BMW i3 Hidden Features and tricks (EASTEREGGS) 🔌🔋🚗
The BMW i3 120ah car has lots of HIDDEN features, theirs a secret idrive menu, a secret console menu also talked about a lot on forms is a hidden cigar socket. I also show some useful features like finding the emergency boot pull and charge flap release. Oh almost forgot i show you how to preheat the bmw i3 by the KEY!
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Channel all about Electric cars and battery powered devices, I seek to educate my self and you the audience every week with info i know from working within the car trade and information I learn being part of the Renault Zoe Owners Club
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Lots of useful info here, but the most important Easter egg that I use is to set Eco-Pro-Plus and then to avoid the speed restriction, just activate the cruise control without setting a speed and drive how you like. This still saves range and avoids you looking like a total loser in traffic. Try it!
I took the delivery of mine yesterday, love it.
Thank you for explaining abt the side mirrors bc I was so confused!
Informative! Thank you!
I definitely didn't know about that 3rd lighter. Thanks mate!
Which one? 😂 boot or hidden under?
Very helpful and straightforward
Great job with the video, looking into getting an i3 myself soon retiring my much loved and hated E87 120d.
Thank you for the video I’m looking at an I 3 and this helps me!!!
Great to hear please subscribe
I particularly liked the last 20 seconds Nic !!
haha i thought i'd add little snippets at the end of videos from now on
@@NicolasRaimo Out-takes can be hilarious too. James Cooke has used snippets right from the start.
@@RWBHere if i have a good out real ill use it, good one for this Saturday
Great Video Nick will have to play around with my BMW i3 now lol
there's more easter eggs that i didn't mention maybe another video....
I am curious to find out about the other easter eggs that you didn't mention in the bmw i3. I have a BMW i3 Rex and I didn't know about the 3rd socket, and didn't know about the emergency pulls. I did know about the secret menus but I haven't messed around with any of them yet.
Great video. Had ours for 2000miles now but didn’t know about the pull switches. Thanks!
Great to hear i helped someone!
Nicolas Raimo sure you’ve helped lots and lots of people. Most people just don’t comment 👍🏻
Great video just purchased a used BMW i3 myself
hope this video helps!
Great decision.
Me too! Love it
Switzerland just started offering this as a long term rental so this video is super fun!
That's awesome! Please don't forget to click subscribe to me lots of I3 videos on here :)
Great video learnt lots, thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the info
pleasure Laura welcome to the channel please check out the other i3 videos!
thanks for the vid
No problem!
I have had my BMW i3 for 6 months now. I absolutely love it.
Fantastic James and welcome to my channel Don’t forget to subscribe
going to trade in my Audi Q2 in for a i3s - love this video! thanks for sharing
I've had one for a month BEV smaller battery as well...I love it saving sooo much money. So cheap to charge here.
Where are you from?
Very helpful!
Thank you
Liked the video 😊
Great video mr.
Thank you kindly Please subscribe
Yours didn't seem to do it but when you have the front seat back forward it normally springs back on you. You can use the sun visor to hold it in the forward position especially useful if you put in a child into the backseat. Many people also don't know about how the cup holder can be placed in up to 4 different positions. Great video I like this one.
Cheers Michael nope maybe they changed it on 120ah i3?
@@NicolasRaimo maybe they may have changed it maybe they have taken the spring out or put a weaker spring in in mine doesn't spring back if I'm facing slightly downhill. 94ah. Might bump in to you at evs in the park
@@MILKYBAR1969 yep might not be in the i3 i've got it up for sale hoping it be gone by then, so might be either in a Zoe or a friends car.
Bought it last year. Very nice interior, very sporty and fun to drive, the seats are awesome, the car is elegant, and the space inside is surprisingly very good. Rather have this compared to a Nissan Leaf or e golf. So u unique and fun. Only negative is the range. Especially on winter...
Thanks for sharing!
i3s lose the same % of range as any other EV in winter. But remember to precondition if ambient is 10C or less.
Good man 😊
Most of those are in the manual. I used the “hidden” 12v charge point to power my dashcam. It’s also very easy to hide the cable behind the roof lining, door rubber and under the dashboard meaning the cable is almost completely out of view. You could also have mentioned the hidden coat hangers in the rear. I’ve only just found them. I assumed that they were just plastic plugs only to find out they swivel round to reveal the hooks.
