BMW iX1 Keyless Entry Failure, Door Handle Issue Alert

Hey there! I have some experience with EVs and had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW i4 (also own an iX3). The exact same thing happened to me, keyless entry totally died. Turned out to be a faulty wiring connection in the door handle sensor unit. Took it to the workshop and they diagnosed it pretty quickly. They had to replace some cables and reset the system. Cost me 95 Euro and took about an hour to fix. Could you share more details about when this started happening? Does your key fob still work normally for locking/unlocking? This info would help confirm if it's the same issue I had. These systems can be tricky, but usually it's just a connection problem rather than something major. Let me know the details and I can share more about my experience!

Thanks for sharing your experience! My issue started about two weeks ago, first intermittently and now it's completely unresponsive. The key fob still works fine for locking/unlocking when I press the buttons, it's just the keyless function that's dead. I've only had my iX1 since last year and just did the service at 30550 KM, so it's frustrating to deal with electrical problems already. Your repair experience sounds pretty straightforward though, that's reassuring to hear. Did you notice any warning lights on the dash before the handle sensors stopped working completely? I'm seeing some battery-related warnings that have me worried it might be more than just the door handle wiring.

Hey again! Thanks for the additional details about your iX1 issue. Your symptoms sound exactly like what I experienced with my i4. Funny enough, I also had those battery warnings pop up on my dash about a week before the keyless system completely failed. I was worried it was something major with the high-voltage battery system, but it turned out those warnings were just side effects of the door handle sensor malfunction. The faulty wiring was causing a constant small power drain, which triggered those battery warnings. In my case, it also started intermittently, sometimes working, sometimes not, before failing completely. The key fob buttons still worked perfectly just like yours. This really sounds like the same issue I had. When they fixed mine, they found some corroded connections in the door handle wiring harness. The technician mentioned it's actually a known issue they've seen on several newer BMWs. The good news is that once they replaced those connections and reset the system, it's been working flawlessly for the past year. Hope this helps put your mind at ease a bit! It's annoying for sure, but should be a pretty straightforward fix.

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! That's actually a huge relief to hear the battery warnings were just a side effect of the door handle issue in your case. I've been stressing about potential major electrical problems, but what you're describing matches my situation perfectly, especially the part about the intermittent failures before total shutdown. I'll book it in at the workshop tomorrow and specifically mention the door handle wiring harness issue you encountered. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, definitely feeling less worried about it now. Good to know it's been working properly for you since the repair too. I'll update you once I get it sorted!