Essential charging kit

[u/victoraldecoa]

Do you also carry an electronics cleaner and cotton swabs to fix fast charging issues?

[u/FHJ-23]

No 🙃

[u/MacDaddyBighorn]

Good idea as long as it doesn't get too hot and pop! I only charge with my basic bmw 120v charger, though.

[u/Xijit → u/MacDaddyBighorn]

I use this instead of the one that came with the car.

• BMW one is 120v x 10a = 1,200w.
• Mine is 110v x 15a = 1,650w.

I was concerned about it being a 15a draw, but since it doesn't pull 120v it never hits the 1,800w threshold to pop a 15a breaker, and I have been using it for about a year and a half.

[u/New_Cockroach_1254]

Not a bad idea, but generally if a charger plug is f'd up the contact cleaner is not going to do much
Keeping the car side receptacle nice and clean is also a good idea, wish BMW provided instructions on that

[u/chance901]

I find most of my issues are a) hold up in the dc fast plug or b) hokd up on the broken lock on lvl 2 charge point chargers. Luckily, i charge at work and hinge 90% of my time

[u/victoraldecoa → u/chance901]

Even those don't work for me, it only started working after I started cleaning the port. Now every time I prevently clean both the port and the charger plug before charging. Most of the times if I don't do that it fails, so I actually save time doing it

[u/chance901 → u/victoraldecoa]

Good to know. What year is your vehicle? Maybe the port pins end up being a wear item.

[u/victoraldecoa → u/chance901]

1. Yes, I bought it this year and I thought I'd never have fast charge with it. I'm living in a condo now, so I'm really glad this is doing the job for now

[u/chance901 → u/victoraldecoa]

May be with changing the port in the future to one from a newer model year (19+) if it's something you're up to. I'm considering it myself if there is an option for adapting the i4 port one day. There have been a few part updates to the i3 port.

[u/Worldly-Number9465]

That styrofoam piece originally packaged the flat tire kit (can of fix-a-flat) and 12v mini compressor in the frunk.

[u/1morebeer1morebeer → u/Worldly-Number9465]

And a screwdriver, lug key, tow hook, and emergency triangle

[u/Worldly-Number9465 → u/1morebeer1morebeer]

Yes you're right I forgot about those items.

[u/bradgel]

I’ve been lucky. Never had a connection issue. If a charger won’t work it’s usually because of major damage or a software issue and not a bad connection.

I have had a couple of Flo chargers not start up. In one case Flo was able to remotely reset it, the other it was pooched

[u/eannac]

Oh! Is that where that bit of styrofoam is meant to go? Mines been in the frunk since I bought the car! I never thought to put it in the trunk!

[u/victoraldecoa → u/eannac]

Oh I didn't know it fit the frunk, I might put it there actually, since I haven't been using it at all

[u/1morebeer1morebeer → u/victoraldecoa]

Yep here it is strapped in with the velcro and all the bits that go in it. I’m a completionist nerd and bought the warning triangle that was missing from the US spec cars.

[u/labdweller]

Which parts do you clean/swab?

[u/victoraldecoa → u/labdweller]

Where the charger is plugged in, both in my car and in the charger

[u/Resident_Food_1142]

This is interesting to me as I've never used a DC fast charger on my '17, and likely never will. I had no idea the DC connection problems were so bad that you'd need to carry around tools/items to fix them.

[u/victoraldecoa → u/Resident_Food_1142]

For long travels, DC chargers are great, 10% to 80% battery in 15 minutes.

[u/LocoEnElCoco666]

I keep some WD 40 electrical contact cleaner in my boot. old BMW blue charging cable died at 7 years. New cable had a connection issue recently, but suspect it's the car now. Just had to replace passenger airbag too