Climate Control Problem(s)

Brian99R1 · 05-01-2004, 01:55 AM

I have a 1998 328i. The digital climate control has been acting erratic lately. It will turn itself on-and-off, and sometimes it will even turn the digital readout off, but leave the selector buttons lit. I'm afraid it's going to burn the AC unit out if I don't fix it.
Anyone know of a solution (besides going to the Stealership)?
Thanx

slow328 · 05-05-2004, 12:15 PM

go on ebay! there is a guy that for buy it now at 80 you can send it to him and he will replace the connections. i had the same prob but i got really pissed on day sitting in 100 plus heat and punched the screen all the way back so im now on the hunt for a used climate control unit.. hopefully that helps dealership wants 400.

andy328i · 05-06-2004, 08:27 AM

I had this exact same problem with my 1998 328i. After researching the problem on the internet, I discovered that this problem is fairly common. I also found a website which details out the steps (including pictures!) for a repair that will cost you about 50 cents and 2-3 hours of your time: http://www.macadamizer.com/bmwfix.html

I followed these directions exactly and my climate control computer has worked perfectly ever since (about 6 months). The repair is fairly easy - take your time with the soldering steps. Good luck!

bblars · 05-11-2004, 07:36 PM

Thank GOD for you people. I'v been having this problem for quite a while. I will definitely try the fix.

Thanks again

himes · 05-15-2004, 08:48 PM

Cross posted on unofficialbmw.com too...

I just replaced the aforementioned capacitor and it appears to have fixed the problem, though time will tell. It's been just 8 hours since the fix. I drove the car for an hour in stop and go traffic, whilst making various adjustments to the climate control, with nary a complaint from it.

The part I used was a Kemet (brand) 0.47uF Radial Ceramic Capacitor, part no. 80C330C474K5R, 50V X7R, available from Mouser.com and many other vendors. This is not an expensive part, maybe 50 cents or so.

This part is non-polarized so orientation in the mounting holes is not of concern.

The voltage is not critical, but probably should not be less than the 50 volts.

The X7R is a tolerance/temperature specification and also is probably not critical [but I have no way of knowing for sure]. The X7R, being a 15% tolerance spec is at least conservative and maintains that tolerance thru its -55c to +125c operating temperature range.

I have not tested the suspect part and have limited means to do so. I have some experience with such things and I can say that a failure of such a part is rare. But perhaps this part is under some beyond-limits stress which elevates its risk. It did not appear damaged or burned and it remained intact after extraction.

Probably more than you all wanted to know about some silly-ass 50 cent part, but other posts indicated questions about the voltage value, polarity and there is precious little information about what the damn thing actually does.

Good luck.

Mathew Neal · 05-21-2004, 10:25 AM

I completed the same repair as above 3 Times with three different capacitors............!!!!!!!!

Then I went to the dealer, bought a new $90 relay switch (plug in thing about the size of a baseball that goes up behind the unit above the gas pedal, behind the plastic kick-panel)

the first repair never did work.

the relay worked instantly

must be 2 seperate problems - honestly if your dealer will let you return the part...it is a lot easir to swap it out and check before you get into all that circuit board stuff- unless you are a electrical engineer.