[JasH]

I am curious what does a service on a BEV i3 actually involve?


I know they change brake fluid, and will check brake pads and discs, but I'm at a loss to work what else they do to merit the cost?


I'm considering just taking mine to an independent to change the brake fluid, unless I see a good reason to have "a service".

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by JasH

I am curious what does a service on a BEV i3 actually involve?
I know they change brake fluid, and will check brake pads and discs, but I'm at a loss to work what else they do to merit the cost?

If you mean regular maintenance, it's the same as on all normal cars:
- brake fluid and pads/sensors (check and replace, as appropriate)
- replace rubber components as they wear: wipers, tires
- refill windshield washer fluid
- replace cabin air filter

In the US, regular maintenance is included for first 4 years / 50K miles, so hardly anyone gets to work on their i3s (most folks lease them, then ditch them).

I don't know how much dealers charge for the above in the UK, but all of the above is basic vehicle maintenance that you, or any independent shop, can do.

Except for 1 item - BMW still hasn't figured out how to perform software updates over the air (OTA), so those can only be downloaded by the dealer.

Originally Posted by JasH

I'm considering just taking mine to an independent to change the brake fluid, unless I see a good reason to have "a service".

There is one - software updates.
I would not call them compelling (unlike Tesla's, which get pushed OTA for free), but it is something.

a

[JasH]

Thanks, that answers my question then

So basically just brake fluid, as the i3 brakes seem to last for ever (light car + regen braking).


Software is fine, so I don't want to update it. (I've had experiences in the past with i8 software update bugs breaking things, like e-drive, then needing updates again.)

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by JasH

So basically just brake fluid, as the i3 brakes seem to last for ever (light car + regen braking).

Yes, that was my experience - I could not detect any measurable wear on my pads and rotors.

However, there was a British guy here a year or so ago who claimed i3 brakes were defective because the rotors rusted on his car in British climate. I don't know where exactly he was from, or if he parked his i3 on the beach, or in a bog, but figured that's something that might pique your interest.

Originally Posted by JasH

Software is fine, so I don't want to update it. (I've had experiences in the past with i8 software update bugs breaking things, like e-drive, then needing updates again.)

Fair enough.
Then it's back to just plane old-school maintenance.

a

[JasH]

Originally Posted by afadeev

However, there was a British guy here a year or so ago who claimed i3 brakes were defective because the rotors rusted on his car in British climate. I don't know where exactly he was from, or if he parked his i3 on the beach, or in a bog, but figured that's something that might pique your interest.

I'm in England, and there are no such issues.

Maybe where he parked, as you suggest.