Heater blower..

[Themoog]

Drat and double drat! My heater motor has started to groan at me. It was squeaking a bit a few weeks ago too so I guess it’s on the way out.
Rumour has it that car manufacturers hang the blower motor by string and the build the car around it which makes them extremely tricky to get to..
Job for springtime I reckon.
Does the centre console have to come out to be able to get the dash out?
I assume there is no shortcut for this job.

[X5chemist]

There is one myth. The fan may come out through the radio/cd opening. No confirmation though.
I've seen a few blower motor fan replacement videos. Lots of screws to remove!

The fan in mine screeches now and then. I plan to prove or disprove the myth someday.

[EODguy]

I'll be right there with you guys as mine is starting to die also... yeah?

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[Henn28]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

There is one myth. The fan may come out through the radio/cd opening. No confirmation though.
I've seen a few blower motor fan replacement videos. Lots of screws to remove!

The fan in mine screeches now and then. I plan to prove or disprove the myth someday.

That would be a whole lot easier than removing the dash and center console. I’m a bit skeptical though as having yanked my radio and cd player for a double din unit, there is a plastic support structure back there to carry the factory pieces. Perhaps if you removed all this you could squeeze it of of the hole.

I’ve watched one you tube video where the guy makes it look pretty easy. I’m sure it’s harder than he makes it look: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iw5lE_Rvbbs

[getty150]

When I got me X3 several years back it made an awful sound during the start of cold season.
When the weather warmed up...I had read up about doing the removal.
Come to find out a parking verification card had gotten stuck just at the blades. Whurl!

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[80stech]

I did mine last summer and was not as hard as it looks. I took the center console out which (I think made it less of a fight, or maybe just a different fight ) gave a chance to get that all cleaned up nicely. It would be nice to have a second person for maneuvering the dash out and back in but I was able to do it myself (with a bad back). One thing to watch out for is how the leather accordion seal attaches, I did it wrong and took the dash back out to fix that. I don't totally remember how that looked but I think the trick is to leave the seal on the dash and detach it from the steering column cover. also I had a spare connector hanging in the center which is identical to the IHKA connector but the blower won't work if you plug in the wrong one so watch that! If someone goes through with this could they please note if the fan motor screws are loose before you take the motor out.

[audiophool]

I did the blower motor after my brushes wore to the point it just stopped working. Had to remove the entire dash after steering wheel and console. Not a fun or quick job but I had a good helper.

I highly doubt it could be done without removing the dash.

[motordavid]

Our '01 HVAC blower has been squeaking for a few years...mostly on low speed, occasionally on higher fan speeds.

But, it still blows well and the orig A/C charge is freezer cold and the heater pumps out heat like a wood stove.

A well regarded Indie I visit every couple of years 'hates the R&R job' on these, and quoted 4-5 hrs labor for that fairly inexpensive part replacement...

I drive it less and less, so I will keep fingers crossed and we shall see.

Not a DIY for me, here in my post mid 70s.

Pic of typical 'fix'; looks like open body 'surgery'.

[Scott ZHP]

Did mine a few years ago; lots of stuff needs to come out.

[Henn28]

That’s awesome. Looks like a bomb went off in there. Not looking forward to it, but the thought of cleaning 20+ years of crap out of the vents does excite me so some extent.