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BMW IX uk critical failure while driving (drivetrain + high voltage battery errors)

6K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  stevewoolley 
#1 ·
IX50 delivered in march 2022, now 5000 miles on the clock. Recalled once for software update on November. 2022 December 23 received Drivetrain warning while driving to family on Christmas Eve so called assistance. BMW tech came and run diagnostics and 'couldn't identify the source of the error'. Drivetrain error remained on dash. Advised to drive back to BMW garage or have car collected. All BMW dealers closed till Jan 1. While driving back on December 26 car generated a high voltage battery warning with immediate instruction to stop. Exited on side of m40. Called assistance and tow truck collected car and took back to home (dealers closed till new year). Loaner offered but cannot be used to drive outside the UK. So Xmas and new year holiday ruined. BMW need to fix their software issues, their lack of available techs and their loaner policy. Update ix50 has been at dealer for 10 days, now awaiting replacement parts on back order from Germany, told to expect 10+ days further delay before parts arrive and repairs can be started, now January 14 and still no communication or time for expected repair. If you receive drivetrain or battery warning I suggest immediately sending car to dealer using BMW roadside assistance to speed repair. Currently one month and counting. Similar issues reported in USA.
 
#7 ·
So here's an update on the above. IX50M broke down on Dec 24th 2022.
Dealer looked at it on Jan 4th (when they reopened)
Loaner provided was a 2 year old 740e
Issue is 'connecting brushes are faulty and need replacing'
Part needed was on back order from Germany - 2+ week delay
Part arrived - but garage now needs specialist tool to fit part.
Only one tool in the UK so have ordered tool from Germany 3-4 weeks of backorder delay
Feb 15th 2023 - still no repair, still no loaner IX, still no compensation for costs
Beware!
 
#9 · (Edited)
I have just experienced exactly the same problem with my iX 40... I have been happily driving my iX since taking delivery in October 2022 and have covered about 5K miles without any problems. Then on March 2nd 2023 I had exactly the same symptoms described here, and my car was recovered by BMW Roadside Assistance on the same evening and taken in to my local dealer... and there it has remained for 4 weeks and counting... Dealer says they are waiting for parts and the 'special tool' required for the fix. Tried logging a complaint with BMW in order to try and get more information on the cause of the delay... they said they would contact the dealer for details and find out whats causing the hold-up - waited a few days... no feedback - called for an update and told exactly the same... few more days - nothing!

@saspin - I assume your car was eventually fixed?... can you tell me how long you had to wait in the end? Thanks!
 
#11 ·
I have just experienced exactly the same problem with my iX 40... I have been happily driving my iX since taking delivery in October 2022 and have covered about 5K miles without any problems. Then on March 2nd 2023 I had exactly the same symptoms described here, and my car was recovered by BMW Roadside Assistance on the same evening and taken in to my local dealer... and there it has remained for 4 weeks and counting... Dealer says they are waiting for parts and the 'special tool' required for the fix. Tried logging a complaint with BMW in order to try and get more information on the cause of the delay... they said they would contact the dealer for details and find out whats causing the hold-up - waited a few days... no feedback - called for an update and told exactly the same... few more days - nothing!
Required parts finally arrived at my Dealership last week and my ix was finally repaired - it has been with the Dealer for just over 6 weeks. Repair documented as an issue with the brush gear in the rear motor where metal swarf was causing a short circuit - this correlates with other posts that I have read from other owners having the same diagnosis. Swarf was cleared out and defective parts were replaced. Software was also upgraded from 07/2022.33 to version 11/2022.77. Collected my car yesterday (April 19th) and have taken it for a couple of long journeys - so far all is good.
 
#10 ·
Literally 3 days after getting my car, I got the same "Warnings" on my car. (At least mine said I could still drive). It was really disheartening to see.
The weird thing is that the errors disappeared and were nowhere to be found on the next time I started the car (about 20 mins later). Dealership has it at the moment and they are "expediting" the diagnosis seeing as how I literally drive off with it 4-5 days ago.
 
#12 ·
I've just experienced something similar in my 2021 iX3 (UK model). Approaching a roundabout, I got the red wrench message: 🛑 Drivetrain failure. Contact roadside assistance Driving not possible. Call roadside assistance. There was a message before this advising me to stop carefully but the iX3 decided it would be best to just abandon ship between and exit and entry of a busy roundabout by J12 of the M3 this morning. I called BMW Roadside Assistance who sent the recovery truck out to me. As soon as the recovery truck operative got in the car, he was able to drive it (which, at least, enabled him to recover it from a safer location). It's now at the dealers (Partridge BMW, Chandler's Ford). BMW Assistance have provided me with a 330e loaner until the 25th but, reading the messages above, I don't have a lot of confidence that my iX3 will be back by the 25th. It seems the iX3 has been recalled for something similar to this issue in China. But nothing in Europe yet? I await their diagnosis and subsequent plan to repair.
 
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