Get MOBILITY -> Care Guide for BMW I3 4 Door First Generation (2013-2022)

Care

MOBILITY

Care

Vehicle features and options

NOTICE

When washing, water can get into the open

charging socket. There is a risk of damage to

property, among other potential damage. Close

the charging socket flap while washing.

This chapter describes all standard, country-spe‐

cific and optional features offered with the series.

It also describes features and functions that are

not necessarily available in your vehicle, e.g., due

to the selected options or country versions. This

also applies to safety-related functions and sys‐

tems. When using these functions and systems,

the applicable laws and regulations must be ob‐

served.

Steam blaster and high-pressure

washer

Safety information

Washing the vehicle

NOTICE

When cleaning with high-pressure washers,

components can be damaged due to the pres‐

sure or temperatures being too high. There is a

risk of damage to property, among other poten‐

tial damage. Maintain sufficient distance and do

not spray too long continuously. Follow the op‐

erating instructions for the high-pressure

washer.

General information

Regularly remove foreign objects such as leaves

in the area below the windshield when the hood

is raised.

Wash your vehicle frequently, particularly in win‐

ter. Intense soiling and road salt can damage the

vehicle.

Safety information

Distances and temperature

▷ Maximum temperature: 140 ℉/60 ℃.

Warning

▷ Minimum distance from sensors, cameras,

seals: 12 inches/30 cm.

Contact with live components can lead to an

electric shock. High voltage is present at the

charging connection. There is a risk of injury or

danger to life.

▷ Minimum distance from the charging socket

flap: 31.5 in/80 cm.

Have work on the charging connection, for in‐

stance cleaning, performed by an authorized

BMW i dealer's service center or another quali‐

fied service center or repair shop.

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Driving into a car wash

Automatic washing systems or car

washes

Safety information

NOTICE

Selector lever position P is automatically en‐

gaged when standby state is switched off.

There is a risk of damage to property, among

other potential damage. Do not switch standby

state off in car washes.

NOTICE

Using a car wash with high pressure washers

may result in water penetration of window

areas. There is a risk of damage to property,

among other potential damage. Do not drive

into high-pressure car wash systems.

General information

In a car wash, the vehicle must be able to roll

freely.

NOTICE

Improper use of automatic washing systems or

car washes can cause damage to the vehicle.

There is a risk of damage to property, among

other potential damage. Follow the following in‐

structions:

To roll or push the vehicle, refer to page 99.

Some car washes do not permit persons in the

vehicle. The vehicle cannot be locked from the

outside when in selector lever position N. A sig‐

nal sounds when an attempt is made to lock the

vehicle.

▷ Give preference to cloth car washes or

those that use soft brushes in order to

avoid paint damage.

Driving out of a car wash

Ensure that the vehicle key is in the car.

▷ Do not drive through a car wash with

guide rails higher than 4 in/10 cm to avoid

damage to the chassis.

Activate drive-ready state. For activating drive-

ready state, refer to page 97.

▷ Observe the tire width of the guide rail to

avoid damage to tires and rims.

Headlights

Do not rub wet headlights dry and do not use

abrasive or acidic cleaning agents.

▷ Fold in exterior mirrors to avoid damage to

the exterior mirrors.

▷ Unscrew the rod antenna to avoid the rod

antenna breaking off.

Soak areas that have been dirtied, for instance

from insects, with shampoo and wash off with

water.

▷ Deactivate the wiper and, if necessary, rain

sensor to avoid damage to the wiper sys‐

tem.

Thaw ice with de-icing spray; do not use an ice

scraper.

After washing the vehicle

After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes

briefly to dry them; otherwise, braking action can

be reduced. The heat generated during braking

dries brake discs and brake pads and protects

them against corrosion.

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Completely remove all residues on the windows,

to minimize loss of visibility due to smearing and

to reduce wiper noises and wiper blade wear.

Leather care

Remove dust from the leather regularly, using a

cloth or vacuum cleaner.

Otherwise, particles of dust and road grime chafe

in pores and folds, and lead to increased wear

and premature degradation of the leather sur‐

face.

Vehicle care

Vehicle care products

To guard against discoloration, such as from

clothing, clean leather and provide leather care

roughly every two months.

General information

The vehicle manufacturer recommends using

care and cleaning products for BMW i. Suitable

care products are available from a dealer’s serv‐

ice center or another qualified service center or

repair shop.

Clean light-colored leather more frequently be‐

cause soiling on such surfaces is substantially

more visible.

Use leather care products; otherwise, dirt and

grease will gradually break down the protective

layer of the leather surface.

Safety information

Upholstery material care

General information

Vacuum the upholstery regularly with a vacuum

cleaner.

Warning

Cleansers can contain substances that are dan‐

gerous and harmful to your health. There is a

risk of injury. When cleaning the interior, open

the doors or windows. Only use products in‐

tended for cleaning vehicles. Follow the in‐

structions on the container.

If upholstery is very dirty, for instance with bever‐

age stains, use a soft sponge or microfiber cloth

with a suitable cleaning agent.

Clean the upholstery down to the seams using

large sweeping motions. Avoid rubbing the ma‐

terial vigorously.

