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louiseule7

BMW 7 Series Nav Dead: Transport Mode Mystery Alert

Navigationssystem is not working

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General electrical malfunction

Hey car people! My 2001 BMW 7 series with gas engine has suddenly developed some electrical gremlins. The navigation system is completely dead and I'm getting general electrical malfunction warnings. I suspect it might be related to transport mode being active. Has anyone dealt with this before? Curious about workshop experiences and successful fixes, would really help me pinpoint the issue. What was the actual problem in your case?

4 comment(s)


SebSchm

Hey there! I have some experience working on BMWs. I actually had a similar electrical gremlin issue with my 2003 BMW 5 series (very similar electrical system to the 7 series). The symptoms were nearly identical, dead nav system and those annoying electrical warnings popping up. In my case, I took it to the dealership since my car was still under warranty. They confirmed it was indeed the transport mode that hadn't been properly deactivated. It's basically a power-saving mode used when vehicles are being transported from factory. The fix was quick, just needed proper deactivation through their diagnostic system. Could you share more details about when these issues started? Did it happen suddenly or gradually? Also, are you experiencing any other electrical quirks like weird behavior with windows or locks? This info would help confirm if we're dealing with the same problem. The fix was free in my case since my 5 series was still under warranty. Let me know those details and I'll try to help further!

louiseule7 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! Just had my service done at 57090 KM and this issue started right after. Mine also began quite suddenly, literally overnight. And yes, I'm noticing the power windows are a bit sluggish too, especially the rear ones. Really hoping it's just the transport mode like in your case. Would be way better than a full electrical system problem! Did you notice any warning lights on the dash before taking it to the dealer?

SebSchm

Yeah, I totally get what you're going through, must be really frustrating! Actually, now that you mention the timing after service, that rings a bell. My issues also popped up right after routine maintenance, around 63,000 KM if I remember correctly. And those sluggish windows? Exactly what I experienced! Before taking it to the dealer, I did get a few warning lights on the dash, mainly the general electrical malfunction light, but occasionally the ABS light would flicker too. Drove me nuts for about a week before I finally took it in. The service guys explained that sometimes during routine maintenance, if they disconnect the battery, the system can accidentally go into transport mode. That's probably what happened to both of us. In my case, they just needed to hook it up to their diagnostic computer and reset everything properly. Quick heads up though, when they fixed mine, I had to reprogram all my radio presets and reset the clock afterward. Small hassle, but way better than dealing with a major electrical problem! Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out.

louiseule7 (Author)

Thanks so much for all that detailed info! You've actually made me feel a lot better about this whole situation. I've been stressing about potentially facing a huge repair bill, but this transport mode thing sounds much more manageable. Come to think of it, my ABS light has been flickering too, just like you mentioned! I'll definitely get it checked out this week. Really appreciate the heads-up about the radio presets and clock, at least I can be prepared for that minor inconvenience. You've saved me a lot of worry here. I'll probably back up my nav system favorites too, just to be on the safe side. Can't thank you enough for sharing your experience!

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