I can’t say I can feel a difference in regen strength with driving modes in my 94ah. Also, I had the i3s tune applied to my vehicle and I’ve noticed regen doesn’t switch off when going over bumps anymore. Would love to have you in our BMW i3 Worldwide Facebook group - your videos are referenced there a lot.
I have 2 bmw i3 one older from 2014 and one from 2019. I have noticed there is a difference in the DSC. With the older car, I have noticed that DSC switches off the regen in sharp turns, which can give an uncomfortable experience where you feel that the car is pushing forward. I do not experience this in the newer i3. I have an unpleasant experience in connection with driving down steep snow-covered mountain roads, where the regen is so strong that it locks the rear wheel. I had to put the car in neutral to gain control. I'm not sure if this is good for the car, but rather than crashing into a mountain wall! The i3 is a fantastic car with a smart and unconventional design. An true icon!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Several other owners have suggested software changes in newer models that affect the regen behavior as well. I think it is good that the awareness of the issue is getting highlighted!
I've noticed that in the software version after 2018.07 (where you can tell the battery icon is statcked instead of bars), the regen when battery full is acted differently, before is regen reduced, but after is the system will mimic the normal regen by applying some amount of the brake force.
That has always been the case. My i3 has always used the disc brakes the first time I stop at the end of my road when leaving in the morning with a full battery every day.
For me, when the battery is near 100%, there is still some braking but the behavior is different enough from normal that it is noticeable and a bit unnerving (I still have 'bars' on the battery icon though).
This happened with my Prius Prime as well. When I would hit a manhole in road by my job there was a traffic light. If it changed then I'd hit the break and ran over manhole at same time it felt like it was jumping over the manhole.
Don’t forget when making a turn (downhill lets say) the regen will disengage (2014-2017 models). I believe the module was changed in 2018 or 2019 so the behavior is different.
That's exactly why I've never let anyone drive! my i3 in the two years, of ownership you have to be aware when you drive this car. Specially in the Canadian winter 😬
I just wish that the brake peddle feel was not affected regen. Like in cold weather with high state of charge, there is little regen so the, brake pedal is more bosted, giving a nice firm pedal. But when more regen is posibel the pedal gets much softer as it tries to blend in regen with the mechanical brakes. Personally I would prefer that the pedal feel was more consistent.
Great question! The regen is definitely software controlled, as early on, the aggressiveness of the regen was reduced (2014 or 2015 I think). There is not much information on this, but several articles mention it. There is mention of a regen onset delay change (2018?) and also many owners mention that newer cars seem to have a softer regen than the older ones (also around this timeframe). From articles on the I3: “On the BMW they list this under the different driving modes. With them you can turn regen up/down along with many other “eco” modes that the car has such as optimizing the AC system.” www.drivezero.com.au/charging/charging-guides/regenerative-braking-guide/ “Using lessons learned from its original MINI E and ActiveE electric prototypes, BMW engineers have made the i3’s acceleration and braking controllable with just the one pedal. Recuperation mode is activated the moment the driver lifts off the accelerator, though the severity of this can be adjusted by the ECO PRO settings.” www.motorauthority.com/news/1085460_2014-bmw-i3-full-specs My personal experience is that if I forget to switch to EcoPro+ when starting the car & I come to a stop in comfort mode, I immediately notice that the car slows down 'slower' Vs in Eco Pro+ ( the setting that I normally use). It is possible that it may be a throttle mapping difference that delays the onset of (same strength) regen in comfort mode, but I would probably need to run some tests with an accelerometer to determine (quantify) the behavior. Thanks for the feedback, let me know your experience.
@@bmwi3diy782 That’s my understanding too (about the changes with some earlier software updates). But my understanding is also that the throttle mapping changes with the driving modes but not the regen. I think it would be dangerous for the car to not have consistent braking behaviour (other than the exceptions you’ve mentioned such as going over bumps and cornering at speed). This is why the disc brakes activate when the battery is full: to keep it consistent. I also think (from memory) that the owner’s manual tells you what the driving modes do: they change throttle response, speed limit and climate control only. In short, I think those articles that state that braking changes with driving mode are wrong. Incidentally, you can get the same efficiency advantage of the eco modes by driving more conservatively and not using air con. Personally I often use Eco just because it’s more relaxing in stop/start traffic. The standard mode can feel a bit twitchy and eager by comparison.
Thanks for the feedback, you may be right. Another viewer mentioned the battery icon and the software version (which suggests I have the older version). I think there's a future video on this to solve the question!
