BMW i4 Safety Systems Failure: Steering and Airbags Down

Hey there! I had a very similar issue with my 2019 BMW iX3, and my sister owns an i4 too. I'd say I have some experience working with EVs. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with last month. The steering controls died completely, and I got bombarded with all those safety warnings. Pretty scary stuff when all those alerts pop up at once! Took it to my regular workshop and turns out it was just a faulty cable connection in the steering wheel. The whole repair took about 2 hours and cost me 95 Euro. Since then, everything's been working perfectly, no more warning lights or dead buttons. Before I can give you more specific advice though, could you share: When did these issues start? Did anything specific happen before the problems began? Are the warnings constant or do they come and go? Which exact warning messages are you seeing? This info would help me confirm if you're dealing with the same issue I had.

Thanks for the detailed response! I've got 39453 KM on the clock, and just to add some context, these issues started appearing quite out of nowhere about a week ago. Nothing specific triggered it, just woke up one morning and boom, steering wheel controls were dead. The warnings are pretty constant, they don't flicker or come and go. Right now I'm seeing "Driver Assistance System Failure," "SRS Airbag System Malfunction," and "Safety Systems Limited" on my display. Really hope it's just a cable issue like yours was, as that sounds like a relatively straightforward fix. The car's been perfectly maintained with all services up to date, which makes this even more frustrating. I might try your workshop route rather than the main dealer, seems like it could save me some time and money. Were you able to drive safely while these warnings were active?

Hey again! Thanks for the additional details about your i4's issues. I definitely understand your frustration, it's unsettling when these systems start acting up, especially on a well-maintained car. Based on what you're describing, it sounds nearly identical to what I experienced. My warnings started at around 45000 KM, and I had the exact same messages on my display. I did continue driving for a few days with the warnings active since my mechanic assured me it was safe, the core driving functions weren't affected, just the additional safety features. Just to give you more peace of mind: after that simple cable fix I mentioned, I've put another 8000 KM on my i4 without a single problem. The repair was really straightforward, they basically had to reconnect and secure a loose cable in the steering column that had worked itself loose over time. It's actually a known issue that can happen with these models. Independent workshops can definitely handle this, it's not something that absolutely requires dealer attention. Just make sure they have experience with EVs. If you want, I can share more details about the specific repair process my mechanic followed. The most important thing is not to worry too much, it sounds scary with all those warnings, but it's usually a pretty simple fix!

Thanks so much for all that info! It's really reassuring to hear that your experience with such similar symptoms was resolved with just a loose cable fix. The fact that you've done 8000 KM since without issues is particularly encouraging. I've decided to book it in with a local independent workshop that specializes in EVs for next week. Called them earlier and they seemed quite familiar with the issue, mentioning they've fixed similar problems on other BMW EVs. They quoted me roughly the same price range you mentioned, which seems fair. In the meantime, I'm glad to hear you were able to drive safely with the warnings active. I've been a bit nervous about using the car, but knowing it's likely just a cable issue makes me feel better about driving it until the appointment. Will definitely update this thread once it's fixed in case anyone else runs into the same problem. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's helped me understand what I'm dealing with and saved me from potentially unnecessary stress and expense at the main dealer!