530i internal fan

[GraemeMair]

Hi guys, I have an awesome Dad that has just given me his 530i Sport, we drove her home from Scotland last night with no probs whatsoever other than my wife's heavy right foot, today I washed half of Scotlands flies off the car, my wife then drove around town for twenty minutes or so doing various errands, when we got home the internal fan stayed running blowing cold air into the footwell, I've heard the resistors can go causing fluctuations in temperature etc, when I turn the system off completely it goes to full and blows like hell, does this sound like the last stage resistor failing?, sorry if I'm asking a dumb question, I just want to have some insight before I take it to a garage.

Cheers in advance

Graeme

[rash_decision]

Lovely looking car mate! You have a kind Father!

I've experienced the same with a few E46's, and I assume it's the same with your 5.

[PeterNem]

Definitely sounds like the Final Stage Resistor ("hedgehog"). I've had to replace this for the same reason in both my previous E39 530i and my current E39 M5.

I recall the part was around £50 and although a bit fiddley, you should be able to swap it yourself in less than half an hour. It lives behind some trim to the left and up a bit from where the clutch pedal would be.

[lndy]

this is prob the one you need. i replaced it in mine and it stopped the ghost fans coming on when the engine was off!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEATER-BLOWER-RESISTOR-HEDGE...

[GraemeMair]

Hey chaps, thanks for the replies, I have sourced a replacement from Motormec so hopefully it will arrive next Monday or Tuesday, mine seems to be well wedged into the frame of the car so it's gonna be a pain getting my oversized paws in there.

Does anyone know if it's actually attached to anything?, clearly there are screwholes in the heatsink part of the unit.

Thanks all

G

[GraemeMair]

All fixed.