[bobby@twobeans.ie]

Hi,

I am new to the forum and thanks for having me. Long time BMW user, e34, e39, f11 and now very happy owner of 530e. Just purchased a 2019 model:

- BMW 53SE JA92 4DR AUTO
- VIN: WBAJA92040BV21923
- Reg. Date: 16/07/2019

I asked the dealer before trying it out if its a 12 kWh battery as its the only one I wanted. They confirmed it was. Mine doesn't have iDrive 7, but iDrive 6 and I am OK with that. However, I cannot figure out if I actually have 12 kWh battery or is it 9.2 kWh. My battery fully charged shows ~32km range. I am in Max drive by default as most of my trips during the week are very short and that was whole idea of getting a PHEV, drive it mostly as an EV...

The other day, being light footed, I got ~30 km from a full battery in all city driving with very little hills. I am very confused and beside going heads up with the dealer and requesting an 'official spec/conformation' I am not sure how to find out if I was sold what I was told. All indication that mid/late 2019 models have 12 kWh battery, but I really expected full charge to show more...

My car has both eDrive badges and some are saying that is the indication, but others conflict that. My worry is that some data say that only cars from August are 12kWh battery so my being regd July could be 9.2 kWh.

Attached current state after 2 trips to our shop today ~10km and battery was showing 31km range before we took off this morning.

Is there any other way to figure capacity of my battery please?

PS. Bought one VIN report, but nothing therein to indicate it, but it was worth it as it shows the car was well looked after and serviced twice a year!

Thanks so much in advance,
Bobby

[DanG]

From what I can read you have the 9.2 kwh battery. The battery didn’t increase to 12 kwh until the 2020 model year.

[bobby@twobeans.ie]

Thanks, however all reviews and indications are that 12 kWh battery is introduced from mid/late 2019:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/5-...vised-for-2019

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/ele...has-more-range

[DanG]

Originally Posted by bobby@twobeans.ie

Thanks, however all reviews and indications are that 12 kWh battery is introduced from mid/late 2019:

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/5-...vised-for-2019

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/ele...has-more-range

Top Gear talks about the 2020 model which started production in August 2019.

[bobby@twobeans.ie]

OK makes sense. TY. Any idea of how I could actually find out the specs of the car and battery, other than confronting the dealer? She clearly confirms its a 12kWh battery in the email chain, before we tested the car. Not sure if I have any comeback on it, but I certainly didn't want nor would I have ever gone for 9.2 kWh battery.

[DanG]

Originally Posted by bobby@twobeans.ie

OK makes sense. TY. Any idea of how I could actually find out the specs of the car and battery, other than confronting the dealer? She clearly confirms its a 12kWh battery in the email chain, before we tested the car. Not sure if I have any comeback on it, but I certainly didn't want nor would I have ever gone for 9.2 kWh battery.

Ran a vin decoder and it says you have option SA090 90 AH AGM Battery

Here is the link: https://www.mdecoder.com/decode/wbaja92040bv21923

P.S. Your BMW has an 11/2018 build date.

[bobby@twobeans.ie]

Many Thanks DanG.

It all make sense now, albeit 90 AH refers to my small battery, but the production date says it all.

In your opinion, considering we have the car for few days only and the fact they told us its 12kWh battery, am I entitled to refund, exchange, is my complaint legitimate?

[DanG]

Originally Posted by bobby@twobeans.ie

Many Thanks DanG.

It all make sense now, albeit 90 AH refers to my small battery, but the production date says it all.

In your opinion, considering we have the car for few days only and the fact they told us its 12kWh battery, am I entitled to refund, exchange, is my complaint legitimate?

Not sure what the laws are in Ireland but I would talk to the dealer and see what they will do for you.

[U11sirgawain]

Originally Posted by bobby@twobeans.ie

In your opinion, considering we have the car for few days only and the fact they told us its 12kWh battery, am I entitled to refund, exchange, is my complaint legitimate?

In my view, their written statement (reply) to a very specific question in the purchase process, is fully binding. Contract is void, as based on false statement, and you are entitled to full refund, unless another agreement is reached.
Nevertheless, this is very country specific, so you better consult a native lawyer.

[bobby@twobeans.ie]

Originally Posted by U11sirgawain

In my view, their written statement (reply) to a very specific question in the purchase process, is fully binding. Contract is void, as based on false statement, and you are entitled to full refund, unless another agreement is reached.
Nevertheless, this is very country specific, so you better consult a native lawyer.

Thanks so much.

[U11sirgawain]

Originally Posted by bobby@twobeans.ie

Thanks so much.

Theoretically, you could demand a good (car) with same specs and condition (including big battery OFC) , or refund plus compensation plus court derived legal fees. But as said, you need local advice, as certain courts have certain bias.

[U11sirgawain]

I have checked online BMW ETK with your VIN at https://www.bmw-etk.info/cat%C3%A1lo...23/61/61_5043/

Nevertheless, it lists 2 different modules: 26Ah, or 34 Ah (post 07/2020) without getting filtered which one is the one native to your VIN


Edited to add:
I have learned through a Spain BMW forum https://www.bmwfaq.org/threads/historial-de-carga.1045229/&share_tid=1045229&share_fid=16506&share_type=t&li nk_source=app
(You can Google translate) that you can access the charging history online through connected drive/car data.

Edit 2 to add a tutorial https://www.bmwfaq.org/threads/peque...ink_source=app

[capese21]

Your VIN shows a production date of 29th November 2018. Mine is a 9.2 and I get the same battery range as you.

