[TimeFor]

So my i3 started doing something funky yesterday morning. I plugged in my phone for charging (iPhone SE / Lighting Cable) and it started rapidly displaying charging and immediately switching to not charging. It's switching back and forth on/off every one second or so.

Debug checklist thus far -

• It's an official Apple cable
• Same cable I've been using for months without issue in the car
• The cable works when plugged into a wall charger
• The phone charges fine when plugged into the wall
• Another cable is causing the same result
• It's still an issue after two days and multiple shutdowns/starts

What do you guy's think? I'm pretty sure its car related. Anyone have experience or heard about this issue? I'm assuming I'll have to take it into the dealer.

[TimeFor]

It's scheduled to go into service tomorrow afternoon. I'll post the results.

[tman]

Did you recently do an iOS update?

[ian_i3S_iX]

Mine has never charged from the USB socket iPhone 6 and iPhone X

Does exactly what you say, if you switch the phone off to try it that way it will switch itself on when plugged in.

It's the same with my 335 but I have a cradle for the iPhone 6 so not an issue

[reductase]

This always happens to me when I resist doing the latest iOS update. As soon as I install the updates on my phone it starts charging as normal.

[fxoffroad]

I rarely charge using a BMW USB port in any of our cars. Instead, I use one of these (or our 18 X3 which has wireless charging).

Then I never have issues with how our iPhones interact w/ the Infotainment system.

[DonC]

Same here.

[TimeFor]

So the dealer wasn't any help. The SA pulled out some 6" long "official BMW charging" cable and it worked. Ok, then I called BS on that because it still wasn't working on my original official apple cable even though it always has. I even went out and got a new official Apple cable and it was still the same problem. I wasn't going to pay BMW for a super short cable that was stupid thick. I suspected the cable was probably working by doing slow charging or something weird that. And I suspect all the other cables were likely allowing full speed charging which was failing on the car. In the end I tried 3 different normal lighting cables and they all did the same effect. It was not a problem with the same cables in another BMW using my phone. I told them this but the SA continued to claim it wasn't the car because their BMW cable worked. They wouldn't even look further at the car, told me there was nothing wrong, and told me to buy the BMW cable because that's all the support. Obviously, that's not an option and nor did it address why 3 other cables that previously worked didn't all of the sudden and it was a problem only in this one BMW. So I stopped driving the i3 as I was pissed at it and annoyed. After a week I got in the car without even thinking about it, plugged in my original charging cable, and it works. All 3 cables are working just fine now. No explanation. And no, there were no phone updates during that time.

So whatever it was it sorted itself out. No thanks to service advisor Gilbert Pogosyan at BMW of Glendale who was actually rather rude after I questioned his only fix of buying the BMW cable.

[hacksics]

This is because your phone pulls more than 500mA current from time to time. The USB port is designed to supply less than 500mA current. The newer phones pull high current when it's depleted fully. Ask your service agent about TIS Service Bulletin "TRI B84 01 18". As per BMW HQ recommendation, you have no choice other than using 12V to USB charger.

See below:::

The USB audio interface is not recommended for continuous operation of smartphones / tablets / music
players.
The charging requirements of smartphones / tablets/ music players (for example iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android
devices, Microsoft devices) vary greatly due to technical updates, the state of charge or active background
apps.
The in-vehicle network is not guaranteed to provide current to meet these needs. It is limited to a maximum
output of 500mA.
In response to customer complaints on this issue:
Inform the customer about BMW accessory solutions available for purchase -
o intermediate charging adapter
o snap-in adapters
o BMW USB adapter (Lightning)
Do NOT replace any parts.
Do NOT program the vehicle or carryout any other work to repair this issue.
Reimbursement under warranty is NOT permitted.

[tom @ eas]

^^ interesting on the TSB, haven't seen that before.

Does anyone with issues have 6NS added when coding? Have seen this happen on some i3 models periodically with 6NS, removing the 6NS option will return back to normal.

If you have "OFFICE" displayed instead of "CONNECTED DRIVE" on the main menu screen, you have 6NS coded.

[Encanto]

Most often than not, this charging problem is caused by an iPhone iOS update that messed up the USB driver in the phone.

Try reflashing phone.

Originally Posted by TimeFor

So my i3 started doing something funky yesterday morning. I plugged in my phone for charging (iPhone SE / Lighting Cable) and it started rapidly displaying charging and immediately switching to not charging. It's switching back and forth on/off every one second or so.

Debug checklist thus far -

• It's an official Apple cable
• Same cable I've been using for months without issue in the car
• The cable works when plugged into a wall charger
• The phone charges fine when plugged into the wall
• Another cable is causing the same result
• It's still an issue after two days and multiple shutdowns/starts

What do you guy's think? I'm pretty sure its car related. Anyone have experience or heard about this issue? I'm assuming I'll have to take it into the dealer.