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walterfox37

BMW i3 Steering Controls & Safety Systems Fail

Buttons on multifunction steering wheel without function

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Fault stored

Help needed: BMW i3 2020 steering wheel controls completely dead Having issues with my 2020 BMW i3 Hybrid (139k km) and need your input. The multifunction steering wheel is totally unresponsive, and all driver assistance features stopped working. Also got an airbag warning light. Anyone experienced something similar? Last mechanic visit wasn't great, so looking for suggestions before choosing where to take it. What was your experience and repair cost if you've dealt with this?

4 comment(s)


alinaschulz2

I had a similar issue with my BMW i8 2017 Hybrid last month. The steering wheel controls died completely along with driver assists. My mechanic found it was a faulty clock spring cable in the steering column, it's basically the wiring connection that keeps all steering wheel functions working while you turn the wheel. The repair wasn't super complicated, but it's definitely something you want fixed properly because it affects both your controls and the airbag system. The mechanic had to replace the entire clock spring unit. They also performed a system reset afterward to clear all the warning lights. I wouldn't call it a minor issue since it involves safety systems, but it's a known problem that good BMW specialists can handle. Make sure you go to someone who knows these hybrid models well. My repair took about 4 hours total. Hope this helps with your decision. Let us know what you find out.

walterfox37 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience with the clock spring issue. That's really helpful and sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Would you mind sharing what the repair ended up costing you? Also curious if everything's been working properly since the fix? I'm trying to get a better idea of what to expect cost-wise and whether I should prepare for any potential follow-up issues.

alinaschulz2

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up on your questions. After getting my i8's clock spring fixed, everything has been working perfectly, all steering wheel controls are back to normal and those annoying error messages are gone. The multifunction steering wheel is working like a charm now. The total repair came to 95€, which covered fixing the cable connection in the steering wheel. Honestly, I was relieved it wasn't more expensive, as BMW repairs can sometimes really hit the wallet hard. The mechanic got it sorted in one go, and I haven't had any issues since, no warning lights, all driver assists working properly, and the airbag system is back to normal. Just make sure you find a mechanic who's familiar with BMW hybrids. Mine knew exactly what he was doing, and that made a huge difference. I understand your concern about follow-up issues, but I'm six weeks in now and everything's still working perfectly. It seems like once it's fixed properly, it stays fixed. Let me know how it goes when you get yours repaired!

walterfox37 (Author)

Thanks for all the detailed info! I bit the bullet and took my i3 to a specialist mechanic yesterday. Turns out you were spot on about the clock spring, that was exactly the problem. My repair ended up being a bit pricier at 150€ since they had to order a specific part, but honestly, I'm just glad it's fixed. The whole experience wasn't nearly as painful as I'd feared. The mechanic was upfront about everything and got it done in about 3 hours. They even showed me the old part and explained what went wrong. Pretty fascinating actually, never realized how such a small component could cause so many issues! All the controls are working perfectly now, and that annoying airbag light is finally off. The steering wheel buttons feel more responsive than they have in months. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helped me know what to expect and gave me confidence to get it sorted. Sometimes it just takes hearing from someone who's been through the same thing!

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