X5 with no heater blower

[Speed addicted]

My wife is currently driving my 2001 X5 (I'm offshore) and the heater fan has just stopped working. Her dad has had a look at the fuses in the glovebox and boot with nothing obviously wrong.
Could this be the hedgehog thing or is there something else I can tell them to look for? The car is driving and behaving normally otherwise, and there have been no problems previously.

[Fox-]

I bet it's the same as the one on the E39, in which case its probably the heater blower motor itself. £340 should get it replaced at BMW.

[rassi]

Had the same problem in my 530d, the blower engine didn't work and after replacing the hedgehog all was well. Maybe not a typical hedgehog failure, but nevertheless the problem with mine.

[RLK500]

Just been through the heater "thing" on my e46. Ok, not the same car but I doubt BMW re-invented the wheel for the X series.

May be worth pulling the heater fuse with the ignition on and then replacing it, this got mine going for a while. Eventually had to replace the hedgehog and then the blower motor as that was really the source of the problem all along.

[Speed addicted]

Cheers folks, I've told my wife to pull the relevant fuses while the ignition is on, hopefully that'll fix it long enough for her to get home.

Is there any way to tell what's wrong between the hedgehog or the motor without replacing them?
Any ideas how much a hedgehog (really should find out what that's called, I'll look silly in BMW parts!) would cost?

Sods law means that I'll be replacing whatever is still working first.

[phelix]

Hedgehog - final stage resistor

[rassi]

Speed addicted said:

Cheers folks, I've told my wife to pull the relevant fuses while the ignition is on, hopefully that'll fix it long enough for her to get home.

Is there any way to tell what's wrong between the hedgehog or the motor without replacing them?
Any ideas how much a hedgehog (really should find out what that's called, I'll look silly in BMW parts!) would cost?

Sods law means that I'll be replacing whatever is still working first.

Hedgehog (final stage resistor) cost me about €80 in France 2 months ago, so I would expect that you could find one for around 60 pounds at a dealer, or cheaper online. Part no: 64116923204 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=FB72... and DIY here (for a LHD E39, so assume similar to an X5) http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=...

[Speed addicted]

Thanks for the replies, pulling the fuses hasn't worked. I'll get it sorted out when I get off the rig (and when I have to drive it!).

[eliot]

I walked into my local dealer and asked for a hedgehog and he knew straight away what I wanted and pretty much pulled one from under the counter.

[Fox-]

I will be suprised if its the hedgehog, it wasn't for me. Hedgehog manifests itself in other problems rather than just an inoeprative blower.