BMW 5 Series Heat Not Working? Common Valve Issue Fix

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2006 BMW 5 Series 530d. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced last month. In my case, it turned out to be a faulty electronic valve connection for the heating system. The connector had corroded, causing intermittent signals to the climate control unit. The mechanic showed me that the valve itself was fine, but the wiring harness and plug needed replacement. It wasn't a major repair in terms of component cost, but accessing the connection point was a bit tricky. The diagnostic showed error code similar to yours, and the uneven heat distribution was a classic symptom. The fix involved replacing the wiring harness and cleaning the connection points. Got it sorted in one day at the garage. While annoying, it wasn't a serious mechanical issue and didn't affect the engine's performance. Just make sure whoever checks it knows BMW heating systems well. Hope this helps with your decision.

Hey, thanks so much for sharing your experience! That's really helpful. My symptoms do match what you described perfectly. Can I ask how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, has everything been working smoothly since they fixed it? No other heating gremlins popping up?

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, I paid 95 € for the repair, which covered fixing that faulty cable connection. And yes, I'm happy to report everything's been working perfectly since then! The heating is now super consistent across all zones, and those annoying warning lights are gone for good. Actually, while they were checking things out, they also found and fixed the water valve, which was starting to go bad. Good thing too, as that could've caused bigger problems down the road. The mechanic really knew their stuff with these BMW heating systems. It's been about six weeks now since the repair, and even during the recent cold snap, the heating's been spot-on. No more cold spots or temperature fluctuations. Such a relief after dealing with those heating issues! Pretty reasonable fix in the end, and way better than having to replace the entire heating unit. Let me know if you need anything else, always happy to help another BMW owner out!

Thanks again for all that info! I actually just got back from the mechanic today. You were spot on, it was indeed the wiring harness causing all the trouble. Found a really decent mechanic who specializes in BMWs. He showed me exactly what was wrong, and I could see the corrosion on the old connector. The repair cost me a bit more, around 120 €, since they had to order a specific part, but honestly, I'm just relieved it's sorted. The heating's working perfectly now, all zones are getting equal warmth, and that annoying warning light is finally gone. The car feels like new again! The mechanic also gave the whole system a good check and said everything else looks solid. Much better experience than my last garage visit. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, saved me from potentially getting ripped off or having unnecessary work done. Really appreciate your help with this one!