Hello,
Having some issues with my iDrive on my 2007 550i e60 that is no longer on warranty. I've dealt with independent mechanics, buying a battery, doing tests, then alternative was supposedly bad, then software issues, and now about to deal with dealership. Let me explain what happened and the events.

a little under a month ago my idrive system was acting up. It would just shut off while driving, and then turn back on sometimes while driving or after restart. After a couple of days it just stopped coming on entirely. I researched online but there were different theories. So I lived with it for a bit, didn't want to spend christmas money on it at the time. Then after a point where I didn't drive it for a day or so the car would not start. I figured, yea its the battery, well thats better problem to have than the idrive system going out. I finally take it into an independent BMW mechanic, good people, highly rated. he says it is the battery and charges me half the cost that the dealer would charge. I happily pay that and drive off the lot. iDrive system is on and life seems great. After a couple of miles down the road, the idrive system shuts off again and never came back on after that. I took it back to mechanic. He says they'll run some more tests on the battery and can't seem to really find the problem but said something is causing it to fluctuate and he's pretty positive it was the alternator. Would cost about $600 for the part and 2hrs ($90/hr) for labor. Sounded about right. Though I know I can get the part myself (exact one) for about $350 online. Any how I had to wait on that and I wanted to get second opinion since he just assumed it was the alternator. He tells me I can drive around like this until the battery is no longer holding a charge or alternator goes out completely. I go ahead and wait and drive the car with no issues but still have no idrive (navigation, lcd, music, audio).

So just a couple of days ago the car wont start again. The battery is dead. I didn't drive it for about 2 days. I get it jumped and take it to knew mechanic who's going to run a test on it. He says the battery and alternator are fine. So they put it on another machine and find an error code about the car not going into hibernation mode when you turn it off. The documentation says something like: "Vehicle does not always go to sleep. Has communication issues. Might need software updates." So the computer or some electronics are not turning off and draining the batter all the time. He says it can very well be a software bug or issue and probably needs software updates from the dealership. Depending on how long its been since its updated, it can take an hour or even stay all day on the computer doing updates costing from either $100 to $500 for the updates. He said it should also fix the idrive not coming back on.

Now my questions or thoughts:
- why hasn't the idrive turned back on after each jump or charge. I'd hate to think the iDrive is fried cause that is a huge cost.
- I think i read somewhere that there is a recall or service bulletin about the car electronics not shutting off and draining the battery but I can't seem to find it again. Any one hear about this?
- Does anyone have experience with dealership doing software updates? How long does it take. what did it cost, what did it fix or improve?
- Anybody have issues with idrive not turning back on and finding a software update or fuse might have fixed it?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated as I am seeing the dealership this coming monday.
Thanks
-JV

 

sounds like the alternator is out. Mine had the same problem. The thing is, the alternator intermittently works / doesn't work, so when they test it at the shop, it may seem like it's working just fine. Buying the part yourself and paying only labor is probably the cheapest way.
(don't know about your idrive, but try fixing the alternator first and see if the idrive is still having problems.)

 

Here you go, click the link and see what happened to me, sound like you have the same problem (at least partially). The other part of the problem is in the charging system - alternator, short, something.
My Problem

 

They tested out the electrical system and said the Alternator is fine. I wish it was just the alternator since I can get that done at around $800+ and not the iDrive system which could cost about $1000-1500. I'm taking the car in to the dealership so they can repair the brake pump thats currently under a recall situation. I'm hoping they will do the software updates and diagnostics while its there (at no cost). I hope its not the CCC unit.

 

WOW, Pjinca, you went through hell and sounds like my situation. This is my first BMW and I'd hate for this to sour my impressions of the cars.
As I mentioned above, the cars going into dealership for brake pump recall. I'm hoping they will do software updates and diagnostics.
Worst case I may need to talk to you about the parts you had to purchase and how its all working now for you.
I'd like to see if I can find some guy whos good with electronic diagnostics so maybe he can tell me whats unit is bad and not just the WHOLE system like I fear the dealership would do.

 

I took my vehicle into the dealership this morning. Of course the battery was dead so I had to jump start it and the steering was TIGHT, apparently the servotronic (or whatever is handling the steering was out, probably from battery being dead). I still managed to get to the dealership where they said the servotronic was malfunctioning. They did fix the recalled brake pump situation. They said my terminal was lose and that might fix some of my issues. After picking it up, the car is running fine (for now), the steering wasn't tight like when I drove it in this morning, so that is back. But iDrive is still not running and I'm sure the issue the battery will keep draining. The did give me a laundry list of things they found that needs to be fixed. I'm going to try to get that list and see whats most urgent and get second estimates on them..

So for my next posting, I'm going to try to find any recommendations for a mechanic here in Houston that can run tests and see what if anything is wrong with my iDrive system. I'm sure there is a way to find out if its one component or several. I'm hoping the former of course. I'll go to the dealership as last option but I'm worried they are just going to overlook it and say the whole iDrive system needs to be replaced (all components).