BMW i4 Parking Brake Failure: Multiple System Issues

Hi there! I have some experience with EVs, and I faced a very similar issue with my 2020 BMW iX3 last summer (also happened to my with his i3). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I encountered, faulty brake caliper motor. I took mine to a workshop and they diagnosed a defective electric motor in the brake caliper, which was causing the parking brake and related systems to fail. The repair set me back 505 Euro, but it fixed all the issues completely. Before you proceed, could you share: How many miles/kilometers on your i4? Are you hearing any unusual sounds when engaging the parking brake? Did this start suddenly or gradually? This info would help confirm if we're dealing with the same problem. Let me know, and I can share more details about the repair process.

Thanks for the detailed response! Just had my latest service about a month ago, and yes, I'm getting a grinding noise when trying to engage the parking brake. It started quite suddenly, just yesterday actually. My i4 has 27681 KM on the clock. This definitely sounds similar to what you experienced. I'll get it checked out at the workshop right away. Did you need to wait long for the parts when they did your repair? Really hoping this won't leave me without the car for too long!

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Those symptoms are absolutely identical to what I experienced, especially that grinding noise! Mine started just as suddenly too. About the parts availability, in my case, they had the brake caliper motor in stock and the whole repair took just under a day. I dropped the car off in the morning and picked it up late afternoon. But I know my with his i3 had to wait about 3-4 days for the part to arrive. Just a heads up, while they're replacing the motor, they'll probably need to recalibrate several systems since everything's connected these days. The good news is that once it's fixed, it's really fixed, I haven't had any issues since the repair last summer. If it helps, keep a close eye on the brake warning light. In my case, it started flashing occasionally before staying on permanently. Also, make sure to mention the grinding noise to the technicians, it's a dead giveaway for this specific issue. Let me know how it goes with the repair. I'm curious if they find the same problem as mine!

Thanks so much for all this information! It's really reassuring to know this is a known issue with a clear fix. I've actually just called the workshop and booked it in for tomorrow morning. They mentioned they usually keep these parts in stock, so fingers crossed I'll have the same quick turnaround as you did. The flashing warning light you mentioned, that's exactly what mine did before staying solid! You're right about the systems being connected too. It's amazing how one component can affect so many features. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I'll definitely update once it's sorted! Thanks again for your help with this. It's made me feel much better about the whole situation knowing it's a straightforward fix.