We bought a BMW i3 not knowing the vehicle had so many faults, and the company's system could lock up your car, and seize the transmission, so that you are left stranded in the middle of nowhere, on the side of the road, or in traffic, with a £15k brick. We wondered if that was safe? Or, legal? But then found, allegedly, it was company policy, not to tell people what the problem with their car is. And, with the dealer approach of replace everything, also appearing not to know what is wrong with the car, it could soon become a service problem nightmare.

Why did they lock up the wheels? It makes no sense. If there is (or was) a genuine safety issue, why not just immobilize the vehicle, without locking the transmission and braking the rear wheels. So that it could be safely pushed off the road, or otherwise located safely.

This marred our opinion of what could be the beginning of a great sports car project. Ideal, to show that long life components like the carbon fibre frame and alloy suspension components, could serve for another 10-20 years, where the running gear, transmission and motor could in theory last a lifetime, with proper maintenance.

For sure, without being allowed to see the computer logs, we will be operating in the dark. All of the BMW components would be scrap metal. Designed to be so expensive to service, and not to allow owners to service the vehicles themselves, that it made a nonsense of designing a car with long life components, if it was in reality, destined for the crusher.

That is hardly sustainable in United Nations terms, where Germany is signatory to the SDGs, as are their target sales countries! And EVs are one way of tackling climate change. But not if they add to global warming, by not supporting the second user market. Surely, such policies run contrary to responsible consumption and production, as per SDG 12?

THE UN'S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

We argue that an electric vehicle that becomes un-repairable because of software lockouts is not a sustainable product, no matter how clean its tailpipe emissions are. When a car like the BMW i3 — built with carbon fibre, aluminium, and a battery pack designed for decades of service — becomes an “expensive brick” because of inaccessible software, it directly contradicts the very principles the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are meant to uphold. And here is why:

1. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Core principle: Products should be durable, repairable, and resource‑efficient.

Why the BMW i3 violates this spirit? The i3’s carbon‑fibre body and aluminium frame are engineered for multi‑decade lifespans. Yet the vehicle can be rendered unusable by:

i) Software mismatches
ii) Immobiliser triggers
iii) BMS authorisation failures
iv) Dealer‑only coding tools

These failures are not hardware failures — they are artificial barriers to repair.

Consequence: A vehicle that should last 20–30 years becomes waste long before its materials degrade. This is the opposite of responsible production.

2. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Core principle: Clean technologies must be accessible and widely adoptable. Why software‑locked EVs undermine this?

EVs only deliver climate benefits when they remain in service for long periods. If a second‑hand buyer cannot repair or maintain the vehicle without dealer intervention, the market collapses. In that event, high repair costs or “software bricking” discourage EV adoption.

Consequence: The environmental advantage of EVs is lost when they cannot support a healthy second‑user market.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Core principle: Innovation must be resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. Why BMW’s approach is problematic? 

Innovation becomes fragile when a software update can immobilise a vehicle. It becomes exclusive when only the manufacturer can repair faults. It becomes unsustainable when software prevents long-term use of durable hardware.

Consequence: The i3’s advanced materials and engineering are wasted because the digital infrastructure is not designed for longevity.

4. SDG 13: Climate Action

Core principle: Reduce emissions and environmental impact across the full lifecycle. Why this is the most important point?

The carbon footprint of manufacturing:

a) Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP)
b) Aluminium chassis components
c) High‑voltage battery packs

…is enormous. These materials only become climate‑positive when amortised over decades of use.

When software immobilises the car: The embodied carbon is wasted. The vehicle is prematurely scrapped and replacement vehicles must be manufactured. Then, battery recycling is triggered earlier than necessary

Consequence: Software‑induced obsolescence increases global emissions, directly contradicting SDG 13.


The core argument in one sentence: "An EV that becomes unusable due to inaccessible software is not a sustainable product — it is a form of digital obsolescence that increases waste, undermines climate goals, and violates the principles of the UN Sustainable Development Goals."


5. How this supports a Right to Repair claim

It can be argued that:

i) BMW’s software restrictions prevent legitimate repair.
ii) The inability to diagnose or fix faults without dealer intervention creates artificial barriers.
iii) These barriers shorten the vehicle’s usable life.
iv) This contradicts national and international sustainability commitments.

Therefore, manufacturers should be required to provide:

a) Diagnostic access
b) Software re‑authorisation tools
c) Module coding rights
d) Long-term support for EV control systems

This is not a “nice to have” — it is essential for climate policy.

The first step could be a letter to BMW, raising these issues, and asking for their help. This might be by way of a formal complaint, to their head office in Germany:

BMW Headquarters (Germany) — Official Address
BMW AG – Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft 
Petuelring 130
80788 München (Munich)
Germany

Telephone: +49 89 382‑0
Website: www.bmwgroup.com

SEAVAX - How can a BMW i3 help the SeaVax crew to clean plastic waste from our oceans? By reducing their fuel bills and providing operational data when operating this practical EV. 

But what of the Right to Repair? Did you know that BMW can lock you out of your vehicle? We didn't, not until it happened. Is that fair or legal? And what about consumer rights? What about their dealers charging for what is essentially a manufactured service charge? And what about Consumer Protections?

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