[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by nikhilabburi

The check engine light came on again, and this time I got a drivetrain malfunction. I dropped the car off at the dealership today, and I'm waiting to hear what the issue is.

I'm so over BMW. I regret buying the same car twice. I don't even like this car anymore because we're always taking it to the dealership for repairs.

Understandable but hopefully they are able to fix it and you don't have any more problems in the future. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

[SteVTEC]

Unfortunately, if a part and/or system requires a fundamental redesign and isn't just a quick fix running change to an existing part or system, automotive industry lead times apply of 18 months or more. I'm guessing BMW understands the issue and has a redesigned part or parts NOW, but that's just how long it takes to get new parts into production, tested and validated, and then into factory produced vehicles. They might be able to do it sooner in some cases. Eventually they will get these issues resolved, and the 50e will be great vehicles, but don't think MY25's will be the year for it.

[Amnile]

2024 X% 50e. Built 9/23/23 delivered 9/30/23 currently 3000 miles.
Issues
1. Excessive cabin noise driving in Houston with stretches of concrete roads. After a protracted email exchange with BMWNA vibration dampeners installed with dealer absorbing labor costs and BMWNA paying for parts. Marginal improvements on some roads but car is still annoyingly too noisy.
2. CEL on 4/15/24 with 21F120 internal clock malfunction and 0355cd waste gas valve supposedly fixed by software update later than 24-3-500.
3. CEL returned on 4/30/24 back to dealer next Tuesday.
Disappointed considering price paid. Would definitely not recommend to others.
Based on other posts I am inclined to believe BMW engineering needs to go back to the drawing board.

[Money Pit]

This car is a Lemmon and we need to unite in a class action lawsuit

[krypttic]

Originally Posted by Money Pit

This car is a Lemmon and we need to unite in a class action lawsuit

If BMW or the dealer are already wiling to make you whole, then what is the point of a lawsuit??

[shed]

My 2c fwiw. The complexity of such a vehicle just makes it really tough.

I suspect that the mechanical engineers have ruled the roost at BMW, but now software and electrical play such a huge part in a 50e that making it all work together into a seamless and ultra reliable integrated machine is just exceptionally tough both culturally and practically.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by shed

My 2c fwiw. The complexity of such a vehicle just makes it really tough.

I suspect that the mechanical engineers have ruled the roost at BMW, but now software and electrical play such a huge part in a 50e that making it all work together into a seamless and ultra reliable integrated machine is just exceptionally tough both culturally and practically.

Except the 45e does not have these problems so I think that rules out the cultural aspect of it. Since there are a few main issues it is tough to pin the root cause(s) down. They are readily swapping out hardware but that doesn't seem to solve the problem in all cases which would point to software. However, if it was software then it would seem that all, or at least a very high percentage, of vehicles would be affected. Since they are not, then it would point to hardware. See where that is leading to? I have to think that eventually they will track down and solve all of the issues, when thought still seems to be up in the air. I'm hoping that the supply issues they were having had to do with manufacturing parts that will prevent the issue but there is absolutely nothing pointing to that being the case.

[nparker13]

Joined before I purchased.
Driver assist pro recall affected me (couldn’t use for a few weeks after delivery)

CarPlay issues connecting fixed with software update

Now GPS shows I’m in the Atlantic.

So far all software based and they’ve patched.

[SteVTEC]

Originally Posted by shed

My 2c fwiw. The complexity of such a vehicle just makes it really tough.

I suspect that the mechanical engineers have ruled the roost at BMW, but now software and electrical play such a huge part in a 50e that making it all work together into a seamless and ultra reliable integrated machine is just exceptionally tough both culturally and practically.

I think dealing with batteries and electric motors just isn't a core competence of BMW yet, and that they're learning on the fly. If you want a seamless and ultra reliable vehicle of this nature, you're shopping the wrong brand and should be looking at Toyota's IMHO, as this is a core competence of Toyota.

Not sure what happened here, but maybe Team A wasn't talking to Team B as much as they should have, or technical program managers had beef (or one slept with the other's wife or something, lol ), or wrong assumptions were made somewhere, or some staff were idiots, or data collected for thermal management was inaccurate for some reason, which screwed up the entire cooling system budget leading to whatever the heck is happening.

