Engine temperature warning on '07 4.8i
 

I have run into an issue with the '07 4.8i I purchased a couple of weeks ago. It has happened twice-the first time I was in a friends driveway with the engine idling for about 5 to 7 minutes while showing them the X5, when the engine temperature warning came on the iDrive screen. I shut the engine off and left later on with no incident.

Then a few days later, I was in a drive thru line for 3 to 5 minutes and the warning came on again. I shut the engine off again until my order was ready, then started and drove off with no other issues.

From what I can tell, there only seems to be one electrically driven fan behind the radiator-no viscious coupled manual fan and not even an electrical fan in front of the A/C condenser. That seems to be a small amount of cooling for such a large engine that can generate a lot of heat.

My initial diagnosis is that the electrical fan isn't going into high speed mode when required-normally you would hear one kick in to this mode, but it never does on this vehicle. I have checked the coolant level and it is at the MAX mark in the reservoir.

Now whatever the issue is, it will be covered under warranty-but I was wondering if anyone else here has had this problem and what the issue might have been.

I've not had it on an X5, but other cars. Either the fan, the fan relay, or the temp sensor. To troubleshoot, just a piece of wire and a voltmeter. (And a schematic!)

I've replaced a fan on a BMW and on an infiniti, and a relay on an acura.

The cars fan may not be working