Vehicle paint

General information

Safety information

Regular care contributes to driving safety and

value retention. Environmental influences in

areas with elevated air pollution or natural con‐

taminants, such as tree resin or pollen can affect

the vehicle's paintwork. Tailor the frequency and

extent of your vehicle care to these influences.

NOTICE

Open Velcro® fasteners on articles of clothing

can damage the seat covers. There is a risk of

damage to property, among other potential

damage. Ensure that any Velcro® fasteners are

closed.

Corrosive substances such as spilled fuel, oil,

grease or bird droppings, must be removed im‐

mediately to prevent the finish from being altered

or discolored.

Matte finish

Only use cleaning and care products suitable for

vehicles with matte finish.

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Plastic components

Caring for special components

Light-alloy wheels

NOTICE

When cleaning the vehicle, use only neutral

wheel cleaners having a pH value from 5 to 9. Do

not use abrasive cleaning agents or steam jets

above 140 ℉/60 ℃. Follow the manufacturer's

instructions.

Cleaning agents that contain alcohol or sol‐

vents, such as lacquer thinners, heavy-duty

grease removers, fuel and such, can damage

plastic parts. There is a risk of damage to prop‐

erty, among other potential damage. Clean with

a microfiber cloth. Dampen the cloth lightly with

water, if needed.

Aggressive, acidic or alkaline cleaning agents can

destroy the protective layer of adjacent compo‐

nents, such as the brake disc.

Clean with a microfiber cloth.

After cleaning, apply the brakes shortly to dry

them. The heat generated during braking dries

brake discs and brake pads and protects them

against corrosion.

Dampen the cloth lightly with water, if needed.

Do not soak the roofliner.

Safety belts

Chrome surfaces

Carefully clean components such as the radiator

grille or door handles with plenty of water, if nec‐

essary, with shampoo added, particularly when

they have been exposed to road salt.

Warning

Chemical cleansers can destroy the safety belt

webbing. Missing protective effect of the safety

belts. There is a risk of injuries or danger to life.

Use only a mild soapy solution for cleaning the

safety belts.

Rubber components

Environmental influences can cause surface soil‐

ing of rubber parts and a loss of gloss. Use only

water and suitable cleaning agents for cleaning.

Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and

thus have a negative impact on safety.

Treat especially worn rubber parts with rubber

care agents at regular intervals. When cleaning

rubber seals, do not use any silicon-containing

vehicle care products in order to avoid damage

or noises.

Use only a mild soapy solution, with the safety

belts clipped into their buckles.

Safety belts should only be allowed to retract if

they are dry.

Carpets and floor mats

Fine wood parts

Clean fine wood facing and fine wood compo‐

nents only with a suitable care product.

Warning

Objects in the driver's floor area can limit the

pedal distance or block a depressed pedal.

There is a risk of accident. Stow objects in the

vehicle such that they are secured and cannot

enter into the driver's floor area. Use floor mats

that are suitable for the vehicle and can be

safely attached to the floor. Do not use loose

floor mats and do not layer several floor mats.

Kenaf

Only treat parts made of Kenaf fibers, for in‐

stance in the door trims, using suitable care

products.

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Make sure that there is sufficient clearance for

the pedals. Ensure that the floor mats are se‐

curely fastened again after they were removed,

for instance for cleaning.

Do not park the vehicle for longer than 14 days if

the electric range is less than 6 mls/10 km.

With storage times of up to three months, if pos‐

sible plug the vehicle into a compatible power

source or park it with the high-voltage battery as

fully charged as possible.

Floor mats can be removed from the car's inte‐

rior for cleaning.

If the floor carpets are very dirty, clean with a mi‐

crofiber cloth and water or an upholstery cleaner.

To prevent matting of the carpet, rub back and

forth in the direction of travel only.

General information

Your dealer's service center or another qualified

service center or repair shop can advise you on

what to consider when storing the vehicle for

longer than three months.

Sensor/camera lenses

Follow the instructions for discharging the high-

voltage battery, refer to page 197.

To clean sensors and camera lenses, use a cloth

moistened with a small amount of glass deter‐

gent.

Safety information

Displays/screens

NOTICE

The high-voltage battery can be damaged if left

uncharged or with low charge for extended pe‐

riods. There is a risk of damage to property,

among other potential damage. Before storing

the vehicle for an extended period, ensure that

the high-voltage battery is fully charged. During

the idle period, connect the vehicle to a charg‐

ing station at a compatible charging location. If

necessary, the high-voltage battery will be

charged automatically. Make sure that charging

is carried out. Regularly check the charge state.

NOTICE

Chemical cleaning agents, moisture or fluids of

any kind can damage the surface of displays

and screens. There is a risk of damage to prop‐

erty, among other potential damage. Clean with

a clean, antistatic microfiber cloth.

NOTICE

The surface of displays can be damaged with

improper cleaning. There is a risk of damage to

property, among other potential damage. Avoid

pressure that is too high and do not use any

scratching materials.

Do not allow the vehicle to sit idle for longer

than four weeks with a charge state below ap‐

prox. 80 %.

Clean with a clean, antistatic microfiber cloth.

High-voltage battery, long stationary

periods

Concept

For idle phases that last several weeks, park the

vehicle with the high-voltage battery fully

charged, if possible.

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MOBILITY -> Care for Your BMW I3 4 Door First Generation (2013-2022)

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