[Waise]

Has anyone had front windshield camera (KaFAS) defroster go bad?

Picked up my wife's 2019 40i X7 from routine maintenance just before Christmas; the BMW dealership also updated the software to version 11/2020.42.

They also ran diagnostics and the Service Rep. told me the car shows an error code indicating faulty defroster used by camera system mounted on the windshield inside the car at top center.

I am assuming he is talking about KaFAS camera that supports the semi-autonomous features of X7.

Since defroster element is part of the front windshield, BMW Service Rep. said they have to change the entire windshield of course requiring recalibration of the camera and whatever else that's needed.

The car is still under warranty; so they have ordered the windshield once they receive it, I have to schedule for replacement.

I have not noticed any issue with autonomous driving...

Has anyone had this issue?

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by Waise

Has anyone had front windshield camera (KaFAS) defroster go bad?

Picked up my wife's 2019 40i X7 from routine maintenance just before Christmas; the BMW dealership also updated the software to version 11/2020.42.

They also ran diagnostics and the Service Rep. told me the car shows an error code indicating faulty defroster used by camera system mounted on the windshield inside the car at top center.

I am assuming he is talking about KaFAS camera that supports the semi-autonomous features of X7.

Since defroster element is part of the front windshield, BMW Service Rep. said they have to change the entire windshield of course requiring recalibration of the camera and whatever else that's needed.

The car is still under warranty; so they have ordered the windshield once they receive it, I have to schedule for replacement.

I have not noticed any issue with autonomous driving...

Has anyone had this issue?

I have not had or heard of this issue before.

Did your dealer update you to 11/2020.42 at your request or did they just do it on their own without asking you first? What routine maintenance was performed?

May I ask who your dealer is?

[ifr]

Originally Posted by Waise

Has anyone had front windshield camera (KaFAS) defroster go bad?

Picked up my wife's 2019 40i X7 from routine maintenance just before Christmas; the BMW dealership also updated the software to version 11/2020.42.

They also ran diagnostics and the Service Rep. told me the car shows an error code indicating faulty defroster used by camera system mounted on the windshield inside the car at top center.

I am assuming he is talking about KaFAS camera that supports the semi-autonomous features of X7.

Since defroster element is part of the front windshield, BMW Service Rep. said they have to change the entire windshield of course requiring recalibration of the camera and whatever else that's needed.

The car is still under warranty; so they have ordered the windshield once they receive it, I have to schedule for replacement.

I have not noticed any issue with autonomous driving...

Has anyone had this issue?

Yep common issue it's just most don't know they are impacted unless they have access to ISTA or a dealer visit exposes it.

The camera should continue to work fine, it simply won't defrost if frozen and therefore impact usage in freezing weather.

I had mine replaced - took 2 days as they needed to let the windscreen set.

[Waise]

Originally Posted by mitch57

I have not had or heard of this issue before.

Did your dealer update you to 11/2020.42 at your request or did they just do it on their own without asking you first? What routine maintenance was performed?

May I ask who your dealer is?

I had the car at dealership for 28k service (oil change, filter, etc), but also requested software update to the latest to improve iphone and android phone connectivity but most importantly because a software fix is needed to allow for driver seat heater to activate when remote start is activated when outside temperature is lower than the set-point set in iDrive. Although they still didn't fix the seat heater auto start issue, they also told me about the new defroster issue. The dealerships is in Augusta GA.

FYI I had a separate post on that detail.

[jcarlilesiu]

Originally Posted by Waise

Has anyone had front windshield camera (KaFAS) defroster go bad?

Picked up my wife's 2019 40i X7 from routine maintenance just before Christmas; the BMW dealership also updated the software to version 11/2020.42.

They also ran diagnostics and the Service Rep. told me the car shows an error code indicating faulty defroster used by camera system mounted on the windshield inside the car at top center.

I am assuming he is talking about KaFAS camera that supports the semi-autonomous features of X7.