@@bmwi3diy782 Again, this is going from memory, but if you export your driver profile to a USB stick in the car, you can view that on a computer (e.g. in Notepad) and it will give you the software version. It will look like I001-17-11-543. That’s what mine used to be. Last year I had a recall taken care of and they updated the software, so now it’s I001-20-11-540 for me.
Good info. I have had i3S since May 22 and encountered one of the rare snowstorm days in London in December. We are generally totally unprepared here for sudden snow and very few people bother with winter tyres. What is your advice for sudden snow in sun zero temps? I went into eco mode assuming lower regen braking and made it home unlike some others. Pretty uncomfortable experience though!
Well, my "personal opinions" would be to stay home! Second, if legal in your area, would be to carry a pair of emergency tiresocks if the road conditions got way too bad for the all season tires (they are available for 19" i3 sizes and are much less expensive than chains). I have read may comments saying people have had good luck with these. Of course, winter tires would be good choice. Slow acceleration and slow deceleration is the key in poor weather (gentle moves of the accelerator/regen) - this is the way, as you no doubt already know! Thanks for the comment.
Love your videos. I'm wondering what the MPH in the white box means. It shows a number, yours was showing 30 and 35 MPH in this video. Maybe I overlooked this in the manual, but I have no idea what this represents. If anyone knows I'd love to hear about it. Thank you for the great content.
I think you're referring to the 'current speed limit' display, as determined by the front facing camera that actually 'reads' the street signs. I'm not sure if all versions of the car included this feature. Try going into the idrive main menu/settings/instrument cluster/ look for & click on a checkbox to enable speed limit display. Thanks for watching, and let me know if this is the problem!
Ahh yes, I think you are correct! Thank you! Your content is really great. I have an older bev, 2014, and I'm a new owner. I have not had a chance to go through all your videos, so if you've made a video on something like this already I'll search it out, but one of the most annoying things is the lack of BMW support because of the 3G. Are there any alternatives, or diy work arounds to get mobile access to older i3s? and thanks again!
I made a video on coding the keyfob 'panic button' to do remote preconditioning several months back. Other than that, no real solution has surfaced yet.
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I can’t say I can feel a difference in regen strength with driving modes in my 94ah. Also, I had the i3s tune applied to my vehicle and I’ve noticed regen doesn’t switch off when going over bumps anymore. Would love to have you in our BMW i3 Worldwide Facebook group - your videos are referenced there a lot.
Great analysis! I've noticed when charged 100% and got cero regen. Little scare the first time but this make the i3 still being a special EV.
I have 2 bmw i3 one older from 2014 and one from 2019. I have noticed there is a difference in the DSC. With the older car, I have noticed that DSC switches off the regen in sharp turns, which can give an uncomfortable experience where you feel that the car is pushing forward. I do not experience this in the newer i3.
I have an unpleasant experience in connection with driving down steep snow-covered mountain roads, where the regen is so strong that it locks the rear wheel. I had to put the car in neutral to gain control. I'm not sure if this is good for the car, but rather than crashing into a mountain wall!
The i3 is a fantastic car with a smart and unconventional design. An true icon!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Several other owners have suggested software changes in newer models that affect the regen behavior as well. I think it is good that the awareness of the issue is getting highlighted!
I've noticed that in the software version after 2018.07 (where you can tell the battery icon is statcked instead of bars), the regen when battery full is acted differently, before is regen reduced, but after is the system will mimic the normal regen by applying some amount of the brake force.
That has always been the case. My i3 has always used the disc brakes the first time I stop at the end of my road when leaving in the morning with a full battery every day.
For me, when the battery is near 100%, there is still some braking but the behavior is different enough from normal that it is noticeable and a bit unnerving (I still have 'bars' on the battery icon though).
This happened with my Prius Prime as well. When I would hit a manhole in road by my job there was a traffic light. If it changed then I'd hit the break and ran over manhole at same time it felt like it was jumping over the manhole.
Don’t forget when making a turn (downhill lets say) the regen will disengage (2014-2017 models). I believe the module was changed in 2018 or 2019 so the behavior is different.
That's exactly why I've never let anyone drive! my i3 in the two years, of ownership you have to be aware when you drive this car. Specially in the Canadian winter 😬
I just wish that the brake peddle feel was not affected regen. Like in cold weather with high state of charge, there is little regen so the, brake pedal is more bosted, giving a nice firm pedal. But when more regen is posibel the pedal gets much softer as it tries to blend in regen with the mechanical brakes. Personally I would prefer that the pedal feel was more consistent.
Great point!
Are you sure about the different driving modes having different levels of regen? I thought the i3 has a fixed regen level, regardless of mode.
