BMW 1 Series Cold Start Issues, Rough Idle & High Fuel Use

Hey there! I had similar issues with my 2009 BMW 3 Series last winter. The symptoms you're describing are exactly what I experienced, sluggish warm-up, rough idle when cold, and increased fuel consumption. After spending a week dealing with this, I took it to the garage. The electrical auxiliary heater was indeed faulty, but it wasn't just the heater itself. The wiring harness was damaged too, which was causing the error codes. It was actually a serious issue because the faulty wiring could've caused bigger electrical problems if left unchecked. The repair involved replacing both the PTC heater unit and the wiring harness. Not a quick fix, they had my car for two days because they needed to partially remove the dashboard to access everything properly. I'd definitely suggest getting this checked out soon. These symptoms won't improve on their own, and continuing to drive with a faulty heater can lead to more problems down the line. Hope this helps with your decision!

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! It really helps knowing I'm not the only one dealing with this. I'm wondering, if you don't mind me asking, how much did you end up paying for the whole repair job? Also, has everything been running smoothly since they fixed it? Just trying to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise and if it's a lasting solution.

Hey again! Yeah, absolutely no worries! Since you asked, fixing my PTC heater issue cost me 350 € in total, including parts and labor. And I've got good news for you, since getting it fixed, my car's been running like a dream! The warm-up time is back to normal, no more rough running when cold, and my fuel consumption has dropped back to what it should be. It's been about six months since the repair now, and I haven't had a single issue with the heating system. The mechanic really knew what they were doing with the electric auxiliary heater replacement. It's such a relief not having to deal with those error codes anymore either! Trust me, it's worth getting it sorted. It might seem like a chunk of money upfront, but it's way better than letting it get worse and potentially causing other problems. Plus, you'll save money on fuel in the long run since your car won't be working so hard to warm up. Let me know if you need any other info!

Thanks for all the detailed info! After hearing about your experience, I bit the bullet and took my car to a mechanic yesterday. Turns out you were spot on, it was the PTC heater and some wiring issues. The total bill came to about 400 € which wasn't as bad as I feared. They kept the car for a day and a half. Drove it this morning and what a difference! The engine warms up properly now, runs smooth from the start, and even the weird rattling noise I'd gotten used to is gone. My mechanic also checked out a few other minor things while they were at it, so I feel pretty good about the whole deal. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your story, it gave me the confidence to get it sorted before it turned into something bigger. Sometimes it's just nice to know someone else has been through the same thing and found a solution!