TSB: BMW I3, I8 (2014–2020)

Bulletin B650720 — April 1, 2020

Bulletin Details

Bulletin IDB650720
ManufacturerBMW
ModelsI3, I8
Model Years2014–2020
Date IssuedApril 1, 2020
Date Added to NHTSAApril 20, 2020
ComponentELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Vehicles Affected26 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

VEHICLE SOUND GENERATOR IS DIFFERENT AND LOUDER AFTER PROGRAMMING: Vehicles sound is different and louder after programming to an Integration level (I-level) between I001-1911-500 and I001-19-11-556. Software in the Vehicle Sound Generator

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
BMW I3 2020 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I3 2020 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I3 2019 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I3 2019 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I8 2019 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I8 2019 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I3 2018 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I3 2018 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I8 2018 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I8 2018 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I3 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I3 2017 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I8 2017 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I8 2017 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I3 2016 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I3 2016 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I8 2016 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I8 2016 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I3 2015 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I3 2015 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I8 2015 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I8 2015 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I3 2014 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I3 2014 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
BMW I8 2014 350000 EQUIPMENT
BMW I8 2014 118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

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What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized BMW dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (B650720) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.