BMW Heat Sensor & AC Failure: Owner Seeks Trustworthy Fix

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW 3 Series last summer. Initially thought it was just a minor glitch, but turned out to be the AC control module that went bad. Got the same error messages in the cluster and complete AC failure like you're describing. Took it to the garage and they had to replace the entire climate control unit. It wasn't just a sensor issue in my case. The repair wasn't exactly quick, they had to order the part and it took about 3 days total to fix. It was definitely not a minor repair job, but essential since you can't really drive comfortably without a working AC system. My advice would be to get a proper diagnostic test done first. These symptoms can be tricky, and while it could be just a sensor like your mechanic suggests, it might be worth checking the entire AC control system. From my experience, it's better to fix it right away before it causes more problems. Hope this helps with your decision making!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful info about the AC control module. Did you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been working fine since they fixed it, or have you noticed any other issues pop up? Just trying to get an idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise and if I should expect any other problems down the road.

Hey again! Happy to share a follow-up! Yes, I remember the costs well, it set me back 980 € to fix the AC control unit. But I also had them check out that temperature sensor issue in the heat exchanger while they were at it, which turned out to be defective just as your mechanic suspected. Thankfully that was covered under warranty. The good news is that since getting it fixed, everything's been running perfectly smooth. The AC blows nice and cold, all the controls work like they should, and those annoying error messages are completely gone. It's been about 8 months now, and I haven't had a single problem with the system. I know it wasn't exactly cheap, but honestly, it was worth every penny to have it working properly again. These BMW climate systems are pretty complex, so when something goes wrong, it usually needs proper attention. My advice would be to get it sorted sooner rather than later, you really don't want to deal with a completely dead AC system when you need it most! Let me know if you need any other details about the repair. Happy to help!

Thanks a lot for all the detailed info! I bit the bullet and took my car to the shop yesterday. Turns out you were spot on, it wasn't just the sensor but the control module was acting up too. Got it all fixed up, and surprisingly, it cost me a bit less than what you paid, around 850 €. The whole experience wasn't nearly as bad as I'd feared. The mechanics were actually really transparent about what needed fixing and even showed me the faulty parts. They got everything done in two days, and I've got to say, the AC is working better than ever now. The error messages are gone, and the auto climate control is working perfectly. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it definitely helped me make the right call instead of putting it off and potentially dealing with bigger issues later. It's such a relief to have it sorted, and I feel much better about finding a trustworthy mechanic too. Thanks again for all your help!