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achimjones1

BMW i4 Keyless Entry Failure: Owner Seeks Fix

Hey car enthusiasts, having trouble with my 2023 BMW i4 (59k km). The keyless entry suddenly stopped working and I'm getting error messages about open-circuit current and battery issues. The car starts and drives fine, but I suspect the door handle electronics might be faulty. Had a not-so-great experience with my previous mechanic, so I'm hesitant about where to take it. Has anyone dealt with similar issues on their i4? Would love to hear about your experiences and recommendations for fixing this problem. Thanks in advance!

4 comment(s)

dennisice1

As a 2020 BMW iX3 owner, I faced a similar issue last month. The keyless system malfunction turned out to be a corroded connection in the door handle sensor module. After diagnosing, my mechanic found that moisture had seeped into the wiring harness connecting the door handle to the main control unit. The repair involved replacing the wiring harness and the sensor module. It wasn't a serious mechanical issue, but it needed immediate attention to prevent potential security risks. The job took about 4 hours, and they also updated the car's software as part of the fix. My advice would be to get it checked soon, these electrical gremlins can sometimes indicate early signs of more significant control module problems. Make sure to find a garage that specializes in BMW electric vehicles, as the diagnostic equipment needs to be compatible with the i4's systems.

achimjones1 (Author)

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know about the wiring harness and sensor module issue. Mine sounds pretty similar to what you described. If you don't mind me asking, what did the repair end up costing you? Also, have you had any other electrical quirks pop up since they fixed it? I want to make sure I budget properly and know what to look out for.

dennisice1

Hey there! Just wanted to give you a quick update on my previous experience, I actually got my iX3's door handle electronics fixed and it's been working perfectly since then. The total cost came to 95 € for fixing what turned out to be a faulty cable connection, which was way less than I initially feared. To answer your question about other electrical issues, nope, haven't had a single problem since the repair. The keyless entry works like a charm now, and all those annoying error messages about the battery and open circuits completely disappeared. I think catching it early really helped prevent any bigger issues from developing. The repair was honestly much simpler than the whole wiring harness replacement I initially thought I needed. My mechanic explained that it was just a loose connection that had developed over time, so it was a pretty straightforward fix. You might be just as lucky, these things often sound worse than they actually are! Let me know how it goes with yours. Always happy to share more details about my experience if you need them.

achimjones1 (Author)

Great news! I finally got my i4 fixed yesterday, and I'm so relieved it wasn't as bad as I'd feared. Took your advice and found a certified BMW specialist who really knew their stuff. Turns out my issue was similar but slightly different, a software glitch in the door control module was causing the keyless entry to malfunction. The mechanic did a complete system diagnostic and software update, which sorted out both the keyless entry and those annoying error messages. The whole thing took about two hours and cost me 150 €, more than your repair, but still way less than I was expecting to pay. The best part? The mechanic walked me through everything they were doing and even showed me some basic troubleshooting steps for the future. No more worrying about being stranded because of a faulty door handle! Really appreciate your help in pointing me in the right direction. The car's running perfectly now, and I finally feel like I can trust this new mechanic. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me make the right decision!

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