BMW X2 Diesel Cold Start Issues, Glow Plug Problems?

Hey there! I've got some experience with diesel engines, and this sounds very familiar. I had a similar issue with my 2016 BMW X1 diesel last winter. I'm a hobby mechanic with some basic knowledge of car maintenance. My symptoms were exactly like yours, slow starts, battery drain, and that annoying preheat light staying on. Took it to my trusted workshop, and they diagnosed a faulty glow plug in cylinder 2. They replaced the defective plug and cleared the fault codes. The whole job cost me around 440 Euro, but it's been running like a charm since then. Before you proceed, could you share: Have you scanned for specific error codes? Which engine variant does your X2 have? Are you getting any other warning lights? If it's the same issue, you'll want to get it fixed soon to avoid potential starting problems and engine damage. Just make sure they check all glow plugs while they're at it, sometimes when one goes, others might follow soon. Let me know these details, and I might be able to help more specifically!

Thanks for the detailed response! I've got the 2.0L diesel with 99367 KM on the clock. Just scanned it yesterday and got the P0671 error code (Glow Plug Circuit Malfunction). No other warning lights showing up besides the preheat indicator. The car had its last major service about 6 months ago, but this issue started just recently. Really appreciate the tips about checking all the glow plugs, makes total sense to do them all while they're working on it. I'll get it booked in this week. Good to know the cost range too, helps me plan for it. Did your workshop mention how long the repair usually takes?

Hey again! Thanks for those details! Yeah, that P0671 code pretty much confirms what I experienced. My X1 had around 85,000 KM when I had the same issue. Actually, at my workshop, the job took about 2.5 hours total, they needed some extra time because they found some corrosion on the wiring harness that needed cleaning up. I should mention though, after they changed my glow plugs, they discovered that the glow plug control module was also acting up. It wasn't obvious at first, but it was causing irregular voltage to the plugs. Ended up replacing that too, which pushed my total repair cost up to about 590 Euro. But honestly, it was worth it because it solved all the issues completely. Since you've got similar mileage and symptoms, you might want to ask them to check the control module while they're at it. Could save you a second trip if that turns out to be part of the problem. My car's been running great for about 18 months now without any cold start issues. Let me know how it goes when you get it fixed, always interested to hear if others have the same experience!

Thanks for sharing your experience! The information about the glow plug control module is super helpful, I'll definitely mention that to the workshop when I take it in. It makes sense that these things could be related, and I'd rather fix everything properly in one go than have to make multiple trips. I've already called the workshop and they can take the car in next week. They estimated about 3 hours for the full job, including diagnostics and potential control module check. I'm actually relieved that the symptoms match what you experienced, and even more relieved to hear your car's been running well since the repair. I'll update you once it's done. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your knowledge and experience, it's made me feel much more confident about what needs to be done. Having some idea of the potential costs and timeframe is really helpful too. Let's hope it's as straightforward as your repair was! Talk soon!