2020 440i shuts down while driving

SquareWheels · 08-24-2020, 04:40 PM

Twice now in 18k miles my 440i convertible has died while driving. Both times were exactly the same.

Driving on the highway, music, all displays, head up, all go off. Steering feels tight, I suspect it lost the power steering. Lasted 5 - 10 seconds, then everything comes back on.

Anyone heard of this? They claim they cannot see and error codes from the one that happened Thursday. Dropped it off for service Saturday.

First, BMW. Not happy.

davidr3 · 08-24-2020, 04:44 PM

The vehicle has electric steering. I'm no expert but it sounds like you're having some type of electrical issue & you're losing all electrical power which would be the music, all displays, your heads up display & of course your steering. If I were BMW i'd get to searching because if this happened to me on a turn, and I crashed the car i'd definitely be going after them. Did they document your complaints??

328iX · 08-24-2020, 05:36 PM

Check your states lemon laws. I'd be more focused on documentation as that's really unacceptable.

njdangelo · 08-24-2020, 06:13 PM

I'm no expert either but The size of the power loss should lead them to be able to fix it quickly. It's got to be a main power connect that's loose somewhere.... I mean, EVERYTHING going dead? How many possible failures would result in that. Bring it in, tell them to double check all the main connection points because as previously mentioned, this could be a very very bad situation. But again, should be an easy fix.

SquareWheels · 08-24-2020, 07:08 PM

The first time it happened they claimed to have found an error code, they replaced some board. This time they claim there is no error code. I don't have a lot of faith in them.

I live in Mass, our lemon law is only for 12 months, I picked up the car last June, so 14 months ago.

cfm56d7b · 08-24-2020, 07:20 PM

SquareWheels, welcome. It's unfortunate that your first experience with BMW isn't a positive one. Your car is under warranty.

Please call BMW NA Customer Relations and open a case. Tell BMW that you will not accept the vehicle unless a credible root cause has been identified and documented. This is a safety issue - first and foremost. If the dealer cannot solve the problem, BMW field engineer will visit the dealer to inspect your car. Talk to the shop foreman as well.

Keep us updated!

Elvisfan · 08-24-2020, 07:42 PM

Does the car actually shut down? Engine goes off?

otay · 08-24-2020, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfm56d7b

SquareWheels, welcome. It's unfortunate that your first experience with BMW isn't a positive one. Your car is under warranty.

Please call BMW NA Customer Relations and open a case. Tell BMW that you will not accept the vehicle unless a credible root cause has been identified and documented. This is a safety issue - first and foremost. If the dealer cannot solve the problem, BMW field engineer will visit the dealer to inspect your car. Talk to the shop foreman as well.

Keep us updated!

Scary shit. 100% agree with this. If the dealer replaced something, then they must have thought something was wrong. Also politely request a loaner until they solve the problem.

SquareWheels · 08-25-2020, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elvisfan

Does the car actually shut down? Engine goes off?

I think so. It was so brief (less than 10 seconds) and I was going straight the first time (maybe 80mph) and slow the second time. So, neither time I was accelerating so that I would notice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by otay

Scary shit. 100% agree with this. If the dealer replaced something, then they must have thought something was wrong. Also politely request a loaner until they solve the problem.

Very scary. I have lost confidence in the car. I have a loaner.

Eddien123 · 08-25-2020, 10:46 AM

I can say I've never heard of anything like this. In theory, if you lose electrical power the engine should not run. But if you get power back perhaps if the car was still in gear it sort of bump starts it? I'd say it almost sounds like a battery issue or at least the computer that takes in and regulates all the cars power. Keep pushing this issue with bmw. This is NOT a random fluke thing.

Tommy-G · 08-25-2020, 11:59 AM

1-Sorry this is happening, it sucks but that is not the NORM for BMW as a whole

2-The girl who cuts my hair had this on her brand new Explorer. It sucks, it happens though. 3 times. Had to get towed everytime and the final time she was pregnant.
Long and short, they found a wire in the steering column was shorting out under completely fluke situations. They replaced the column harness, drove it 200 miles and it never happened again. She has had it over a year and never again.
I would be leaning toward a wire that got a screw through it during production or similar which can be like finding a needle in a haystack. I would insist that the shop foreman at your dealer log a couple hundred miles in it before you take it back.

3-I believe lemon law is 3-4 instances of the same claim without resolution. The key is the service advisor has to write the fault up the same manner as it was written up previous times.

