BMW 6 Series Door Handle Electronics & Battery Issues Fix

Hey! I have some experience working with BMWs. I faced a similar issue with my 2013 BMW 5 Series (coming from a BMW 3 Series before that). Had the exact same symptoms, keyless entry failed and got those battery warnings. Took it to my trusted workshop and they found a faulty cable connection in the door handle sensor unit. The repair was pretty straightforward, they replaced the wiring and reconnected everything properly. Cost me 95 Euro and it's been working perfectly since then. What's your exact model and engine variant? Might be able to give more specific advice since these issues can vary slightly between different versions. Also, have you noticed any other electrical issues lately?

Thanks for sharing your experience! I have the 2011 BMW 650i with the gasoline engine. Just had my service last month at 36445 KM. Good to know it could be just a wiring issue, that sounds less scary than what I was imagining. Haven't noticed any other electrical problems, everything else seems to work fine. Did your mechanic mention how common this issue is? I'm wondering if I should just go straight to the workshop or try troubleshooting it myself first.

Hey again! Glad to help out. Yeah, after dealing with this on my 5 Series, I can tell you these wiring issues are actually pretty common in BMWs from that era. My mechanic mentioned he sees this problem quite often, especially in the 5 and 6 Series models. Since you've got the 650i, it's probably very similar to what I dealt with. Given that everything else is working fine, it does sound exactly like what I experienced. While I'm pretty handy with cars myself, I'd recommend going straight to the workshop for this one. The wiring in these door handles can be quite tricky to access, and you don't want to risk damaging other components while trying to fix it. Just make sure they check the entire wiring harness in the door handle unit, not just the visible parts. In my case, the problem was actually hidden behind the handle assembly. Also, while they're at it, have them check the battery voltage, sometimes these symptoms can be related to a weak battery, even if it's not the main issue. Mine's been perfect for about 8 months now since the repair. Just keep in mind that the repair cost might vary a bit from what I paid since you've got a different model. Let me know how it goes!

Thanks so much for the detailed advice! Really helpful to know it's a common issue, that actually makes me feel better about the whole situation. You're probably right about taking it straight to the workshop. I'm decent with basic maintenance but wouldn't want to mess around with complex wiring, especially in the door handle assembly. I'll definitely have them check the battery too, even though it's relatively new. I'll make an appointment with my workshop tomorrow. It's reassuring to hear your repair has held up well for 8 months now. Will let you know how it turns out on my end, thanks again for all your help!