BMW M3 Parking Heater Dead: Repair Tips & Advice

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2015 BMW M4 last winter. The parking heater completely died, no response, nothing. After some diagnosis at my trusted mechanic, it turned out the glow plug was defective and the fuel pump had some carbon buildup. The glow plug replacement was a must-do repair as it's a critical component for the heater to function. The carbon buildup cleaning was done while they were already in there. The whole job took about 4-5 hours. It was a significant repair but not something that would affect the main engine performance. Based on your symptoms, it sounds very similar to what I experienced. I'd suggest finding a mechanic who specializes in BMW systems, the heating system is pretty complex and needs someone who knows their way around it. My issue happened at 98k km, so your timing makes sense too. Hope this helps with your decision!

Hey, thanks a lot for sharing your experience! That's really helpful info, especially since it seems we had almost identical issues. My glow plug might be the culprit too. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole repair? Also, has everything been working fine since the fix, or have you noticed any other heating-related problems? Thanks!

Hey again! Great to hear back from you! Just wanted to let you know that after getting my M4's auxiliary heater fixed, it's been working like a charm! The repair set me back 440 € for the glow plug replacement, but it was totally worth it. Haven't had a single heating issue since then, it fires up perfectly every time. The mechanic did a thorough job and clearly knew what they were doing. It's such a relief when you find someone who can properly diagnose and fix these specific BMW issues. My parking heater works just as well as it did when the car was new. I'd say if your symptoms match what I had, you're probably looking at a similar repair. The price might vary a bit, but at least you'll have an idea of what to expect. Let me know how it goes if you get it fixed!

Hey! I really appreciate all your advice! Just wanted to update you, I finally got the car fixed yesterday. You were spot on about the glow plug! Found a great mechanic through a who specializes in German cars. The whole thing cost me a bit more, around 520 €, since they also had to clean out some serious carbon buildup. But honestly, it was worth every penny. The heater kicked in right away when I tested it this morning, such a relief after dealing with the cold starts! The mechanic was super thorough and explained everything. Much better experience than my last repair shop visit. They even showed me the old parts and explained what went wrong. Definitely keeping their number for future repairs. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. It's such a weight off my shoulders having this fixed properly. Really glad I asked here before jumping into repairs blindly!