BMW 4 Electric Climate Control Failure: Flap or Fan Issue?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW iX3 (my previous car before switching to an i4). I have some experience working with EVs, mostly basic maintenance stuff. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with. It turned out to be a loose connection in the wiring harness that controls the climate control module. My regular EV workshop diagnosed it pretty quickly, they found that one of the main cable connectors had worked itself loose over time, causing those exact symptoms with the AC and rear ventilation. The fix wasn't too complicated, they basically had to reconnect and secure the cables properly. The whole thing cost me 95 Euro, and it's been working perfectly since then. Before I can give you more specific advice, could you share: Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Does the problem happen all the time or intermittently? Have you had any recent work done on the climate control system?

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car has exactly the same symptoms at 48198 KM. I haven't spotted any other electrical problems yet, and no recent work has been done on the climate system. It's actually quite unusual, sometimes it works fine for a few hours, then suddenly stops working properly. This intermittent behavior is what makes it really tricky to diagnose. I'll definitely have my mechanic check the wiring harness and connections during my next service. The loose connection theory makes a lot of sense, especially given how the symptoms come and go. Was the repair job quick, or did they need to keep your car for long?

Hey again! Yeah, I totally get your frustration with those unusual issues, they're the worst to diagnose! When I had my iX3 fixed, the actual repair was pretty quick. They only needed the car for about 2-3 hours once they figured out it was the wiring harness. Since you mentioned the intermittent nature of the problem, that's exactly how mine behaved too. I remember driving to work with perfect AC, then suddenly nothing on the way back home. The fact that yours is acting up the same way at 48K really strengthens my suspicion about the loose connection. Just a heads up, when they fixed mine, they also went ahead and secured some other connections in the same area as a precautionary measure. Might be worth asking your mechanic to do the same while they're in there. It didn't add much to the cost but gave me peace of mind. Quick tip: before you take it in, try to note down exactly when these failures happen (like after hitting bumps or during specific weather conditions). I kept a small log for a few days and it really helped my mechanic pinpoint the issue faster. The more info they have, the quicker they can sort it out. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out, always curious to hear if others have the same fix work for them!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info, this is super helpful! I'll definitely start keeping a log of when it acts up. That's such a smart suggestion and I hadn't thought of tracking the patterns. Good to hear the repair was quick too, I was worried they'd need to keep my car for days. I really appreciate the tip about asking them to check other connections while they're working on it. Makes total sense to prevent future issues, especially since they'll already be in there. I've got an appointment scheduled for next week, and I'll make sure to mention everything you've shared, particularly about the wiring harness and connections. It's such a relief to hear from someone who had the exact same problem and got it sorted without any major drama or expense. I was initially worried it might be something much more serious (and expensive!). You've helped me feel a lot more confident about getting this fixed. I'll update you once I get it sorted, fingers crossed it's the same straightforward fix!