BMW 5 Hybrid Cruise Control Failure: Fix & Costs Sought

I had a similar issue with my 2016 BMW 7 Series Hybrid last month. The cruise control failure started with an intermittent problem, then completely stopped working. Got the same error message on the display. Turned out it was just a faulty connection in the steering wheel wiring harness, the cable that connects the cruise control switches to the main system had come loose. The mechanic at the garage showed me how the wires were slightly corroded at the connector points. Wasn't a serious issue at all, just needed the harness connector cleaned and properly reseated. They also updated the control module software while they had it hooked up. Total repair time was about an hour. My advice would be to get it checked soon though, driving without proper cruise control function can be annoying, especially on longer trips.

Thanks so much for sharing that experience! Really helpful since it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Just wondering, would you mind sharing what the final bill came to? Also, has everything been working smoothly since the repair? I'm hoping it's just a similar wiring issue in my case too and not something more complex.

Hey there! Happy to help update you on this. Yes, my cruise control has been working perfectly since I had it fixed, not a single problem! The total bill came to 95€, which included the labor for cleaning and reseating the connector, plus that software update I mentioned. Pretty reasonable considering it was a BMW dealer repair. Honestly, it was such a relief that it turned out to be just a simple wiring connection issue rather than something more serious. The mechanic mentioned these connection problems are actually quite common in these models, especially as they get a bit older. If your symptoms are matching what I experienced, chances are good you're looking at a similar straightforward fix. The diagnostic scan should help confirm if it's the same issue. Just make sure whoever works on it knows their way around BMW electrical systems, that's pretty important with these cars. Let us know how it turns out for you! Always good to share these experiences so others can benefit too.

Just got back from the mechanic and wanted to update everyone! The issue was actually quite similar to what was described. Had it checked out at a BMW specialist and they found the same problem with the wiring harness connection. They did a thorough cleaning of the connectors and added some protective coating to prevent future corrosion. Bill came to 120€ which included a full diagnostic scan and a software update. Slightly more than expected but still way better than what I feared it might cost. Took my car for a test drive right after and the cruise control is working perfectly now. Really glad I asked here before panicking too much about it. Sometimes these seemingly major issues turn out to be pretty straightforward fixes. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it definitely helped me approach this repair with less anxiety!