So the 45e came out in MY2021? And 50e in MY2024?

Based on automotive industry lead-times, that means the 45e design would have been locked down and queuing for production before COVID. It's entirely possible that lockdowns and other stuff messed up the development and testing of the 50e update so much that it just wasn't possible to test as thoroughly as they should have, thus leading to all of these issues. I don't work in automotive, but I do work in electronics and have seen stuff like this. So covid massively disrupting test and development schedules is what I'll go with here, as the most likely explanation for the 50e's woes.

[stephenatx]

I purchased my 50e last September and started having issues in October. I've had two CEL issues. Both times the shut off valve for the high volt battery was replaced. Three times I've had the curved screen go black and wouldn't turn on. I've had software updates multiple times. Last Friday I had the drivetrain malfunction issue. I went directly to the dealership for all of these issues to drop my car off for service. I'm still waiting to hear how long the current repair will take

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by stephenatx

I purchased my 50e last September and started having issues in October. I've had two CEL issues. Both times the shut off valve for the high volt battery was replaced. Three times I've had the curved screen go black and wouldn't turn on. I've had software updates multiple times. Last Friday I had the drivetrain malfunction issue. I went directly to the dealership for all of these issues to drop my car off for service. I'm still waiting to hear how long the current repair will take

Good luck, hopefully it is a quick and simple fix. I'm betting they will update your software and call it good for now.

[krypttic]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Good luck, hopefully it is a quick and simple fix. I'm betting they will update your software and call it good for now.

My bet is that they'll replace the SME. Let's take odds!

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by krypttic

My bet is that they'll replace the SME. Let's take odds!

I have 2 to 1 that they will first do a software update.

[stephenatx]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I have 2 to 1 that they will first do a software update.

My last software update was around Dec. Not sure if there are any more since that time. Also the CEL came on driving to the dealership in addition to the yellow wrench. I'm not sure if the CEL was related to the drivetrain issue or if that's the other CEL issue in addition to the drivetrain. Definitely anxious to get an update from the service dept.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by stephenatx

My last software update was around Dec. Not sure if there are any more since that time. Also the CEL came on driving to the dealership in addition to the yellow wrench. I'm not sure if the CEL was related to the drivetrain issue or if that's the other CEL issue in addition to the drivetrain. Definitely anxious to get an update from the service dept.

There has been one major version and many minor versions since then.

[Aussiejem]

Question is, how does the 50e differ in system design to the 45e? Was the 50e basically a 'beefed up' version of the 45e or do they have inherently different design elements?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Aussiejem

Question is, how does the 50e differ in system design to the 45e? Was the 50e basically a 'beefed up' version of the 45e or do they have inherently different design elements?

I guess to that question you would have to say they are basically the same or maybe totally different. It is a difference in operating system, EV motor, battery and associated parts.

[ILv2Xlr8]

- Joined years ago with my first Bimmer
- Took delivery of 50e last August
- Issues with iDrive/iPhone integration, some fixed with new software updates
- 9500mi oil change, and passenger knee air bag recall at dealer
- oil level above maximum error after oil change and had to bring it back, dealer stated tight spec and low tolerance with oil guns

No other issues, only quirks
- leaving anyone in back seat after leaving car will cause alarm to go off
- no way to break out the actual engine miles or mpg

[stephenatx]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I have 2 to 1 that they will first do a software update.

The update I received today:
Service dept opened a case with BMWs technical dept and they advised to lower the transmission to inspect the wiring. Parts were ordered to complete this and will take a couple days for parts to arrive

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by stephenatx

The update I received today:
Service dept opened a case with BMWs technical dept and they advised to lower the transmission to inspect the wiring. Parts were ordered to complete this and will take a couple days for parts to arrive

Very good, glad I was not correct.

[Aussiejem]

Different but the same sounds about right. Just thought the transmission/e-motor combo is the same on both generations, hence the basic engineering achieved. I thought that the system was merely bolstered using same tech?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by Aussiejem

Different but the same sounds about right. Just thought the transmission/e-motor combo is the same on both generations, hence the basic engineering achieved. I thought that the system was merely bolstered using same tech?

I would assume it is the same technology just different to make the motor stronger, batteries hold more charge, etc.