BMW i3 ABS Warning + Heavy Steering Issues

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars, and I actually faced something very similar with my 2016 BMW i8 last year. My cousin also owns a BMW 5 series, which helped me learn a bit about these cars. Got my car to my regular workshop when I noticed those exact same symptoms, ABS light, heavy steering, and vibrations. Turned out one of the tire valve sensors was defective, causing incorrect pressure readings and making the ABS system act up. The whole repair, including parts and labor, set me back about 280 Euro, but it fixed the issue completely. Just to be sure we're dealing with the same problem, have you noticed any specific tire pressure warnings? Does the vibration change with speed? Are all four tires relatively new? This info would help me figure out if you're dealing with the same issue I had. Sometimes these BMWs can be tricky with their warning systems!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Just got my car serviced last month at 60038 KM, so this issue caught me by surprise. Yes, I've been getting tire pressure warnings occasionally, and the vibration definitely gets worse at higher speeds. The tires are about a year old, but I'll double-check their condition today. I'm relieved to hear your issue had a straightforward fix, really hoping it's just the tire pressure sensors in my case too. Did you notice any unusual noises along with the vibration when you had this problem? The steering feels particularly heavy when making turns, which has me a bit concerned.

Hey again! Glad to hear back from you. Yeah, I remember when I had this issue with my i8, I also noticed the steering got particularly heavy during turns. There was this subtle grinding noise, especially during low-speed turns, did you notice anything like that? Since you mentioned your tires are relatively new, this further confirms my suspicion that it's likely the same sensor issue I dealt with. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) in these BMWs can sometimes malfunction and cause the ABS to act up as a safety measure. When my sensors were acting up, the car's computer was getting confused and affecting multiple systems at once. One thing I didn't mention in my first reply, before getting it fixed, I tried resetting the tire pressure monitoring system myself (there's a button in the menu), but that only solved the issue temporarily. The warning lights came back after a few days. That's when I knew I needed to get the sensors checked properly. Since you've just had your service last month, maybe check if this would be covered under any service warranty? Worth asking about it. Keep me posted on what you find out!

Thanks so much for all the detailed information! You've been incredibly helpful. I actually did hear that subtle grinding noise you mentioned, which makes me even more confident it's the same issue you faced. I just checked all four tires, and while the tread looks fine, I did notice the front right tire seems slightly lower than the others. I tried the TPMS reset as you suggested, and you're right, the warning lights went away temporarily but came back this morning. I've scheduled an appointment with my mechanic for tomorrow morning. I'll definitely ask about the service warranty too, that's a great tip! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It's given me a much better idea of what to expect and what to discuss with the mechanic. I'll be so relieved if it's just those sensors acting up. You've saved me a lot of worry!