BMW M2 Climate Control Failure, Solar Sensor Suspect?

Hi there! I've got some experience working on BMWs. I had a similar issue with my 2021 BMW M4 last winter. The symptoms were exactly the same, AC wasn't working on auto, and heating was really weak. Took it to my regular workshop, and it turned out to be a loose connection in the wiring harness for the climate control sensors. The mechanic found a damaged plug that wasn't making proper contact. Fixed it up for about 95 Euro, and everything's been working perfectly since then. Before you head to the shop, could you share: Does the fan speed change at all? Are you getting any specific error messages on the display? Does the issue happen right from startup or after driving for a while? Feel free to shoot me any questions, having dealt with a similar M series, I might be able to help you troubleshoot this further.

Thanks for sharing your M4 experience! I've got 33469 KM on my M2, and had the last service about 2 months ago. The fan speed actually works fine manually, but when in auto mode, it's completely erratic. No specific error messages on the display, but my diagnostic scan showed code P0533. The problem's definitely there right from startup, doesn't matter if the engine's cold or warm. Interesting about the loose connection you mentioned, that's way cheaper than what I was worried about! I'll definitely have them check the wiring first. I had been concerned it might be the compressor, which would've been a much bigger hit to the wallet. Have you had any other climate control issues since your repair? Just wondering if I should be looking out for anything else while they're checking it out.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your M2. Yeah, that P0533 code is actually for the AC pressure sensor circuit, which makes total sense with the symptoms you're describing. It's different from what I had, but still potentially a simple fix. Since my wiring repair on my M4, I've had zero issues with the climate control, it's been rock solid for about 18 months now. However, I did learn something interesting: these newer M series cars can be pretty sensitive to their sensor connections. After my repair, my mechanic mentioned he's seen several similar cases where it wasn't actually the sensor itself that failed, but rather the connection or wiring to it. Given that your fan speed works manually but goes crazy in auto mode, plus that specific error code, I'm betting it's either the pressure sensor itself or its wiring harness. Should be way less expensive than a compressor job, thankfully! My suggestion would be to have them check the sensor connections first, might save you some cash. One thing I learned the hard way, make sure they clear the error codes after the repair. Mine kept acting up for a day because they forgot to reset the system. Let me know how it goes when you get it checked out, I'm curious to see if it's a similar fix to what I experienced.

Thanks so much for the detailed follow-up! That's super helpful info about the pressure sensor circuit, definitely gives me more confidence heading to the shop. I'll make sure to mention checking all the connections first, and I'll keep that tip about clearing the error codes in mind too. Really relieved to hear you haven't had any issues since your repair. I was starting to worry this might be the beginning of ongoing problems, but sounds like once it's fixed properly, it should stay fixed. I've got an appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning, and I'm feeling much better about it now that I know what to discuss with the mechanic. I'll post an update once I get it sorted out. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been incredibly helpful! Here's hoping it's just a simple sensor or wiring issue like yours was.