M4 Air Flap Malfunction Causing Engine Temperature Issues

Hey there! I actually had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW M2 Competition last winter. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I experienced, sluggish warm-up, temperature fluctuations, and those annoying warning lights. Took it to the garage and turned out the electromechanism that controls the air flaps was completely shot. The flaps were stuck in one position, messing with the whole cooling system. It wasn't just a minor problem, the mechanic said if left unchecked, it could've led to some serious engine temperature management issues. They had to replace the entire air flap control unit and reprogram the system. The repair itself wasn't quick, had the car in the shop for three days because they needed to get the parts and do some thorough testing afterward. My advice? Don't wait on this one. Get it checked out by a certified BMW technician. These active air flap issues might seem minor, but they can snowball into bigger problems if not addressed promptly.

Thanks for sharing your experience! It sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. I'm definitely going to get it checked out ASAP. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the repairs? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other quirks pop up?

Hey again! Happy to give you an update! Just got my car back from the mechanic last week, and I can tell you exactly what it cost me, 590 € for replacing the defective electromechanism. Worth every penny though, because the active air flap issue is completely sorted now. Since the fix, my M2 Competition has been running like a dream, no more temperature issues, no warning lights, and the warm-up time is back to normal. It's such a relief not seeing those pesky error messages anymore! The engine temperature stays exactly where it should be, even during longer drives. I've been keeping a close eye on everything, but honestly, there haven't been any new quirks or issues popping up. The car feels more responsive too, probably because the cooling system is working properly now. If you're experiencing the same symptoms I did, I'd say go for it and get it fixed, it's not worth risking bigger problems down the line. Just make sure you get a certified technician to do the work. They'll know exactly what they're looking at with these M models. Let me know how it goes when you get yours sorted!

Thanks so much for all the details! Just got back from the mechanic today and wanted to share my experience. You were spot on about everything. Turned out my air flap control unit was completely busted, just like yours was. The whole repair took about two days, they had to order the part first. Final bill came to around 650 € which wasn't as bad as I was dreading. The mechanic I found was brilliant, really knew his stuff about BMWs. He even showed me the old part and explained exactly what had gone wrong. Car's running beautifully now. Engine temp's perfect, no more warning lights, and it warms up normally. Such a relief! Can't believe I was worried about going to a new mechanic after my last bad experience. Should've done it sooner. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, helped me know exactly what to expect. Definitely the right call getting it fixed straight away rather than waiting for it to get worse. Thanks again for all your help!