BMW EV charger shows E03 and will not energize; LED ring red or flashing red/white
Safety Warning
This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.
If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.
Possible Causes
How to Fix / Troubleshooting
Safety first: Do not attempt to bypass any RCD or ground-fault protection. Turn off the breaker before inspection.
- Check for moisture: Inspect the Type 2 plug and cable for signs of water, condensation, or corrosion. If the plug has been lying on the ground outdoors, dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth and allow several hours in a dry environment.
- Inspect cable jacket: Look for cuts, abrasions, or crushed sections along the BMW Wallbox cable. Any exposed conductor requires immediate replacement of the cable assembly.
- Test with another vehicle: If possible, connect a different EV. If E03 only appears with one vehicle, the fault may be in that vehicle's onboard charger or inlet.
- Reset RCD: If your BMW Wallbox has an external RCD/RCBO in the distribution panel, reset it after verifying there is no visible damage. Then power up the Wallbox and check if E03 clears.
Persistent E03 with multiple vehicles and a dry, undamaged cable indicates a defective internal RCD or sensing circuit. This is a safety-critical component; contact a BMW-certified electrician to replace the internal RCD module or the entire Wallbox, as specified by BMW service documentation.
Repair Difficulty
Required Part
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