Last weekend I had to replace the blower resistor. It's a complete DIY job but needs lots of patients as you're up to your elbow in the dash with what seems like your arm bent in 5 places. Temptation to throw the little hedgehog across the drive runs high sometimes as you try and wiggle it in! Overall took me about 30 mins to get the trim panel above the pedals off, the panel inc wood off the trans' tunnel and get the old one out and the new one in and then put the trim back on.

This little gadget receives a full 12v from the battery and then steps it down to different voltages to allow for the different fan speeds. Being a resistor the excess voltage has to go somewhere and as such it gets very hot, hence the massive heat sink it is also installed in the path of cold airflow otherwise it would overheat. It's at its hottest when the fan speed is at its lowest so generally spends most of its time at its peak load (low fan speed)

It seems a common component to fail, no surprises to learn that it has a big fat BMW sticker on it (so far the only parts that have failed on my car have been the superior BMW components) I suspect that it is just poor design and that every one will eventually fail. Mine went at 110,000 so in working hours its done a fair run.

Replacements aren't expensive, I paid £39.00 inc p&p off ebay for a pattern part which I didn't think was too unreasonable.

Replacement unit (the original ones have much longer spines, but this one has more of them):


Instructions:

Click image to enlarge

Dan

No surprise mate, my vehicle of choice before the FFRR was an MG ZT which funnily enough was basically a BMW 3 series with a decent looking body on it (tractor juice model before you all start shouting about pants K series engine). Every component that failed was either Bosch or BMW. . . .WTF how did we let such a shower of drive the British motor industry into the ground

I bought mine direct from LR for under £20 probably worth checking with them.

Monty wrote:

I bought mine direct from LR for under £20 probably worth checking with them.

Bargain, which dealer was that from? Ottons in Salisbury wanted £75 + VAT when I rang them! Still hopefully this pattern part will actually be an improvement on the genuine one. 

Williams in Manchester 0161 232 5000

Well, as my unit failed after 9 months I'll be giving Williams a call as per above to see if they can still supply the part for £20!

D 

http://www.rswsolutions.com/index.php?opti...;Itemid=73

Some more piccys on the linked site. Hope it helps. I found this trying to work out my fan issues which I have still to get to the bottom of but I think I can elimainte the final stage resistor.

Lee

Thanks fella, when I did it the first time I figured it out the hard way, also I ended up cutting the ducting to get in there propperly.

Will order one tomorrow and pop it in one evening, I'm thankfull for the slightly longer days now. Bring on the warmer evenings!

Dan 

£20.67 for mine from LR in Kings Lynn.

There are two types one for the rear and one for the front they are not interchangeable as I found out.

Ian

Dan, I don't know if this applies to all parts. I fitted a new radiator, it failed within 12 months when I went back to the parts dept of the main dealer to order a replacement under warranty they told me they would fit it free of charge. Maybe worth a try.
Stewart.

Quote:

[Well, as my unit failed after 9 months I'll be giving Williams a call as per above to see if they can still supply the part for £20!]

SGW wrote:

Dan, I don't know if this applies to all parts. I fitted a new radiator, it failed within 12 months when I went back to the parts dept of the main dealer to order a replacement under warranty they told me they would fit it free of charge. Maybe worth a try.
Stewart.

andyw wrote:

dan
how did you no it had failed, did you check or did your battery go flat
cheers

The first one failed at the beginning of last summer, I think because it sits in the air stream to stay cool the air was warmer in summer so it heats up and then fails. Basically when the fan should be on all of a sudden the fan will go off, but the blobs are all still lit up on the display. This exact same thing has happened now, on a frosty morning it will be fine, but if it's remotely warm then it doesn't work. 

Here's my take on replacing the blower resistor

http://metricrat.co.uk/replacing-the-final...kiii-2002/

(Edited old link )

Last edited by Joe90 on 12th Mar 2014 5:57pm. Edited 1 time in total

New car = new faulty blower resistor! 

dan_uk_1984 wrote:

New car = new faulty blower resistor!

Thats bad luck mate I thought you would have checked that little blighter