Replacing gear selector lever in i3 rex 2013

[quaycrest]

I have experienced a few times this winter in my 2013 i3 rex, the gear selector lever going loose and floppy but still allowing gear selection. I have bought from UK eBay a newer gear selector lever and plan to fit it myself. My questions to the masses of the forum are how do I do it, does the new unit require recording and should I disconnect the high voltage and/or 12v battery to carry the task out?

 

[alohart]

The gear selector replacement process seems quite involved. The HV disconnect and 12 V battery negative cable should be disconnected. The steering wheel switch cluster must be removed which requires removing the steering wheel and the lower steering column shroud. That should give you access to the gear selector attachment screws. Yes, the replacement gear selector would need to be programmed to work with your i3 (ISTA/P).

 

[quaycrest]

Many thanks for the advice and confirmations to my queries, much appreciated.

I took off the gear lever selector only today to see if there was anything mechanical under the lever but it looks like it may only be electronic sensors that are in the lever and/or main unit.

On replacing the lever I can now only select drive not park or reverse!

Does the lever need recoding or recalibration?

 

[quaycrest]

Left the car for a few hours and the gear selector is back working as normal.

 

[tongsli]

I have experienced a few times this winter in my 2013 i3 rex, the gear selector lever going loose and floppy but still allowing gear selection. I have bought from UK eBay a newer gear selector lever and plan to fit it myself. My questions to the masses of the forum are how do I do it, does the new unit require recording and should I disconnect the high voltage and/or 12v battery to carry the task out?

Any update on this repair?

 

[quaycrest]

Any update on this repair?

No fix update but I have bought a newer replacement gear lever to be fitted once I locate a competent BMW i3 specialist to fit and reprogram as I can't find a reasonably priced method of getting my own ista. I note in another thread this week suggesting a fix by dismantling the switch and regreasing a pin but would like more detailed instructions before taking my original apart.

 

[ChrisEngelman]

It is fixable. Take it apart and grease a white pin with a spring underneath.

 

[TheAirman]

No fix update but I have bought a newer replacement gear lever to be fitted once I locate a competent BMW i3 specialist to fit and reprogram as I can't find a reasonably priced method of getting my own ista. I note in another thread this week suggesting a fix by dismantling the switch and regreasing a pin but would like more detailed instructions before taking my original apart.

Disconnect the High Voltage system and 12v battery.
Remove the steering wheel.
Remove the steering column control panel. Underneath that is 3 screws to remove the gear selector. You will need to unplug the connector.

 

[tongsli]

No fix update but I have bought a newer replacement gear lever to be fitted once I locate a competent BMW i3 specialist to fit and reprogram as I can't find a reasonably priced method of getting my own ista. I note in another thread this week suggesting a fix by dismantling the switch and regreasing a pin but would like more detailed instructions before taking my original apart.

I have a spare shifter coming to me from the UK from a 2021. I will try to disassemble and take pictures for u if u can wait

 

[tongsli]

Disconnect the High Voltage system and 12v battery.
Remove the steering wheel.
Remove the steering column control panel. Underneath that is 3 screws to remove the gear selector. You will need to unplug the connector.

 

[tongsli]

There just be a special tool to remove the airbag. Not sure where you have to place it to release the airbag. See this video.

 

[ChrisEngelman]

I have a spare shifter coming to me from the UK from a 2021. I will try to disassemble and take pictures for u if u can wait

I am sorry I didnt take pictures when regreasing the pin. But it is the solution.

Greetings
Chris

 

[quaycrest]

I have a spare shifter coming to me from the UK from a 2021. I will try to disassemble and take pictures for u if u can wait

Thanks to all for the help and guidance on this issue. Hopefully we will trace the fault once and for all.

 

[tongsli]

I am sorry I didnt take pictures when regreasing the pin. But it is the solution.

Greetings
Chris

Chris, saw your Facebook post. If you have any tips on removing the airbag could you please pass them along?

Chris Engelman
Author

Timothy Ma I started with the steering wheel. Airbag had to come off, that took some time. Then I took off the plastic covers of the steering column. You can simply Pull upper half off. Lower half has 2 torx screws on the inside. Next unscrew the clockspring. That's the round switch with wiper and indicators stick. 4 torx 20 screws. Now unscrew 3 screws from the gear selector switch. Unplug it, and take it to a bench or table. Backside has a black cover, with one small torx screw. Take it off. Now take of the black square cover from the knob itself. There is a big screw under it. Torx 20. Unscrew it. Take off knob. Now, on the back end, you can pull out the complete axle you unscrewed from the knob. It reveals a white plastic pin. Pull it out with pliers. Clean and grease, I used lithium grease. Put everything together. I made one mistake when putting everything back: the clockspring has 2 connectors. One with a lever. I did not push this deep enough, this resulted in numerous errors and unstoppable windshield wipers. But after correction and wiping the error codes everything works fine. I am confident this was a proper fix.

 

[TheAirman]

I've watched all his videos on the removal of the airbag and steering wheel. I ordered a custom made carbon fiber and leather wheel I am dying to install.

Notice in all his video, he always has power on. The car is not asleep. You can see the emergence flasher light on when the car is awake. I really didn't want to lose all my setting by de-energizing the entire system.

But back to shifter replacement.

The wheel removal is only the first step. Next is removal of the plastic trim, and that round plastic part under the wheel you see move in the video. Under that is the 3 bolts that need to be removed to pull the shifter off.

 

[alohart]

Notice in all his video, he always has power on. The car is not asleep. You can see the emergence flasher light on when the car is awake. I really didn't want to lose all my setting by de-energizing the entire system.

I've stored our i3's 8 times for periods ranging from 3 to 9 months each time with the HV disconnect and the negative 12 V battery cable disconnected without ever losing any settings other than the date and time. Before disconnecting 12 V power, I've always backed up my settings to a USB flash drive using the iDrive driver profile backup command. I've never had to restore these backups but I could have done so had I lost my settings.

 

[ChrisEngelman]

them

Chris, saw your Facebook post. If you have any tips on removing the airbag could you please pass them along?

Chris Engelman
Author

Timothy Ma I started with the steering wheel. Airbag had to come off, that took some time. Then I took off the plastic covers of the steering column. You can simply Pull upper half off. Lower half has 2 torx screws on the inside. Next unscrew the clockspring. That's the round switch with wiper and indicators stick. 4 torx 20 screws. Now unscrew 3 screws from the gear selector switch. Unplug it, and take it to a bench or table. Backside has a black cover, with one small torx screw. Take it off. Now take of the black square cover from the knob itself. There is a big screw under it. Torx 20. Unscrew it. Take off knob. Now, on the back end, you can pull out the complete axle you unscrewed from the knob. It reveals a white plastic pin. Pull it out with pliers. Clean and grease, I used lithium grease. Put everything together. I made one mistake when putting everything back: the clockspring has 2 connectors. One with a lever. I did not push this deep enough, this resulted in numerous errors and unstoppable windshield wipers. But after correction and wiping the error codes everything works fine. I am confident this was a proper fix.

Removal of the airbag took a lot of time. I found a pdf online. Someone did take pictures A screwdriver with a piece of tape at 5 cm of the shaft. Perhaps you know the pdf. Remove right hand buttons, etc

 

[ChrisEngelman]

This pdf:

 

[tongsli]

Thanks Chris!! What a piece of crap those plastic retainer clips are. Twisting a standard screw driver might be enough to release the two pieces.

 

[tongsli]

Here are some photos