anyone else notice braking problems with the bmw i5 in rain?

Steve_Haines · Feb 5, 2025

I’ve noticed an issue with my BMW i5 brakes when driving in wet conditions. If I’ve only driven a few miles and go through a puddle, the brakes seem to lose all effectiveness for a moment when I try to stop, it’s like the car doesn’t slow down at all.

I contacted BMW about it, and after keeping the car for a day, they told me there’s no problem. Still it feels unsafe, and I’m a little nervous about it.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is this normal for EVs, or could it be related to regenerative braking? Any tips for dealing with this or should I push BMW to investigate further?

Jouni Hulkkonen · Feb 8, 2025

This has always happened with just about every BMW in the past. In wet conditions, sometimes put the car in neutral and apply the brakes (make sure nobody is behind you) to dry out the discs and pads. You don't have to do this with ICE BMW:s since the pads will always touch the discs, but with an EV, the car will first use the regeneration feature of the electric motors. Putting it to neutral with the drive selector disconnects the electric motors from the wheels allowing you to use the pads and discs only to dry them out. There is no problem, it is normal. If you don't want to put the car to neutral, just press the brake pedal a bit harder.

This also happens with our i5 xDrive40, but we're not concerned since this has always been the case with every ICE BMW we've had before too, but with them of course lightly applying the brakes always corrected it. With an EV you have to apply the brakes harder or select neutral due to the regeneration being the first method of braking (if you only touch the brakepedal lightly, the car will not use the brakepads, but only the electric motors).

anyone else notice braking problems with the bmw i5 in rain?

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