BMW i5 Immobilizer Issue Causing Immediate Engine Stalls

Hey there! I have some experience working on EVs, nothing too advanced, but I've dealt with electrical issues before. Had a similar problem with my 2022 BMW i4 last summer (also have an iX in the family). The symptoms were exactly like yours, brief start, immediate shutdown, and that annoying immobilizer light flashing. Turned out the key programming was corrupted. Took it to my regular workshop and they reprogrammed the key, cost me 45 Euro and took about an hour. Pretty straightforward fix once they found the issue. Before I can share more specific details, could you tell me if you've had any recent work done on the electrical systems? Also, are you using the original key or a spare? This info would help narrow down the potential causes.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! My i5 has 118068 KM on it and was just serviced last week, which is why this issue is particularly frustrating. I'm actually using the original key, and no recent electrical work has been done besides the routine maintenance. You mentioning the key reprogramming is really helpful, that could definitely explain why mine's acting up. I'll definitely mention this to the workshop when I take it in. Did you notice any warning signs before your car completely refused to stay running? Mine seemed perfectly fine until yesterday morning when this started happening out of nowhere.

Yeah, I totally get your frustration, especially right after a service! Actually, thinking back to my i4 situation, it also happened pretty suddenly without any warning signs. One morning it just wouldn't cooperate, exactly like what you're describing. Since your problem started right after the service, I'm even more convinced it's probably a key programming issue. Sometimes these things can get messed up if any electrical systems were reset during maintenance. When my i4 had this problem, I remember the workshop mentioned that even routine diagnostic scans can occasionally interfere with the key programming. One quick thing you might try before heading to the workshop, try using your spare key if you have one. That's something I wish I'd tried with mine before taking it in. If the spare key works, then you'll know for sure it's a key programming issue and not something more serious with the immobilizer system itself. But honestly, given how similar your symptoms are to what I experienced, I'd bet you're looking at the same fix I needed. Just make sure to tell them about the service timing, that could help them diagnose it faster than they did with mine. The good news is that if it is the key programming, it's a pretty quick and relatively inexpensive fix.

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! I actually do have a spare key somewhere in the house, definitely going to try that before heading to the workshop. That's such a practical suggestion I hadn't even thought of. It's really reassuring to hear this is likely just a programming issue that can be fixed quickly and won't break the bank. I was worried I'd be looking at some major electrical system repair, especially with this being right after the service. I'll get in touch with the workshop tomorrow and mention everything you've shared about your i4 experience, hopefully that'll help them zero in on the problem faster. Really appreciate you taking the time to explain your experience in such detail. It's made me feel a lot better about the whole situation. I'll update the thread once I get it sorted out in case anyone else runs into the same issue!