I fixed my BMW i3 High Voltage Problem for FREE

My BMW i3 came from the auction with some major issues. First, it didn't even power on and there was no life from the car at all. After getting the 12 volt battery jump started from another battery and charging it for some time, I was able to get the BMW i3 to actually turn on and show some sign of life! This was very exciting, but what came next had me scared. I had multiple high voltage battery errors and BMW's Drivetrain Malfunction error messages (Drivetrain: Stop Carefully) that just wouldn't go away. I was afraid I would have to drop the battery to fix the pyro fuse to fix the Terminal 30c code (21F0CB) that indicated that there was a serious crash detected and the battery cannot be switched on (High-Voltage Battery Unit: Crash Massage, Serious Crash Detected). This meant the battery would not charge and the car cannot be driven. Luckily I found some diagrams that showed me where the sensor for the battery went and I started looking around at the wiring.
This was a big moment for me. I found a wire that was not plugged in and actually cut in one spot. After repairing this sensor wire, I was able to start, charge and drive the car!
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[@ptsrainbow]

This was awesome! I was so excited for your success! Looking forward to more of your videos on this car. I just picked up a used 2014 i3 Rex.

[@SimpleCarGuy]

Thank you! I'm on it, lot more videos to come. A few on getting it fixed and cleaned up and then come the mods and improvements!

[@mikejohnson599]

knowing bmws you are one of the luckiest fellows on earth

[@rp9674]

I own an i-3 and I agree !

[@danscar5277]

Awesome review! Good narration and fun project. I look forward to seeing the progress.

[@alphadevyat]

Love how excited you are in this video when you first drone it. Congrats and look forward to you making this car happy again.

[@SimpleCarGuy]

I used to cut that stuff out of the video because I thought it wasn't 'cool' or whatever, but I genuinely felt excited and giddy when it actually worked!

[@jadebox]

Congratulations on your success so far. I did get a chuckle when you said electric cars aren't very fast. You're going to be pleasantly surprised. :-)

[@SimpleCarGuy]

Wellll I haven't driven the car at that time yet but looking at the specs it's 'slower' than all of the BMWs and Mini Cooper I've had. After driving it, I can say that it's quick from 0-40 and not bad 40-60. Overall, I'm very happy with how it drives for now.

[@0xc1d34]

G35 fast

[@0xc1d34]

0 to 90 is on par with g35 Nissan I've goofed off at stop lights with a lot of different cars

[@0xc1d34]

I think my 12v just took a dump

[@SimoniousB]

I like to say it’s quick, not fast. I believe (read somewhere) when the car was first released in 2014 it was the ‘quickest’ car in BMWs fleet to 60km/h at that time.

[@KarloPunzal]

Congrats! Very happy for you. Especially how you manage to get the i3 moving with as little $$$ possible.

[@SimpleCarGuy]

I honestly wasn't expecting to win this auction, but 'non-driving' i3s tend to drive away the normal used car dealer. Worked in my favor this time. Thanks for watching!

[@MYJ61]

You made a comment that EV’s are not fast. When the i3 was first released BMW said the i3 was faster 0 to 40mph than a BMW M3!

[@SimpleCarGuy]

Haha yes, it feels very quick 0-40ish now that I have been driving it but on paper it looks very slow compared to all of the other cars I’ve had.

[@newbeginnings8566]

I'm so pleased for you.. Whether it be ICE or ELECTRIC powered vehicles I had confidence in you to get something working... Well-done... 👍

[@therealchayd]

Good work, and happy to see you now have a running and driving car! I already have a working i3, but I would love to do what you are doing and get a dead one to revive, repair and get back on the road. I get the feeling that these will become future classics (along with the i8) due to their unique design and lightweight construction whereas most EV manufacturers are just basing their designs on conventional ICE cars, but swapping out the powertrain.

[@doomsday9973]

Great vid! Keep these coming!

[@bimmerfan6538]

wow you figured it out! Glad you noticed what was wrong and got it fixed for cheap

[@SimpleCarGuy]

Me too!

[@moriwaky]

remember to coding the gas tank cappacity to increase some range. I think in the states the i3 rex are cappet

[@SimpleCarGuy]

Yes, they are capped here. I will be doing that once I fix it all up and clean it up.

