BMW i4 Windshield Heating System Failure, Solutions Needed

Hey there! I've got some experience working on EVs and had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW iX3 (love that lineup alongside the i4!). The exact same thing happened to me, windows wouldn't heat at all. Turned out my battery had gotten super low during a cold spell and couldn't provide enough juice to the heating systems. After a proper diagnosis at my workshop, they found the battery needed reconditioning. The whole thing set me back 290 Euro but fixed the problem completely. Before you head to the service center though, could you share: Does this happen all the time or only when the battery's at a certain level? Any other electrical issues you've noticed? When did it start happening? I'd be happy to share more details based on my experience once I know a bit more about your situation.

Thanks for the detailed response! I haven't noticed any connection with the battery level, this is happening consistently regardless of charge. The issue started about a week ago, and it's my first problem since getting the car (currently at 67887 KM). No other electrical gremlins to report, everything else works perfectly fine. I might try that battery reconditioning you mentioned when I take it in for service, though I suspect it could be something else since my battery performance has been normal. Really appreciate the help!

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your i4. You know, given what you've shared, I'm actually thinking this might be different from what I experienced with my iX3. Since your issue is consistent regardless of the battery level and you're not seeing any other electrical problems, I'm leaning towards it being either a faulty heating element or a control module issue. In my case, the battery reconditioning worked because it was clearly battery-related, my problems always showed up when the charge was low. But your situation sounds more like what my colleague encountered with his i4, turned out to be a defective control module for the heating system. It was a straightforward fix but definitely needed professional attention. One quick thing you might try though, have you checked if there's a software update available? Sometimes these heating issues can be resolved with a system update. The i4's pretty tech-heavy, after all. But honestly, given the symptoms, I'd say get it to the service center. They'll be able to run a proper diagnostic and pinpoint exactly what's going on. Keep us posted on what they find, always good to know for future reference!

Really appreciate your thorough insights! You're probably right about it being different from your battery-related issue. I hadn't thought about checking for software updates, just tried that but no luck there. I've already scheduled an appointment with the service center for next week, and I'm definitely leaning towards your theory about the control module or heating element being the culprit. Makes total sense given the consistent nature of the problem. I'll make sure to report back once I get the diagnosis. It's super helpful having this kind of knowledge from other BMW EV owners, definitely makes me feel more informed heading into the service appointment. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience and walk through the possibilities with me. Even if it turns out to be something different, at least I've got a better understanding of what might be going on!