BMW i3 Hybrid Issues: Air Pump and Stalling Problems

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW i8 (so I kinda know what you're dealing with). I'm not a car expert, just someone with basic knowledge who's learned from experience. My car showed the exact same symptoms, check engine light, stalling, and that annoying jerking. Took it to my regular workshop and they found a defective hose connection between the pump and valve. The repair cost me 175 Euro, and it fixed all those issues completely. Can't say for sure if it's the same problem with your i3, though. Would you mind sharing: How many miles/kilometers on your car? When did these symptoms first appear? Is the jerking constant or does it happen at specific times? This info would help better understand if we're dealing with the same issue. Also, BMW makes great cars (I also considered the i4 before getting my i8), but these air system issues can be tricky.

Hey again! Thanks for sharing your experience! My i3 has 198911 KM on the clock, and these problems started showing up about two weeks ago. The jerking mainly happens during acceleration, especially when I'm trying to overtake. Had my last service done three months ago and everything was fine then. That's interesting about the hose connection, definitely sounds similar to what I'm experiencing. Actually comforting to know it might be something relatively straightforward like that rather than a major system failure. Will definitely get that checked out. Did you notice any specific sounds when the issue was happening in your case?

Hey again! Yeah, your symptoms definitely match what I experienced with my i8. Now that you mention the jerking during acceleration, that's exactly how mine behaved too! And yes, there was this distinct whining noise when the secondary air pump was running, it was more noticeable during cold starts. Given your mileage and the symptoms showing up suddenly, I'm even more convinced it could be that hose connection issue like I had. In my case, the hose had developed a tiny crack that was causing air leaks, which explained all those problems. The repair was pretty straightforward, my mechanic replaced the hose and did a system check to make sure everything was running properly. Just remembered something else, before I got it fixed, my fuel consumption went up noticeably. Did you notice anything similar? The leak was making the engine work harder to compensate. Honestly, three months since your last service sounds about right for these issues to pop up. These hoses can deteriorate pretty quickly if they're exposed to high temperatures consistently. Getting it checked sooner rather than later would be smart, it's not worth risking more damage to other components. Let me know what your mechanic finds. I'm curious if it turns out to be the same issue!

Thanks so much for all this detailed information! You're actually spot on about the fuel consumption, I have noticed I'm filling up more frequently lately. And yes, now that you mention it, I do hear that whining noise during cold starts! I didn't think much of it at first, but it makes total sense now. I've already called my mechanic and booked an appointment for tomorrow morning. I'll definitely have them check the hose connections first, given how similar our situations sound. Really hoping it's just that and not something more serious. The fact that your repair was straightforward and relatively affordable is super encouraging. I'll make sure to update you once I get the diagnosis. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been incredibly helpful in narrowing down what might be wrong. Good to know I'm not the only one who's dealt with this!