[@peterlachina6185]

What is the technic to reclose the HV disconnect switch.? It worked once for me, I have tried and tried but I’m not pressing the tabs correctly to lower it. I would appreciate your help. Thanks!

[@theilllines]

Hi, yes mice ate some wiring so i have to replace the High voltage cable set combo socket, is that a part that i can replace myself you think?? Thanks

[@amjaddawoud3825]

thank you my friend for helpfull video , i have wird proplems with my i3 , wen i release the accelerator pedal the car tack longs time to stop than normal ..... ..... and it keep moving slowly and does not full stop , what the problem ?

[@CandycaneBeyond]

You should do a video with the Care Care But in Orlando Park

[@poundermonster]

Great video! I got a message saying battery discharge while stopped, then a day later followed by a check engine light with a code p1c53. You guys think it needs a 12v battery?

[@castletown999]

I had the same thing on mine. I bought a 2 year old i3s and found the wires to the windshield washer pump cut. I think it is rats. They make surprisingly clean cuts in wires - you would swear they had been cut with scissors. Interestingly they were very close to where your cuts were.

[@rp9674]

I've had rodent damage to cars more than once

[@howlongdoesithavetob]

Really liked the videos. Glad it appears to be working out for you at the price point! Can you please tell me exactly what you did to get the REX to turn on while it's parked? Just finished changing the oil on mine today, and would love to have been able to run it for a bit to check for leaks without driving off the ramps...

[@rp9674]

It's in the video

[@parmijo]

Looks like the cut wire was sabotage. Most potential buyers would think the car has major issues.

[@SimpleCarGuy]

That's what I was thinking as well, but didn't want to blame anyone. I think someone at the auction figured if they cut the wire, they could get it for much cheaper since they know the fix.

[@b4804514]

@@SimpleCarGuy It worked to your advantage. Lucky you found the problem

[@podlaskiebiurowywiadudetek3406]

Hi, how to reset battery after accident and airbags crash ?

[@weaesq]

What year BMW i3? How much did you pay for it at auction and when?

[@gmcevoy]

I would have just strapped a Semtex charge to it and set it off in a quarry... Kudos for sorting this out!

[@SimpleCarGuy]

That's one way to deal with it!

[@physiqapparel7126]

Hi. I have the same errors after a crash. How were you able to get the car to go into drive if it has the drivetrain fault error?

[@alibhatti5293]

Hey I’m dealing with the same problem, we’re you able to find the solution?

[@user-df5qu5ym6n]

Hi! What is the function of plug (close to battery 12V) which was cutted in your car? schould be there any voltage or it`s a jumper or what?

[@SimpleCarGuy]

I believe that’s the wire that enables the high voltage battery (probably goes to a relay or whatever it’s called on HV batteries).

[@imeldificvlogs7953]

Where you shop do you have in Des Moines wa

[@flyingyakdeath]

what's the bmw diagnostic tool you used?

[@joseleal7077]

An similar TOPDON ArtiDiag500...?!

[@aidasvalunta3785]

Hi mate I’ve got an i3 with the same issue but can’t get it to run any help

[@SimpleCarGuy]

What kind of codes are you getting?

[@garyhoward4064]

How does one access the error codes of the i3 and how does one clear them.

[@SimpleCarGuy]

You'd need a BMW scanner/diagnostics tool. I have reviewed a few of them on my channel.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

Maybe at auction they wanted to save it for someone

[@holychoun1180]

My car BMW i3 not charging

[@vintagevibezmusicGP1]

Watching this helped me get a 2014 REX, and thinking of getting another one just to use the battery and charge the house. Cheaper than buying a TESLA Wall LOL HAHAHAHAH

[@randycarter2001]

Get a device called a Kill-A-Watt. Plug your charge cord into it and you'll see exactly how the car is charging.

[@raymaas8330]

It may not be a Tesla, but it will do 0-60 about half a second faster than a '77 Trans Am (sorry, Bandit).

[@jaqueztroy]

Hell ya man. So I can charge from 0 percent

[@joseleal7077]

Hi dear , Many thanks for a nice and cool video for the BMW I3. Could please support me if a scanner TOPDON ArtiDiag500 it is a good choice... Many thanks in advance. Kind regards, JL