No Heat!!!

[Lostman]

Having some issues with my 02 325i. a week or so ago my blower wasn't working for my heat or AC. I turned off the unit and back on and it started working again.

This morning I tried to turn my heat on and it wouldn't come on. No matter what I did. I can feel a little bit of heat coming out but it's not blowing. I figure it's either a fuse somewhere or the blower motor. I have 54k miles. Seems early for something like this to break.

Anyone hear of this? Any idea what I can check to narrow it down? I don't want to take it to the dealership for fear they might just assume it's the motor and I'm out however much it costs to replace it.

Any help would be appreciated. It's getting cold out!!!!!!!!

 

[Kirby]

Nothing for sure, but there is a high failure item in the electrical circuit called a Final Stage Resistor. It seems they are failing quite a bit, and BMW has changed the part number several times. It's something that you can replace yourself. However, usually the symptom is that the blower works, but only on one speed. But it probably could have other failure modes as well. This is the easiest and first suspect for the age of your bimmer.

Open the Glove box. Remove the three phillips screws across the top of the open box. Remove the two phillip screws that are deeper in on the sides of the open box(nine and three o'clock). Hard to see, use your flashlight. With these five screw removed remove the glove box. Disconnect the flashlight charger plug, and the glove box light connector. Pay attention to the wire routing. Remove plastic cover behind glove box. Locate motor and metal link to one of the a/c doors. Remove the metal arm from the plastic clip. Slide motor out and disconnect. There is an odd shaped black plastic piece with two T-20 or 25 Torx screws that need to be removed. Remove plastic piece. The Final stage is located behind the metal arm for the a/c door. Remove the floor heater duct for more room. You may or may not feel the need. If you wish pull on the leather extension to the center console outward until you hear a loud plastic cracking. Stop. Take a deep breath and know that you have broken nothing important Remove heater duct careful not to break the blend air door cam (white) and the lever connected to it (black). You can pull that black lever out if you are patient. Back to the final stage now that you have more room. It is the component with the 5 0r 6 large gauge wires on the connector. Push back the black plastic clamp while pulling/wiggling on the connector. The final stage should come out, then disconnect the connector. Reinstall all. Make sure the heater duct is installed properly if you removed it.

Here's the little monster. You can buy at the dealer or online.

 

[Lostman]

If you had to guess on how much a dealer would charge me to do it, what $$ amount would you come up with?

Thanks by the way, that's one detailed reply.

 

[Lostman]

never mind. I checked with my local dealer and they said about $350 to fix it. Plus they told me it'll be about a grand for the inspection 2. Didn't expect it to be that much but they said they replace the plugs at 55k insted of 100k because of all the stop and go driving.