BMW iX Door Handle Electronics Causing Entry Nightmare

Hey there! Had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW i4 (love BMW EVs, also owned an i3 before). I've got some experience working with cars, but mainly basic maintenance stuff. The same thing happened to me, keyless entry completely dead. Turned out the door handle's wiring connection was loose and damaged, causing all sorts of electrical gremlins. Took it to my regular workshop, and they found a faulty cable connection in the handle assembly. The fix took about an hour, cost me 95 Euro including labor. But before you rush to the workshop, could you share what specific fault codes you're getting? Also, have you noticed any other electrical issues lately? Knowing your car's service history might help pinpoint if this is related to recent work done. Drop those details and I might be able to help more specifically with your iX!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've got 8603 KM on my iX since my latest service, and I'm getting P0B0C and U0164 fault codes. Haven't noticed any other electrical problems until now, but it's super frustrating not being able to use the keyless entry. Good to hear your issue was just a loose connection, hoping mine's that straightforward too. Did you notice if the problem got worse over time, or did it just suddenly stop working? My regular mechanic quoted me a much higher price than what you paid, so I'm a bit concerned about the repair costs.

Hey again! Thanks for those details about your iX. Actually, when I had this problem with my i4, it started intermittently at first, sometimes working, sometimes not, before completely failing. The fault codes you're getting are different from what I experienced (mine were related to door module communication), which makes me think your issue might be more complex than my loose connection. Thinking back, I got lucky with my repair costs because it was just that simple wiring fix. But I've heard from other BMW owners that these electronic door handle assemblies can be pretty pricey when they need complete replacement. My mechanic actually mentioned that the newer models like your iX have more sophisticated handle electronics than my 2019 i4. Given your higher quote, they might be suspecting the entire handle unit needs replacement rather than just fixing a connection. If you don't mind sharing, what price did they quote you? Just so you know, I recently chatted with another i4 owner who had to replace the whole handle assembly, and it cost them around 400-500 for parts plus labor. Before you proceed with the repair, might be worth getting a second opinion, especially if the quote seems excessive. These electronic issues can be tricky to diagnose correctly.

Thanks so much for the detailed response! That's really helpful context about how these issues can vary between models. My mechanic quoted around 750 for parts and labor, so hearing about your 's 400-500 repair makes me definitely want to get a second opinion now. I've noticed mine's actually starting to show that intermittent behavior you mentioned, sometimes it works for a few tries before failing again. Guess I should get it checked soon before it completely dies on me. Really appreciate you sharing your experience and the tip about the newer models having different electronics. I'll start calling around to other shops tomorrow and see if I can find someone who specializes in BMW EVs. Maybe I can find a better price while still getting quality work done. Let me know if you run into any other quirks with your i4, seems like you've got good insight into these cars!