[taybo20]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

It does sometimes. Suddenly the estimated charge time doubles.

I have had it a couple of times past year. Alway in my own garage.

My default is 10 A. When plugging in to a public charger it automatically switches to 16 A and goes back to 10 A after unplugging. The car can change it.

Yeah never seen it happen for me. I believe last I set it was to 10A but it always sets itself to 16A when I plug in my level 2 charger

[jad03060]

Level 1 and 2 may have individual limits.

[taybo20]

Originally Posted by jad03060

Level 1 and 2 may have individual limits.

The only time it kicks down is nearing full charge which makes sense

[jad03060]

Originally Posted by taybo20

The only time it kicks down is nearing full charge which makes sense

The iDrive charging rate menu is a maximum for the whole charge.

The vehicle will drop the max rate it pulls based on how full the batteries are, and how hot they are, but that is a different action than setting the maximum charging rate.

Otherwise, if the EVSE announces it has a certain amount, the vehicle will never try to pull more than that, so the 10A one BMW supplies, even if the menu is set to 16A, still won't try to use more than what the EVSE says it can supply. Even if it was capable of sending 50A to the vehicle, our X5 45e in its current state won't try to pull more than 16A, but could reduce that if the menu was set lower.

In the USA, using the level 1 device supplied, or any other level 1 device you might buy, is less efficient than using a level 2 device, as the onboard charging power supply is less efficient making the high DC volts required to charge the batteries using 120vac versus 240vac. It would probably save you $0.10-0.20 per charge cycle, depending on what your local power rates are. Mine are about $0.20/Kw. level 1 charging is in the order of 6-10% less efficient than level 2.

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by taybo20

Yeah never seen it happen for me. I believe last I set it was to 10A but it always sets itself to 16A when I plug in my level 2 charger

You only have it for a couple of weeks and I have been driving it for one year now. It doesn't happen on monthly base. And I think it doesn't happen on the level 2 charger.

I had the 11/2020 update that should have taken care of the problem. It didn't see it since the update was done. Might be to soon. Or maybe they did take care of it.

[biterror]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

You only have it for a couple of weeks and I have been driving it for one year now. It doesn't happen on monthly base. And I think it doesn't happen on the level 2 charger.

It happens more than once per month on mine, even though I don't drive every day.

[taybo20]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

You only have it for a couple of weeks and I have been driving it for one year now. It doesn't happen on monthly base. And I think it doesn't happen on the level 2 charger.

I had the 11/2020 update that should have taken care of the problem. It didn't see it since the update was done. Might be to soon. Or maybe they did take care of it.

That would explain why I never saw it either as mine came with 11/2020 update.

[X5 45e]

I think it just happened again. More than 6 hours for the last 30% charge. I will check in the car tomorrow morning.

[taybo20]

Then one issue I have had is that I had a full discharge from driving. When I plugged in, it stopped charging around 94%. I had to disconnect and reconnect the charger to get the last 6%

[nZtiZia]

Originally Posted by taybo20

Then one issue I have had is that I had a full discharge from driving. When I plugged in, it stopped charging around 94%. I had to disconnect and reconnect the charger to get the last 6%

interesting, after my first full discharge, it stopped charging @ 84%. disconnected then reconnected to finish the charge, too.

[taybo20]

Originally Posted by nZtiZia

interesting, after my first full discharge, it stopped charging @ 84%. disconnected then reconnected to finish the charge, too.

I discharged again today. Gonna see what happens overnight as it charges

[drceo]

I took delivery of my Vehicle in December. Most of the time, it charges at 15A but after a few times, it goes to 6A for no good reason. I can change it back to 16A while it's charging and it'll change to 15A right away. Is this a software glitch or a hardware issue?

[jad03060]

Originally Posted by drceo

I took delivery of my Vehicle in December. Most of the time, it charges at 15A but after a few times, it goes to 6A for no good reason. I can change it back to 16A while it's charging and it'll change to 15A right away. Is this a software glitch or a hardware issue?

Software glitch.

The X5's maximum charge rate is 16A. The EVSE sends a pilot signal out that tells the vehicle how much current it is allowed to draw. Unless the software in the vehicle is restricting it, it will pull the maximum allowed.

Exactly why the vehicle sometimes drops the maximum charging rate down, I'm not sure anyone has figured that out and apparently, not even BMW, as it has been in several software builds. Not sure if the latest one for November 2020 fixed it or not...I'm on the July update.

[magnetic1]

Just got ours. No issues yet with the rate changing but omg 16A is SO slow. Hopefully they unlock it to normal Level2 charge rates in future.

[X5 45e]

Got a wall charger now. Much faster. It fully charges from empty from 7 pm to 5 am. Before it took 10 hours.

[volodp]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

Got a wall charger now. Much faster. It fully charges from empty from 7 pm to 5 am. Before it took 10 hours.

