BMW 5 Series Hybrid Parking Heater Dies Mysteriously

I had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW 3 Series Hybrid last winter. The glow plug was defective, which caused the auxiliary heater to fail completely. Got it diagnosed when the heater stopped working and the error codes started showing up. The repair involved replacing the glow plug assembly and recalibrating the heater control unit. It wasn't a quick fix, my car was at the garage for two days because they needed specific diagnostic tools for the BMW hybrid system. This is actually a serious issue since it can affect the engine's cold-start performance and cabin heating, especially in cold weather. If you've got error codes showing up, don't wait too long to get it fixed. In my case, waiting could have led to more damage to the heating system. I'd suggest going straight to a certified BMW technician who's familiar with hybrid systems. The parking heater in these models is pretty complex, and general mechanics might miss something important during diagnosis.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the glow plug issue. That's really helpful to know. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been working fine since then, or have you noticed any other heating-related problems? Been a bit worried about potential follow-up issues with these hybrid heaters.

Hey there! Glad I could help. Yeah, actually the whole repair set me back 440 €, mostly for the glow plug replacement and the diagnostic work they had to do. I know it sounds steep, but honestly, it was worth every penny because the heating system has been working perfectly ever since. I've gone through a full winter with absolutely zero issues after getting it fixed. The auxiliary heater kicks in exactly when it should, and the whole system runs super smoothly now. Haven't had a single error code or problem pop up since the repair. Trust me, I was also worried about potential ongoing issues, you know how these hybrid systems can be! But in this case, replacing the faulty glow plug really did solve the problem completely. The car starts up great in cold weather, and the cabin heats up properly too. Definitely recommend getting it sorted sooner rather than later, once the glow plug was replaced, it was like having a completely different car in terms of the heating performance.

Thanks everyone for the advice! Just wanted to update you all on what happened with my BMW. Finally got it checked out at a certified shop, and turns out it wasn't even the glow plug, it was a faulty control module! The mechanic showed me exactly what was wrong and explained everything. Labor and parts came to about 600 €, which stung a bit, but at least they did a thorough job. They had to order the part specially and keep my car for three days, but honestly, watching them work was impressive. They really knew their stuff about hybrid systems. Got the car back yesterday and the parking heater's working like new. Started up instantly this morning with no error codes. Such a relief to have this sorted before it gets any colder! Still keeping an eye on it, but so far everything's running perfectly. Lesson learned though, going straight to specialists might cost more upfront, but it saves money in the long run. Thanks again for pushing me to get it properly checked out!