2014 i3 REX software update don't start

Hi!

I couldn't start the update form USB stick in my 2014 BMW i3 REX. I made every step like the BMW official website shows, but the car don' find any update file on the stick. :x

The recommended software is: UPD05081.bin .

Any suggestion, idea?

Thx
George

If your i3's system software has been updated within the past couple of years, this update likely installed media and phone software that's more recent than the versions that you downloaded in UPD05081.bin. In the U.S., BMW doesn't seem to have posted downloadable media and phone software in many months, so the software in UPD05081.bin is outdated for most U.S. i3's.

The other issue is that the i3's firmware won't read all of the different ways a USB stick could be formatted. If it 'sees' the file, but finds it is older, it should tell you. If it can't see any files, you may need to reformat the drive and try again.

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try the formating of the USB stick. Maybe it will help.
Thx

Petergyorgy said:

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try the formating of the USB stick.

Click to expand...

FAT32 works. Also, the update file must be in the top-level or home directory of the USB drive.

It's probably best not to have any other files on the USB drive. macOS adds some hidden files and directories to a USB drive when directories or files have been added or deleted. These should be removed to avoid confusion.

I'll try with a FAT 32 formatted empty stick. I hope i will work!

:|
Nothing happens.
Empty formatted stick, no result.
The USB works, but the computer write, there is no file on the stick.
I think i have to go to a local dealer.

If you have a different USB stick available, try it. I ran into this issue on another vehicle. I don't recall the specifics, but it may have had to do with available memory (first stick too small, even though the file fit). The new memory stick had a greater amount of RAM available, and it addressed the issue.

Petergyorgy said:

The USB works, but the computer write, there is no file on the stick.
I think i have to go to a local dealer.

Click to expand...

Before taking your i3 to a dealer, check the current media and phone software versions as displayed in iDrive. The versions currently on our 2014 U.S. BEV are MN 003.013.001 & TN 003.013.001. Media and phone software updates are also included in the system software updates that can be installed only by BMW dealers. I successfully installed media and phone software from a USB drive only once. My subsequent attempts have always failed because a system software update had already installed the same or later software versions.

The Readme file associated with UPD05081.bin describes the software versions included in UPD05081.bin:

▷ HN 003.255.080 & MN 002.255.071 & TN 002.255.080
▷ HN 003.255.080 & MN 003.001.002 & TN 003.255.080
▷ HN 003.255.080 & MN 003.003.001 & TN 003.255.080
▷ HN 003.255.080 & MN 003.009.004 & TN 003.255.080
▷ HN 003.255.080 & MN 003.011.002 & TN 003.255.080
▷ HN 003.255.080 & MN 003.013.001 & TN 003.255.080

The versions installed depend on which vehicle you have. If the versions already on your car are later than those in UPD05081.bin, iDrive displays a confusing message that doesn't describe the problem. Another problem is that it isn't clear to me from the version numbers which is later.

I'm guessing that your i3 already has the same or later media and phone software as that included in UPD05081.bin.