[bobby@twobeans.ie]

Originally Posted by capese21

Your VIN shows a production date of 29th November 2018. Mine is a 9.2 and I get the same battery range as you.

Thank you. It's unfortunate, as we absolutely love the car. It's giving us exactly what we wanted as most of our trips are short. Only have it short time and our EV range is 99% of total mileage.

Does anyone know if 12kWh battery has that much more actual range, (not manufacturer figure, but real)? I read its only ~40/42km, which means that only gives us ~ 10km extra, thus wondering if it's worth a hassle fighting the dealer? Coincidently, (and rightly so), they have admitted the mistake and offered full refund or to keep the car until they source suitable 530e with 12kWh battery, (undoubtedly more expensive as it will have to be 2020 model, (in production from July 2019).

The car is incredible shape for a 4 year old, barely a wrap taken off it with only 65k km on it. Great 2 year warranty, 2 year service + we got 3 year cosmetic insurance. The thought of giving away a great car with a great piece of mind for the sake of 10km range and having to look for another one, gives me instant headache.. if its 20km difference, that might swing me as it would require less charge, etc.

Is it worth keeping it and perhaps look for some composition?

[DanG]

I would keep it and look for some refund from the dealer.

[U11sirgawain]

Life is about choices, and this seems to be a hard one!
If your use has been 99% electric, then clearly suits your needs.
However...if your daily use takes all battery juice, this might bite battery life harder than if 12Kwh one.
You can get a refund, but that will get you back to start line, with no assurances of finding a better vehicle for your money.
To add more questions than answers, is your current battery interchangeable with the bigger one?

I would keep vehicle, as seems it was quite a good deal, even if not as good as initially expected, and try to get a fair compensation for being mislead, knowing that if you overdemand, they will go for a void sale with refund.

[JaRoGonz]

Originally Posted by bobby@twobeans.ie

Thank you. It's unfortunate, as we absolutely love the car. It's giving us exactly what we wanted as most of our trips are short. Only have it short time and our EV range is 99% of total mileage.

Does anyone know if 12kWh battery has that much more actual range (not manufacturer figure, but real)? I read its only ~40/42km, which means that only gives us ~ 10km extra, thus wondering if it's worth a hassle fighting the dealer? Coincidently, incredible shape for a 4 year old, barely a wrap taken off it with only 65k km on it. Great 2 year warranty, 2 year service + we got 3 year cosmetic insurance. The thought of giving away a great car with a great piece of mind for the sake of 10km range and having to look for another one, gives me instant headache.. if its 20km difference, that might swing me as it would require less charge, etc.

Is it worth keeping it and perhaps look for some composition?

I was about to reply something like that.

I live in CA. The prices of the gas are going crazy here since COVID. I got a 9.2 according to the topic, mine was produced maybe in 2017. Is a 2018 model, I tried many different cars and trust me. For the power of that engine, the quality of the gas that you need to put into the gas tank (premium gas) that car get 38 miles per gallon easily in a daily basis like your escenario which is full electric for mostly all days (short trips) and hybrid for long trips. That car is amazing, you can keep that car, is fine, is super efficient and is not going to make a huge difference.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by bobby@twobeans.ie

Thank you. It's unfortunate, as we absolutely love the car. It's giving us exactly what we wanted as most of our trips are short. Only have it short time and our EV range is 99% of total mileage.

Does anyone know if 12kWh battery has that much more actual range, (not manufacturer figure, but real)? I read its only ~40/42km, which means that only gives us ~ 10km extra, thus wondering if it's worth a hassle fighting the dealer? Coincidently, (and rightly so), they have admitted the mistake and offered full refund or to keep the car until they source suitable 530e with 12kWh battery, (undoubtedly more expensive as it will have to be 2020 model, (in production from July 2019).

The car is incredible shape for a 4 year old, barely a wrap taken off it with only 65k km on it. Great 2 year warranty, 2 year service + we got 3 year cosmetic insurance. The thought of giving away a great car with a great piece of mind for the sake of 10km range and having to look for another one, gives me instant headache.. if its 20km difference, that might swing me as it would require less charge, etc.

Is it worth keeping it and perhaps look for some composition?

Sometimes there are tough roads without cut and dry "best thing to do" guidelines.

The 12kWh battery only starts with MY2020 so you'll end up shifting to the iDrive 7 "lite" reality and the challenges it has. If you convinced them to give you the actual LCI MY2021+ you might lose out on options your car has as BMW stopped allowing a lot of options on the LCI.

It reminds me of the fiasco I went through with MY2020 as an early buyer of that MY. At some point when I was frustrated my wife asked me "if they gave you the MY2021 with the missing features would you want it?" and my answer was "No, I can't get everything we have". So I accepted it.

You might have to do the same.

[bobby@twobeans.ie]

Thanks to All again.

It's been almost 3 weeks now and I have to say we are very happy with it. 330km clocked in and of it 302km pure EV. Only one long(ish) trip, both ways ~100km and while the ICE kicked in few times on the motorway, the battery has powered most of the journey, (plugged in and recharged after first leg of the journey).

The most amazing discovery is that, and that's perhaps the battery learning, we get over 30km when fully charged. I saw first one displaying, 32km last week, the other day 33km and yesterday, when charged at forest park, it was 35km... this morning again showing 35km. (I know that's not necessarily range indicator, but!)

Still trying to figure best mode, but I think AUTO and comfort, (better regenerative braking in comfort), appear to be a winner.

Quick question pls: is battery mode the only way to charge while ICE is on or will it do it in AUTO mode as well?

Thanks, Bobby