Although the procedure may sound simple, when it comes to BMW, it is an overengineered process that is more complex than in any other EV currently on the market. In the event of a crash, the vehicle triggers four fuses — one on the 12V battery terminal and three inside the high-voltage battery — along with a software lockout of the battery system.
All three fuses inside the battery are deeply embedded within the Sbox system, which is designed in a way that “homologation-compliantly” requires replacement of all electronic modules in the battery system under the guise of safety standards. The cost of such a replacement is around €1,800 for the modules, €200 for the positive terminal, and approximately 20 labor hours.
In order to complete the recovery, all other vehicle systems must be fully functional, as ISTA does not allow programming if any errors are present. All ECU Certificates valid. You cant use second hand components. Must have origibal ICOM and original IMIB (25000€).
For comparison, the same issue in a Tesla Model 3/Y can be resolved for about €100 and one labor hour — only the fuse is replaced, and the system is reset online via the Toolbox3 tool using a standard LAN cable and a €20/hour access fee.
With great support from a colleague who is a BMW expert, we successfully reactivated the SME and updated the vehicle through ISTA AOS diagnostics, ensuring that everything is certified and ready for an official BMW service center visit. Sometimes, even we need a little assistance. 🥂
We resolve all types of high-voltage system faults on BMW EV and PHEV vehicles, regardless of version.
Partnumbers: 8845283-03, 8864213-04, 61258848362
Faults.: 21F37E
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HQ EV Clinic Zagreb
EV Clinic Berlin
