Intermittent AC control panel

[PeterLech]

This a recent problem: the control panel for the heat and AC, including buttons for the compressor, air recirculation and rear defrost goes dead. It seems like it works in the mornings and then later in the day it goes dead.

I checked all the fuses listed for AC in the fuse box, all looked OK, and a shot of WD40 onto each fuse connector made no difference either.

These intermittent problems are crazy to solve.

[Decolliber]

I would remove the panel and try to take it apart and check for loose connection inside. If it works when the car is cold and stops working once it warms up, that suggests that an electrical connection is getting broken. Inside you will probably find a flexible ribbon circuit sheet that gets pressed on to a circuit board when you press a button. That ribbon sheet is probably loose at the edge where it is stuck on to the circuit board. I had a similar problem with the MID display (radio, clock) that sits right above the panel you are talking about. I took it apart and tried (without success) to restick the ribbon to the board. Fortunately BMW had a "goodwill" policy of replacing these units even if long past warranty expiration.

This article on fixing the MID will show you the kind of connections that are probably at fault:
Eric, I fixed your MID from Peter. Writeup of E38 MID repair

You can probably find a replacement on eBay.

PS. The buttons you describe as not working are all on the same (right) side of that panel, which supports my suggestion that you have a loose circuit board connection inside that panel.

[PeterLech]

Thanks John. I will check it out.