BMW Z4 Central Lock System Failing, Fix Advice Needed

Hi there! I have some experience working on BMWs. I actually faced a similar issue with my 2016 BMW M4 last year. The symptoms were exactly like yours, central locking completely stopped working. After taking it to my regular workshop, they found it was just a faulty wiring connection to the door lock actuator. The cables had worn out over time causing intermittent connection issues. Total repair cost was 95 Euro including labor. Pretty straightforward fix once they identified the problem. The mechanic replaced the damaged cables and checked all connections. What's the mileage on your Z4? Also, are you getting any specific error messages on the dashboard? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same issue I had. If you want, I can recommend what to look out for when getting this fixed. Let me know if you need any other details about my repair experience.

Thanks for sharing that info! My Z4 is currently at 126690 KM and just had its service last month. I'm getting a similar situation with mine. Interesting that you mentioned the wiring, I've noticed the issue seems worse during cold mornings. Did you notice any pattern like that before getting it fixed? The price you mentioned sounds quite reasonable. Was thinking it might cost way more, especially being a BMW repair. Really hope it's just the wiring in my case too and not something more serious with the control module. When your mechanic fixed it, how long did the repair take?

Oh yeah, the cold weather connection makes total sense! Had exactly the same thing with my M4, it would act up more in the morning before the car warmed up. That's actually what helped my mechanic pinpoint it was a wiring issue rather than a module problem. The repair itself only took about an hour and a half. My mechanic showed me the worn-out wires afterward, you could clearly see where they had frayed inside the door. Given your mileage is pretty close to what mine was when I had the issue (I was at around 115000 KM), it's likely the same problem. Just make sure whoever works on it checks all the door wiring harnesses, not just the obviously faulty one. My mechanic found another wire that was starting to wear in the passenger door too, so we preventively fixed that while we were at it. Added about 30 Euro to the bill but totally worth avoiding another trip to the shop a few months later. After the fix, everything's been working perfectly for over a year now. No more morning struggles with the locks! Let me know how yours turns out, pretty confident it'll be a similar quick fix given the symptoms match up so well.

Thanks so much for all this detail, really helpful! Good call on checking all the door wiring harnesses. I'll definitely mention that to my mechanic when I take it in. The morning symptoms matching yours gives me hope it's just the wiring issue. Honestly, I'm relieved it's likely not going to be some massive repair bill. An hour and a half job plus the preventive fix on other wires sounds like a smart approach. I'll go ahead and book it in for next week. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I'll update the forum once I get it sorted in case anyone else runs into similar issues with their Z4. Having someone who's been through the same problem really helps put my mind at ease about the whole thing.