BMW 8 Climate Control Panel Issues, Help Needed

Hey! I had a similar issue with my 2016 BMW 6 Series. I've got some experience working on cars, but electrical stuff isn't my strong suit. The symptoms were exactly like yours, flashing control panel and no control over AC or heat. Turned out to be a loose connection between the climate control module and the main wiring harness. My trusted mechanic diagnosed it pretty quickly and replaced a damaged connector and cable. The whole thing cost me 95 Euro, and it's been working perfectly since then. Before you head to the dealer, could you share if you're getting any error codes or if there were any recent repairs done near the dashboard? Also, which engine variant do you have? Might help narrow down the exact issue, as the layout can be slightly different. BTW, if you're thinking of the dealer, my experience with the BMW 5 had similar symptoms but turned out to be a different issue, so best to get a proper diagnosis first.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 192050 KM and just had its service last month. I'm running the gasoline variant. No error codes showing up on the dash, and haven't had any recent repairs around that area. Was thinking about checking the connections myself before heading to the dealer, but wanted to gather some real experiences first. Did your mechanic mention how he diagnosed the loose connection? Would be great to know what to look out for when I check mine. The flashing started out of nowhere while driving last week, and it's been getting more frequent since then.

Hey again! Yeah, I totally understand wanting to check things yourself first, that's exactly what I did with mine. Since we're dealing with similar BMW models, I can tell you what my mechanic showed me about diagnosing the issue. In my case, he first checked the connections behind the climate control panel itself. You'll need to carefully remove the trim panel around the controls (I used a plastic trim tool to avoid scratching anything). Once you get behind there, look for any obvious loose or corroded connections. My mechanic noticed right away that one of the connectors had some corrosion and wasn't seated properly. Since your car has similar mileage to what mine had (I was around 180000 KM when this happened), it could definitely be the same issue. The vibration from driving can gradually loosen these connections over time. The fact that your flashing started out of nowhere and is getting worse matches my experience exactly. Just be careful if you decide to check it yourself, these newer BMWs have quite a few delicate connections back there. If you're not totally confident, it might be worth letting a pro handle it. The diagnostic fee at most places isn't too bad, and it's better than accidentally damaging something while poking around. Let me know what you find, would be interesting to see if it's the same problem I had!

Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation! Really appreciate you taking the time to walk me through this. I actually just checked behind the panel using a plastic trim tool like you suggested, and guess what? Found a connector that's definitely not sitting right, it wiggles when I touch it. Think I'll still have my regular mechanic take a look at it next week just to be safe, but at least now I know what I'm dealing with. The diagnostic fee will be worth it for peace of mind. Plus, if it ends up being just a loose connection like yours, that'll save me a ton compared to what the dealer would charge for a full module replacement. Will definitely update you once it's fixed. Really glad I asked here first before panicking and rushing to the dealer! Seems like these connection issues are more common than I thought in our BMW models.