Excellent x
Thank you! Cheers!
good stuff to know
If you like the i3 but a new one is out of your budget range, have a look at used i3's: There are LOTS of great deals out there with low miles, one owner, etc. Typically they're around $15k-20k range depending on year and trim level. (Try to make sure you get one with new or new-ish tires, as they seem to wear pretty fast and are not cheap).
💯mate a quick one I have 2017 Rex and what should I do to make the battery better since it gives 26.9 and what I can do to renew it since it is not keeping the charge as it was earlier
I have a 2017 BMW i3 Rex, and the very last clip of your video reminded me of a similar issue I had. I wanted to sit in the rear seat of my i3, just by myself nobody else around, to get into the rear seat, you have to open the front door then open the rear half door, the problem I discovered was, I was able to shut my rear half door, but it was impossible to reach the front door to shut it. I almost wish BMW offered power closing and opening front doors on the i3 like the Tesla model x has, would make it so much more convenient.
I drive in both France and England. How do I swop the speed indicator from miles to kilometers and backj?
"A littll triangle signe." Proceeds to press a diamond-shaped sign.
I'm really considering this
Buying an i3? Check out my 5 pros and cons video on the i3
😃 Some I knew some I didn't love our i3 brilliant car
Which ones?
Is the max battery capasity in the hidden meny the gross or net capasity?
hello Nicolas! I want to know if there is a way to have the front passenger seat to lay down flat or to have a bit extra space, I have plan to transport some ikea stuff which is 2.4 meters long, and a kitchen benchtop which are 2.1 meter long, the headrest is very tall and seem to block me from getting that little bit extra space
On my North American 2015 i3 the upper manual pull in the right rear door cavity opens the charging lid (as in the video at 8:05), but the bottom one disengages the charging plug if it gets stuck (rather than opening the boot).
Any tip for driver seat comfort please? I m 5ft 2 and my head keeps banging on the headrest when driving.
The manual release tabs behind the right hand rear door are for the charge flap (as stated in the video) and the charging cable locking pin - not the tailgate. There is no user accessible manual release for the tailgate (apart from the additional electrical button in the drivers foot-well).
Except that if the car is open, so you can reach the inside of the tailgate, there is a little lever on the mechanism to release it.
@@johnbb99 My MY2016 does not have that, but it might be differences between model years. I've seen that cars prior to mine had a storage location for the warning triangle inside the rear lid, which is not on newer models.
Also,, 1 more question. All 4 tires of my i3 are 155/60/r19..If i change my 2 rear tires with 195/50/r19 (wider tires) will i also change the MAGS too? Tnx
Is there a way to replace the small dash with the larger one?
Great channel. Your menu looks different than mine (i3 2014 mod). Could I run some system update?
The new idrive on the 120ah is different, however the hidden menu still works ;)
Hi, good video. How do I get out of the secret display menu on the trip reset....thanks
Hold on Test End and then click one more time to confirm end of test to exit fully.
bottom says END hold down
I bought my used 2017 REx 1-1/2 months ago. Lots of returned leased cars available in California and prices are great. My only curiosity so far is whether there's an easier way than what I heard (buying European software update) to get the RE to run before the end of the range. Driving to the metro area in the valley is a drop of 3000' elevation, so the 3000' climb is at the end of the return trip and range. The REx kicked in 15 miles from home and because the last hill is steep the car slowed to as low as 39 mph (in a 55 mph zone where others are going 60 or 65 mph). If I could have run the REx in the flat valley to add to battery when it wouldn't have had to reduce power I think I could have nmmade it home on battery at full speed. Driving so slowly on the highway is dangerous and given where we live this situation is likely to recur. There was enough range cushion to get all the way home so I don't want to have to stop and recharge when it shouldn't be necessary. P.S. Nice video!
I've heard there's an i3 owner's group in Burbank where people will change you to European spec no charge
@@rp9674 can you share their info if you happen to know?
Sorry I don't have their info. You can buy a Bluetooth OBD adapter and get software (app) on your phone to do it
The function is called hold state of charge
Nicolas, Do you know how to turn off the check engine light?
I have two since 2016 fantastic in town
Hey my i3 Rex won’t always work. I can hear the starter running but it not turning over. 5 time out of 10 it does work Any ideas ? I’ve changed the fuel pump relay but no joy
Hey Nic. Question/curiosity. Is there a way to start the Rex just to charge the battery without driving?
