BMW 1 Series Windshield Heating Failure & Error Code Help

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars as a hobby mechanic. I faced a similar issue with my 2018 BMW 3 Series diesel last winter. Initially thought it was just the heating elements, but when I took it to my trusted workshop, they diagnosed it as a battery problem. The low battery voltage wasn't supplying enough power to the heating systems. Ended up paying 290 Euro for a new battery plus installation. Before the repair, I also noticed some other electrical glitches, just like in your 1 Series. The 2 Series from the same year had similar issues too. Could you share some more details about your car? Like: Battery age? Any other electrical issues? Does it struggle to start in the morning? This would help narrow down if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars as a hobby mechanic. I faced a similar issue with my 2018 BMW 3 Series diesel last winter. Initially thought it was just the heating elements, but when I took it to my trusted workshop, they diagnosed it as a battery problem. The low battery voltage wasn't supplying enough power to the heating systems. Ended up paying 290 Euro for a new battery plus installation. Before the repair, I also noticed some other electrical glitches, just like in your 1 Series. The 2 Series from the same year had similar issues too. Could you share some more details about your car? Like: Battery age? Any other electrical issues? Does it struggle to start in the morning? This would help narrow down if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Thanks for the detailed response! My car has only done 18750 KM and had its last service about 2 months ago. The battery is actually the original one from 2016, so you might be onto something there. Now that you mention it, I've noticed the car takes a bit longer to start on cold mornings, though I initially didn't connect these issues. Haven't spotted any other electrical problems yet, but I'll definitely get the battery checked out before looking into more complex heating system repairs. Really helpful tip!

Thanks for the detailed response! My car has only done 18750 KM and had its last service about 2 months ago. The battery is actually the original one from 2016, so you might be onto something there. Now that you mention it, I've noticed the car takes a bit longer to start on cold mornings, though I initially didn't connect these issues. Haven't spotted any other electrical problems yet, but I'll definitely get the battery checked out before looking into more complex heating system repairs. Really helpful tip!

Hey again! Yeah, those symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced. The slow start on cold mornings was my first red flag too! The original battery from 2016 is definitely getting up there in age, these BMW batteries typically last around 5-6 years in my experience. Mine was also the original when it started acting up. Even with low mileage, the battery can still deteriorate just from age. Just a heads up, when I replaced my battery, the new one had to be registered/coded to the car's computer system. It's a BMW thing, so make sure wherever you take it can handle that. The whole heating system went back to normal right after the battery replacement. Quick tip from my experience: if you're planning to replace it, do it before winter really kicks in. I learned that the hard way when my heating completely gave up during a freezing morning! Let me know how it goes once you get it checked out. I'm curious if it turns out to be the same issue as mine.

Hey again! Yeah, those symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced. The slow start on cold mornings was my first red flag too! The original battery from 2016 is definitely getting up there in age, these BMW batteries typically last around 5-6 years in my experience. Mine was also the original when it started acting up. Even with low mileage, the battery can still deteriorate just from age. Just a heads up, when I replaced my battery, the new one had to be registered/coded to the car's computer system. It's a BMW thing, so make sure wherever you take it can handle that. The whole heating system went back to normal right after the battery replacement. Quick tip from my experience: if you're planning to replace it, do it before winter really kicks in. I learned that the hard way when my heating completely gave up during a freezing morning! Let me know how it goes once you get it checked out. I'm curious if it turns out to be the same issue as mine.

Thanks so much for all this info, it's been super helpful! I'll definitely get the battery sorted soon, especially after hearing about your experience. Really glad you mentioned the coding part too, as I wouldn't have known about that BMW-specific requirement. I've already called my regular mechanic to book it in for next week, and specifically asked about their battery coding capabilities. They confirmed they can handle it, so that's a relief! Makes total sense about the age factor, can't believe I didn't consider that my 7-year-old original battery might be the culprit. Even with my low mileage, time still takes its toll, right? I'll update the thread once it's fixed so others can benefit from our discussion. Thanks again for saving me from potentially expensive heating system repairs when it might just be a battery issue!

Thanks so much for all this info, it's been super helpful! I'll definitely get the battery sorted soon, especially after hearing about your experience. Really glad you mentioned the coding part too, as I wouldn't have known about that BMW-specific requirement. I've already called my regular mechanic to book it in for next week, and specifically asked about their battery coding capabilities. They confirmed they can handle it, so that's a relief! Makes total sense about the age factor, can't believe I didn't consider that my 7-year-old original battery might be the culprit. Even with my low mileage, time still takes its toll, right? I'll update the thread once it's fixed so others can benefit from our discussion. Thanks again for saving me from potentially expensive heating system repairs when it might just be a battery issue!