BMW i3 Cruise Control Failure: Error Messages & Solutions

Hey there! I had something similar with my 2018 BMW i8 Hybrid last year. I have some experience working on cars, but nothing too advanced. When my cruise control stopped working, I first panicked thinking it was something major. Took it to my regular workshop, and turns out it was just a faulty cable connection to the cruise control module. The mechanic found some error codes related to the system too. Fixed it for 95 Euro, mostly labor costs for diagnosing and fixing the connection. Could you share what specific error codes you're getting? Also, have you noticed any other electrical issues or warning lights? That would help figure out if you're dealing with the same problem I had. These BMW hybrids can be tricky with their electronics sometimes, my mechanic told me it's pretty common with the i3s and i8s.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My issue sounds quite similar. Just had my service done at 125045 KM and everything was fine until last week. I'm getting error code P0575, along with a few others that I'd need to check again. No other electrical issues so far, just the cruise control being completely unresponsive. Good to hear it might just be a cable connection, definitely less scary than what I was imagining! Did your mechanic mention any specific connection points I should ask them to check? I'd rather go in with some knowledge before they start digging around.

Hey again! Yeah, actually after my mechanic fixed my i8, he showed me exactly what was causing the trouble. The P0575 code, that's exactly what I had too! Pretty interesting coincidence. In my case, the main issue was around the steering column area where there's a bunch of wiring that connects to the cruise control module. My mechanic showed me that there was some slight corrosion on one of the connectors, which was causing intermittent connection problems. There's also a connection point under the dash that they had to check. Since you're getting the same error code, I'd definitely suggest having them look at those specific areas first. One thing I learned from my experience, make sure they check all the ground connections too. My mechanic said sometimes these issues can be caused by a bad ground wire, even though it seems unrelated. By the way, after they fixed mine, it's been working perfectly for over a year now. Just get it checked soon, driving without cruise control is such a pain, especially if you do longer trips like I do. Let me know how it goes when you get it sorted!

I'll continue as (the original poster): Thanks so much for the detailed explanation! That's super helpful, especially about the steering column wiring and ground connections. I've booked my car in for tomorrow morning and I'll definitely mention these specific areas to the mechanic. It's really reassuring to hear yours has been working perfectly since the fix. You're absolutely right about driving without cruise control being a pain, I do a lot of long drives for work and I've really noticed its absence this past week. I'm hopeful it'll be a similar straightforward fix like yours was. I'll update the thread once I get it sorted out. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's made me feel a lot better about the whole situation!