BMW 8 Nav Dead, Transport Mode Issues and Solutions

Hey there! I had some experience with a similar issue on my 2020 BMW 7 series (also had a chance to drive the 5 series). I'd say I have some experience with BMW electrical systems. Your symptoms sound really familiar. My nav system died completely, along with those annoying electrical warnings. Turned out it was indeed the Transport Mode issue. Since my car was still under warranty, I took it to the dealership and they deactivated Transport Mode through their diagnostic system, took them about 30 minutes. Didn't cost me anything. Before suggesting anything specific, could you share: Are you still under warranty? Have you checked if any recent software updates were installed? Does your iDrive system work at all, or is it completely unresponsive? This would help me give you more targeted advice based on what worked in my case.

Thanks for the detailed response! My car just had its latest service about 2 months ago at around 10,670 KM. Unfortunately, I'm out of warranty now. The iDrive system is working but super glitchy, sometimes it starts up fine, other times it's completely dead. No recent software updates that I'm aware of, but I'll double check that. The timing is weird because everything was working perfectly until last week. If you dealt with similar glitches, would really appreciate any DIY fixes before I have to shell out for the dealership!

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details, that definitely helps paint a clearer picture. I dealt with very similar glitchy behavior in my BMW before getting it sorted. Based on what you're describing with the intermittent iDrive behavior, it's most likely more than just Transport Mode. In my case, after dealing with the Transport Mode issue, I still had some electrical gremlins that turned out to be related to a weak battery. These systems are super sensitive to voltage fluctuations. Since you're out of warranty (just like I was with my previous BMW), here's what worked for me before having to visit the dealer: 1. First, try disconnecting the battery for about 30 minutes, this worked as a temporary fix for me several times. Just remember you'll need to reset your clock and some settings afterward. 2. If you've got a battery tester, check your battery voltage. My issues started showing up when my battery dropped below 12.4V. 3. Clear the error codes if you have access to a basic OBD scanner. Sometimes just clearing them can help stabilize the system. In the end, I did have to visit a specialist, but trying these steps first helped me understand the problem better. If these don't work, you might need professional diagnostic equipment to properly deactivate Transport Mode and check for any other underlying issues. Let me know if you try any of these, curious to hear if they work for you like they did for me!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and those DIY suggestions! I actually have a basic OBD scanner from when I was messing with my old car, so I'll definitely try clearing the codes first. The battery tip is really interesting, now that you mention it, I've noticed my car being a bit sluggish to start lately, so that could definitely be connected to these electrical issues. I'll grab a battery tester from my who works on cars and check the voltage. Think I'll try your suggestions in order, first the code clearing, then the battery test, and if needed, the battery disconnect trick. Really hoping these solve it because dealer prices are crazy these days! If none of these work, I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and take it to a specialist. I'll update you on how it goes after I try these fixes this weekend. Thanks again for taking the time to help out with such detailed advice!