BMW iX Climate Control Issues, Solar Sensor Problems?

Hey there! I have some experience working on EVs and had a similar issue with my 2019 BMW i4 last winter. I feel your pain, climate control problems are super annoying! When my system started acting up, I first tried the basic stuff like resetting the climate control unit, but nothing worked. Took it to my regular workshop, and it turned out to be a loose connection in one of the main control unit cables. The connector wasn't properly seated, causing intermittent failures in the system. Total repair cost was 95 Euro, mainly labor for diagnosing and fixing the cable connection. They had it sorted in about an hour. Heating and AC have been working perfectly since then. Before I can share more specific advice, could you tell me what error codes you're getting? Also, does the issue happen all the time or only under certain conditions? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same problem I had. Love the iX, by the way, I was actually considering trading in my i4 for one!

Hey there, thanks for sharing your experience! My iX has 34482 KM and is still fairly new. The error codes I'm getting are the standard climate control fault ones (P0531 and P0532). Actually, the issue seems to be happening out of nowhere, sometimes it works fine for a few days, then suddenly stops. It's quite frustrating, especially during temperature changes. Just had my latest service two months ago and everything was perfect then. I'll definitely check out the cable connection issue you mentioned. Makes sense that it could be something similar, especially given the intermittent nature of the problem. Did your workshop mention any other potential causes while they were diagnosing it? Really appreciate your help on this!

Hey again! Thanks for those details about your iX, those error codes sound really familiar. You know what's interesting, when I had my i4 checked, the workshop actually did mention a few other potential causes while diagnosing it. They initially thought it might be the solar sensor like I suspected, but after running deeper diagnostics, they found that intermittent issues like this are often related to either loose connections or faulty wiring harnesses. In my case, it was just that loose connection, but they said they've seen similar symptoms caused by corroded pins in the connectors too. Since your car is still pretty new with just 34482 KM, I'd definitely get it checked under warranty. The unusual nature of your issue sounds exactly like what I experienced, working fine one moment, then acting up the next. That's typically a classic sign of an electrical connection problem rather than a sensor issue. Quick question, have you noticed if the problem happens more when you hit bumps or during specific weather conditions? With my i4, I noticed it would act up more on rough roads, which was another clue pointing to the loose connection. Let me know what you find out when you get it checked. Really curious if it turns out to be something similar to what I had!

Thanks so much for that detailed follow-up! Actually, now that you mention it, I have noticed the problem seems to happen more frequently when driving on rough patches. Especially noticed it acting up last week when I went over some speed bumps, the climate control just completely shut off for a few minutes. You've really helped me narrow this down. I've already called my workshop and booked an appointment for tomorrow. Mentioned the loose connection possibility and the error codes. They seemed to think you might be onto something there, especially given how the issues appear when hitting bumps. I'm feeling much more optimistic now knowing your similar issue had such a straightforward fix. Will definitely keep my fingers crossed that it's just a connection problem and not something more serious. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful! Let me know if you end up going for that iX, despite this problem, it's been an amazing car! Thanks again for all your help!