You can start it with boot open and a series of commands or reprogram it with BimmerCode but why?
Hi. Great video thx. I own a 90 ah rex and love it so much that i just bought a second one for my wife. The second one is a used 64 plate i3 (60ah) rex. Driving home the rex cut in very late (compared to mine) at about 2 miles remaining and then rex maintained range at 1 or 2 but never more than 3. On my 94ah the rex cuts in at about 6 miles and maintains range at between 5 or 8 miles. I am wondering if previous owner has adjusted the rex cut in parameters for the rex? It doesn't seem good fo battery ti run it so low? Can you help?
6 miles isn’t really low Richard check back a couple of weeks on my videos I did a video about charging to 100 but I also went into going to 0 you may find it an interesting watch
@@NicolasRaimo hi. Thx for reply. The one i bought fir my wife cuts in at 1mile. Mine cuts in around 6. It was my wife's i was concerned about. Any thoughts? Is rex cut in at 1 mile too low?
Not got much experience with REX am Sorry am I believer of full EV only
Just bought my i3s and would welcome some help on CarPlay set up and screen mirroring. My wife loves to watch a video when we are parked up. Regards and Thanks
Hi John has your car got the car play upgrade
Great Video, I'm about to buy a used 94ah, 3 years old 15,000 miles, what sort of battery capacity should I be expecting, as viewed via the hidden menu? is this useable capacity or total?
Not sure from top of my head sorry and I sold my I3 so can't check but this video was on a 120ah so if you take a look in video you should be able to check this is around 40kwh other option is get a OBD device reader i did a video on them here kzhead.info/sun/q8WLnchwrJxto3A/bejne.html
@@NicolasRaimo Why sell yours i3, wasn't he happy with i3 and did you bought another car?
@@H6669 didn’t need another car
Goodmorning Nicolas, can you expand the storage capacity in the battery in the secret Idrive menu, please let me know.
No you can’t extend something which is physical, the lock out of top and bottom for battery are locked deep in the BMS and you’d not want to mess with these
Up Down Up Down Left Right Left Right A B B A Start 🤣
I opened the secret menu on the speedometer screen but am not sure how to navigate it. Do you just keep using the side button to make selections? My speedometer is reading km and everything else is in miles. How do I change the speedometer?
Can you share how to keep the passenger side door from auto locking. Want to keep it unlocked in garage while keeping the keys in the car. Tnx
Great ending! Been there; done that. Quite embarrassing. Thanks for the tips, Nicolas. Now all we need is a magnanimous donor with a spare i3. 🙃
I got one for sale :-p
@@NicolasRaimo Not today, thanks! The maths don't add up yet, with our low mileage. When they do, we'll be buying any decent EV with a 180-200 mile range. Have to use a mobility scooter as my only EV until then. Ten mile range and screaming along at 4 mph for the win! 🤪 But it recharges anywhere there's a mains connection, and can reach places that even a Twizy cannot enter. 😁
I miss the blue interior light in the 2019 i3s
you only get it in the upgraded trim levels.
Mine has the blue interior light, but I am not sure if I am doing something wrong or if I am missing something, it only seems to come on when I unlock my car, and once I open the door the blue light turns to a white light. Is there a way to turn on the blue light and have it stay on without it changing over to the white light?
@@carbuff81 I dont think so. I have a 2014 Rex and the blue goes away once opened. But it seems some people had luck changing some feaures using the bimmer code app and coding it in.
@@iamtinfamousxii9326 Interesting, I have a 2017 i3 rex, and I just ordered a brand new i3s bev.
There are different lighting settings in menus
Is there any generator to charge the batteries in this car? If yes, how does it works? I am wondering between vw golf plugin and BMW I3 which one to buy?
This is the i3 120ah it’s pure electric ⚡️ the early i3 had a Rex version but am an EV purest
Nice one, thanks.
Just giving a heads up that the Batt Kapp Max [maximum battery capacity] as displayed [around 2' 58" in the vid] is /not/ a reliable indication of the battery's state of health [SoH]. The only way to know (short of doing some very elaborate and difficult to measure tests) is to have a dealer put it on their fancy test kit. And probably pay a lot for the service. But why bother? The i3 BMS is looking after your battery very well without you needing to worry. Just remember to leave it on charge after it has reached 100% so that it can do some cell balancing.
