Description
You will find UK listings claiming the BMW 225xe charges in about two hours on a 7 kW wallbox. That is arithmetically impossible, because the 225xe has a 3.7 kW single phase onboard charger. BMW confirmed the figure in writing when it launched the replacement, noting that maximum charging capacity was going up from 3.7 kW to 7.4 kW on the new car. The number matters commercially, because it means the cheapest cable we sell is the right one for this car and anything dearer is money spent on capability the 225xe cannot use.
Every BMW 225xe Active Tourer uses a Type 2 to Type 2 Charging Cable. BMW puts the socket under a separate flap on the front left wing, ahead of the driver's door, and the car has no DC rapid charging at all, so a Type 2 cable is the only way to charge it anywhere.
Buy the 16A version. At 3.7 kW the car is already at its ceiling on a 16A lead, so the 32A single phase cable charges it no faster and the 22 kW three phase cable is money wasted twice over: the 225xe cannot use three phases, and a British house cannot supply them. This is one of the few pages on this site where we will tell you plainly not to buy the more expensive cable.
The battery changed during the car's life and the charger did not. Cars up to 2019 carry 7.6 kWh gross, sometimes quoted as 7.7, of which 5.8 kWh is usable. From August 2019 the pack grew to 10.0 kWh gross and 8.8 kWh usable. Owners often ask how to tell which one they have, and for cable purposes the reassuring answer is that it does not matter, because both charge at 3.7 kW and both take the same lead.
A domestic socket lead is genuinely practical on a battery this small. Our Type 2 to 3-Pin Charging Cable draws 2.3 kW from an ordinary 13 amp outlet and fills the later 225xe in about 4 hours 15 minutes, or the earlier car in 2 hours 45 minutes. That is a complete overnight charge from a normal socket, which makes it a real second method rather than a fallback. Our guide explains what a household socket delivers.
If your car is the newer 2 Series Active Tourer plug-in hybrid, badged 225e xDrive or 230e and sold from 2022, none of these figures apply. That car has a 7.4 kW charger and a 16.3 kWh battery, so it wants the 32A single phase cable instead. Other BMW plug-in hybrids are covered on the BMW 330e charging cable page, and everything for the marque is listed in BMW EV charging cables.
All of our leads are built to IEC 62196 Type 2 with CE certification, rated from -30C to +50C, or +60C for the 3-pin. The Type 2 to Type 2 cables are sealed to IP55 and the Type 2 to 3-Pin to IP67. Every one carries a 2 year manufacturer's warranty, with free next working day UK delivery. Our IP ratings guide explains what those sealing figures keep out.
BMW 225xe Charging Times by Battery
2019 to 2021, 10.0 kWh gross and 8.8 kWh usable, up to 34 miles WLTP electric
Maximum onboard AC charging speed: 3.7 kW, single phase
| Cable Type |
Max Charge Rate |
Empty to Full |
Range Added Per Hour |
Verdict |
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 16A (5m / 10m) |
3.7 kW |
2 hours 45 mins |
approx. 14 miles |
Best Fit, and the cheapest option |
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) |
3.7 kW (car limited) |
2 hours 45 mins |
approx. 14 miles |
No faster than the 16A here |
| Type 2 - 3-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) |
3.7 kW (car limited) |
2 hours 45 mins |
approx. 14 miles |
Money wasted on this car |
| Type 2 to 3-Pin (5m / 10m) |
2.3 kW |
4 hours 15 mins |
approx. 9 miles |
A full charge from a house socket |
2016 to 2019, 7.6 kWh gross and 5.8 kWh usable, up to 25 miles NEDC electric
Maximum onboard AC charging speed: 3.7 kW, single phase
| Cable Type |
Max Charge Rate |
Empty to Full |
Range Added Per Hour |
Verdict |
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 16A (5m / 10m) |
3.7 kW |
1 hour 45 mins |
approx. 16 miles |
Best Fit, and the cheapest option |
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) |
3.7 kW (car limited) |
1 hour 45 mins |
approx. 16 miles |
No faster than the 16A here |
| Type 2 - 3-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) |
3.7 kW (car limited) |
1 hour 45 mins |
approx. 16 miles |
Money wasted on this car |
| Type 2 to 3-Pin (5m / 10m) |
2.3 kW |
2 hours 45 mins |
approx. 10 miles |
A full charge from a house socket |
The 25 mile figure for the earlier car is an NEDC rating, because it predates WLTP testing, so real world electric range sits below it. The facelift in autumn 2018 and the battery change in August 2019 were separate events, which means a 2018 facelifted car still has the smaller pack. Cold weather cuts the miles per hour on either version.
BMW 225xe Charging Cable FAQs
What charging cable does a BMW 225xe need?
A BMW 225xe needs a Type 2 to Type 2 Charging Cable, and the 16A version is all it can use. The car's onboard charger is limited to 3.7 kW, so a 32A cable delivers exactly the same speed for more money.
Can a BMW 225xe charge at 7kW?
No, and this is the most common mistake made about this car. Several UK listings quote a two hour charge on a 7 kW wallbox, which cannot happen on a 3.7 kW onboard charger. BMW itself put the figure on record when it launched the successor, describing the increase from 3.7 kW to 7.4 kW as a change.
Does the bigger battery charge any faster?
No. The 2019 upgrade from 7.6 kWh to 10.0 kWh left the 3.7 kW charger untouched, so the larger battery simply takes longer, about 2 hours 45 minutes rather than 1 hour 45 minutes. Both take the same cable, which is why you do not need to identify your battery before ordering.
Is the 22kW three phase cable worth it on a BMW 225xe?
No, for two separate reasons. The 225xe cannot draw more than 3.7 kW from any supply, and a British house provides a single phase in any case. There is no site anywhere in the country where that cable would charge this car faster than the 16A one.
Can I charge a BMW 225xe from a three pin socket?
Yes, and on this car it works properly. A 3-pin lead fills the later 10.0 kWh battery in about 4 hours 15 minutes and the earlier one in 2 hours 45 minutes, so an ordinary household socket gives you a complete charge overnight with hours to spare.
What length of cable does a BMW 225xe need?
The flap is on the front left wing of a car about 4.35 metres long, so 5m reaches when the wallbox is towards the front of the drive on the passenger side. Park nose out, or mount the unit at the far end, and the lead has to come round the car, which is where the 10m earns its place.