BMW Z4 Multiple Errors, Emergency Call System to Blame?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2012 BMW 335i (also had experience working on my cousin's BMW M3). I have some experience working on cars, but mostly basic maintenance stuff. From what you're describing, it sounds exactly like what I dealt with. After getting unusual error messages and a frozen nav screen, my trusted mechanic found it was a faulty cable connection to the emergency call module. The repair involved checking and replacing some corroded connections. Cost me 95 Euro and fixed all those annoying errors at once. Before I can give more specific advice, could you share: Does the issue happen more when it's cold or wet outside? Are there any other electrical issues you've noticed? Have you had any recent work done on the car? This info would help me understand if you're dealing with the same root cause I had.

Thanks for your detailed response! I'm dealing with this right now at 168364 KM, and I've noticed the problems getting worse after rainy days. Haven't had any other electrical issues, and my last service was just routine maintenance about 3 months ago. The nav screen freezing is really starting to bug me, especially since I use it daily. Your fix sounds promising and way more affordable than what I was worried it might cost. Did your mechanic mention if this is a common issue with these modules? Really hoping it's just the cable connection like in your case.

Hey again! Yeah, your symptoms are matching up even more with what I experienced now that you mention the rain connection. That was exactly what tipped off my mechanic, these emergency call modules in our BMWs tend to get moisture-sensitive as they age. In my case (and from what my mechanic told me), it's actually pretty common in BMWs from around our model years. The connection points can get corroded over time, especially if water manages to seep in. Mine started acting up around 155000 KM, so we're in the same ballpark mileage-wise. The rain making it worse is a dead giveaway, that's exactly how mine behaved. The nav screen would freeze more often after wet weather, and all those other errors would pop up too. My mechanic showed me the corroded connector when he pulled it out, it was pretty crusty! Quick tip though, while waiting for the repair, I found that parking in covered spots helped minimize the issues. The fix has held up great for me since then (about 18 months now), no more frozen screens or unusual error messages. Since you're at 168364 KM, it's definitely worth getting those connections checked. Sounds like you've caught it before it gets too bad, which is good. The repair should be pretty straightforward for any mechanic who knows BMWs.

Thanks so much for all this information! Really relieved to hear your repair has held up for 18 months, that's super encouraging. I'm definitely going to get this checked out ASAP, and I'll mention the corrosion issue to my mechanic. Funny enough, I've already noticed the problems are less frequent when I park in my garage, which totally matches what you're saying about covered spots. Going to call my mechanic tomorrow and hopefully get this sorted before the next rain. This has been incredibly helpful, saved me a lot of worry about potentially major electrical issues. Thanks again for sharing your experience!