BMW X2 Overheating: Electric Fan or Bigger Problem?

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and faced something very similar with my 2017 BMW X1. When I had those exact symptoms, it turned out to be a faulty wiring connection to the cooling fan module. My car was also going into limp mode and showing overheat warnings. Took it to my regular workshop and they diagnosed a damaged connector at the cooling fan. Total repair was 95 Euro, they replaced the wiring harness connection and the problem was solved. Before jumping to conclusions though, could you share: Are you hearing the fan running at all? Any coolant leaks visible? When exactly does the overheating occur (city driving, highway, or both)? I'd be happy to provide more specific advice based on your situation. The X2 and X1 share quite a few components in their cooling systems.

Thanks for the detailed response! My car has 106533 KM on it and was last serviced 3 months ago. Yes, I can hear the fan running but it seems to be working intermittently. Haven't noticed any coolant leaks under the car, but the overheating happens mostly during city driving, especially when I'm stuck in traffic. Sometimes the fan just stops working altogether, which is why I'm suspecting it might be electrical. Would that damaged connector you mentioned show any visible signs of wear? I'd like to check mine before taking it to the shop.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your X2. Yes, what you're describing sounds exactly like what I experienced with my X1, especially the intermittent fan operation during city driving. That's actually what made diagnosing mine a bit tricky at first. In my case, the connector didn't show obvious damage on the outside, but when the mechanic removed it, there was noticeable corrosion on the pins. The intermittent fan operation you're experiencing is a classic sign of electrical connection issues, just like what I dealt with. The fact that it happens mostly in traffic makes perfect sense because that's when the fan needs to work hardest. Given your mileage (mine was around 98000 KM when this happened) and the symptoms being so similar, I'd bet we're looking at the same issue. One thing you could check yourself, try gently wiggling the wiring near the fan connector while the engine is running (when it's cool, of course). If the fan speed changes when you do this, that's a pretty good indication of a connection problem. Just don't wait too long to get it checked out. I learned the hard way that these electrical issues can sometimes damage the fan module itself if left unchecked. Would hate to see you end up with a bigger repair bill than necessary.

Thank you so much for all this great information! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience in such detail. I just tried what you suggested about wiggling the wires (with a cold engine), and sure enough, the fan speed did fluctuate a bit. You're absolutely right, I should get this looked at ASAP before it potentially causes more damage. I'll schedule an appointment with my mechanic tomorrow and specifically mention the connector issue you had with your X1. It's such a relief to have a better idea of what might be wrong, especially since this has been stressing me out for the past week. I'll probably come back to update once it's fixed in case anyone else runs into the same problem. Thanks again for your help!