BMW 4 Series Tailgate Malfunction: Sensors Acting Up?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2015 BMW 3 series last year. I've got some experience working on cars, but electrical problems aren't really my forte. The symptoms were exactly like yours, tailgate acting up and throwing error codes. Took it to my regular workshop and turned out it was just a loose connection in the wiring harness going to the tailgate. The mechanic found that one of the plugs wasn't properly seated, causing intermittent connection issues. Total repair was 95 Euro, mainly labor costs for diagnosing and fixing the connection. Can you share what error code you're getting? Also, does your tailgate make any unusual sounds when trying to operate it? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My BMW is actually at 172730 KM and was recently serviced last month. The error code I'm getting is P0916, and yes, there's definitely a clicking sound when I try to operate the tailgate. It's really reassuring to hear that your fix was relatively straightforward and inexpensive. I was worried it might be something more serious. When it acts up, sometimes I can hear the motor trying to work, but it just won't complete the open/close cycle. Did you notice anything similar before you got yours fixed?

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your BMW. Yeah, that clicking sound and the incomplete cycle, that's exactly what mine was doing before I got it fixed! And with your mileage being similar to what mine was when I had the issue (mine was around 165,000 km), it's sounding more and more like the same problem. The P0916 code and that motor sound you're describing, that's super familiar. When mine was acting up, I could also hear the motor struggling, especially during cold mornings. At first, I was convinced it was the hall sensor too, but as I mentioned, it turned out to be just that loose connection in the wiring harness. Quick question, have you noticed if the problem gets worse when it's cold or after the car's been sitting for a while? With mine, it was definitely more temperamental in those conditions, which is actually what helped the mechanic pinpoint the wiring issue rather than a sensor problem. Given how similar your symptoms are to what I experienced, I'd bet you're dealing with the same wiring harness issue. Still worth getting it checked out properly, but hopefully you'll get lucky like I did with a simple fix rather than needing any major parts replaced.

Thanks so much for the follow-up! You've actually made me feel a lot better about this whole situation. And yes, now that you mention it, the problem is definitely worse in the morning or after the car's been sitting idle for a while! I hadn't made that connection before, but it makes total sense if it's a wiring issue. The similarity between our situations is quite striking, same symptoms, similar mileage, and even the behavior pattern. I'm going to mention your experience to my mechanic when I take it in tomorrow. It'll be great if it turns out to be just a loose connection like yours was. Much better than having to replace the entire hall sensor or something more expensive! Really appreciate you taking the time to share all these details. I'll update you once I get it checked out, but I'm feeling much more optimistic now. Fingers crossed it's just a wiring harness issue that can be sorted quickly and cheaply!