[geneatals]

So car threw a CEL this weekend, all systems per iDrive were okay.

Brought it in for service today and...

1) there's a recall on MY, something about a wastegate regulator (I think that's what my CA said)

2) got a text and the tech found the following: "issue with the high voltage battery system, heater system, and emergency call system". When I went in to get a loaner the SA said basically the HV battery has at least one bad cell and basically the entire battery was done. That emergency call error is most likely linked to that. I let him know about 3 or 4 months ago I did get an error message about the HV battery on my iDrive, (sorry forgot the verbage on the error message that was on my iDrive) I immediately turned the car off and then the message went away upon starting the car again, but an emergency service call as already initiated from the car, I told the operator the message is no longer there and my car seemed to be okay, no CEL's or notifications on the iDrive that stated otherwise. Fast forward to now and here we are, CA said that's most likely when everything started but took this amount of time to finally throw the CEL.

So here I am now in an X3 loaner and waiting to here back from my CA. He said they are waiting to hear back from BMW, since this is an issue with the HV battery they have to contact them first before proceeding with repair work. My CA did say the tech was familiar with this issue and just needs BMW's okay to continue work and fix it.

Just wanted to share the info with you all for your reference....

charging habits and car info: charge daily with my 110v outlet in my garage and at work. Sometimes charge at local chargepoint stations when available and time allows. I'm 32 months into ownership of this 530e. 31K miles.


***update: Finally got the car back today (9 days total time including the weekend):

Battery cell was replaced with LCI cell. It was cell 5 that went bad of the 6 cells. No info provided on how or why it went bad. Since there was a recall on the battery cells they had the cell in stock, otherwise it would have taken a few weeks to get a cell (per my SA). Only thing that took time really was the parts to order to install the cell since they are not allowed to use the same nuts/bolts, cables/hoses when installing the new cell. Software update also performed

All codes cleared as well for my auxiliary heater not being recognized also the SOS call malfunction error.

[LogicalApex]

Hopefully the repair is completed soon. I wonder what impacted the HV battery.

Thanks for keeping fellow 530e owners updated.

[geneatals]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Hopefully the repair is completed soon. I wonder what impacted the HV battery.

Thanks for keeping fellow 530e owners updated.

thanks, I'll update the thread as I get more info.

[SteveinArizona]

Thanks for the information. I always like to try different vehicles as loaners when my car is in...IMHO the best way to test drive different BMWs.

[geneatals]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Thanks for the information. I always like to try different vehicles as loaners when my car is in...IMHO the best way to test drive different BMWs.

true, they gave me an X3. I have 4 months left on ym lease so have bene shopping and looking around for my next model. Was playing with the idea of getting into another M3...but have a feeling allocations and dealers wont be very friendy since it wold an MY2022. Also considering an X5

[CnSky]

The SOS call issue will be the small battery in the unit below the aerial behind the headliner. It's not related to the HV battery as the systems are completely separate. They don't even have a common wire between them.

It's common that the SOS battery fails, it's 250 bucks to change.

Usually goes if the car is not driven enough.

Will give a fault on the dash that the SOS emergency call system is unavailable and a dong when starting the car.

[geneatals]

quick update: Tech ran some tests, cell 5 bad on the HV battery, BMW approved the replacement work to be done. They needed to order some other parts to get it done so won't be don't until next week. They started work on it yesterday.

[SteveinArizona]

OP...I am curious. When they replace the batteries, are they installing the new bigger battery pack from the LCI or the original, smaller one?

[rts2101]

Very curious about that myself. And would it require software updating to account for the range and such on the higher capacity batteries?

[geneatals]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

OP...I am curious. When they replace the batteries, are they installing the new bigger battery pack from the LCI or the original, smaller one?

have not asked that directly...from what I'm understanding they are just replacing a battery cell...not the entire battery pack...that's why they checked the other cells function and narrowed it down to the only one cell that went bad....

[geneatals]

Finally got the car back today (9 days total time including the weekend):

Battery cell was replaced with LCI cell. It was cell 5 that went bad of the 6 cells. No info provided on how or why it went bad. Since there was a recall on the battery cells they had the cell in stock, otherwise it would have taken a few weeks to get a cell (per my SA). Only thing that took time really was the parts to order to install the cell since they are not allowed to use the same nuts/bolts, cables/hoses when installing the new cell. Software update also performed

All codes cleared as well for my auxiliary heater not being recognized also the SOS call malfunction error.

[SteveinArizona]

my 2018 is in the shop now. I complained (nicely) about losing battery capacity (based on my BMW APP) and the test showed a bad cell. The SA told me that they had sent the test results to BMW and I am waiting for what they will do.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

my 2018 is in the shop now. I complained (nicely) about losing battery capacity (based on my BMW APP) and the test showed a bad cell. The SA told me that they had sent the test results to BMW and I am waiting for what they will do.

If the test showed a bad cell, they really should approve a replacement. Bad cells can overheat and contribute to potential safety hazards.

I love the concept of EV's, I don't like current LiOn tech. Tesla is clearly in the lead with their new cobalt free and graphite free battery technology. If it works out as well as Elon promotes, it could be a LiOn game changer. Much better density, more charge cycles before decay and potentially safer. But still only a stop gap until one of the many next gen power sources is proven production viable.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by claykin

If the test showed a bad cell, they really should approve a replacement. Bad cells can overheat and contribute to potential safety hazards.

I love the concept of EV's, I don't like current LiOn tech. Tesla is clearly in the lead with their new cobalt free and graphite free battery technology. If it works out as well as Elon promotes, it could be a LiOn game changer. Much better density, more charge cycles before decay and potentially safer. But still only a stop gap until one of the many next gen power sources is proven production viable.

They found one bad cell but replaced the entire battery pack. Warranty item. 3.5 year old 530e.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by geneatals

Finally got the car back today (9 days total time including the weekend):

Battery cell was replaced with LCI cell. It was cell 5 that went bad of the 6 cells. No info provided on how or why it went bad. Since there was a recall on the battery cells they had the cell in stock, otherwise it would have taken a few weeks to get a cell (per my SA). Only thing that took time really was the parts to order to install the cell since they are not allowed to use the same nuts/bolts, cables/hoses when installing the new cell. Software update also performed

All codes cleared as well for my auxiliary heater not being recognized also the SOS call malfunction error.

Was it actually replaced with the LCI cell?

SteveInArizona recently had his pre-LCI battery replaced and they swapped it with another pre-LCI cell. I also noticed that the LCI cell has voltage differences with the pre-LCI that may render the two incompatible.

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...4&postcount=42

[SteveinArizona]

I am very curious why Geneatals car had a bad cell and the cell was replaced while my car had a bad cell and the entire battery pack was replaced. I am not complaining (rather I am delighted) but I wonder why the different treatment. Maybe like the Gronkowski tv commercial...I am special!

For the 530e BMW appears to group three cells together into a single unit. So for me they replaced three cells with one part number and three cells with a different part number (last digit was one number different).

[The-Traveler]

Originally Posted by geneatals

quick update: Tech ran some tests, cell 5 bad on the HV battery, BMW approved the replacement work to be done. They needed to order some other parts to get it done so won't be don't until next week. They started work on it yesterday.

They only replaced one cell, or all 6?
Do you have better range now with lci cell(s)?