Since defroster element is part of the front windshield, BMW Service Rep. said they have to change the entire windshield of course requiring recalibration of the camera and whatever else that's needed.

The car is still under warranty; so they have ordered the windshield once they receive it, I have to schedule for replacement.

I have not noticed any issue with autonomous driving...

Has anyone had this issue?

Yes. Had to have my windshield replaced for the same reason.

Fortunately, I had just got a chip in the windshield so got it fully replaced under warranty.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by Waise

I had the car at dealership for 28k service (oil change, filter, etc), but also requested software update to the latest to improve iphone and android phone connectivity but most importantly because a software fix is needed to allow for driver seat heater to activate when remote start is activated when outside temperature is lower than the set-point set in iDrive. Although they still didn't fix the seat heater auto start issue, they also told me about the new defroster issue. The dealerships is in Augusta GA.

FYI I had a separate post on that detail.

Your profile says Washington state so I thought it might be one of the dealers here.

Does anyone know if the KFAS defroster issue can be identified by using an OBD adapter and BimmerLink?

[Waise]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Your profile says Washington state so I thought it might be one of the dealers here.

Does anyone know if the KFAS defroster issue can be identified by using an OBD adapter and BimmerLink?

Few months ago moved Eastcoast. Will update...

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by Waise

Has anyone had front windshield camera (KaFAS) defroster go bad?

Picked up my wife's 2019 40i X7 from routine maintenance just before Christmas; the BMW dealership also updated the software to version 11/2020.42.

They also ran diagnostics and the Service Rep. told me the car shows an error code indicating faulty defroster used by camera system mounted on the windshield inside the car at top center.

I am assuming he is talking about KaFAS camera that supports the semi-autonomous features of X7.

Since defroster element is part of the front windshield, BMW Service Rep. said they have to change the entire windshield of course requiring recalibration of the camera and whatever else that's needed.

The car is still under warranty; so they have ordered the windshield once they receive it, I have to schedule for replacement.

I have not noticed any issue with autonomous driving...

Has anyone had this issue?

The issue is the fault for the heating grid, not the camera. The heating grid really only operates when near or below freezing to get rid of any ice or snow on the portion of the windshield in front of the camera. I have replaced a windshield for this exact issue. Nothing perceived by customer. If you don't live in any kind of freezing climate you will never ever have an issue.

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

The issue is the fault for the heating grid, not the camera. The heating grid really only operates when near or below freezing to get rid of any ice or snow on the portion of the windshield in front of the camera. I have replaced a windshield for this exact issue. Nothing perceived by customer. If you don't live in any kind of freezing climate you will never ever have an issue.

Is there an SIB on this issue?

Just because someone doesn't live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing doesn't mean they won't ever travel to a place where the temperatures drop below freezing. This is something that should have a recall or an SIB issued at the minimum.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Is there an SIB on this issue?

Just because someone doesn't live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing doesn't mean they won't ever travel to a place where the temperatures drop below freezing. This is something that should have a recall or an SIB issued at the minimum.

No SIB. I wouldn't say thats a recall issue. It just means there was an issue with the heater grid. Not something you can really call a recall for especially if it's only happened on a few random cars.

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by mitch57

Your profile says Washington state so I thought it might be one of the dealers here.

Does anyone know if the KFAS defroster issue can be identified by using an OBD adapter and BimmerLink?

BimmerLink should be able to see it as these cars store EVERYTHING when it comes to a potential glitch - just read the "Info Memory" to see what I am talking about. That said, BimmerLink may show you the error code, but it does not always have the definition/explanation for the error code based on my experience - and there are a lot of different error codes. Outside of the dealer, you may need a PC based tool like ISTA+ to tell you what is going on with additional troubleshooting details...

[hkleyman]

Originally Posted by Waise

Has anyone had front windshield camera (KaFAS) defroster go bad?

Picked up my wife's 2019 40i X7 from routine maintenance just before Christmas; the BMW dealership also updated the software to version 11/2020.42.

