BMW iX3 Belt-Handover System Issue, Need Help

Hi there! I have some experience working on EVs and had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW iX (also had a chance to work on the i4). I feel your pain! My belt-handover system gave up too, and I got those annoying fault codes. Took it to my regular workshop and they diagnosed a faulty belt bringer mechanism. The repair set me back about 455 Euro, not cheap, but it needed fixing for safety reasons. Could you share your exact fault code and whether you're experiencing any specific symptoms (like the belt not extending or retracting properly)? This would help me give you more targeted advice based on what I learned from my repair experience. The fix was pretty straightforward once they identified the issue, took about half a day in the workshop. They had to replace the entire belt-handover unit since these components usually can't be repaired individually.

Thanks for your helpful reply! My iX3 has clocked 68286 KM and just had its service last month. Getting fault code B4F726, and yeah, the belt's not doing that smooth handover motion anymore, just stays put when opening the door. Good to know about the complete unit replacement. Was a bit worried it might be something more complex. Will probably book it in with my workshop soon since it's becoming quite annoying. Did you notice any weird noises before yours completely gave up?

Hey again! Yeah, actually before my belt-handover system completely failed, I did notice some unusual sounds, kind of a grinding noise when the door opened. It started about two weeks before the system stopped working altogether. Looking back, that was definitely a warning sign I should've acted on earlier! My iX had around 72000 KM when this happened, so pretty similar mileage to yours. That fault code you're getting (B4F726) is exactly the same one I had. Since you mentioned your belt's just staying put, it's behaving exactly like mine did, seems like these units tend to fail in the same way. Honestly, I wish I'd gotten it fixed as soon as I heard those first weird noises. The complete unit replacement might seem expensive, but it's worth getting it sorted quickly. Mine took about 4-5 hours in the workshop, and they told me it's becoming a fairly common repair on these models. Just a heads up, make sure they check the wiring harness while they're at it. My mechanic found some slight wear on the cables during the repair, though that wasn't the main issue. Better to catch any potential problems while they're in there!

Thanks so much for all that detailed info! Really helpful to hear about those grinding noises, I've actually started noticing something similar when opening the door, just didn't connect the dots until you mentioned it. Makes total sense now. Good shout about the wiring harness too, I'll definitely ask them to check that while they're doing the replacement. Going to call my workshop right now and get this sorted before it gets worse. Don't want to end up with a completely dead system like you did. It's a bit annoying that these units seem to have a common failure point, but at least it's a known issue with a clear fix. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, saved me a lot of worrying about what might be wrong!