EV Servicing

[biggles330d]

What's peoples experience? I've an i3s (120 BEV), about 7000 miles / 12 months in now and not yet due a service but noticed the indicator giving me the estimated countdown. It got me thinking - no oil change, no filters, perhaps a pollen filter for the air-con and a kick of the tyres. What exactly does an i3 or any EV get on a service? I've no doubt BMW will have no problem charging me just as much as any other model in their range but theoretically it should be much less?

[Downward]

Pollen filter, batter check, brakes, tyres, etc checked.
Wash and given back. £200 thanks.

[anonymous-user]

Yes, expensive for what it is but don’t do it, no warranty, I guess and certainly will hit resale value.

Legally you can get someone else to do it but with EVs I would think it’ll not be as easy as with traditional cars.

[jjwilde]

A few years ago someone with a Leaf left his dash cam on and all the Nissan dealer did was turn his car around in the car park and repark it.

£150 thanks.

When they did mine once they didn't even do the battery check, I had to ask them for it and they went and did it there and then.

At least with Tesla you don't have to service it (but they recommend you do get it checked over) and that's far more honest.

EV 'servicing' should just be part of the MOT.

Edited by jjwilde on Sunday 9th February 19:08

[Willow1212]

My Kia Soul EV had a "big" service recently, as it was due a brake fluid change. Apart from that it was a good check over, wash and vac, and they updated the software to the latest version which included adding Android Auto and Apple Carplay. £99 all in. Next year's will be £59.

[anonymous-user]

The e Niro is £259 for 3 years, £449 for 5.

I paid £650 for 5 years on my current XF, so £449 seems OK.

[ruggedscotty]

see this is exactly why EV's have been slow to take off.... the genie is out the bottle and the days of the garage are now numbered. EV's don't need servicing like the IC engine car needed. And breaks with regen that cuts down the number of disk and pad changes that will be required. Its all going to be software, anyone with a laptop will be able to run an application that tells you what needs attention on the car. battery life performance etc. so suddenly we wont need to go anywhere near a dealer once you buy a car. tyre rotation pollen filter and the like is so far removed from a garage....

just think you could end up with 100k intervals lol

[CooperS]

Come on EVs don't need servicing..... Yer they do at least they need an inspection, brake fluids and filters.

My i3 which is going back on Thursday has in its 3 years and 66k miles had one service........ not bad you think..... But it did at 30k throw it's gearbox and electrical motor. I suspect if it had been inspected more frequently a gearbox leak might of been seen and resolved meaning BMW didn't have to fork out for a whole new drivetrain......

[ruggedscotty]

they should have a sensor for that, low oil level or the like, wouldn't be hard.... they will need to get used to folks cutting the servicing so make it more user friendly.... monitor and flag any untoward issue...

[anonymous-user]

CooperS said:

Come on EVs don't need servicing..... Yer they do at least they need an inspection, brake fluids and filters.

My i3 which is going back on Thursday has in its 3 years and 66k miles had one service........ not bad you think..... But it did at 30k throw it's gearbox and electrical motor. I suspect if it had been inspected more frequently a gearbox leak might of been seen and resolved meaning BMW didn't have to fork out for a whole new drivetrain......

Any electro mechanical device, with safety critical elements, is worth inspecting I would have thought, and £80/90 once a year isn’t too high a cost.

And, the truth is, modern ICE cars need little more than that and an engine oil change, as many manufacturers recognise with service packs.

But many do milk it and won’t be looking too enthusiastically at the EV future.

I wonder how much Mercedes will be charging for EV ‘service’?

[biggles330d]

REALIST123 said:

Any electro mechanical device, with safety critical elements, is worth inspecting I would have thought, and £80/90 once a year isn’t too high a cost.

And, the truth is, modern ICE cars need little more than that and an engine oil change, as many manufacturers recognise with service packs.

But many do milk it and won’t be looking too enthusiastically at the EV future.

I wonder how much Mercedes will be charging for EV ‘service’?

Oh, I fully agree, I have no issue with servicing as any mechanical or electrical device should be checked and maintained. Just curious as to how manufacturers are seeing the 'opportunity' given the absence of traditional consumables.

[dave_s13]

There's a garage near me that are accredited in some way for EV servicing. They've certainly got a good rep for usual car fixing stuff.

https://www.lhacarandcommercial.co.uk/electric-car...

I plan to have a used EV at some point in the next few months so it's handy to have somewhere like that close by.

[Sheepshanks]

jjwilde said:

At least with Tesla you don't have to service it (but they recommend you do get it checked over) and that's far more honest.

The Tesla service schedule is very America, so seems ridiculous to UK eyes. It includes things like tyre rotation (try getting a UK garage to do that) and wheel alignment.

[Mr E]

From memory, the handbook for the leaf suggests servicing is “optional”

They threw in 3 years of servicing as per of the deal. Last time they told me my tyre gunk was out of date and would I like some more at ~£30. I declined.

I think the service is a pollen filter and a look at the wheels/brakes. If it takes 30 mins I’m surprised.

[giveitfish]

I bet EV's will chew through as many (if not more) suspension bushes and drop links as an ICE car so there's always that to check.

Most of the conversation is about relatively new EV's, but I bet my 6 year old Zoe will need suspension and steering bits in the next year and so will others once older.

Are Tesla seriously saying no servicing is required?

[granada203028]

Yes my Leaf has had some un even tyre wear issues, I changed one bush and had Nissan do a full wheel alignment.

Got it back and the steering wheel was not straight when the car was so got them to re do it.

[Ed.]

giveitfish said:

I bet EV's will chew through as many (if not more) suspension bushes and drop links as an ICE car so there's always that to check.

Most of the conversation is about relatively new EV's, but I bet my 6 year old Zoe will need suspension and steering bits in the next year and so will others once older.

Are Tesla seriously saying no servicing is required?

https://youtu.be/xXqS9-smSe8

Issues are about 2 minutes in

[hureciamirl1935]

A low oil sensor should be considered to warn drivers in time, that would assist a great deal.

[gangzoom]

REALIST123 said:

Any electro mechanical device, with safety critical elements, is worth inspecting I would have thought, and £80/90 once a year isn’t too high a cost.

Inspect for what exactly? The entire motor unit is sealed, in a flooded Tesla you cannot even tell if there is water inside unless you hack the motor/battery apart.

The whole charging circuit is also constantly been monitored in real time, any errors and the car will report very quickly.

The suspension bits will need maintaining but in my past experience with combustion cars the MOT will pick up bits far more regularly than booking in for a routine oil service.

[gangzoom]

giveitfish said:

Are Tesla seriously saying no servicing is required?

Tesla says that but I cannot believe there is a single Tesla driving around which hasn't needed warranty work within the first 1 year of its life, and than quite regularly there after. Each warranty visit I've had includes a 'courtesy safety check', what ever that means.

Our X has only just made it 6 months without needing a warranty visit in 34k miles - and I have no doubt there is one coming very soon .