4-Best of luck....

SquareWheels · 08-28-2020, 03:03 PM

So, here's the current plan.
One of the techs took my car home for the night (I gave them permission) and had a Go Pro record the ride. The blackout happened to them. They think it is related to a phone being paired with the system. I told them I can't believe this to be true as I have a phone paired every day and this has only happened a couple of times in a year. Seems like a waste of time, and they've had the car all week.

This is my first BMW (as I've already said), and likely my last. This has not been a good experience.

Al Bundy's Dodge · 08-28-2020, 04:51 PM

Similar thing happened to my wife when she was on the highway to work. It was a 6MT Nissan Xterra.

We had it in to the dealer a couple times. They could never replicate.

The tech eventually pulled my wife aside and said if he were her, he'd sell the truck.

We did. For another Xterra.

I recommend you do the same. However, It's not a BMW problem. It's a fluke. And stuff like that can happen to any brand, so I wouldn't write off BMW if you otherwise like the car. You'll just be depriving yourself of something you like for spite.

Elvisfan · 08-28-2020, 05:21 PM

Yes,it’s scary. But it hasn’t stranded you. Stuff happens. To write off BMW is a little extreme. Hope they can figure it out.

otay · 08-29-2020, 08:04 AM

Hang in there, OP. This certainly sucks, but it's a weird issue so give them some time, and you've got a loaner.

Not sure how they could tell you with a straight face that pairing a phone to your car would cause it to turn off.

Have you opened a case with BMWNA yet? You need to get regional management involved and make some noise.

chiefneil · 08-29-2020, 12:09 PM

I understand OP being reflexively turned off BMW, but let me point out a few things and OP can decide for himself if he would’ve gotten the same service from another manufacturer.
1. He got a loaner, presumably another BMW
2. They attached a Go Pro and were able to reproduce the case
3. Now that it’s reproduced, they’ll work on it, in conjunction with a BMW field tech if necessary, until they figure it out definitively
4. If they’re not able to figure it out to OP’s satisfaction, BMW and the dealer will help him get into a new car

My advice to OP - you’ve heard from everyone here that this is extremely unusual. Let the process play out and see how well BMW and the dealer take care of you. Stuff happens to every brand and every product. What sets the good brands apart is how well they take of you when that stuff happens.

SquareWheels · 08-29-2020, 03:51 PM

Thanks all, hopefully they'll fix it this time.

jd_perspective · 09-01-2020, 07:56 AM

possibly software update. i had this happen twice on my 2018 when I had it. dealer performed a software update and it's never happened since.

Flump · 09-01-2020, 08:14 AM

I had a similar-ish problem in my 2020 440. I live in Chicago, and when I would pull up to a light, and there was a bus to the right of me it would shut down my park assist system quite frequently. Also, 1 or 2 times the idrive and dash went down in this same scenario very briefly, but the car did just fine as far as driving. They did a software update, and from what i recall it hasn't happened since then.

SquareWheels · 09-01-2020, 09:16 AM

Hmm, I'll ask if they did a software update.

Their current theory is that it is related to the pairing of my phone. They got it to happen when they paired their iPhone, I have an Android. The part of the theory that sounds totally hair brained is if one or more of my contacts has an emoji in front of their name, that may cause it to happen. I have none, but that sounds silly.

I'll likely pick up the car the same that it went in.

davidr3 · 09-01-2020, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SquareWheels

Hmm, I'll ask if they did a software update.

Their current theory is that it is related to the pairing of my phone. They got it to happen when they paired their iPhone, I have an Android. The part of the theory that sounds totally hair brained is if one or more of my contacts has an emoji in front of their name, that may cause it to happen. I have none, but that sounds silly.

I'll likely pick up the car the same that it went in.

Makes sense to somehow crash your head unit, but the whole car? come on now.

SquareWheels · 09-02-2020, 08:55 AM

Talked with BMW Customer Service, nothing they can do.
My dealer called technical support - no advice.
It has the latest software update.
They're sticking with the car is safe, it's a likely related to my phone.
I'll likely get the car back today, as it was when I dropped it off a week and a half ago.

