BMW 6 Multiple Warning Lights & Control System Failure

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and had a similar issue with my 2014 BMW 5 series diesel. Those warning lights can really freak you out, right? I took my car to the workshop last month because I was getting exactly the same symptoms, multiple warning lights and dead steering wheel controls. Turned out it was just a faulty wiring connection in the steering wheel module. The mechanic found a loose plug that was causing all those systems to go haywire. The repair was pretty straightforward, they just had to reconnect and secure the plug properly. Cost me 95 Euro total. Before you assume it's the cruise control, could you share more details about when these issues started? Does it happen right after starting the car or while driving? Also, which exact 6 series model do you have (640d, 635d)? Might help narrow down the possible causes since different variants can have slightly different setups.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My 640d started showing these issues about a week ago, usually about 10-15 minutes into driving. Had my last service just 2 months back at 194940 KM and everything was fine then. Really helpful to hear about the loose wiring, makes me feel a bit better that it might not be something major. Will definitely get the steering wheel module checked out. Did your mechanic mention how long the repair usually takes?

Hey again! Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the timing of the issues. When I had my 535d fixed, the actual repair only took about an hour once they identified the problem. My mechanic said these wiring issues in the steering wheel module are more common than you'd think in our BMWs, especially as they age. Just to add to what I mentioned before, in my case, the symptoms also started showing up mid-drive, just like yours. The interesting thing was that sometimes everything would work fine for days, then suddenly all those warning lights would go crazy again. The intermittent nature of the problem was actually what helped point to the wiring issue. Since you mentioned your mileage, mine was around 180000 KM when this happened. The mechanic told me that the constant movement and vibration in the steering wheel can eventually cause these connections to work loose over time. Pretty common wear and tear stuff, really. Quick tip: when you take it in, ask them to check all the connectors in that area, not just the obvious ones. My guy found a second slightly loose connection while he was in there, and fixing both definitely made sure the problem didn't come back.

Thanks again for all the detailed info! This really helps me understand what I might be dealing with. It's crazy how similar our situations are, especially the part about the warnings showing up mid-drive. Mine does the same thing with working fine some days and going nuts on others. I'll definitely ask about checking all the connectors, not just the obvious ones. I've booked my car in for next week, and based on what you've said, I'm feeling much more confident it's not going to be some massive repair bill. An hour's labor and some connector fixes sounds way better than what I was imagining! I just hope my mechanic is as thorough as yours was. Will make sure to mention the steering wheel module wiring specifically when I drop it off. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful in pointing me in the right direction!