Great question! The regen is definitely software controlled, as early on, the aggressiveness of the regen was reduced (2014 or 2015 I think). There is not much information on this, but several articles mention it. There is mention of a regen onset delay change (2018?) and also many owners mention that newer cars seem to have a softer regen than the older ones (also around this timeframe).
From articles on the I3:
“On the BMW they list this under the different driving modes. With them you can turn regen up/down along with many other “eco” modes that the car has such as optimizing the AC system.”
www.drivezero.com.au/charging/charging-guides/regenerative-braking-guide/
“Using lessons learned from its original MINI E and ActiveE electric prototypes, BMW engineers have made the i3’s acceleration and braking controllable with just the one pedal. Recuperation mode is activated the moment the driver lifts off the accelerator, though the severity of this can be adjusted by the ECO PRO settings.”
www.motorauthority.com/news/1085460_2014-bmw-i3-full-specs
My personal experience is that if I forget to switch to EcoPro+ when starting the car & I come to a stop in comfort mode, I immediately notice that the car slows down 'slower' Vs in Eco Pro+ ( the setting that I normally use). It is possible that it may be a throttle mapping difference that delays the onset of (same strength) regen in comfort mode, but I would probably need to run some tests with an accelerometer to determine (quantify) the behavior. Thanks for the feedback, let me know your experience.
@@bmwi3diy782 That’s my understanding too (about the changes with some earlier software updates). But my understanding is also that the throttle mapping changes with the driving modes but not the regen. I think it would be dangerous for the car to not have consistent braking behaviour (other than the exceptions you’ve mentioned such as going over bumps and cornering at speed). This is why the disc brakes activate when the battery is full: to keep it consistent. I also think (from memory) that the owner’s manual tells you what the driving modes do: they change throttle response, speed limit and climate control only. In short, I think those articles that state that braking changes with driving mode are wrong. Incidentally, you can get the same efficiency advantage of the eco modes by driving more conservatively and not using air con. Personally I often use Eco just because it’s more relaxing in stop/start traffic. The standard mode can feel a bit twitchy and eager by comparison.
Thanks for the feedback, you may be right. Another viewer mentioned the battery icon and the software version (which suggests I have the older version). I think there's a future video on this to solve the question!
@@bmwi3diy782 Again, this is going from memory, but if you export your driver profile to a USB stick in the car, you can view that on a computer (e.g. in Notepad) and it will give you the software version. It will look like I001-17-11-543. That’s what mine used to be. Last year I had a recall taken care of and they updated the software, so now it’s I001-20-11-540 for me.
Interesting- I just checked it, it's I001-18-07-520
Good info. I have had i3S since May 22 and encountered one of the rare snowstorm days in London in December. We are generally totally unprepared here for sudden snow and very few people bother with winter tyres. What is your advice for sudden snow in sun zero temps? I went into eco mode assuming lower regen braking and made it home unlike some others. Pretty uncomfortable experience though!
Well, my "personal opinions" would be to stay home! Second, if legal in your area, would be to carry a pair of emergency tiresocks if the road conditions got way too bad for the all season tires (they are available for 19" i3 sizes and are much less expensive than chains). I have read may comments saying people have had good luck with these. Of course, winter tires would be good choice. Slow acceleration and slow deceleration is the key in poor weather (gentle moves of the accelerator/regen) - this is the way, as you no doubt already know! Thanks for the comment.
Have a question...when on cruise control and a car slows down in front of you ...does my car use regen to slow down or brakes when on cruise?
Love your videos. I'm wondering what the MPH in the white box means. It shows a number, yours was showing 30 and 35 MPH in this video. Maybe I overlooked this in the manual, but I have no idea what this represents. If anyone knows I'd love to hear about it.
Thank you for the great content.
I think you're referring to the 'current speed limit' display, as determined by the front facing camera that actually 'reads' the street signs. I'm not sure if all versions of the car included this feature. Try going into the idrive main menu/settings/instrument cluster/ look for & click on a checkbox to enable speed limit display. Thanks for watching, and let me know if this is the problem!
Ahh yes, I think you are correct! Thank you!
Your content is really great. I have an older bev, 2014, and I'm a new owner. I have not had a chance to go through all your videos, so if you've made a video on something like this already I'll search it out, but one of the most annoying things is the lack of BMW support because of the 3G. Are there any alternatives, or diy work arounds to get mobile access to older i3s? and thanks again!
I made a video on coding the keyfob 'panic button' to do remote preconditioning several months back. Other than that, no real solution has surfaced yet.