BMW iX1 Owners Report Critical FlexRay System Failures

Hey there! I've had some experience with EVs (some experience with repairs). I actually faced something similar with my 2020 BMW i4 last year. Those electrical gremlins can be super frustrating! My audio system was acting up, and I was getting unusual error messages too. Turned out it was a loose connection in one of the main wiring harnesses, the plug wasn't seated properly after some previous work. Took it to my regular workshop, and they diagnosed it with their diagnostic tools. The fix wasn't too complex once they found the issue, they had to reseat and secure some connections properly. Cost me about 95 Euro for the whole thing, including diagnostic time. Before I can help more specifically with your iX1, could you share: Which error codes you're getting? When did these issues start? Have you had any recent work done on the car? I'm familiar with some BMW EVs (also owned an iX3), so maybe I can point you in the right direction.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My iX1 has been properly maintained (last service was actually 2 weeks ago) and has 153968 KM on the clock. Getting error code U0428 mostly, but also some unusual communication errors. Haven't had any recent work done besides regular maintenance. The issue started rather suddenly while driving, first the audio cut out, then the climate control went crazy, and finally got those dashboard warnings. Been driving EVs for a while, but this one's got me stumped. Did your diagnostic scan show anything specific about the communication bus? Wondering if it's worth checking the wiring harness connections first before diving deeper into more expensive repairs.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your iX1. when you mentioned that U0428 code, it definitely rings a bell, that's exactly what I was seeing on my i4 too! You know what's interesting, my issues also started out of nowhere while driving, just like yours. First the audio went dead silent, then everything else started acting up. The similarity is pretty striking, especially since your car's also been properly maintained like mine was. In my case, the diagnostic scan did point to communication bus issues, but here's the thing, it wasn't actually the FlexRay bus that was the culprit (which is what I initially suspected too). The techs found that water had gotten into one of the main connector blocks under the hood. It had caused some corrosion on the pins, which was messing with the signals. Given what you're describing, I'd definitely recommend checking those connections first. My repair was relatively straightforward once they found the real issue. The diagnostic tool showed all sorts of communication errors, but it all came down to that one corroded connector. Since you're getting similar symptoms and error codes, might be worth having them check your connector blocks, especially around the main harness areas. Much cheaper to fix than replacing FlexRay components, and in my experience, it's often these simpler issues causing the bigger problems. Want me to share what specific areas they checked on mine? Might save you some diagnostic time.

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! That's really helpful info about the connector blocks, definitely gives me hope that this might be a simpler fix than I feared. Yes, please share which areas they checked on yours! I'm actually relieved to hear it might not be a FlexRay issue after all. The symptoms being so similar makes me think you're onto something with the connector theory. Going to book it in at the workshop tomorrow and make sure they check those connector blocks first, especially given the similar error codes. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's saved me a lot of worry about potentially major repairs. I'll let you know what they find when they check it out. These EVs are amazing when they work right, but when electrical gremlins show up, they sure can be nerve-wracking! Let's hope it's just a connection issue like yours was.