BMW I drive rebooting every 30 secs

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

2015 BMW 3 series. Lost use of radio/usb music/ phone/ built in sat nav etc this morning on the way to the airport. I suspect it’s related to the fact I had a new phone last week.Though it all worked fine yesterday.  Seems to be a common issue on Beemer forums. BMW customer service won’t help other than to suggest to book it in. I land back into UK thu evening and would like it work on the way home. I can’t install a software update via USB stick as it reboots before you can press go on the software update. Anyone else seen this or work in a beemer garage?

 

I can’t blame RT or the rain for this ‘dash’ issue 😪

[Andrew O Byrne White - Ireland AO]

No experience with that era of BMWs, but having worked as an electrical engineer in the automotive industry for a good few years, first step would be to make sure any USB connections are unplugged and you turn your phone Bluetooth off etc. when you next get in the car. 

 

There are normally 3 levels of resets you can do on these.  The first is just simple ignition off, ignition on.  The second is a longer reset. You can either turn the car off, lock it, walk away for a few minutes and come back, or if you lock it, watch for the interior lighting of the hazard switch or door lock buttons etc. Once they go out, give it an extra couple of minutes and then try it again.

 

Obviously if you've been away from the car for a few days you've already done these two inherently, so if you don't want to take it into BMW, I'd definitely recommend the third level - a good old battery reset. Disconnect the battery for a good ten minutes, then connect it up and see if it boots properly. If it does, try to do the software update.  Things like one touch windows and sunroof etc will all need to be recalibrate (usually just by fully opening and fully closing them a few times) but it's not too bad then. 

 

That said, if you do plan on taking it in to BMW, don't do this, as if it will clear any diagnostic trouble codes and they won't be able to root cause the issue unless it reoccurs.  Best way to get any electrical/software issues like that root caused and fixed is to get the diagnostic software on them while they're still faulting. 

[DamperMan]

Mine did that in the beginning of the summer, without notice.     The Connected drive screen came on, it would even play music for a few seconds before the screen went blank and it rebooted again.  If you are quick you can turn it off, or it will just end up cycling for ever.    I unplugged the Idrive stick, as it was the only thing I could think of which might upset the computer during boot up, no difference.   In the few seconds it was alive you could quickly navigate the menus and the only thing I found was there where no channels in the saved channel list.       I didn't disconnect the battery as Andrew suggests, I was chicken but simply removed the unit from the dash and plugged it, then plugged it  back in the next day... Guess what!.... it still did not work.   You can't just buy a new one and fit it as it needs coding to the car...   My car is out of warranty,    It looked very expensive!...     There are people who you can buy upgraded units off EBAY  and they will code it to your car.    I think that was £900 ish.   Still Expensive.    I sent mine off to a Polish Guy in London.     I could not get a fixed repair price before sending it, I googled the address and wasn't sure if i wanted to send it!   But he messaged me when he got it, messaged the next day to say he wanted £300 and it arrived back the following day and it works perfectly.    Non of the painted screws have been touched so he must have plugged it in and done something...   Since it's the same unit it did not need recoding..    contact@Tomtechtronic.co.uk,    or search it on Facebook. Tomtechtronic... 

 

 

                  

[Lyonspride]

I've had two cars where the dash and other related parts suddenly started playing up, turned out it was an early warning sign of a failing battery, tends to happen just as the longer/colder nights start rolling in.

[Stuart]

Was it raining? Friend had similar in her 3 year old 3 series last week and BMW say it's water in the amp. I googled it for her and it is out there. Issue with a rubber seal leaking. Her car is just out of warranty and dealer says they will try to get BMW to do it under warranty so obv a known issue

[Greenstreak-Andy D]

Sorry to hear of your woes @IanK (Bagpuss), hope you find the cause of the failure. Andy

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

Thanks for all the replies guys. I don't suspect water @Stuart but I would welcome more info on where it's likely to have got in etc. The amp is in the rear quarter, I'll check when I get home.

 

@DamperMan Tony, I'll reach out to your guy as he sounds quicker and cheaper than a BMW garage.

 

I strongly suspect it's got overloaded by the recent new phone and just needs resetting due to a bug. Lots of guides online on how to update/modify the idrive with different software/lead packages but there's a lot of reading to go with it to learn how to do it! Not something to be done on an airport car park when you want to get home!