They also ran diagnostics and the Service Rep. told me the car shows an error code indicating faulty defroster used by camera system mounted on the windshield inside the car at top center.

I am assuming he is talking about KaFAS camera that supports the semi-autonomous features of X7.

Since defroster element is part of the front windshield, BMW Service Rep. said they have to change the entire windshield of course requiring recalibration of the camera and whatever else that's needed.

The car is still under warranty; so they have ordered the windshield once they receive it, I have to schedule for replacement.

I have not noticed any issue with autonomous driving...

Has anyone had this issue?

Had this issue on my G05. Common, and no major concerns after replacement. Make sure the trim pieces on either side of the windshield are glued properly after replacement. Had some wind noise and luckily it was just one of the trim pieces and not bad glue on the new glass.

[fichtenweg]

I have a similar error, but I am not sure what should I do about it

[jmciver]

Well, according to the ISTA diagnostic info you provided, there is either a bad cable/connection to the KFAS module or a bad KFAS module. Or, it could be a software "glitch" that requires a reset and/or software update. Or, there could be nothing wrong with your KFAS module and the fault is being caused by another fault in a different module (I have seen that happen before with my X7 and a KFAS module issue).

Either way, unless ISTA can provide any other test plans for you to perform for further diagnosis, your best bet is to take it to the dealer. But even if ISTA can provide you with more info, if you are under warranty, I would still just take it to the dealer. If your windshield was recently replaced, it could be as simple as the shop did not reset the KFAS module following replacement (which also happened to my X7 following a windshield replacement).

Good luck.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by fichtenweg

I have a similar error, but I am not sure what should I do about it

Have it diagnosed. Check resistance of the heating grid on the windshield.

[zyulian]

After Carly find the error ( heating camera driver support system: short circuit to positive terminal or open circuit.) First thing I decided to look for the fuse which was impossible to find on my f15. The error occurred after I replaced the windshield, had my kafas calibration done and everything was fine that error didn't bother me to much. Until this winter one day while I was driving to work, cold morning, I got a message (camera stop working glass may be dirty) end of my journey get of the car and I saw the tiny pice of glass in front of the camera was covered in ice on the inside. I looked again for the fuse but I couldn't find it. I decided to open kafas box to have a look and I finally discovered the root of that error.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by zyulian

…I was driving to work, cold morning, I got a message (camera stop working glass may be dirty) end of my journey get of the car and I saw the tiny pice of glass in front of the camera was covered in ice on the inside. I looked again for the fuse but I couldn't find it. I decided to open kafas box to have a look and I finally discovered the root of that error.

Ummm…it’s probably right in front of me…but WHAT did you discover that was the root of the error?

[mitch57]

I believe the red circled area is the culprit.

[zyulian]

Originally Posted by mitch57

I believe the red circled area is the culprit.

Exactly.

[jester7377]

Does anybody know what it looks like in a G05 or G07? I have the same fault and wanted to do some checking. Side question do you think that fault would stop remote software upgrade from being done because I’ve never had any luck with that either

[jrmMD]

Originally Posted by jester7377

Does anybody know what it looks like in a G05 or G07? I have the same fault and wanted to do some checking. Side question do you think that fault would stop remote software upgrade from being done because I’ve never had any luck with that either

My dealer told me that was what was stopping my OTA install after download on my X5, so had windshield replaced, and they updated the software.

Now I have another OTA update that seems stuck and refuses to install, so now I'm not so sure....but I did get a new windshield at the bitter end of my original warranty, about 3 years and 363 days after in-service date, so cleared the few tiny pits/chips ... for what it's worth......

[stanstan]

My X3 model has two forward facing cameras. Only on one camera do I see a defrost/melt pattern as the windscreen defrosts. It would not seem logical to me that only one camera would benefit from being defrosted. Is this a fault with the windscreen?
Thanks to OP and all helpful responses.