Blower Fan DIY
 

Did a search on the forum for the lovely "cricket sound" that occasionally appears in our BMWs. I do have the same sound and I know it's the blower fan motor, the one that feeds air in the cabin.

I can hear the cricket sound very well on the lowest fan setting and it goes away as I speed it up. I had exactly the same problem on my E30 which I temporarily solved by spraying LOTS of WD40 in the motor through the air inlet. Problem occurs when dust enters the motor and contaminates the 2 bearings making them "whistle" on low speeds. WD40 or oil does the job but it also acts like a dust magnet, making the problem worse after a few weeks.

Anybody interested for a DIY on how to remove the fan blower and install a new one? Unless there's already a DIY and haven't found it through searching.

This is the fan I'm talking about.. Item #1
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2236/217jb8.png

show me, show me!!

Yes, I have this same problem. :(

I'll post the DIY within this week.. I'm just waiting for a replacement steering pump from pelican parts to arrive to start working on the car.

Kinda stupid that BMW uses the same fan for the last 21 years (as back as the E30) and I've seen cases of it failing all the time.

There are some holes in the fan shell, I was thinking of blocking them to prevent dust entering but on the other hand, they may be for air cooling..

Did the fan thing today.. SIMPLY NIGHTMARE to get it out and then back in

I have the same problem so please do post the DIY.
Btw, what was the total cost and what's the hardest part?



Rich

Cost: $210 for the fan (it's probably cheaper in USA).. It took me around 6 hours to do it, 10 minutes to remove rubbers, screws, covers and 5.9 hours to take the F**** Fan out of the car. I'll post pictures some time later.

Interested in this DIY for sure.

I have crickets daily now. And a sporadic fan speed.

OMG... This noise drives me insane!! Its so bad now that I have to either turn the fan off or all the way up to get it to stop. I can't stand it - make it stop!!

Guess its time to order a new motor or maybe some silicon spray which wont attract dust??

post some pics please. :bow:

Ok here we go...

Take the cabin filter off by removing the 3 plastic screws..
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/4179/dscf8252ag6.jpg

Unclip the wires that go from one side of the car to the other and let them rest on the engine..
http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/4831/dscf8253jq6.jpg

Remove the 4 Torx screws that hold the filter assembly.
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/6113/dscf8254tg7.jpg

http://img481.imageshack.us/img481/1530/dscf8255cd1.jpg

Now you have to remove the plastic that is between you and the #^%#% fan. There's a plastic screw on the right hand side of the assembly that secures the insulation for the ECU space, remove that screw as well.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7452/dscf8256kv6.jpg

There are also 2 screws, one on each side of this cover, remove them as well. It's a bit tricky to come out but it will come off easily if you play a bit with it.
http://img471.imageshack.us/img471/3486/dscf8257hd3.jpg

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/9215/dscf8258mf1.jpg

Once the cover is off, you will see the fan assembly. It's held by 2 strong clips and 2 screws. Remove them as well. The left clip can be seen in the first photo!

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1313/dscf8259fn0.jpg

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/1492/dscf8260sa2.jpg

Once this cover is out, you will see the fan. It's held by 2 screws if I remember correctly. Remove them and be careful not to drop them in the heater assembly! I dropped one and it fell in the bottom engine cover! Had to remove that to get it!

Now the real fun begins.. Once you remove the screws, you will have to disconnect the power connector as well. I found it easier to work there by leaving the wipers in vertical position.
I also removed the 2 engine covers to make more space. Do that it helps!!
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/3182/dscf8263ap5.jpg

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/3415/dscf8264td3.jpg

I was trying for 4 hours to remove the fan and eventually I broke the plastic blades in an explosion of anger. I was then trying for another 4 hours to get the new fan in without breaking anything.

Can't help with that, you will have to struggle to get it out & in. I also disconnected the left flap to have some freedom of movement. Sorry for the lack of pictures here, it's easy to disconnect it.

Once you successfuly place the new fan, connect the power connector, secure it using the clips that held the old one, test it, and put all the covers back in reverse order.

thank you for the photos. :bow:
Frustration and tension already building within me, knowing that I have to do this. :ben: :banghead: :evil:

Best of luck!!

Do you know the part number on that particular blower fan you replaced? It looks to be 64118372797 but just wanted to verify. And what model and year is your car?

Perhaps what's interesting is that there is another DIY for the same symptoms but it replaced a wholly different fan. I did the DIY in the below link, and I haven't had any cricket sounds return, but I wonder if perhaps I replaced the wrong fan.

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=298527

I think you'll see in that thread at least one person who replaced the other fan and still has the cricket sound. It looks like the "cricket sound" can have more than one source.... Thats for that link! I have the same problemand it sounds like its coming from behind the dash and its on ALL the time (not just with the fan). Will try that method first with just some grease to see if it stops. If not than Ill try this DIY.

Just an update.. when you struggle to put the new fan in place, watch not to bend the plastic fins. They are balanced (1 weight per side) and the slight bending will result in massive vibrations when you have full blast (learned the hard way :( )

great post :)

My blower just died on me.
Any ideas how I tell WHICH fan I need to replace, I assumed the one above, but now I am not so sure, I thought there was only one?

Symptoms.
all A/C buttons/lights etc seems to work, and there is a hint of cold air, but NO blow at all on any setting, just silence.

Sounds like the final stage resistor. Do a search on that and you'll be full of info.

Cool, I saw some stuff on that after I wrote this post.

Thanks

I just developed this noise and it seems like it's gonna be a PITA.. is this the same method for removal and installation as described in the factory repair manual?

-shauhin