BMW X7 Windshield Heating Failure, Common Fix Needed

Hey! I have some experience working with cars, and I actually faced something similar with my 2017 BMW X5 last winter. Since we're talking about BMWs, I've also owned an X3 before. Sorry to hear about your trouble! In my case, it turned out the battery was severely discharged, which caused all sorts of electrical issues including the heating systems acting up. Had to take it to my trusted workshop where they diagnosed and replaced the battery. The whole thing cost me around 290 Euro, but it fixed not just the heating but other small electrical glitches I hadn't even noticed. Could you share if you're experiencing any other electrical issues? Like flickering lights or slow start-ups? Also, how old is your current battery? This info would help determine if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I've had my X7 since new, with 133033 KM on the clock now and last serviced just a month ago. In my case, I'm not seeing any battery-related issues, starts fine every time and all other electrical systems work perfectly. It's literally just the windshield heating that's acting up. The error code only appears when I try to activate the heating system, and everything else seems normal. Interesting that you mention the battery though, I'll definitely keep that in mind. Did your heating system also show an error code before you discovered it was the battery? Just trying to figure out if I should look into other potential causes before heading to the workshop.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up about your X7. You know, my situation was actually a bit different from what you're describing. When I had my battery issue, the car was showing multiple weird behaviors, not just the heating problem. In my case, the error code was just one of many symptoms. Since you're saying everything else works fine and you've got no other electrical issues, I'm starting to think it might not be battery-related after all. My X5 was acting much more erratic, slow starts, dim lights, the works. Tell you what, have you checked the fuse box? After my battery experience, I learned a lot about electrical issues in these cars. Sometimes it can be as simple as a blown fuse for the heating element. That would explain why everything else is working perfectly while just the windshield heating is acting up. Also, since you mentioned the recent service, did they do any work near the windshield or mess with any electrical components? Sometimes these issues can pop up after maintenance if something got disconnected or wasn't properly reconnected. Keep us posted on what you find out. Really curious to know what's causing this in your case!

Thanks so much for the detailed response! You've given me some really helpful things to check out. I actually haven't looked at the fuse box yet, that's such a simple thing I should have thought of first! And now that you mention it, during the last service they did have to disconnect some components to replace the cabin air filter. I'm wondering if something got loose during that process. I just checked my maintenance records, and they didn't touch anything related to the windshield specifically, but maybe there's a connection somewhere I'm not seeing. I'll definitely check the fuse box first, that would be the easiest fix! If that's not it, I'll mention the recent service work when I take it to the workshop. They should be able to check if anything got disconnected. Thanks for sharing your battery experience too. Even though my issue seems different, it's good to know what other problems can cause similar symptoms. I'll make sure to update once I figure out what's going on with mine. Really appreciate all the suggestions!