New Owner Heating Not Working

[UpNorth]

Hello all

I’ve just got my BMW i3s. It has 48,000 miles.

The heating was working when I test drove the car and when I collected it. But now on day 2 I can’t get it to work.

The dealer said he wasn’t sure if the heating was working but it was definitely working when I looked at the car. I thought maybe he had it on Eco Pro plus which reduces the heating.

I think it has a heat pump because it has an option to activate the Auxiliary climate control.

Anyway I just can’t make heat come out. Am I pressing the wrong buttons?

Many thanks

Chris

 

[Mondomensch]

Here's the BMW video of you haven't seen it:

BMW i3 climate controls

Turning on the front defroster should make a noticable warm airflow up the windshield quite quickly.

 

[UpNorth]

Here's the BMW video of you haven't seen it:

BMW i3 climate controls

Turning on the front defroster should make a noticable warm airflow up the windshield quite quickly.

Thanks that is helpfully clear. Unfortunately adjusting the settings doesn’t produce any warm air from the vents today.

Shame really. It was blowing nice and hot yesterday.

Chris

 

[mojo]

Have you tried tapping the "preheat" option within the myBMW app (the fan symbol) while the car is parked up, to see if you get any heat using that option?

Unfortunately the heating elements in the cab heater have a reputation for going intermittent before failing altogether. It may help to have the car's diagnostic codes read, because if the heating elements are failing, you will get specific fault codes to that effect.

 

[UpNorth]

Have you tried tapping the "preheat" option within the myBMW app (the fan symbol) while the car is parked up, to see if you get any heat using that option?

Unfortunately the heating elements in the cab heater have a reputation for going intermittent before failing altogether. It may help to have the car's diagnostic codes read, because if the heating elements are failing, you will get specific fault codes to that effect.

Thanks that’s a helpful suggestion. Unfortunately preheating from the app produces no heat. It’s absolutely stone cold no matter what I try.

I’ve booked the car in for diagnostics at my local approved BMW garage. They tell me they are confident in being able to diagnose the issue. And are approved to service the i3.

Does anyone know how much it costs to replace the heating element?

Thanks

Chris

 

[mojo]

It won't be cheap, unfortunately. In the UK, the retail price of the part alone is over £700. If you take a look at Wisely you should find their standard price list, which includes that specific repair. Obviously, a BMW main dealer will be significantly more expensive when labour charges are added.

Make sure that whoever investigates it for pays close attention to the diagnostic codes - there is at least one other fault (in the cable that connects from the heater to other modules in the car) that stops the heater from working, and allegedly the thermostat on the heater modules may be prone to failure too. Frustratingly (and some would say typically, for BMW) you cannot buy a replacement thermostat as a separate part.