Problem Installing Blower Resistor - '96 328i

[davbmw]

Hi folks. I'm having a not so brilliant day - my heater/air coditioning fan is always on high speed - even with the climate control computer 'off'.
Have purchased a heater resistor from Pelican to (hopfully) solve the problem,
but I can't find where it is mounted ! Bentley says it's on the heater box.
I have a 1996 328i - the Pelican tech article shows what must be 5 Series pictures.
Can anyone help me find the thing ?
I have the lower pedal cover off and want to finish this. Help !
Thanks, David in Seattle

[Jeron]

It is in the evaporator box. Pull the upper footwell panel on the drivers side and you should be able to see it just above the tranny tunnel.

[davbmw]

Thanks Jeron for the reply. I've taken out the knee bolster (what I assume you meant by upper footwell panel) and also disconnected the drivers side lower heater ducts to get a better view but don't see anything resembling the blower resistor. I'm not aware where the evaporator box is or what it looks like either. Could you or anyone online now describe with a little more detail
where to look ? I'm looking at the heater box and see what appears to be the final stage unit
mounted very low( towards the engine compartment) of the heater box, held in with two torx screws just above the tranny tunnel, but don't see anything other than that on the drivers side of the heater box except smaller heater sensors. Should I be looking under the console piece
or ?
Sorry to be long winded, but I'm trying to be clear.
Thanks - David

[Jeron]

Originally Posted by davbmw

I'm looking at the heater box and see what appears to be the final stage unit mounted very low( towards the engine compartment) of the heater box, held in with two torx screws just above the tranny tunnel,

Thats it. The resistor cooling fins are actually in the blower box to keep it cool.

I think they are T-20 screws.

[davbmw]

Oh, maybe that's the problem - do I have the wrong part ? I have the blower motor resistor
only - I had assumed that the final stage unit was a separate part and that the car has two
resistors. i was planning on replacing the cheaper one first to see if that solves the problem then moving on to the more expensive one.
Just one resistor ? (in my case the final stage unit)
Thanks again,
David

[davbmw]

Ok. I did some more thorough searching on the forum and have found the answer -
only one resistor per car - in my car: the "final stage unit". Another poster went through the exact same problem, and posted the answer (see below,photos omitted) two years ago.
Thanks for your help Jeron, I'll return the wrong part and order up the final stage unit.
I really should have spent more time "searching" using this incredible forum before posting.
David

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kenikh

Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 2,025 Here is the final lowdown. This unit is not for my E36 (this pack is for older cars):

This one is:

The kicker is that which ever one you have, they are installed in the same location. This has caused some confusion, leading to some people thinking they have both. I confirmed with my mechanic that you have either one or the other.

BMW changed the design of the all metal unit for the E46 (it is a little bit smaller and the base is plastic versus metal) but they are backward compatible. The correct part number is still 64.11.8.380.580. My only recommendation I have is to remove your faulty unit before ordering to make sure which one you have.

That said, my fan now works perfectly!
__________________
Kenik
- 1969 911S

07-14-2005, 11:01 AM #11


kenikh

[Jeron]

Yeah, I remember that thread.

So you bought the old style that does not have the fins right?

[davbmw]

Yes.