BMW 3 Hybrid Central Locking Failure, Need Repair Help

Hey there! I've got some experience working on hybrids and had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW 5 Hybrid (also have a BMW 7 in the garage). Funny enough, I dealt with the exact same central locking problem last month. After taking it to my mechanic, turns out it was just a faulty wiring connection to the locking system. The repair was pretty straightforward, they had to replace some corroded cables and check the plug connections. Cost me 95 Euro and it's been working perfectly since then. Before you head to the workshop though, could you share: Are there any other electrical issues? Which error codes are you getting? Does the key fob battery still work? This would help me give you more specific advice based on what I learned from my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My situation sounds very similar. I'm getting error code U1111 and yes, already double-checked the key fob battery, it's fine. No other electrical issues that I've noticed so far. The car's running great otherwise, just had a service at 151081 KM and they didn't spot anything unusual. Your repair sounds way more reasonable than what I was expecting. Good to know it might just be a wiring issue rather than something major with the whole locking system. I'll definitely mention the wiring connections when I take it in. Really appreciate you breaking down what the fix involved in your case!

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up details. Yeah, that U1111 code is exactly what I had on my BMW too! It's really good news that you're not seeing any other electrical gremlins, that was the same in my case, which is why I was pretty confident it was just the wiring. Since you've just had a service, and they didn't spot anything else concerning, I'm even more convinced it's the same issue I had. Those corroded cables can be pretty sneaky, they don't always show obvious signs until they completely fail. Just a heads up, when my mechanic dug deeper, they found some moisture had gotten into the wiring harness near the door, which caused the corrosion. They actually ended up treating the area with some moisture protection after replacing the cables to prevent it from happening again. Might be worth asking your workshop about doing the same. I've put about 20,000 km on mine since the repair with zero issues, so fingers crossed you'll have the same luck. Let me know how it goes when you get it sorted, always curious to hear if these fixes work out the same for others!

Thanks so much for the extra info! That's really helpful to know about the moisture protection, I'll definitely ask about that when I take it in. Actually makes a lot of sense because we've had some pretty wet weather lately, and I've noticed some condensation around the doors occasionally. It's super reassuring to hear your car's been running without any issues since the repair. Will book it in tomorrow and make sure to mention everything you've told me, especially about checking the wiring harness near the door. Having these specific details will hopefully save some diagnostic time too. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's made me feel a lot better about getting this sorted. I'll update you once it's fixed. Thanks again for all your help!