08-24-2020, 04:40 PM	#1
SquareWheels Private First Class 119 Rep 178 Posts Drives: M550 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 M550i [10.00]	2020 440i shuts down while driving Twice now in 18k miles my 440i convertible has died while driving. Both times were exactly the same. Driving on the highway, music, all displays, head up, all go off. Steering feels tight, I suspect it lost the power steering. Lasted 5 - 10 seconds, then everything comes back on. Anyone heard of this? They claim they cannot see and error codes from the one that happened Thursday. Dropped it off for service Saturday. First, BMW. Not happy.
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08-24-2020, 04:44 PM	#2
davidr3 Captain 448 Rep 909 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: May 2019 Location: Riverside iTrader: (1)	The vehicle has electric steering. I'm no expert but it sounds like you're having some type of electrical issue & you're losing all electrical power which would be the music, all displays, your heads up display & of course your steering. If I were BMW i'd get to searching because if this happened to me on a turn, and I crashed the car i'd definitely be going after them. Did they document your complaints??
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08-24-2020, 05:36 PM	#3
328iX David 786 Rep 2,009 Posts Drives: 2015 328iX F31 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Temecula, CA iTrader: (0)	Check your states lemon laws. I'd be more focused on documentation as that's really unacceptable. __________________ F31 Suspension guide & discussion
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08-24-2020, 06:13 PM	#4
njdangelo Captain 436 Rep 843 Posts Drives: 2019 x5 50i Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	I'm no expert either but The size of the power loss should lead them to be able to fix it quickly. It's got to be a main power connect that's loose somewhere.... I mean, EVERYTHING going dead? How many possible failures would result in that. Bring it in, tell them to double check all the main connection points because as previously mentioned, this could be a very very bad situation. But again, should be an easy fix. __________________ 2019 x5 50i - current 2016 340i THP stage 2 - gone but not forgotten.
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08-24-2020, 07:08 PM	#5
SquareWheels Private First Class 119 Rep 178 Posts Drives: M550 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 M550i [10.00]	The first time it happened they claimed to have found an error code, they replaced some board. This time they claim there is no error code. I don't have a lot of faith in them. I live in Mass, our lemon law is only for 12 months, I picked up the car last June, so 14 months ago.
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08-24-2020, 07:20 PM	#6
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5914 Rep 10,288 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	SquareWheels, welcome. It's unfortunate that your first experience with BMW isn't a positive one. Your car is under warranty. Please call BMW NA Customer Relations and open a case. Tell BMW that you will not accept the vehicle unless a credible root cause has been identified and documented. This is a safety issue - first and foremost. If the dealer cannot solve the problem, BMW field engineer will visit the dealer to inspect your car. Talk to the shop foreman as well. Keep us updated!
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08-24-2020, 07:42 PM	#7
Elvisfan Major 516 Rep 1,452 Posts Drives: 2018 430ix convertible MGM Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Does the car actually shut down? Engine goes off?
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08-25-2020, 10:46 AM	#10
Eddien123 Colonel 1861 Rep 2,554 Posts Drives: F30 335 6MT Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	I can say I've never heard of anything like this. In theory, if you lose electrical power the engine should not run. But if you get power back perhaps if the car was still in gear it sort of bump starts it? I'd say it almost sounds like a battery issue or at least the computer that takes in and regulates all the cars power. Keep pushing this issue with bmw. This is NOT a random fluke thing.
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08-25-2020, 11:59 AM	#11
Tommy-G Captain 4500 Rep 694 Posts Drives: 2015 435 Vert Alpine White Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bradenton FL iTrader: (0)	1-Sorry this is happening, it sucks but that is not the NORM for BMW as a whole 2-The girl who cuts my hair had this on her brand new Explorer. It sucks, it happens though. 3 times. Had to get towed everytime and the final time she was pregnant. Long and short, they found a wire in the steering column was shorting out under completely fluke situations. They replaced the column harness, drove it 200 miles and it never happened again. She has had it over a year and never again. I would be leaning toward a wire that got a screw through it during production or similar which can be like finding a needle in a haystack. I would insist that the shop foreman at your dealer log a couple hundred miles in it before you take it back. 3-I believe lemon law is 3-4 instances of the same claim without resolution. The key is the service advisor has to write the fault up the same manner as it was written up previous times. 4-Best of luck....
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08-28-2020, 03:03 PM	#12
