BMW i4 Nav Dead, Transport Mode Issues Need Help

Hey there! I had something similar happen with my 2019 BMW iX3, and I have some experience working on EVs (though I'm no expert). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I faced. I took it to the dealership since the car was still under warranty, and they found that it was indeed related to Transport Mode not being properly deactivated during the initial delivery setup. They had to perform a complete system reset and software update. The whole thing took about 3-4 hours, and since it was a new vehicle issue, it was completely covered under warranty. Before I can give you more specific advice, could you share: How many miles/kilometers are on your i4? Are you getting any specific error codes? Did these issues start suddenly or gradually? Have you had any recent software updates? Let me know these details and I might be able to help you better!

Thanks for the detailed response! My i4 has 66151 KM on the clock and had its latest service just two months ago. The issues started quite suddenly last week after a heavy rainstorm. I'm not getting any specific error codes, just the general electrical malfunction warning on the display. Really hope it's just the Transport Mode thing like in your case and not something more serious. I'll definitely take it to the dealer since it should still be under warranty. Did you need to book in advance for your repair?

Hey again! Thanks for the additional info. Yes, I had to book in advance at the dealer, but given your symptoms, I'd suggest calling them ASAP and mentioning the electrical issues, they usually prioritize these cases. The rainstorm detail is interesting because my issue was purely software-related, but with yours, there might be some water ingress to consider. When I had my iX3 fixed, it was a straightforward software reset, but I've learned since then that water exposure can sometimes trigger similar warnings. Just to be on the safe side, I'd recommend checking if you can spot any obvious signs of water inside the car, especially around the carpets or trunk area. On my iX3, I later had a separate incident with water getting in (completely unrelated to the Transport Mode issue), and the symptoms were surprisingly similar. Definitely keep your warranty paperwork handy when you go in. My repair was fully covered, and yours should be too since you're still within the warranty period. The dealer might need to keep the car for a day just to run full diagnostics, that's what they did with mine just to be thorough, even though the actual fix only took a few hours. Let me know how it goes, I'm curious if it turns out to be the same Transport Mode issue I had or if the rain caused something else!

Thanks so much for all this helpful information! I just checked the car thoroughly and couldn't find any water damage inside, which is a relief. I called the dealer right after reading your message and managed to get an appointment for next week. They did say they'll need the car for a full day to run diagnostics, just like in your case. I'll bring along all my warranty documents as suggested. Really appreciate you mentioning the water ingress possibility, it's something I wouldn't have thought to check on my own. I feel much better knowing that these issues are fairly common and usually fixable without major repairs. Will definitely update the forum once I get the car back and know what the actual problem was. Fingers crossed it's just a software reset like yours!