Wow, 7PM to 5AM sounds much shorter than 10 hours! 😉

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by volodp

Wow, 7PM to 5AM sounds much shorter than 10 hours! 😉

Busted.

[jad03060]

Originally Posted by magnetic1

Just got ours. No issues yet with the rate changing but omg 16A is SO slow. Hopefully they unlock it to normal Level2 charge rates in future.

The charging is actually done in the vehicle...the EVSE is a fancy on/off device with some safety features built in. There is no unlock more recharging speed available in the X5 unless they replace or add a bigger module. The maximum current it can handle is 16A, or 3700W, which, takes a level 2 device with a 16A or greater capacity with the input voltage at least 233vac. Anything less will charge slower. Anything more won't hurt, but won't help.

The supplied device is 10A, and in the USA , is designed to plug into any 15 or 20A receptacle. They chose 10A to help prevent the common circuit breaker in a garage from tripping should you decide to close your garage door and the motor overloaded the circuit. The largest it could use on a 15A circuit is limited by the electrical code to 80% of the max, or 12A (16A on a 20A circuit).

Most any level 2 EVSE should be able to charge the vehicle overnight easily. A level one, probably not. If you don't ensure the X5 menu is set to 16A, it doesn't matter, it won't pull maximum current and therefore, limit the power going into the batteries.

The only reason to drop the menu level is if the EVSE has to share its power with something else, and you need to prevent it from overloading the external circuit.

[magnetic1]

Originally Posted by jad03060

The charging is actually done in the vehicle...the EVSE is a fancy on/off device with some safety features built in. There is no unlock more recharging speed available in the X5 unless they replace or add a bigger module. The maximum current it can handle is 16A, or 3700W, which, takes a level 2 device with a 16A or greater capacity with the input voltage at least 233vac. Anything less will charge slower. Anything more won't hurt, but won't help.

The supplied device is 10A, and in the USA , is designed to plug into any 15 or 20A receptacle. They chose 10A to help prevent the common circuit breaker in a garage from tripping should you decide to close your garage door and the motor overloaded the circuit. The largest it could use on a 15A circuit is limited by the electrical code to 80% of the max, or 12A (16A on a 20A circuit).

Most any level 2 EVSE should be able to charge the vehicle overnight easily. A level one, probably not. If you don't ensure the X5 menu is set to 16A, it doesn't matter, it won't pull maximum current and therefore, limit the power going into the batteries.

The only reason to drop the menu level is if the EVSE has to share its power with something else, and you need to prevent it from overloading the external circuit.

I know how an EVSE works but the capped rate of 3.7kw is super slow. You can't even go shopping for a couple hours and get a full charge. Most PHEV vehicles on the market now can charge at a faster rate.

Not sure why BMW decided this was the rate they wanted. It isn't like battery tech can't handle it.

[jad03060]

Originally Posted by magnetic1

Not sure why BMW decided this was the rate they wanted. It isn't like battery tech can't handle it.

Don't know for sure, but size, weight and cooling requirements against the fact this is a PHEV versus a BEV and the engine will keep you going regardless must play into it somehow.

They certainly do have vehicles with faster charging rates, but they're all BEVs. The i3, for example, uses essentially two of those modules. Not sure about their x3 BEV, as they chose not to sell it here, and it'll be another year or so before their next i-car will show up.

[drceo]

Originally Posted by jad03060

Software glitch.

The X5's maximum charge rate is 16A. The EVSE sends a pilot signal out that tells the vehicle how much current it is allowed to draw. Unless the software in the vehicle is restricting it, it will pull the maximum allowed.

Exactly why the vehicle sometimes drops the maximum charging rate down, I'm not sure anyone has figured that out and apparently, not even BMW, as it has been in several software builds. Not sure if the latest one for November 2020 fixed it or not...I'm on the July update.

This was a very helpful response. Thanks so much!!!

I checked my car and it says: 07/2020.54

That's very surprising considering that I got the vehicle delivered in December 2020.

When I tried to do a software update, it tells me that no new one is available. Should I take this in to the service centre to have them update it?

Thank you again for the help!

[jad03060]

Originally Posted by drceo

That's very surprising considering that I got the vehicle delivered in December 2020.

When I tried to do a software update, it tells me that no new one is available. Should I take this in to the service centre to have them update it?

Thank you again for the help!

The physical hardware in the vehicle is what limits the charging rate, so new firmware won't make a difference.

New firmware fixes bugs, adds enhancements, and probably other things as well. It seems nobody but BMW knows when they update any specific vehicle. If you have an issue, and you're at the dealership, they may update the vehicle while it's in for service, but generally, unless there's something that isn't working right for you, there's no reason to just go in to update it.

I have the laser headlight option, and am hoping that BMW chooses to update them to their fullest capabilities sometime down the road. If it doesn't happen in say the next six months or so, I may pay someone to do that for me, as BMW won't until it's officially legal and released for the USA, if ever, for older vehicles.