Own a 2019 BMW i3 or 2019 BMW i8 electric car? It’s time for you to take a visit to your BMW mechanic, and say “Fix my BMW’s electrical system!”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently announced a recall on a number of 2019 BMW electric vehicle models due to a concern that a faulty high-voltage control module could cause the vehicle to lose power unexpectedly. The BMW models are the i3, the i3 with range extender and the i8 models. When it comes to issues related to the BMW electrical system, you should get them taken care of by your BMW technician ASAP.
The recall was submitted on the BMW electrical system back in August of 2019. It affects those BMW i3 and i8 models built between December of 2018 and late March of 2019.
You can get all of the most up-to-date information on the recall here.
What is the Recall on 2019 Electric BMWs All About?
Basically, the problem’s with something called the Electric Motor Electronics (EME) module. There is a possible defect in some models that could lead to increased resistance inside the module. And increased resistance in the module could cause it to shut off the high-voltage power to the drive system. Which means you could lose the power output that moves your car at the most inconvenient time possible. When you drive an electric BMW, a loss of power from that BMW electrical system can be especially devastating—especially if you are on a highway or have just pulled out in front of a truck.
Don’t Get Too Worried: The Functionality is Still There
But don’t worry. The car maintains most of its functionality despite it all.
“The good news is that the defect only affects the high-voltage system…the vehicle’s 12-volt power systems should remain totally functional; critically these include the power steering system and the power brake booster,” CNet reports.
Luckily the fix for the recall in the BMW electrical system is relatively straightforward. Since the batteries and all of the other parts are all still good to go, any affected vehicles will just have to have the faulty EME module replaced with a new and improved version. This BMW electrical work will be done free of charge with the recall. The original recall was issued October 11, 2019, but if you aren’t sure if you car has had the BMW electrical repair completed, check with your car mechanic.
The Good News: The i3’s Still a Solid Electric Vehicle
Regardless of the recall, the i3 has a reputation of being a dependable EV option with a solid driving range. The BMW i3 made Auto Express’ 2019 list of the top 10 best electric cars.
They say that if you keep the “ battery topped up and stick to the city…the 80-mile range means you’re never likely to hear the engine fire up,” Auto Express reported in its review that when taking fully charged battery into consideration they were able to get 118 mpg.
BMW Electrical Specialists Can Solve Your EV’s Problem
Electric vehicles are definitely the future, whether you are an early adopter or wait until the bitter end. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a BMW electrical specialist on your side early on in the game. And luckily at our Cincinnati auto repair shop, our BMW mechanics are more than one trick ponies. Sure, they’ll take care of any problems that you might have on your electric BMW, but they also have the knowledge to take care of just about any electric car you can bring to our car repair garage. Our car mechanics are also trained car electrical specialists, who have a special place in their hearts for all things related to foreign car repair.
Have an electric car? Our car electrical specialists excel at car troubleshooting your electric vehicles, including:
- Volkswagen
- Porsche
- Volvo
- Jaguar
- Audi
- Alfa Romeo
- Land Rover
- Mercedes
- and more
Contact Our Cincinnati BMW Electrical Specialists For More
Think the BMW electrical system in your i3 or i8 might have been part of the recall and aren’t sure if it’s been taken care of? Call our Cincinnati auto garage. Many of our BMW mechanics are electrical specialists. We’d be happy to answer any questions you have, let you know how long it will take to repair your car, and even do the recall for you.
Like all recalls, this one is free of charge.