@Nicolas Raimo Nick! Why haven't you edited or added text overlays to correct this misleading information? Huh? Afraid to admit you're wrong?
Can you post a video or send a link of the car door opening sound?
Hi Alexis I sold this car now sorry
Had engine light on?
I’m about to get an EV and trying to decide between an i3 or id3. Very similar price on lease (give and takes few £) or buy a delivery mileage i3 for 24k.... what are your thoughts?
Both different size cars, both different speeds and ranges and shapes which one fits you better or you like more?
@@NicolasRaimo I drove them both and liked them both. i3s is a bit harsher ride with its 20” wheels but really fun to drive. On the other hand id3 has a nicer ride but not as fun to drive. Space wise id3 has a bit more but do I need that much of a space? Don’t know tbh. For the next 3-4 months I’ll be commuting around 150 miles round trip but after that mainly city drive thrown in a few long trips per year… I wouldn’t buy id3 outright but I’d consider i3 as I found one for 24k (pre reg on October 2020)…. Hmmm! And of course VW has bigger boot space and never tech which can be useful…
My wife's i3 dashboard lights dim noticeable whenever you switch headlights on. Is there a (hidden) setting to stop that?
From memory it’s in I drive settings menu
Need the year of the car as different functions programmable for the early (2013) to (2020) models..
this is a 40kwh version aka 120ah
How do you enable gps?
Help! Can you help extend the range on my BMW i3s. Only had it since August 2021 and its decreased to 80 miles.
40kwh battery? how fast you driving it? what climate do you live in? check the secret menu to see how much energy you have when full maybe a battery fault
Can you please confirm how long the i3 can be driven on a motorway before it gets too hot at say 70 mph
Too hot? It doesn’t... it’s got battery thermal management for a start?
It will run at 70 mph forever. or until you run out of charge, whichever comes first.
My goes 100 plus non stop like a beast - warmer temps out just make the battery last longer and the car/battery doesnt over heat.....
Cool)
Cheers AD76 don't forget to click sub
Looks like US version is different eg the key function is limited, Not able to open wing mirrors. What is chassis code ? Where to find it? I can only find 2 digits space available to type in. But u said there are 5 digits to type in?
You add the last 5 digits
My radio receiving is pretty bad and I read somewhere that in this hidden menue I could change something to better it. But I didn't find anything concerning Radio there. Any help?
I wonder if you're talking about HD radio, you can turn that off in the menu.
@@rp9674 not seeing that option! can you send me a pic?
I got mine about a month ago. BMW did not afford me any time on the car (Covid reasons) Been let down from the experience. Finding out more about the car by watfhing thee videos.
Great to hear Wayne, they'd likely not of shown you most of these anyway. Don't forget to click subscribe
How do u get to disengage the 2 front windows whenever u open them they always roll down a bit. I dont like it...thanks
You don't it meant to come down so it doesn't stick on the top seal of the window this is a feature of all frameless doors
@@NicolasRaimo oh yeah, i understand now. Thanks alot
I found the trip reset button when I hit it on accident while showing my wife how somethings were angle adjustable (steering column) and other were not (dash screens).
its well hidden! Welcome to my KZhead channel David
👍👍✌️
Should have added that pre-heating the car via the Key Fob is ONLY available in 2018 and up especially in North America.
I do wish they'd keep cars same in all markets!
secret? this stuff has been on bmw's for ages :D
most don't know about all of this and some are unique to the i3
How do you turn the brake regeneration off or down
its all preset no messing about I really like its settings also
@@NicolasRaimo ???
@@trevorhicks3656 you cant
Through the secret menu, you can also fully turn off the traction control
Yes you can ;)
with start roller?
M E yep. It fully turns off traction control but it also turns off regenerative braking, abs, and I think few other safety features.
@@ansonng176 Newbie here: Why would you want to turn off traction control, except to burn rubber?
JustWasted3HoursHere just to burn rubber lol. you’re also able to feel how the car is without regen braking and how much it glides which is kinda cool.
