BMW Active Air Flap Malfunction Causing Overheating Issues

I faced a similar issue with my 2011 BMW 5 diesel last winter. The active air flaps were completely stuck, and the control unit was faulty. The symptoms matched yours exactly, engine light, temperature issues, and warning messages. Had it checked at my usual garage, turned out the electromechanism was defective and some debris had gotten into the flap mechanism. It was quite serious as it affected both engine cooling and performance. The repair involved replacing the complete air flap assembly and control module. The job took about 4 hours. It's not something you want to postpone, as continuous running with malfunctioning air flaps can lead to engine overheating and potential damage to other components. Definitely get it checked soon by someone who specializes in BMW diesels. These systems are quite complex and need proper diagnostic equipment to properly assess and repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience, really helpful as it sounds exactly like my problem! Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, curious if you've had any other issues with the air flaps since getting them fixed? Just trying to get an idea of what I'm in for both cost-wise and if it's likely to be a recurring problem.

Hey, glad I could help! Just wanted to follow up, I actually got this sorted at my mechanic's last week. The final bill came to 590 € for fixing the electromechanism, which was indeed defective just like I suspected. The good news is that nasty active air flap fault is completely gone now, and the car's running like a charm! Since the repair, I haven't had a single issue with the air flaps, no warning lights, no temperature problems, nothing. My mechanic did a thorough job cleaning out the whole system too, which probably helped prevent any potential future problems. The car's warming up normally now and the engine temp is staying exactly where it should be. Honestly, while the repair wasn't cheap, it was worth every penny to get it fixed properly rather than risk any engine damage. Plus, from what I understand, once these air flaps are properly repaired and maintained, they typically don't give trouble again. Just make sure whoever works on it knows their BMWs and uses proper diagnostic equipment, that's really key with these systems.

Thanks for all the detailed info! I bit the bullet and took my car to a BMW specialist yesterday. The whole experience was actually way better than expected. The mechanic found the same issue, clogged flap mechanism and faulty control unit. Got it all fixed up, including a thorough cleaning of the system, for around 650€. The difference in how the car runs now is like night and day! Engine temperature's perfect, no more warning lights, and it's warming up properly again. The mechanic also gave me some tips about keeping the mechanism clean to avoid future issues. Honestly, I was stressing about this way more than I needed to. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it gave me the push I needed to get it sorted before it turned into something worse. The mechanic was upfront about everything and even showed me the old parts. Definitely keeping this shop for future repairs. Thanks again for helping me out with this!