Can You Replace the BMW I3 Battery?

BMW ensured that the BMW i3 battery is developed to last for about 8 years or 160 thousand kilometers and provides the power to drive in electric mode. But what if the time has come and the battery needs replacement?

You can replace the BMW i3 battery with a new one. The battery is not user-replaceable, so you will need to take your car to a BMW service center for any battery replacements.

This article is for the people who want to know further details about the electric BMW i3 battery and its replacement.

Stay until the end to get all the appropriate info, tips, and more in-depth information about this topic.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace the Battery of a BMW i3?

The costs of battery replacements for electric cars may sound too much or unrealistic for some people but this is the truth.

According to BMW back in 2016, the cost to replace the BMW i3 battery is up to $16.000 for the models that were produced between the years 2013 and 2016.

Moreover, it is important to mention that the battery capacity for these BMW i3 models is 22 KWh, so for bigger capacities, prices may change.

The Battery Capacities of the BMW i3

The BMW i3 uses a lithium-ion battery type. When it comes to other characteristics like the capacity, each i3 model has a different battery capacity depending on the year it came out.

For example, The 2014 i3 model was originally made with a 21.6 kWh battery. Later in 2016, BMW presented the 2017 i3 with an improved 33.2 kWh battery. In 2019, BMW presented again an improved battery of 42.2 kWh for the i3 model of that year.

How do I Check my BMW Battery Health?

The BMW i3 battery is a lithium-ion battery that needs to be checked for health periodically. The procedure for checking the battery health is outlined in the owner’s manual, which can be found on the BMW website.

There are two ways to check on your BMW i3 battery health.

The first way is by using a smartphone app called “BMW iRemote”. This app will show you how much charge your car has and also how much range it will have based on your driving habits and the current state of charge of the battery.

The second way is by using an OBD-II cable that connects to a laptop or desktop computer with internet access. You can use this cable to check your car’s diagnostics data, which includes information about the battery life.

In addition, there is another way but only a few people can do it. They access a hidden menu of the car and they can see the battery life from there, but it is not recommended due to confusion among the car owners.

How to Protect the Battery of a BMW i3

Let’s see some of the most important tips on how to properly protect your BMW i3 and what you should do correctly or better in order to be prepared and keep your battery as healthy as possible.

Don’t overcharge your battery

Sometimes, letting your car battery keep charging for more than expected may cause many different problems to your battery in the long term.

For this case, it is better to let your battery run down around 10-20%, and then you can recharge it up to 80% for the reason we mentioned above.

Park your car in a shaded area

Everybody knows that summer is the hottest season of the year. It is generally accepted that the hot weather, the sun, and high temperatures affect cars with electric batteries.

As a result, it is important to park your car in a shaded area so that it doesn’t get affected by the sun, especially if you plan to charge your battery.

Stop instant charging

In case you have already tried to charge your battery just after a long drive it is time to stop doing it for several reasons.

Instant charging might cause problems to your battery because you have to let the battery rest or cool down for a bit, in order to avoid overheating the battery.

Reduce fast charging

Sometimes, fast charging is a must when you are in the middle of a long drive. Fast charging stations are helpful when you want to refill your battery in a very short amount of time.

But what happens if you often fast-charge your car?

Well, this is a big disadvantage for your battery’s health as it reduces its life span and affects it negatively in the long run.

However, the solution to this problem is to charge your battery as slowly as you can and reduce the fast charging.

Cover your car in hot temperatures

As we mentioned before, it is essential to park your car in a shady place that is not affected by the sun.

For example, if you are about to go on vacation make sure to find a good place to park your car or at least cover your car to protect its battery.

Moreover, if you are interested in buying a car cover, I strongly suggest you check out the BMW i3 Select-fit Car Cover Kit on amazon.

It is affordable dirt-proof, waterproof, and scratch-resistant which protects your car from high temperatures.

The only thing you have to do is to choose the dimensions of your car and then order the product.

Conclusion

Summing up, in this blog post we have mentioned some of the most important questions you might have and if you can replace the BMW i3 battery. The answer is yes you can replace the battery with a new one but the cost is high. Also, we have provided some tips for you on how to protect your BMW i3 battery in order to protect its health and extend its life as much as possible. If you have any questions feel free to contact us to clarify them.