BMW X4 Emergency Call Failures: Fixes & Costs Revealed

I had a similar issue with my BMW X3 2020 last winter. The emergency call system was giving me the exact same problems, unusual error messages and calls dropping immediately. Turned out the emergency backup battery was completely dead. This battery is separate from the main car battery and is specifically for the emergency call system. The backup battery's supposed to last around 3-4 years, so it wasn't too surprising. When I took it to the garage, they confirmed the diagnosis using their diagnostic tools. They had to replace the entire emergency call module since the battery isn't sold separately. It wasn't a complex repair, took them about an hour to swap out the module and reprogram the system. While it wasn't a critical issue for daily driving, it's definitely important for safety features. The car runs fine without it, but you lose the automatic emergency call function in case of an accident. Would suggest getting it checked out soon since your X4 might still be under warranty. Just make sure they check both the module and do a full system diagnostic before replacing anything. Sometimes it can just be a software glitch that needs reprogramming.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful. I'm definitely seeing the same symptoms you described with the error messages and dropped calls. Seems like I'm heading down the same path with the backup battery. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the module replacement and reprogramming? Also, have you had any other issues pop up with the emergency call system since the repair?

Hey there! Happy to help with those questions. Since you mentioned costs, I actually just paid 110 € to get the emergency battery issue fixed, and it's been working perfectly since then. No more annoying error messages or dropped emergency calls. The best part is, since getting it repaired a few months ago, I haven't had a single problem with the emergency call system. It's working exactly like it should now. The mechanic was spot on with diagnosing the drained emergency battery as the culprit. I know how frustrating these system errors can be, but once it's fixed, it's totally worth the peace of mind. Especially since this is such an important safety feature in our BMWs. If you're seeing the same symptoms I had, getting it checked out sooner rather than later is definitely the way to go. Just make sure they do a proper diagnostic test first, no point replacing parts unless they're absolutely sure it's the backup battery causing the issue. In my case, it was pretty straightforward once they pinpointed the problem.

Thanks so much for the detailed info! I actually just got back from the mechanic today and wanted to share an update. You were right about getting it checked out quickly, turns out my issue was exactly the same as yours. The backup battery was completely dead. The total cost came to about 120 €, just a bit more than what you paid. The mechanic was really thorough and ran all the diagnostics first, just like you suggested. They confirmed it was definitely the battery and not just a software glitch. The whole repair only took about an hour and a half. The best part? The emergency call system is working perfectly now. No more error messages popping up on my dashboard, and the test calls are going through without any issues. Such a relief to have it fixed! Really appreciate everyone's help with this. It's great to know I wasn't being overcharged, and the fix was exactly what was needed. Case closed on this one!