BMW i8 Hybrid Blower Motor Failure, Help Needed

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW i3 last year (I have some experience working on cars but not with complex hybrid systems). The blower motor completely died and the error showed up in diagnostics. Since these BMWs share similar HVAC components, I think I can help. I took it to my trusted workshop and they confirmed the blower motor was defective. The repair set me back 365 Euro, but it was worth it, everything's been working perfectly since then. They also checked the resistor and wiring while they were at it, which was smart since these parts often fail together. Before we dig deeper into your i8's issue, could you share: Are you getting any airflow at all? Does it make any unusual noises? Have you noticed any specific error codes? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same problem I had with my i3. The i8's system is more sophisticated, but the basic components are similar to what you'd find in my i3 or even an M4.

Thanks for the detailed response! My i8 just hit 33902 KM and had its latest service two months ago. I'm getting absolutely no airflow, and there's no noise at all when I try to activate the blower, it's completely dead. Interestingly, I checked with a diagnostic tool and got error code 6F12, which points to a blower motor circuit issue. The car runs perfectly otherwise, it's just the climate control that's giving me grief. Really appreciate your input about the repair costs and checking the resistor, that's helpful to know before I head to the shop!

Hey again! Thanks for providing those details about your i8. After reading about your specific symptoms and the error code 6F12, I'm even more convinced it's exactly the same issue I faced with my i3. The complete silence when trying to activate the blower is particularly telling, that's exactly how mine behaved. You know what's interesting? When my i3's blower died, it also showed no signs of struggle beforehand. Just went from working fine one day to completely dead the next. The fact that you've got the same symptoms (no airflow, no noise) and a circuit-related error code really does point to a failed blower motor. Just a heads up, when they replaced mine, they found some debris around the motor housing that had probably contributed to its failure. Might be worth asking them to check for that when they're doing the repair. Also, since your i8 is a bit newer and more complex than my i3, the parts might cost a bit more than what I paid. One thing I learned from my experience, don't wait too long to get it fixed. Driving without proper ventilation is really uncomfortable, and in my case, it started to affect the windscreen defogging too. Better to sort it out sooner rather than later. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out. I'm curious to see if it ends up being the same issue!

Thanks so much for the follow-up and all the details about your experience! I've already scheduled an appointment for tomorrow morning to get it checked out. You're absolutely right about not waiting, I tried driving today and the windscreen started fogging up, which was pretty annoying. Really good point about checking for debris too, I'll definitely mention that to the mechanic. I appreciate you sharing your experience with the i3 repair. Even though my i8 might cost a bit more to fix, at least I know what I'm potentially dealing with. The fact that your symptoms were identical to mine gives me confidence that it's likely the same issue. I'll probably just bite the bullet and have them check the resistor and wiring while they're at it, just like you suggested. I'll keep you posted about what they find. Thanks again for all your help, it's really reassuring to hear from someone who's been through the same thing!