BMW e46 Heater Woes!
Discussion
I was wondering if anyone could offer any assistance with a persistent problem with the heater in our e46 please...
Two years ago, the heater resistor packed in so I fitted a new one – a genuine BMW part. Months down the line, the heater began to play up again. Eventually we took the car to the local BMW dealer, as part of an airbag recall but for them to look at and carry out diagnostics. Nothing was thrown up during diagnostics, but they fitted a new resistor pack under goodwill and on the basis that this was probably the likely culprit.
The heater worked fine – for about six weeks. It has now given up again! So frustrating! Can anyone shed any light on what might be happening here? Surely it can’t be another dodgy resistor? Could it be the control panel, or the fan motor? Strange how it worked perfectly for a while. Would anything have been highlighted on the diagnostic system in this car? It’s quite an old car, but the system isn’t that primitive – but equally not bang up to date. Could the car itself have damaged the resistor pack, and the ones before, due to some underlying fault?
Thanks in advance!
Two years ago, the heater resistor packed in so I fitted a new one – a genuine BMW part. Months down the line, the heater began to play up again. Eventually we took the car to the local BMW dealer, as part of an airbag recall but for them to look at and carry out diagnostics. Nothing was thrown up during diagnostics, but they fitted a new resistor pack under goodwill and on the basis that this was probably the likely culprit.
The heater worked fine – for about six weeks. It has now given up again! So frustrating! Can anyone shed any light on what might be happening here? Surely it can’t be another dodgy resistor? Could it be the control panel, or the fan motor? Strange how it worked perfectly for a while. Would anything have been highlighted on the diagnostic system in this car? It’s quite an old car, but the system isn’t that primitive – but equally not bang up to date. Could the car itself have damaged the resistor pack, and the ones before, due to some underlying fault?
Thanks in advance!
On some cars if the windscreen scuttle drainage channels get blocked water will pool in that area until it gets deep enough to leak into the heater intake. It then trickles into the car past the heater blower where it gets in the motor/bearings and causes corrosion/additional current drain through the resistor pack (and wets the carpets in the front footwell). You can guess the rest....
I don't know if this issue applies to your BMW.
When I had a car with this problem the blower replacement would have been such a big job that I just kept replacing the resistor pack for about £20 a time.
Always fit OEM resistor packs. Cheaper copies have been associated with several Vauxhall fires.
I don't know if this issue applies to your BMW.
When I had a car with this problem the blower replacement would have been such a big job that I just kept replacing the resistor pack for about £20 a time.
Always fit OEM resistor packs. Cheaper copies have been associated with several Vauxhall fires.
rockin said:
On some cars if the windscreen scuttle drainage channels get blocked water will pool in that area until it gets deep enough to leak into the heater intake. It then trickles into the car past the heater blower where it gets in the motor/bearings and causes corrosion/additional current drain through the resistor pack (and wets the carpets in the front footwell). You can guess the rest....
I don't know if this issue applies to your BMW.
When I had a car with this problem the blower replacement would have been such a big job that I just kept replacing the resistor pack for about £20 a time.
Always fit OEM resistor packs. Cheaper copies have been associated with several Vauxhall fires.
This happens on the e36 (of which I have two) however I'm not sure about the e46 - I think it's better designed, but I'll look into it thanks. Yep I've always understood you should use OEM - even aftermarket Hella are cheap Chinese crap that don't last, apparently.I don't know if this issue applies to your BMW.
When I had a car with this problem the blower replacement would have been such a big job that I just kept replacing the resistor pack for about £20 a time.
Always fit OEM resistor packs. Cheaper copies have been associated with several Vauxhall fires.
Thanks to Mods for moving this to a sub-forum where nobody else will get to see it!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff