[Dandle]

Hi all,
My car has been away over the last ten weeks with the dealer after having the windscreen replaced and Covid closing down the dealerships. My car has come back and I'm pretty sure they have done a software update on the car as the spotify app works better and I have noticed different behaviour with my active front grills.

When the car has been parked for long enough to go to sleep when unlocking it the active front grills now go through a full cycle of opening and closing again. I noticed it straight away due to the fact they make quite a noise when they operate (slightly louder than the folding mirrors). The car never did this before just wondering if anyone with a car that's been updated has noticed this or if the new X3s do this?

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by Dandle

Hi all,
My car has been away over the last ten weeks with the dealer after having the windscreen replaced and Covid closing down the dealerships. My car has come back and I'm pretty sure they have done a software update on the car as the spotify app works better and I have noticed different behaviour with my active front grills.

When the car has been parked for long enough to go to sleep when unlocking it the active front grills now go through a full cycle of opening and closing again. I noticed it straight away due to the fact they make quite a noise when they operate (slightly louder than the folding mirrors). The car never did this before just wondering if anyone with a car that's been updated has noticed this or if the new X3s do this?

I'm not sure if specifically an update changes the behavior but it is normal to hear them operating when unlocking or waking the vehicle or turning the ignition on. It's just a preflight check to make sure they're working properly. Considering in icy environments they can get iced and not move temporarily. Most faults set are for "radiator blind drive: blocked" or "radiator blind drive: iced". We all know that the first few years of these radiator blinds failed and set a CEL and I'm sure most of you have had them replaced at some point.

[Dandle]

That's what I was wondering if the later vehicles/software have this self check. My car never did a self check before it went into the dealer this time

[Alias1431]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

We all know that the first few years of these radiator blinds failed and set a CEL and I'm sure most of you have had them replaced at some point.

Any word on if/when they finally identified the issue and fixed the faulty part?

[suby01]

Hm. My grills stay open when I shut the car off and the fan stays on. But never when I start the car. I have the last update done in Nov. not sure if there another update in 2020 for anything.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by Alias1431

Any word on if/when they finally identified the issue and fixed the faulty part?

SIB for radiator blind faults pertains to vehicles produced until 9/2019 if I recall correctly. G30/G12/G01. Haven't seen any new new cars coming in for radiator blinds yet. Time will tell if mine will come up any time soon. If I had to guess they applied the new part to production now and we should be seeing them far less. There is a warranty extension for radiator blinds anyways now for most vehicles that is 8 years/80k miles I believe. Something along those lines. BMW is now well aware it was a bad part lol.

[Alias1431]

:-( Mine was delivered August 2019.

[808ron]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

SIB for radiator blind faults pertains to vehicles produced until 9/2019 if I recall correctly. G30/G12/G01. Haven't seen any new new cars coming in for radiator blinds yet. Time will tell if mine will come up any time soon. If I had to guess they applied the new part to production now and we should be seeing them far less. There is a warranty extension for radiator blinds anyways now for most vehicles that is 8 years/80k miles I believe. Something along those lines. BMW is now well aware it was a bad part lol.

Is it posted somewhere that it’s an official problem? I need to take mine in again for the same problem. First time they said software but it kept flipping the check engine light.

[Tenacious X]

Originally Posted by 808ron

Is it posted somewhere that it’s an official problem? I need to take mine in again for the same problem. First time they said software but it kept flipping the check engine light.

Here was my original post on the topic.....

https://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showt...php?p=25578882

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by 808ron

Is it posted somewhere that it’s an official problem? I need to take mine in again for the same problem. First time they said software but it kept flipping the check engine light.

If you have faults then it's faulty. The top requires a new air flap actuator actuator. Originally the faults for the top would require the whole top air flap assembly until they released just the actuator. The bottom requires the entire bottom air flap assembly.

[Zirenz2006]

I just had the entire assembly replaced on a Feb 18 build.

[Jeepersjoey]

Mine were replaced on the first service.

Now they need to be replaced on the last (free) service. They no longer open.

Both times they threw a code. But, I had a 32 hour trip where I did not want the stupid check engine light on so I removed the fault.

Paul

[Dandle]

I wonder if mine have been changed then. My car is a March 18 build and never self tested on unlocking before. They have also never failed or given me a CEL light.

[Yobyot]

Originally Posted by freshxdough

SIB for radiator blind faults pertains to vehicles produced until 9/2019 if I recall correctly. G30/G12/G01. Haven't seen any new new cars coming in for radiator blinds yet. Time will tell if mine will come up any time soon. If I had to guess they applied the new part to production now and we should be seeing them far less. There is a warranty extension for radiator blinds anyways now for most vehicles that is 8 years/80k miles I believe. Something along those lines. BMW is now well aware it was a bad part lol.

I had the CEL on my 30i (3/18 production) and the blinds were replaced in 2019. But my M40i (8/19 production) hasn't had the issue (yet).

freshxdough: Do you know if BMW notified folks of the warranty extension? I didn't get a notification for either car.

[freshxdough]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

I had the CEL on my 30i (3/18 production) and the blinds were replaced in 2019. But my M40i (8/19 production) hasn't had the issue (yet).

freshxdough: Do you know if BMW notified folks of the warranty extension? I didn't get a notification for either car.

Not sure exactly how it was communicated. It may depend on things I'm not aware of like certain year range, VIN range. Normally you should get a letter in the mail of the change I think. I'm on the service side so I don't really know how all that gets transmitted to customers unless they come in and i see the DCS printout of any warranty extensions this particular vehicle has.

[TheusBimmer]

Originally Posted by Yobyot

I had the CEL on my 30i (3/18 production) and the blinds were replaced in 2019. But my M40i (8/19 production) hasn't had the issue (yet).

freshxdough: Do you know if BMW notified folks of the warranty extension? I didn't get a notification for either car.

my m40i is also 8/19 production and havent had any issues thus far though I also have never seen my flaps opened...

[Alias1431]

Originally Posted by TheusBimmer

my m40i is also 8/19 production and havent had any issues thus far though I also have never seen my flaps opened...

They're shy; they don't expose their privates if you're looking.

[Dandle]

Another thing I noticed today it has never done before. I drove the car home in sports mode and when I got home the shutters were open and when the car was locked the cooling fan was running, the same as it has done before. The difference this time was that when I went back to the car several hours later the shutters were still open and they never stayed open for such a length of time before. Once I unlocked it they motored shut. Anyone else noticed this on their car?

[TheusBimmer]

Originally Posted by Dandle

Another thing I noticed today it has never done before. I drove the car home in sports mode and when I got home the shutters were open and when the car was locked the cooling fan was running, the same as it has done before. The difference this time was that when I went back to the car several hours later the shutters were still open and they never stayed open for such a length of time before. Once I unlocked it they motored shut. Anyone else noticed this on their car?

What was the outside temp approx? Garaged/non garaged?

[F30.N54.lol]

If you have no warning lights , no CEL on and any other malfunction indicator on don't over think it

Their function algorithm is based on Ambient and coolant temp also your HVAC settings.

ENJOY YOUR CAR

[Dandle]

Originally Posted by TheusBimmer

What was the outside temp approx? Garaged/non garaged?

Temp is around 20 degrees c. Its just working so differently from before its throwing me which is why i am wondering if its had a software update or if they are playing up.

[TheusBimmer]

Originally Posted by Dandle

Temp is around 20 degrees c. Its just working so differently from before its throwing me which is why i am wondering if its had a software update or if they are playing up.

It's a legit concern/question. I have never seen mine open up even at 30+ degrees Celsius... I'm starting to wonder if mine are defective haha. I really hope not. My cooler temp has never got to the red hot zone, so I hope that explains it... though I have also driven 11+ hours but at that time I haven't really checked if they were open...

What was the cooling temp (the gauge - is it the cooling temp? I know it's not the oil)?