[drhollowar]

Started last night, tried to plug in for the evening and get back to 80%. Looks like trip to the dealership tomorrow morning. Not even 1000 miles on it yet.

[RichardInCA]

Hopefully an easy fix

[deutsch100]

I am a little confused. It did not charge, or your car is saying Charge port flap open?

If just saying charge port flap open...did you try driving a short distance, locking the car and then coming back in about 15 mins?

Are you new to BMW or German cars??? Random and false error messages are COMMON to all German cars. 99% of the time they clear and do not return. I have never had to take my iX, i5, i5 or i7 to the dealer for messages like this. They clear on their own after locking and waiting!

[drhollowar]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

I am a little confused. It did not charge, or your car is saying Charge port flap open?

If just saying charge port flap open...did you try driving a short distance, locking the car and then coming back in about 15 mins?

Are you new to BMW or German cars??? Random and false error messages are COMMON to all German cars. 99% of the time they clear and do not return. I have never had to take my iX, i5, i5 or i7 to the dealer for messages like this. They clear on their own after locking and waiting!

Thanks for the insight. 3rd BMW and used to the “false positive”. This is different. The charge door is actually locked, therefore i cannot charge the car.

Ironically the status shows the flap is open and I need to close. Which of course I cannot as it’s locked.

Started last night. 2 trip and the message is still there. Reset the OS, the other fob, nada. Message still shows and door is still locked.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by drhollowar

Thanks for the insight. 3rd BMW and used to the “false positive”. This is different. The charge door is actually locked, therefore i cannot charge the car.

Ironically the status shows the flap is open and I need to close. Which of course I cannot as it’s locked.

Started last night. 2 trip and the message is still there. Reset the OS, the other fob, nada. Message still shows and door is still locked.

So sorry. Last week, my charge flap would not open. After trying lock/unlock commands via the app, using the physical key and even the door lock buttons inside the car....after many, many cycles of doing this...the charge flap unlocked and it has been fine ever since.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Did you try manually opening the flap (via the manual instructions)? Maybe this will clear the problem and no dealer visit needed?

[drhollowar]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

So sorry. Last week, my charge flap would not open. After trying lock/unlock commands via the app, using the physical key and even the door lock buttons inside the car....after many, many cycles of doing this...the charge flap unlocked and it has been fine ever since.

Good luck and keep us posted.
Did you try manually opening the flap (via the manual instructions)? Maybe this will clear the problem and no dealer visit needed?

Thank you! Not able to find the manual release instructions in the manual or online. If you have them handle, please pass that along.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by drhollowar

Thank you! Not able to find the manual release instructions in the manual or online. If you have them handle, please pass that along.

It seems the i4 and i5 do not have a manual release, like the PHEV (past models) did. I am so sorry. Looking at i4 owner forums, this has happened to the i4 too, and it involved having to have the charge port door assembly replaced.

[RichardInCA]

We can’t post links to other forums but over on i5talk this user was able to get a solution with his dealer in a few days

[drhollowar]

******Update after dealer appointment*****

Well, the dealer received permission from BMW to break it open. Words from my SA, if BMW pries it open it’s covered. If you attempt, not covered.

SA said it was a well documented issue. Replacement part has been developed and apparently and improved design, still no manual release however. Thought the part was in Dallas (living in Houston). Unfortuanaty, it’s coming from Germany with an eta of 10-14 days. Ugh…. Nice accessory on my I5!!

[Theophilus]

The same thing happened with my 23 i7. The charging flap would not open and I almost had to get it towed home. Thankfully, I took it to the dealer, and after a week, they received the parts and performed the install.

[MrDit]

I would not be too keen on driving around like that. Any chance they could have given you a loner until the parts arrive and the situation is corrected??

[SkykingUSA]

My dealership told me that since the cars are relatively new, all the parts come from Germany, so we can always expect about a 2 week wait for any parts. That's what it took when they ordered the iDrive controller for my car - about two weeks to arrive, then they installed it in half a day.

I suppose there may be a more abundant supply of parts locally after a few more months or so, but who knows? I suppose it depends on how many get sold and how many are coming in for repairs.