BMW X7 Cruise Control Failure, Owner Seeks Solutions

I had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW X5 40i. The cruise control failed completely, showing error messages on the display. After diagnosing it at the garage, they found it was a faulty wiring connection to the steering wheel control module. The connector had worked itself loose over time and was causing intermittent failures. The fix wasn't too complicated, they had to remove the steering wheel cover, reconnect and secure the wiring harness, and reset the system. It wasn't a serious mechanical issue, more of an annoying electrical gremlin. The whole thing took about two hours to diagnose and repair. If you're getting error codes, it's likely something similar. Before taking it to a shop, you might want to check if your car has any software updates pending, as sometimes these systems need a reset after updates. But given that it's a relatively new car, I'd recommend having a certified dealership look at it since these systems are pretty complex.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the X5! That's really helpful to know it was just a wiring issue in your case. Been thinking about mine and hoping it's something similarly straightforward. By the way, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working fine since they fixed it? Just want to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise and if it's likely to be a one-time fix or something that could come back.

Hey there! Yes, absolutely, wanted to update you on that. My repair was completely successful and the cruise control has been working perfectly ever since. The total bill came to 95 € for fixing the faulty cable connection, which was actually less than I initially expected. They found the connector was loose and slightly corroded, so they cleaned it up, secured it properly, and ran a full system check afterwards. I'd say it was definitely worth getting it sorted at the dealer. Haven't had a single problem with the cruise control in the months since the repair. It turned out to be a one-and-done fix, which was a relief. These modern BMWs have such complex electronics that sometimes what seems like a major issue can be solved with a relatively simple repair. Based on my experience, I think you're making the right call getting it checked out. Even if it ends up being something different from what I had, at least you'll have peace of mind knowing exactly what's wrong and getting it fixed properly.

Thank you so much for the info! Finally got my car back from the mechanic today, and I'm happy to report it was a pretty simple fix. Turns out it wasn't even the same issue as yours, they found a faulty sensor that was causing the cruise control to shut down. The repair took about an hour and a half, and the total cost came to around 150 including parts and labor. I was pretty relieved it wasn't anything major, especially after worrying about it so much. The mechanic I went to was actually really good, took the time to explain everything and even showed me the faulty part. Definitely a better experience than my last repair shop visit. The cruise control is working perfectly now, and they did a full system check to make sure everything else was running properly too. Just wanted to update everyone here and say thanks again for the advice. Sometimes these car issues seem scary at first, but they often turn out to be simpler than we expect!