BMW i5 Belt Handover System Issues & Tensioner Fix Guide

Hey! I have some experience working on EVs and faced a similar issue with my 2022 BMW iX last year. The belt handover system can be tricky on these newer BMW EVs (I also test drove the i4 before getting mine). Had the same symptoms, fault codes and the belt system acting up. Took it to my regular workshop where they diagnosed a faulty belt bringer unit. The repair involved replacing the entire mechanism. Cost me around 455 Euro but it's been working perfectly since then. What's your mileage and have you noticed any unusual sounds when the belt system activates? This info would help understand if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've got 102300 KM on mine and just had it serviced last month. Haven't noticed any weird sounds actually, it just stopped working suddenly. Good to know about the belt bringer unit being the potential issue. That repair cost seems reasonable if it fixes the problem completely. I'll mention this to the technician when I take it in. Did your warranty cover any part of the repair? Mine's still under warranty since it's pretty new.

Hey again! Yeah, my iX was under warranty when this happened, so I didn't actually end up paying for the repair, I probably should've mentioned that earlier. Since your i5 is a 2024 model, you should definitely be covered under warranty too. When mine failed, it was also pretty sudden like yours, no warning signs or strange noises beforehand. Just stopped working one morning. The good thing is that since these are known issues with the belt handover systems in newer BMW EVs, the service centers are pretty familiar with the diagnosis and repair process now. I'd suggest getting it checked soon though. While my belt bringer unit was the issue, there could be other causes too. The fact that you're not hearing any unusual sounds is actually quite similar to my experience. The technician told me this is typical for electrical/electronic failures in these systems rather than mechanical ones. Just make sure to get the fault codes documented before you go in, it'll speed up the diagnostic process. And hey, let us know how it turns out! Always good to share these experiences for other owners.

Thanks a lot for the detailed follow-up! That's really reassuring to hear about the warranty coverage, definitely takes a weight off my mind. I've already called the service center and booked it in for next week. You're right about documenting everything, I've taken screenshots of all the fault codes that popped up. It's interesting that your experience was so similar, with the sudden failure and no warning signs. Makes me feel better knowing I didn't miss any obvious symptoms. The service advisor also mentioned they've dealt with quite a few belt handover issues lately, so fingers crossed it'll be a straightforward fix like yours was. Thanks again for all the help and sharing your experience. Really appreciate it. I'll definitely update the forum once it's sorted to help other owners who might run into the same problem.