BMW 7 Hybrid Overheating: Fan Not Working, Help Needed

Hey there! I've got some experience with BMW hybrids. I actually had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW 5 Series Hybrid last year (I also considered the 7 Series at the time). Dealt with almost identical symptoms, overheating engine, fan issues, warning lights. Took it to my regular workshop and turns out it was a faulty speed sensor that was causing the radiator fan to malfunction. The repair set me back about 250 Euro, but it fixed the problem completely. Before you head to the shop, could you share: Any unusual sounds from the engine bay? Does it happen more during city driving or highway? Have you noticed any coolant leaks? These details would help compare if it's the same issue I faced. While I've got some experience with these cars, having it properly diagnosed is your safest bet, especially with hybrid systems involved. Drop me those details, and I can share more about my repair experience if it sounds similar.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My car's at 114899 KM and had its last service just 3 months ago. Haven't noticed any coolant leaks, but there's definitely a slight humming noise from the engine bay, especially during city driving. The noise gets more noticeable when I'm stuck in traffic or at stoplights. The symptoms really sound similar to what you described. Did your speed sensor issue also come with a humming noise? I'm hoping it's just the sensor like in your case and not something more serious with the cooling system. These hybrid systems can be tricky to diagnose sometimes. Quick question, did you notice any change in fuel efficiency when you had this problem? Mine seems to be drinking more fuel than usual lately.

Hey again! Yes, that humming noise sounds exactly like what I experienced with my BMW 5 Series Hybrid. Mine also had around 110K on the clock when this happened. The humming was particularly annoying during city drives, just like you're describing. And funny you mention the fuel efficiency, I definitely noticed my car getting thirstier during that time. The hybrid system tends to work harder when there's a cooling issue, which explains the increased fuel consumption. I was getting about 15-20% worse fuel economy before fixing the sensor. Just to add to my previous experience, the humming noise actually got worse right before I took it in for repairs. The speed sensor wasn't sending proper signals to the fan control module, making the fan either not run at all or run at wrong speeds. This put extra stress on the whole cooling system. The repair was pretty straightforward once they diagnosed it, took them about 2 hours to fix. Since you're experiencing such similar symptoms, I'd bet you're dealing with the same issue. Just make sure to get it checked soon, I learned the hard way that these cooling problems can escalate quickly if left unchecked. Let me know how it goes when you get it looked at. I'm curious if it turns out to be the same problem!

Thanks for all that detailed feedback! After hearing about your experience, I'm feeling more confident about what might be wrong with my car. The similarities are pretty striking, especially the humming noise and increased fuel consumption. It's really helpful to know that fixing the speed sensor solved these exact issues for you. I've already called my local BMW service center and booked an appointment for tomorrow morning. I mentioned the symptoms and your experience with the speed sensor, which they agreed sounds like a likely cause. They said they'll do a full diagnostic check just to be sure. I'll definitely update you once I get the car back and let you know if it was indeed the same problem. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's made me feel a lot less worried about the whole situation. Fingers crossed it's just the sensor and nothing more serious!