BMW i8: Complete CCC System Failure and iDrive Issues

Hey there! I've got some experience working on cars and had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW i3. I actually faced a pretty similar problem, black screen, no response from controls. My dealer initially suspected a CAN-BUS issue too, but it turned out to be just a faulty control unit module. Got it replaced for around 235 Euro and everything's been working perfectly since then. Before you head to the shop though. Have you tried a complete system reset? Any recent software updates before this happened? Are you getting any warning lights on the dash? This could help narrow down whether you're dealing with the same problem I had or something else entirely. Let me know these details and I'll try to help further based on what I learned from my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My i8 has 126755 KM on the clock and was just serviced last month. I've actually tried the system reset multiple times by holding down the power button for 30+ seconds, but no luck. Interesting that you mention the control unit module, that's helpful to know. No software updates recently, and surprisingly no warning lights on the dash either. Everything else works normally, it's just the CCC that's completely dead. I'm definitely going to mention the control unit module to my service advisor. Seems like a less painful fix than a full CAN-BUS issue! Did you notice any warning signs before your system completely failed? Mine just suddenly went black during a drive.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Actually, my experience was pretty similar, my system also went dark suddenly while driving, no warning signs at all. And yeah, mine was at around 115,000 KM when it happened, so pretty close to your mileage. The weird thing is, I also tried those system resets multiple times before taking it in, just like you did. Held the power button forever, tried disconnecting the battery for a while, none of it worked. At least now I know why, once that control unit module goes bad, no amount of resetting helps! Since you mentioned it happened during a drive, that's exactly how mine failed too. It's actually a common failure point in these models. The good news is that the repair was pretty straightforward once they identified the issue, took them about 3 hours to replace and program the new module. Just one tip though, when you take it in, make sure they check the connections too. In my case, they found some slight corrosion on one of the connectors and cleaned that up while they were in there. Might as well get everything sorted while they're working on it. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out. I'm curious if it turns out to be the same issue as mine!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! It's really reassuring to hear your experience was so similar to what I'm dealing with, especially the sudden failure during driving and the same unsuccessful reset attempts. The fact that your fix was relatively straightforward gives me hope. I've actually just booked an appointment with my service center for next week. I'll definitely mention both the control unit module and ask them to check those connections you talked about. Really smart tip about the corrosion check, wouldn't have thought to ask about that! The 3-hour repair time doesn't sound too bad either. Was getting worried I'd be without my car for days. I'll update this thread once I get it sorted, in case anyone else runs into the same issue in the future. Thanks again for taking the time to help me out with this, you've made this whole situation feel way less stressful!