BMW i4 Anti-Theft System Going Haywire? Tilt Sensor Issue

Hey there! I've got some experience with EVs and actually faced something very similar with my 2018 BMW iX3 (also had a chance to work on my cousin's i4). Sorry to hear about your anti-theft troubles, these sensor issues can be super annoying! Had the exact same problem last year with unusual alarms going off. After a couple of sleepless nights (and angry neighbors), I took it to my regular workshop. They found a faulty cable connection to the tilt sensor, some corrosion had built up causing intermittent signals. The fix was pretty straightforward, they replaced the connector and checked all the related wiring. Cost me 95 Euro and haven't had any issues since. Could you share what kind of error code you're getting? Also, does it happen more often in certain weather conditions? This info would help figure out if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah, I'm getting error code P1022B specifically. It seems to happen more during humid weather, which makes me think your corrosion theory might be spot on. My i4 just hit 161018 KM, and I had my last service about 2 months ago, but they didn't spot anything unusual with the sensors then. Did your mechanic have to do any recalibration after replacing the connector? Just wondering what I should expect if I need the same repair. Also curious if this is a common issue with the i4's tilt sensor system or just bad luck on my part. Really appreciate the help!

Hey again! Thanks for getting back with those details. Yep, that P1022B code is exactly what I saw on mine! The humidity connection makes total sense, that's when mine would act up too. Actually, after I mentioned the repair in my last post, I had a similar issue pop up again at around 170000 KM (just a heads up since you're getting close to that mileage). The second time around, my mechanic did have to recalibrate the sensor system after the repair. It took about an hour extra, but it was worth it for the peace of mind. The interesting thing is, they found that the connectors BMW used in these models are a bit prone to moisture damage, seems to be a bit of a design quirk rather than just bad luck. Quick tip that helped me before I got it fixed: I started parking in covered spots whenever possible, which reduced the false alarms quite a bit. Also, when the humidity's high, double-checking the lock with the key fob seemed to help stabilize the system somehow. If you're heading to the workshop, definitely mention the humidity correlation, it'll help them pinpoint the issue faster. Trust me, getting this fixed properly is way better than dealing with those unusual 3 AM wake-up calls from your car alarm! Let me know how it goes, curious to hear if your fix ends up being similar to mine.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I'm gonna schedule an appointment with my workshop tomorrow, those pesky 3 AM alarms have got to stop! Really appreciate all the detailed info about the connector issues and recalibration needs. It's actually a relief to hear this seems to be a known issue with these models rather than just my car acting up. The humidity connection makes perfect sense too, as it's been particularly bad lately. The tip about parking in covered spots is super helpful, I'll definitely try that until I can get it properly fixed. For now, I've been doing the double-check with the key fob and it does seem to help a bit. I'll keep you all posted on what the workshop finds. Here's hoping it's just a simple connector replacement like what you experienced. Thanks again for all the help, this community is amazing!