[_MotoMa83_]

Hi BMW drivers,

This is my first posting and I look forward to everyone comments, knowledge and support.

I recently bought a 2016 M235i and had the following issues.

1- while driving, my engine shut off and all electronics also (have a video of it also)
2- iDrive display and driving panel turned on and off while engine was on
3- issues with the front suspension

Car was taken to the dealer who stated:

iDrive had a problem and parts were replaced

Waiting for an update on the suspension (sound of loose metal coming from the engine bay and while driving over any bump)

My concern is that if this has happened with my car, did it happen with yours too?

What if it shut off on a turn driving on the highway? This is way too dangerous to just replace a part and forget about it.

Anyone knows anything about such issues?

Thank in advance as my main concern is safety!

[wjjkoevoets]

Wow, that's a lot of bad luck!

I think you're unfortunate in finding a "monday morning" model. The 2-series coupe and convertible are, I think, generally considered to be very reliable with only a small amount of "known issues" (for example, my MY2014 M235i only had an issue with a silly seal sticking out from the side that was fixed under warranty).

Hope everything works out for you and that the dealer cuts you some slack!

[Jasond13]

Waiting for an update on the suspension (sound of loose metal coming from the engine bay and while driving over any bump)
I have this issue as well, interested in hearing what they find.

[Y0tsuya]

Soon after getting my M235i, with barely 1K miles on it, I was sitting in at a red light, engine off. The light turned green and I depress the clutch. Nothing. Press the start button, nothing. I had to fiddle with the clutch and start button a few times before it decide to power the whole thing off and reset. Good thing there was nobody behind me at the time. Would have been pretty embarassing.

So just your usual BMW electrical glitch. My old E46 had problem unlocking the doors about once a year. Last year as I was coasting to a stop in neutral the engine shut itself off. No biggie but may have been bad if I was in gear.

[SteveInfante]

That's especially unnerving because the 2 has electric steering.

[scrape1]

When I was in college, my '96 Mazda 626 would randomly shut off due to a failing distributor I couldn't afford to replace. Sometimes on highways. Once coming down a twisty mountain road. I'm still alive, and I never did get any big settlement from Big Auto.

Point being, yes, it's unnerving, but the controls still work, and you should be able to guide the car to a safe place to stop.

[Y0tsuya]

Originally Posted by SteveInfante

That's especially unnerving because the 2 has electric steering.

I'm under the impression that it has electrically assisted steering, where the old ones are hydraulically assisted. Both still have direct linkage from wheel to steering column. On the old cars if power goes out the steering wheel gets extra heavy too.

[Cyberdemon]

Germans are known for their mechanical wizardry, not electric.

As mentioned you would still have steering even if it wasn't power assisted (you'd just have to do it the old fashioned way).

The dealer should hopefully be able to resolve it. There are a lot of things that can cause electrical glitches, some are design flaws, some are random failures due to luck of the draw, and sometimes you get a cold rat who decides to gnaw through some wires behind your firewall trying to keep warm and you don't find out about it until someone takes half the car apart.

The more electronic bits a car has, the more there is to go wrong. It's why "Stripper" cars tend to hold their used value so much.

[SteveInfante]

Originally Posted by Y0tsuya

I'm under the impression that it has electrically assisted steering, where the old ones are hydraulically assisted. Both still have direct linkage from wheel to steering column. On the old cars if power goes out the steering wheel gets extra heavy too.

True but how much rotation before the wheel locks? On a curve going 60 mph.

[scrape1]

Originally Posted by SteveInfante

True but how much rotation before the wheel locks? On a curve going 60 mph.

It won't lock.

Pretty sure North American cars don't even have a steering column lock anymore. And even if there is, in no car I've ever driven does the steering column lock just because the engine shuts off. Automotive engineers aren't quite that stupid, and neither are the regulators. A lot of effort goes in to making sure steering and brakes remain operable under a wide range of mechanical and electronic failure.

[ThreeToTwo]

Originally Posted by scrape1

Pretty sure North American cars don't even have a steering column lock anymore. And even if there is, in no car I've ever driven does the steering column lock just because the engine shuts off. Automotive engineers aren't quite that stupid, and neither are the regulators. A lot of effort goes in to making sure steering and brakes remain operable under a wide range of mechanical and electronic failure.

Agreed.

Euro BMWs do have the electronic/electric steering lock. E90 (previous 3 Series) technical documentation refers to a "special safety concept" and describes a safety pin that engages with the steering locking pin to retain that pin in the unlocked position (so there need to be multiple failures to erroneously lock the steering and it can't move in the absence of electrical power). I expect it works that way on the 2 Series too, someone may be able to confirm.

[msginnie]

This seems to be the engine problem. Best option is to visit dealers .

[_MotoMa83_]

So, an update. After many visits and bmw having many people check the car out... it was a huge suspension mechanical issue...that bmw was not able to find and fix the issue.

I left the dealer in February with a brand new m235i, white, auto, with the same optional I had on my car...plus $6k in extras since the only available model they could locate had such upgrades. THANKS BMW! At least after all... I left the dealer in peace.

[bimmerfile]

OP:
Just curious.
Did you buy it new, demo or "pre-owned".

[SCCThree]

Originally Posted by MGB_M235i

So, an update. After many visits and bmw having many people check the car out... it was a huge suspension mechanical issue...that bmw was not able to find and fix the issue.

This is why you do NOT buy a lemon / buy back car. You know they probably dumped that car at auction and it's someone else's problem now.

[Maynard]

Great to hear that the dealership is doing the right thing for these cases.

I dimly recall seeing some reports of similar shutoff problems, but it was during my initial car search (fall '15), and might have even been all different brand/model that I was considering. Check the DOT recall pages. Not just BMW for sure, and fairly rare.

[3.0L]

I've had an un-commanded engine shut down just once during my entire driving career. That would be 50+ years.










I ran out of gas.

[_MotoMa83_]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

OP:
Just curious.
Did you buy it new, demo or "pre-owned".

It was brand new.... 0 miles and still in the shipping wrapping.