How do I turn on the seat heat? 🙃
Button on the control panel I think it's lower left and lower right, you might not have it We had our center panel replaced, it didn't have the buttons, had to have it re-replaced
should be on main control panel in centre one on left for left one on right for right
Coolest thing about this car? Suicide doors with no 'B' pillar
I find it fairly annoying in a practical sense, see my 5 pros and cons of a BMW i3
could you tell me how often i need to run the gas engine could i leave the petrol in the car for 6 months or longer? many thanks
I don’t believe in REX sorry I only review full electric ⚡️
@@NicolasRaimo thanks
Car automatically runs a maintenance cycle
Would have been sweet if there were actual Easter eggs in glove compartment
ahh maybe next time
I just bought one in the US and now I feel left out lol the EU version is so much better ahhhh!!
All these should also work on yours!
One thing I cant figure out is how healthy is my i3 battery in other words how do I know my battery cells are still good ? Like mobile phones .. continuance charging will drop the battery life time and there are ways to show how healthy the battery is. Anyone knows how to test the i3 battery health?
That’s the SOH figure state of health
You can use method in video or use kzhead.info/sun/q8WLnchwrJxto3A/bejne.html
@@NicolasRaimo amazing thank you Nicolas. Love the car but because of the weather where I'm at (around 50 Celsius) I charge the car frequently despite having the Rex version. Amazing city car. Thx again for the video mate.
ks ks pleasure please stay subscribed to the channel and feel free to share it with friends and family to get them into electric
It did not works on my 2015 Rex USA version. It may works only in Europeans version.
Which bit? Reports say it works for all
Cuanta autonomia tiene este coche ?¿
No he pagado por ninguno en mi automóvil, pero puede pagar más por el mantenimiento del carril y el control a distancia
@@NicolasRaimo He wants to know the range of the car.
Alternatively, you could RTFM as everything but the diagnostic menu is in there. SMH...
I thought you sold your electric car?
Noise
Where do we see the chassis number?
Car documents or windscreen
@@NicolasRaimo Thanks but are you talking about the VIN number or the chassis number? Is it that only the VIN number is shown below the windshield and the car documents, not the chassis number? Another KZheadr shows the chassis number on the flip side of a metal plate underneath the driver's seat but I've got carpet below the driver and passenger's seats and I don't want to rip open the carpet if there's another way to see the chassis number.
@@willwong1234 vin and chassi same thing
@@NicolasRaimo Thanks, just got in to the secret menu but need some time to figure out how to exit from the submenu. Now, I get only the two Reset sub-menus and nothing else :(
Nick, it’s not a triangle matey.....😬
What’s that....
Nicolas Raimo I think it’s a rhomboid or a parallelogram 😬 a four sided object where the opposite sides are equal in length but not all four are equal. If all for are equal but the internal corner angels are not a right angle then it’s a parallelogram 😬😬 ps very informative video. Especially as I have one on order
Got another i3 video I could release today but likely I’ll do next week and a review video filmed I just need to reccord some B roll for
Nicolas Raimo always good to see what others make of the car. Also good to pick up tips and hints to help me as I live with it for three years 😬
Just what I was thinking, a triangle has three sides!
I didn’t realise that BMW had renamed the car to the BMW i free!
indeed
"Hidden features and tricks" With exception of the two service menus, it is all right there in the owner's manual.
95.3%
who reads those!
Half of these are functions on almost every vehicle since the late 90's, service menus, remote window control etc.
People don't read manuals and like to know how things work which is why this is one of my most SUB'd to videos with over 2000 people clicking subscribe from this 1 video alone
I hate when EVERYONE begs for comments, thumbs up, please please subscribe and so on! PLEASE "youtubers" remember that those who really like your content subscribe and do those things WITHOUT you asking every f* minute!
Instructions unclear. I was holding the idrive for 10 seconds then 3 to the right, 2 to the left, 4 to the right light punch, heavy punch, block, block and i accidently initiated a finishing move to the prius infront of me.
Why was the car in drive when you did this?
@@NicolasRaimo i don't know but it appears i have won the round and need to fight a tesla now.
What I said doesn’t put car in drive, you’d also of needed to put your foot in the break to engage drive meaning you also let your foot off the break
None of those are actually an eastereggs... Service menu is definitely not one of those.
Sooo... where are the easter eggs??
Hey buddy, you should slow down a bit. Not everyone is smart as you. It's quiet difficult to understand what you are explaining. Thanks
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