BMW 5 Series Climate Control Failure Diagnosis Needed

Just dealt with this on my 2006 BMW 3 Series Diesel (actually quite common in these models). Had nearly identical symptoms last month, flashing control panel and no response from climate controls. Took it to the garage, turned out to be a faulty connection between the control module and the main climate unit. The cable harness had some corrosion and a loose connection. The mechanic cleaned the contacts, secured the connection, and replaced a worn-out plug. Not a major repair job, but definitely needed professional attention since it's buried deep in the dashboard. Check if your temperature settings stay consistent when you hit bumps, if they change out of nowhere, it's likely the same connection issue I had. Could also be the control module itself, but start with checking connections first. My 's an auto electrician and says these problems are typical for BMWs of this era. It's worth getting it fixed properly, driving without proper climate control is really uncomfortable, especially in extreme weather.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! That sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with, even down to the symptoms changing when hitting bumps. Really helpful to know about the cable harness issue. Mind if I ask how much the repair ended up costing you? Also, has everything been working smoothly since they fixed it, or have you noticed any other quirks? Trying to get an idea of what I'm in for!

Hey there! Just wanted to update you on my repair experience. I got it fixed last week and it cost me 95 €, honestly not as bad as I was expecting! The mechanic found exactly what I suspected, a dodgy cable connection to the climate control module. The best part? Everything's working perfectly now. The panel's stopped doing that annoying flashing thing, and I've got full control over the heating and cooling again. Such a relief not having to deal with unusual temperature changes every time I hit a bump in the road! It was definitely worth getting it sorted properly. The mechanic knew exactly what he was looking for since it's apparently a common issue with these BMWs. If you're experiencing the same symptoms, I'd say go for it, it's a relatively straightforward fix for someone who knows what they're doing, and way better than putting up with a temperamental climate system. Just make sure you find a mechanic who's familiar with BMWs of this age. They'll know exactly where to look and what to check first. Let me know if you need any other info!

Thanks for the follow-up! I actually just got back from the mechanic today and wanted to share my experience. The issue was exactly what you described, a faulty connection and some corrosion in the wiring. They cleaned it up, replaced a couple of worn parts, and now everything's working like new! My repair bill came to about 120 €, a bit more than yours but still reasonable considering how much I was worrying about it. The mechanic I found was great, super transparent about what needed fixing and didn't try to upsell me on unnecessary repairs. Such a relief after my last mechanic experience! Funny enough, they mentioned seeing quite a few BMWs from our era with the same problem. Really glad I asked here first, saved me a lot of stress knowing what to expect. Thanks again for your help, it's amazing how spot-on your advice was!