BMW X2 Temperature Sensor Chaos: Multiple Systems Fail

I had nearly identical issues with my 2017 BMW X3 last winter. Started with the temperature display acting up, then the whole climate control system went haywire. Turned out it was more than just the outside temp sensor, the wiring harness connecting these components had corroded pretty badly, causing multiple system failures. Took it to the shop and they found several damaged connectors in the main harness, plus a failing control module. The repair involved replacing the entire front wiring harness and the climate control module. It was a serious job that took about two days to complete, but it fixed all the problems permanently. The heating, AC, and sensor systems have worked flawlessly since then. Based on your symptoms, it sounds very similar to what I experienced. These electrical issues typically don't fix themselves and can affect other systems if left unchecked. I'd recommend getting it checked soon before winter really hits.

Thanks for sharing your experience, it's really helpful to hear about the wiring harness issue. Sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with right now! I'm curious, do you remember roughly how much the repair ended up costing you? Also, have you had any other electrical gremlins pop up since getting it fixed? Just want to make sure I'm prepared for what might be coming.

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up on your questions. Actually, I recently got my X3 fixed, much simpler than I initially thought! Turned out it was just a faulty connection to the outside temperature sensor, not the whole wiring harness like I feared. The mechanic spotted and fixed the issue pretty quickly, only cost me 95 € to repair the cable connection. Such a relief! Since getting it sorted, everything's been working perfectly, no more temperature display issues, AC's back to normal, and those annoying error codes are gone. Haven't had a single electrical problem pop up since. Looking back, I probably got a bit ahead of myself thinking it was a major wiring harness problem. Sometimes it's the simple fixes that do the trick! Just shows how important it is to get a proper diagnosis rather than assuming the worst. Really glad I didn't end up needing that whole harness replacement I mentioned before. Hope this helps give you a better idea of what you might be dealing with!

Thanks so much for the update! This is really encouraging news. I actually just got back from a trusted mechanic I found through a friend. You're right, it was way simpler than expected! The issue was a damaged connector and a partially failed temperature sensor. Total repair cost was around 200 bucks, which is such a relief compared to what I was imagining. The mechanic was great, super transparent about everything and even showed me the faulty parts. All my systems are working perfectly now. The temperature display is accurate, AC's blowing cold, and those heated mirrors are doing their job again. Even those pesky error codes have disappeared. Really appreciate everyone's help here. Sometimes our minds jump to the worst conclusions, but it's good to get different perspectives and experiences. Guess I was lucky this time, no major wiring harness replacement needed! Now I've finally got a mechanic I can trust for future issues too.