BMW i3 Hybrid Cooling Fan Trouble Causing Overheats

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW i8 Hybrid last season. The overheating and emergency mode symptoms were exactly what I experienced. At the garage, they found the cooling fan control module had deteriorated connection pins, which caused intermittent fan operation. The fix required replacing the control module and rewiring the connection harness. It wasn't a quick fix, needed the car at the shop for a couple of days. While it wasn't the most serious issue, leaving it unfixed could've damaged the hybrid system. My suggestion is to have a certified BMW technician check the fan control module and wiring harness first. These symptoms usually point to electrical issues rather than mechanical problems with the fan itself. Best of luck with the repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with now. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you end up paying for the control module replacement and rewiring? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair? I'm trying to get a sense of whether this is a one-time fix or if I should expect more cooling system issues down the line.

Hey again! Good news, I've got an update for you! Just got my i8 back from the shop last week. Turned out it was actually simpler than my initial repair, just needed to fix a faulty cable connection to the electric fan. The total bill came to 95 € which was a huge relief compared to what I was expecting. Since the repair, everything's been running perfectly smooth. No more overheating warnings or emergency mode triggers. The fan's working exactly as it should now. I can actually hear it kick in properly when needed, which is reassuring. From what I've learned, once these electrical connection issues are properly fixed, they usually stay fixed. My mechanic mentioned that keeping the connections clean and protected from moisture is key to preventing future problems. So far, I haven't had any hints of cooling problems coming back. Much better outcome than I initially thought when I first posted! Hope this helps give you a clearer picture of what you might be looking at cost-wise.

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! I actually just got my car back from a new mechanic I tried. What a different experience! They found a similar issue, just some corroded wiring connections to the fan. The repair was pretty reasonable, around 120 bucks including labor. The best part is the car's running like new again. No more emergency mode warnings popping up, and I can hear the fan working properly now. It's such a relief after dealing with this issue for weeks. The mechanic even showed me what they fixed and explained how to spot early warning signs. I'm really glad I asked here and got your advice. It helped me be more informed when talking to the mechanic, and I definitely knew what to look out for. The whole experience was way better than my previous mechanic visits. Thanks again for sharing your story, it really helped me sort this out!