BMW Electrical Chaos: FlexRay Bus Failure Warning Signs

Had a similar issue with my 2009 BMW 1 Series last month. Started with unusual electrical failures, radio cutting out, warning lights flashing, and system errors popping up everywhere. Turned out the main battery cable connector was severely corroded and had a loose connection at the terminal. The mechanic found that moisture had gotten into the main harness connector, causing intermittent connection problems that were affecting the whole FlexRay network. They had to replace the main cable assembly and clean all the connection points. Not a cheap fix, but definitely better than replacing the entire electrical system. For your case, I'd suggest getting the battery connections and main harness checked first before jumping to conclusions about the FlexRay bus. These connection issues can mimic more serious electrical problems. Have them check the ground points too, they're often overlooked but can cause similar symptoms. This wasn't just a quick fix. Had to leave my car at the garage for two days while they traced all the connections to make sure everything was properly sorted.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful since it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. It's good to know it might just be the connections rather than a complete system failure. Hey, do you remember what was the final cost for all that work? And has everything been running smoothly since they fixed it, or have you noticed any other electrical quirks?

Hey, glad to give you an update! After taking your advice about checking the connections, I had my car looked at by a different mechanic who actually knew what they were doing. Just wanted to let you know it's been running perfectly since the repair. You were spot on, it was indeed the FlexRay bus issue, but nothing too major. Turned out to be just a faulty cable connection that needed fixing. The best part? It only cost me 95 € to sort out, which was such a relief considering I was worried it might be something way more serious! The repair was actually pretty quick once they identified the problem. All the electrical systems are working perfectly now, no more unusual radio cutouts or warning lights flashing. It's like having a different car! Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helped me push for a proper diagnosis instead of just accepting the first mechanic's confusion. If anyone else runs into similar issues, definitely worth checking those connections first before assuming the worst.

What a relief to hear back about your repair! Thanks for updating me. You know, funny enough, I just got my car back from the shop yesterday. After your initial advice, I took it to a specialist who actually knew BMWs inside and out. The issue was totally different from what my first mechanic thought. Turns out there was a damaged wiring harness that was causing all the chaos. The repair took about three days because they had to order some special parts, but it was worth the wait. Cost me more than yours though, around 400 for parts and labor. The best part? No more unusual warning lights or system failures. The radio's working perfectly, and all those annoying error messages are gone. The specialist even cleaned up some corrosion they found while they were at it, which probably would've caused problems down the line. Really glad I reached out here. Sometimes you just need someone who's been through it to point you in the right direction. Thanks again for the help, saved me from potentially spending way more on unnecessary repairs!