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UliSto

BMW 6 Diesel Overheating: Electric Fan Issue Solutions

Overheating

Hey there! Looking for advice about my 2012 BMW 6 Diesel (96k km). My engine's been running hot lately and switched to emergency mode. The electric fan seems to be acting up. Had a not-so-great experience with my last mechanic, so I'd love to hear from others who've dealt with similar issues. What was your experience getting this fixed, and did you find a reliable solution? Any tips on finding a trustworthy mechanic who knows these engines well?

4 comment(s)


SigiWalt

I had the same issue with my 2015 BMW 5 Series Diesel last winter. The electric fan problem triggered the emergency mode too. Turned out the wiring harness connecting to the cooling fan module was corroded, causing intermittent connection failures. Got it fixed at a specialist garage. They found the fan control module itself was fine, but the cable connections were shot. The mechanic showed me where water had seeped in and damaged the connection points. They had to replace the entire wiring harness assembly. It wasn't a quick fix, took them about 4 hours to complete the job. This isn't typically a serious issue if caught early, but ignoring it can lead to engine overheating and potential damage. Make sure whoever works on it checks both the fan module and the wiring harness thoroughly. The symptoms are pretty distinctive, mine also went straight into limp mode when the fan stopped working properly. For finding a mechanic, try looking for ones who specialize in German cars and are certified to work on BMWs. Ask them about their diagnostic tools too, proper diagnosis of these electrical issues needs specific equipment.

UliSto (Author)

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That wiring harness issue sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Would you mind telling me how much it ended up costing you to get it sorted? Also curious if you've had any other cooling system problems pop up since getting it fixed? Really appreciate your help!

SigiWalt

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, I actually got the fan issue sorted last week. Great news, it turned out to be much simpler (and cheaper!) than my previous repair. The mechanic found a faulty cable connection that was causing all the drama, got it fixed for just 95 Euro. What a relief compared to my last repair! Since getting it fixed, my car's running like a dream, no more overheating or emergency mode issues. The electric fan's working perfectly now. It's funny how sometimes these problems that seem huge end up being relatively straightforward fixes, right? Honestly, I was preparing myself for another expensive repair like my last one where they had to replace the whole wiring harness, so this was a pleasant surprise. If you're still having issues with yours, definitely get it checked soon, these cooling problems are best dealt with early before they can cause any serious damage to the engine. Haven't had a single cooling system issue since the repair. Just goes to show how important it is to find the right mechanic who can properly diagnose the actual problem rather than jumping to worst-case scenarios.

UliSto (Author)

Thanks for the update! Really glad to hear you got it sorted for such a reasonable price. Actually, I just got mine fixed yesterday and had a similar experience. The mechanic I found was fantastic, really took the time to explain everything. Turned out my issue was also just a loose connection in the cooling fan circuit. Cost me about two hours of labor, and now my car's running perfectly too. What a relief it wasn't anything major! The mechanic even showed me what to look out for in the future. No more emergency mode warnings, and the temperature gauge is staying exactly where it should be. After all that worry, it's such a good feeling to have it sorted. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helped me feel more confident about getting it checked out instead of putting it off. Isn't it funny how we both worked ourselves up thinking it would be some massive repair? Goes to show that sometimes the simplest solution is the right one. Thanks again for all your help!

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