The prior owner of my 2017 MCS spilled... something... into the iDrive controller, making the Back and Option buttons usable but "gummy." Basically, something is congealed in the works. Whatever it is is not visible.

I had the controller out yesterday and took electronic contact cleaner to it, basically figuring if I can get it into the right spot it will do some work. Result: partial success. Back button is close to feeling normal. But the Option button remains a bit "gummy."

Anybody know how to crack one of these open? (ok, not *crack*, I want it to reassemble)

I did try a rather obvious set of side tabs, but no dice. I suspect the **** needs to come off first.

 

I have the non-touchpad version and pulled mine apart for the same reason. It is a little bit of a pain, but manageable. I wish I had made a teardown guide since I've seen a number of people ask about it. I know the **** had to come off when taking it apart. It's been a while so I don't remember exactly how the **** came off but I thought the chrome ring had to be removed first. It clips on and the clips broke for me so I glued it in place when I was done. I originally tried to remove the orange center thinking there was a screw under it but that orange piece does not come out.

 

Thanks -- this helps. I have the same version as you do (orange center of ****). Looking at a disassembly video for a BMW controller, definitely non-identical but with a similar chrome ring, they had to pop the chrome ring first. Good to have it confirmed that that is in the mix for the Mini controller we're talking about.

Now those breaking clips... that's the kind of thing that made me not start messing with the chrome ring. Hm. I may review that BMW video again.

Link showing removal of the chrome ring on similar but definitely not identical BMW iDrive controller, for the interested, start at the 3:05 timestamp: .

 

Do you have the touchpad version like that or the one without a touchpad?

Edit: dumb question, I just re-read your response.

 

I will say that, while I would prefer not breaking the clips, it was not a big deal. Looking at mine you would never know and I just put a small dab of super glue in a couple spots to hold the ring without issue. Our version chrome ring is held by 4 smaller clips and removes a little differently than the video but it's a similar concept. There were also clips holding the larger black part of the ****, but they could be undone with a small screwdriver.

The problem is that it's been months and I can't remember if the clips for the black **** were under the chrome ring or the rubber part on top. I didn't have any help so I started pulling things off and figured I'd buy a new one if I broke it. In the end I had to put a small dab of glue for the rubber ring on top and the chrome ring. One of them did not need to be removed and the other did.

Sorry I'm not very good help on this one.

 

No worries @Sopey15 -- the info you've given has actually been pretty helpful. The details are useful, even if incomplete!

For reference here's the one I have. Definitely not the one with the touchpad, and no nav. I haven't dug up a video on disassembling this one but I'm going to keep nosing around.

 

There is little coherence in this thread. Removing the silver ring does nothing. It doesn't reveal anything else.