Problems with warning lights and overheating in the 2004 BMW 3 Series Diesel: Possible PTC heater damage

Hi everyone, Thanks for your helpful replies! It's something of a relief to hear that the repair might not be as expensive as I thought. With the PTC heater, that sounds quite plausible, I will definitely have that checked at the workshop. The costs are of course also important to me, but I think I'm quite well equipped with your estimates. I already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Wish me luck that everything goes smoothly at the workshop! Thanks again and have a safe journey!

(Translated from German)

Hello, hey, here I am again. I had a very similar problem with my BMW 1 Series, model year 2001. I had this warning light and similar signs. At the garage it turned out to be a problem with the thermostat. But it wasn't anything serious, the problem could be fixed quite easily. So don't worry too much. You could just take a closer look at the thermostat and see if that solves your problem. Hopefully that will help you. All the best!

(Translated from German)

Hey, that sounds encouraging that it wasn't anything serious. Do you happen to remember roughly what you paid for the repair back then? And did anything else go wrong afterwards or has everything run smoothly since the repair? Thank you and best regards!

(Translated from German)

Hey, I can tell you that after I took the car to the garage, the PTC heater ran like clockwork again and the problem didn't recur. I paid around €350 plus minus for the repair, which involved replacing the electric auxiliary heater. I drive an Audi A6, by the way, in case you want to know, but these repair costs should apply quite generally. All the best and have a trouble-free journey!

(Translated from German)

Hi everyone, with so many miles on the clock and a faulty PTC heater, it's certainly not surprising that your BMW is showing a few warning signs. With such high mileages, sometimes quite complex problems can arise that have to do with basic vehicle maintenance. With your problem, it does sound like the PTC heater, especially when the warning lights and symptoms such as overheating and low coolant level are so obvious. I once had a similar problem with my own car and the repair cost was in the region of €300, but this can also vary depending on the garage. Hope this helps and good luck with the repair! Cheers!

(Translated from German)