2023-2025 BMW PHEV MIL with Fault Code 031BFC

BMW has issued Service Information Bulletin SIB 61 19 25 to address an issue affecting certain Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) from model years 2023-2025. Owners of affected vehicles may notice the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminating on their dashboard, accompanied by the storage of a specific fault code. This bulletin outlines the cause of the problem and the planned resolution.

Symptoms

The primary symptom owners will observe is the illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) on the instrument cluster. This warning light indicates a potential issue with the vehicle's systems. Despite the warning, AC charging functionality is typically unaffected and operates as designed without any actual charging concerns.

Fault Codes / DTCs

When diagnosed, the vehicle's control unit will have the erroneous fault code 031BFC stored. The full description of this fault is: "031BFC-AC charging, charging electronics 2, internal fault: No internal capacitor discharge stored in the CCU."

Cause of the Issue

The root cause of this BMW PHEV MIL 031BFC issue lies within the software of the Combined Charging Unit (CCU). Specifically, unfavorable diagnostic parameters related to the AC charging buffer capacitors' discharge function are incorrectly interpreted by the CCU software. This leads to the erroneous 031BFC fault being stored and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) being triggered, even though there is no actual hardware malfunction or operational problem with the charging system.

Affected PHEV vehicles are equipped with the CCU-03 (7.4 kW / 11 kW) and have I-levels ranging from 24-07-500 to 25-11-5xx.

Important Warnings for Owners

BMW has provided several critical advisories regarding this issue:

• Do not replace any parts: "Do not replace any parts as it does not provide a remedy and is therefore not permitted." This explicitly means that exchanging the Combined Charging Unit (CCU) will not resolve the problem if AC charging is functioning correctly and there is no charging complaint. Such replacements are not permitted under this bulletin.
• Software update timeline: "Please do not proceed- the ISTA version with the update that corrects this software issue is expected to be available as of March 2026."
• No operational problem: "Please inform the customer that there is no operational problem with the vehicle, and that a software update is expected in March 2026. The vehicle should be released back to the customer, and it should be documented in the repair order that the customer was informed of the situation."

This repair is categorized as both "MOBILE FRIENDLY" and "REMOTE SOFTWARE UPGRADE (RSU) FRIENDLY," indicating flexibility in how the update can be applied once available.

Repair Procedure Summary

For vehicles exhibiting the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and fault code 031BFC, the repair involves a software update. Technicians are instructed to first determine the vehicle's current I-level using either AIR or the Key Reader/Aftersales Workplace (AWP) application. If the vehicle's I-level is lower than 26-03-500, the software update is required.

Until the corrective ISTA I-level (26-03-500) becomes available, the fault code 031BFC can be cleared. However, it is important to note that the MIL and fault code may reappear multiple times until the permanent software fix is applied. The software update that corrects this issue is anticipated to be available by March 2026.

Warranty and Claim Information

This repair is covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty for Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, and potentially by the State-specific Emissions Warranty. The repair code for this service is 6144020200, described as "CCU Combined Charging Unit control unit (Hybrid/E-vehicle) Software error / internal device fault."

Labor operations for this service may include carrying out a vehicle test (00 00 006 or 00 00 556), supporting the vehicle's electrical system (61 21 528), and potentially vehicle diagnosis (61 00 006* or 00 58 500*).

Owner Action

If your 2023-2025 BMW PHEV is displaying the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and you suspect it's related to the BMW PHEV MIL 031BFC fault, you should be aware that there is no immediate operational problem with your vehicle's charging system. The issue is a software error that will be corrected with an upcoming update.

BMW expects the necessary software update to be available by March 2026. You should contact your authorized BMW dealer to confirm if your vehicle is affected and to schedule the software update once it becomes available. In the meantime, your dealer may clear the fault code, but it could reappear until the permanent fix is implemented.

NHTSA ID: 11024713