There are thousands of BMW owners who have gotten the dreaded “Ignition fault” message. There are a few possible causes and solutions to this problem, which is one of the most commonly reported problems in BMWs.
The purpose of this article is to describe the meaning of this message, explain some of the leading causes, and suggest how it is possible to resolve this issue.

How Does an Ignition Fault on a BMW Work?
‘Ignition fault” on your dashboard indicates that your BMW’s ignition system is faulty. If your BMW engine does not start, this means that you have a problem with the ignition system.
I will discuss these components below, since I am an experienced mechanic who can identify this fault beyond the ignition system alone.
Main causes of the BMW “Ignition Fault”
The following are the most common causes of BMW ignition faults.
1. Bad Battery Safety Terminal
BMW’s “ignition fault” warning is most commonly caused by a damaged battery safety terminal.
Essentially, the safety terminal serves as a fire suppression device for your vehicle.
The “Ignition fault” warning will appear if this fuse is faulty, resulting in the car not starting at all or shutting down.
The positive terminal of your BMW is equipped with a battery safety terminal.
2. Low Battery Voltage
The “ignition fault” warning can also be triggered by a low battery voltage.
The starter motor or alternator of your car may not work properly if the battery is low.
An ignition fault message will appear in your vehicle and you will not be able to start the vehicle.
Whenever you start your BMW for the first time after not driving it for a long time, check the voltage of the battery.
A multimeter can help you measure the voltage between your battery terminals.
BMW batteries that are over four years old should be replaced if they’re dead or causing low voltage problems.
3. Faulty Alternator
You can charge your battery in your BMW through your alternator, and your electrical system will also be supplied with power through the alternator.
The ignition fault message can appear on your dash if it doesn’t function properly, and it can also be caused by a low voltage problem.
While alternators are less common problems than faulty batteries or bad safety terminals, if they are not maintained properly, they can still malfunction. The alternator in your vehicle should be replaced as soon as possible if it is faulty.
4. Damaged Starter
Lastly, a bad starter is one of the most common causes of ignition faults in BMWs.
As soon as you turn the key, the starter engages the engine by spinning the flywheel.
Having a malfunctioning starter will prevent your engine from starting.
Fixing and Resetting the BMW “Ignition Fault” Warning

Let’s talk about what you can do to resolve the “ignition fault” warning on your BMW now that you know the causes.
Step 1
The first thing you should do is replace the battery safety terminal. It is relatively easy to install and relatively inexpensive to buy these terminals.
BMW battery safety terminals are available at your nearest BMW dealership, on Google when you search for “BMW battery safety terminal” to find a retailer that deals with BMW batteries, or at any local auto parts store that carries BMW batteries.
In general, it takes less than five minutes to replace this part once you have obtained the required part.
You should then start your vehicle to determine whether the problem has been resolved. This will require you to move on to the next step if it is not.
Step 2
Your alternator or battery might be bad if replacing the Battery safety terminal does not fix the problem.
If this does not work, I recommend jumping-starting the vehicle using a different vehicle.
It is likely that your battery or alternator is the cause of the problem if it does.
If the car continues to display an “ignition fault” and does not turn on, then a damaged starter is the main cause of the issue. This can be diagnosed and fixed at BMW or by a qualified independent mechanic.
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