SquareWheels Private First Class 119 Rep 178 Posts Drives: M550 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 M550i [10.00]	So, here's the current plan. One of the techs took my car home for the night (I gave them permission) and had a Go Pro record the ride. The blackout happened to them. They think it is related to a phone being paired with the system. I told them I can't believe this to be true as I have a phone paired every day and this has only happened a couple of times in a year. Seems like a waste of time, and they've had the car all week. This is my first BMW (as I've already said), and likely my last. This has not been a good experience.
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08-28-2020, 04:51 PM	#13
Al Bundy's Dodge Captain 1661 Rep 908 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 6MT Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Denver iTrader: (0)	Similar thing happened to my wife when she was on the highway to work. It was a 6MT Nissan Xterra. We had it in to the dealer a couple times. They could never replicate. The tech eventually pulled my wife aside and said if he were her, he'd sell the truck. We did. For another Xterra. I recommend you do the same. However, It's not a BMW problem. It's a fluke. And stuff like that can happen to any brand, so I wouldn't write off BMW if you otherwise like the car. You'll just be depriving yourself of something you like for spite. __________________ 2009 328i xDrive 6MT (Retired and I miss her) 2015 335i xDrive 6MT (Retired and I dont miss her) 2018 M2 6MT (Never retiring)
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08-28-2020, 05:21 PM	#14
Elvisfan Major 516 Rep 1,452 Posts Drives: 2018 430ix convertible MGM Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Yes,it’s scary. But it hasn’t stranded you. Stuff happens. To write off BMW is a little extreme. Hope they can figure it out.
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08-29-2020, 08:04 AM	#15
otay Major 826 Rep 1,342 Posts Drives: 2015 335i Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Raleigh, NC iTrader: (0)	Hang in there, OP. This certainly sucks, but it's a weird issue so give them some time, and you've got a loaner. Not sure how they could tell you with a straight face that pairing a phone to your car would cause it to turn off. Have you opened a case with BMWNA yet? You need to get regional management involved and make some noise.
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08-29-2020, 12:09 PM	#16
chiefneil Lieutenant Colonel 773 Rep 1,502 Posts Drives: 2014 335i M-Sport Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	I understand OP being reflexively turned off BMW, but let me point out a few things and OP can decide for himself if he would’ve gotten the same service from another manufacturer. 1. He got a loaner, presumably another BMW 2. They attached a Go Pro and were able to reproduce the case 3. Now that it’s reproduced, they’ll work on it, in conjunction with a BMW field tech if necessary, until they figure it out definitively 4. If they’re not able to figure it out to OP’s satisfaction, BMW and the dealer will help him get into a new car My advice to OP - you’ve heard from everyone here that this is extremely unusual. Let the process play out and see how well BMW and the dealer take care of you. Stuff happens to every brand and every product. What sets the good brands apart is how well they take of you when that stuff happens. Last edited by chiefneil; 08-29-2020 at 12:19 PM..
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08-29-2020, 03:51 PM	#17
SquareWheels Private First Class 119 Rep 178 Posts Drives: M550 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 M550i [10.00]	Thanks all, hopefully they'll fix it this time.
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09-01-2020, 07:56 AM	#18
jd_perspective Captain 344 Rep 906 Posts Drives: 2016 X3 35i M-Sport Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	possibly software update. i had this happen twice on my 2018 when I had it. dealer performed a software update and it's never happened since. __________________ 2016 X3 35i M-Sport 2019 440i Coupe M-Sport - Retired 2018 330i Sedan M-Sport - Retired 2015 428i Gran Coupe M-Sport - Retired
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09-01-2020, 08:14 AM	#19
Flump Private 35 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 440xiGC, 135is Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	I had a similar-ish problem in my 2020 440. I live in Chicago, and when I would pull up to a light, and there was a bus to the right of me it would shut down my park assist system quite frequently. Also, 1 or 2 times the idrive and dash went down in this same scenario very briefly, but the car did just fine as far as driving. They did a software update, and from what i recall it hasn't happened since then.
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09-01-2020, 09:16 AM	#20
SquareWheels Private First Class 119 Rep 178 Posts Drives: M550 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 M550i [10.00]	Hmm, I'll ask if they did a software update. Their current theory is that it is related to the pairing of my phone. They got it to happen when they paired their iPhone, I have an Android. The part of the theory that sounds totally hair brained is if one or more of my contacts has an emoji in front of their name, that may cause it to happen. I have none, but that sounds silly. I'll likely pick up the car the same that it went in.
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09-02-2020, 08:55 AM	#22
SquareWheels Private First Class 119 Rep 178 Posts Drives: M550 Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 M550i [10.00]	Talked with BMW Customer Service, nothing they can do. My dealer called technical support - no advice. It has the latest software update. They're sticking with the car is safe, it's a likely related to my phone. I'll likely get the car back today, as it was when I dropped it off a week and a half ago.
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