BMW M4 Display Dead: iDrive System Complete Blackout Fix

Hey there! I've got some experience working on cars. I actually had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW M3 last year. The symptoms were exactly the same, black screen, no infotainment, nothing. My dealer initially suspected a CAN-BUS issue and charged me 235 Euro to diagnose and "fix" it. Turned out that wasn't the actual problem at all. In the end, it was just a faulty main control unit that needed replacement. The diagnostic process was a bit frustrating, took my car to two different workshops before getting it properly fixed. Before I can share more specific details that might help, could you share: Does your battery have a good charge? Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Did you get any warning messages before the screen went dead? Have you tried disconnecting the battery for about 15 minutes to reset the system? My M3 experience might help, but these issues can vary between different production years and even within the same model.

Thanks for sharing that experience! My M4 has only 11081 KM on it since my latest service, so this is quite frustrating to deal with. I actually tried the battery disconnect trick already, no luck. The battery is in good shape and I haven't noticed any other electrical gremlins. The screen just went completely dark during a normal drive, no warning messages beforehand. I'm really hoping it's not the main control unit like in your case, but it's starting to sound similar. Did your warranty cover the replacement? I'm still under warranty, so fingers crossed if it comes to that.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your M4. I totally feel your frustration, especially with such low mileage since the last service! Yeah, this is sounding more and more like what I dealt with on my M3. Since you've already tried the battery reset (which was my first go-to fix), and you're not seeing any other electrical issues, I'm pretty convinced it's the main control unit. In my case, the replacement part was about 1800 Euro, but thankfully my warranty covered it completely. The labor took about 4 hours. Since you mentioned you're still under warranty, you're definitely in a better position than many others with this issue. I'd strongly recommend getting it to your dealer ASAP, they should handle it under warranty just like they did with mine. The good news is that once they replace the unit, it's usually a permanent fix. I haven't had any issues since the replacement, and it's been about 14 months now. Just a heads up, make sure they properly test the new unit before you take the car back. In my case, they had to reprogram it twice to get everything working correctly with the car's systems. Don't let them rush the job. Keep us posted on what they find, really curious to know if it's the same issue as mine!

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! Really appreciate you sharing all those specifics about the repair process. I actually just called my dealer and scheduled an appointment for tomorrow morning. Your experience gives me a better idea of what to expect, especially about the reprogramming part. I'll definitely make sure they test everything thoroughly before I take it back. It's actually a relief to hear that once it's fixed, it stays fixed. That 1800 euro price tag would've been painful without warranty coverage! I'll be sure to update this thread once I get the diagnosis and repair sorted out. Thanks again for all your help, it's made this whole situation feel a lot less stressful knowing someone else has successfully dealt with the same issue. Looking forward to having my infotainment back up and running! Will keep you posted on what they find.