-2022, 01:16 PM   #22
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What year is second car?
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