Porsche and BMW stopped starting in Russia

Owners of premium segment cars Porsche and BMW are increasingly faced with technical failures in Russia. Some models of these brands suddenly stopped starting. The cause of the problems, according to auto expert Yevgeny Ladushkin, were disturbances in the operation of electronic systems caused by interference from electronic warfare equipment.

Numerous complaints on the Internet have appeared from owners of Porsche and BMW, produced between 2013 and 2019. Cars, as noted by motorists, can stall right while driving, after which starting the engine becomes impossible. In most cases, the car has to be evacuated to the service and the electronic control units reprogrammed.

Almost all models of these brands of the corresponding years of production fell into the risk zone. Among them are the Porsche 911 in all versions, the Panamera, Cayenne, Macan, Boxster and Cayman of the 718 line, as well as the 918 Spyder. BMW has problems with most models with the ConnectedDrive system: from the first to the seventh series, including crossovers X1, X3, X4, X5 and X6, as well as Z4, i3, i8 and M-series cars.

Ladushkin explained that what is happening is a logical consequence of the operation of complex electronics in the absence of full-fledged technical support. Modern cars are saturated with digital systems that require regular software updates. However, official firmware from manufacturers in Currently unavailable in Russia due to the termination of distribution and warranty support.

"What we are seeing now is a natural consequence of the fact that machines that are massively operated on the territory of our country are technically complex, and at the same time they do not have warranty support for updating the firmware of electronic components," Channel Five quotes the expert as saying.

Formally, the problem can be solved with the help of unofficial, so-called artisanal firmware, but this way threatens with risks. The expert noted that poor-quality software can lead to engine failure or damage to electronic modules, and the delivery time of new control units can stretch for six months or more.