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WilBerg

BMW i4 Electronics Going Haywire, Owners Need Help Fast

BMW i4 2020, Multiple Electronic Glitches and Error Messages Hey everyone! I'm dealing with some frustrating issues with my 2020 BMW i4 (85,200 km). The car keeps showing unusual error messages, and the infotainment system acts up frequently. Sometimes the control units become unresponsive or shut down temporarily. The navigation and audio systems are particularly problematic. Had a not-so-great experience with my last mechanic, so I'm looking for suggestions. Has anyone experienced similar electronic gremlins with their i4? If so, what was the cause and where did you get it fixed? Thanks in advance for any insights!

Summary of the thread

A 2020 BMW i4 owner is experiencing multiple electronic glitches, including unusual error messages and unresponsive control units, particularly affecting the navigation and audio systems. A similar issue in another BMW model was traced to faulty cable connections and corrosion on connector pins, causing intermittent connectivity problems. The recommended solution is to have the vehicle checked at a certified dealership, as these symptoms often indicate serious connectivity issues in the electrical system. Proper diagnosis and repair, such as replacing the wiring harness and updating software, have resolved similar problems effectively.

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4 comment(s)

HellaSchmidt

Had the same issues with my 2023 BMW iX3. The unusual error messages and system shutdowns were really concerning. During my last garage visit, they diagnosed it as a faulty cable connection between the main control unit and the BUS system. The technician found corrosion on the connector pins, and some wires had worn insulation causing intermittent connection issues. The whole thing was interfering with the data transmission between different control modules. This explained why multiple systems were affected at once. It wasn't just a simple fix, they had to replace the entire wiring harness for that section and update the control unit software. The job took two days but solved all the electronic glitches. It was quite serious since it could've eventually led to complete system failure. My suggestion is to get it checked at a certified dealership. These symptoms usually point to connectivity issues in the electrical system, and it's not something you want to ignore or have fixed by someone without proper diagnostic tools.

WilBerg (community.author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! I had the exact same symptoms with my i4, and it was indeed a wiring harness issue. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working smoothly since they fixed it? My car's been fine for the past couple of months, but I'm a bit paranoid about these electrical gremlins coming back.

HellaSchmidt

Hey there! Happy to update you on my experience. After getting it fixed at the dealership, everything has been running perfectly smooth, no more annoying error messages or system glitches. The total bill came to 155 Euro for fixing that faulty cable connection between the control unit and the BUS system. I know what you mean about being paranoid, I kept watching the dashboard like a hawk for the first few weeks after the repair! But honestly, it's been absolutely rock-solid since then. The technician explained that once these connection issues are properly sorted, they rarely come back. Seems like they did a thorough job with my iX3, and it sounds like your mechanic nailed it too. The best part is not having to deal with those unusual system shutdowns anymore. The infotainment system and all the electronics are working just as they should. Definitely worth every penny spent on the repair. Keep us posted if you notice anything unusual, but I'd say you can probably stop worrying about those electrical gremlins now!

WilBerg (community.author)

Thanks for the reassurance! After my mechanic visit last week, I can finally share my full experience. The repair was a bit pricier at 220 Euro, but it was totally worth it. The technician found corroded wiring and needed to replace a section of the main harness, plus they did a complete system reset. What a relief to have everything working properly again! The infotainment system runs smoothly, no more unusual shutdowns, and those annoying error messages have disappeared. The mechanic spent about three hours on it, really taking their time to check all the connections. They also gave me some useful tips about keeping the electrical connections clean and dry to prevent future issues. You're right about being able to relax now, I've stopped obsessively checking the dashboard for warning lights! The car feels like new again, and I'm much more confident about its reliability. Thanks again for helping me understand what I was dealing with.

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BMW

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I4