 

[DamperMan]

I read a lot of people’s opinions on Bmw forums and having untethered my phone, and a various other things it was dead.   It beat me so I just ended up paying an actual expert.   My experience of BMW is even though there may be a known problem they claim never to have a problem and want to charge £200 for diagnostics before even doing anything.    And at best they may ask BMW for a contribution.   

 

 

 

 

[Ian Podmore]

5 hours ago, IanK (Bagpuss) said:

Thanks for all the replies guys. I don't suspect water @Stuart but I would welcome more info on where it's likely to have got in etc. The amp is in the rear quarter, I'll check when I get home.

 

@DamperMan Tony, I'll reach out to your guy as he sounds quicker and cheaper than a BMW garage.

 

I strongly suspect it's got overloaded by the recent new phone and just needs resetting due to a bug. Lots of guides online on how to update/modify the idrive with different software/lead packages but there's a lot of reading to go with it to learn how to do it! Not something to be done on an airport car park when you want to get home!

 

 

The only place I had water come in on the BMW I had was where a LHD steering column would have gone through the bulkhead.  Water drains down from front of screen but cannot get out fast enough. Quick and easy solution to that one was to remove the sound deadening cover in the engine bay that was sealing in the water and add some drain holes.  That issue caused water to pool in read passenger footwell.

 

On system rebooting/shutting down issue, I had it recently on 2017 Passat. That was solved by software update at dealer.

[SXRORY]

mate had this on his beemer I ll ask what they did and how it was sorted. I beleive it was overloaded and some local guy sorts them out. Ill find out 

[BillyPee]

I’ve had two F30 3 series. The first did this intermittently and the current one has never done it in nearly three years of ownership.

 

The iDrive used to reboot itself every now and then. Normally when going over a speed bump suggesting loose connection. Also normally just after setting off, i.e. speed bumps on my street. Probably happened once a month but always worked on first reboot. I asked the dealer to investigate and they fobbed me off.

 

Good luck getting a resolution. 🙄

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

My BMW independant has taken £54 to not fix it and advise it needs a new CCC. Only £945 then a further £190 + Vat to code it to the vehicle! I've not gone ahead with this and it's now booked into a BMW Dealer on mon, at only £90 for coding in an attempt to fix it!

 

[DamperMan]

BMW are likely to give the same answer, my optinion of dealers is very low..   They are just fitters and replace old parts with new parts.   It's the  same with a steering racks, diffs or gearboxs.   The part may be repairable but they just change the lot.  After all its simpler, they can give a fixed price before, give a warrenty and you are paying!.   As I've said try Contact@tomtechtronic.co.uk.       Removing it from your dash is simple enough I think I looked at a youtube clip so I'd  know there to pull and where the screws are hidden, it was straight forward.    Unlike a 90's Renault non of the clips broke and when I put it back together there are no additional rattles.   The connectors had me thinking for a few seconds but there's a tabs you lift before they will pull out.        

 

 

[Ian Kinder (Bagpuss) - Joint Peak District AO]

44 minutes ago, DamperMan said:

BMW are likely to give the same answer, my optinion of dealers is very low..   They are just fitters and replace old parts with new parts.   It's the  same with a steering racks, diffs or gearboxs.   The part may be repairable but they just change the lot.  After all its simpler, they can give a fixed price before, give a warrenty and you are paying!.   As I've said try Contact@tomtechtronic.co.uk.       Removing it from your dash is simple enough I think I looked at a youtube clip so I'd  know there to pull and where the screws are hidden, it was straight forward.    Unlike a 90's Renault non of the clips broke and when I put it back together there are no additional rattles.   The connectors had me thinking for a few seconds but there's a tabs you lift before they will pull out.        

 

 

I agree Tony. I'm just trying the easiest routes first. I'm sure it's a bug/glitch and a hard reset will sort it. tom tech hasn't replied yet and I've found a similar service in Birmingham, which is only circa 1 h away, so I'll not rule much out other than spending 4 figures! 

 

At least with the main stealer, I can play the 6 yr sale of goods act etc, as it's not fit for purpose, full service history etc.

 

[Andrew O Byrne White - Ireland AO]

With hardware bits, dealers will just swap them out left, right and centre but with software, you've generally got a better chance at a dealer. If it's something that the engineering teams (actually BMW, not the franchise dealerships) have seen before, there's a good chance they'll have sorted some software to fix it.

 

The dealership will literally plug their diagnostic computer in and hit update, and it'll squirt the latest stuff into it. Unfortunately dealerships charge a lot more than indy garages for most things, but indy garages likely won't have access to that sort of kit.