DIY repair of climate control buttons

[Kewl X5]

BMWs have great motors, handling, etc. However, after driving BMWs for over 20 years, one thing I have noticed is that BMW does not make durable plastic parts for the interior.

Case and point: 2001 X5 3.0i, a little over 5 years old, with 140K+ miles, have developed a crack on one of the climate control buttons. The crack split the button in half. In fact, Michelle had the same thing happened on her 2001 X5 4.4i as well.

Of course, BMW stocks these buttons (as if they knew that people would develop cracked buttons).

Picked up the parts at Crevier and even with the discount, the set of buttons cost $55. (part# 64-11-6-924-315 SET CAPS) List $68.75.

I couldn't just by one, I had to buy a whole set. Now, the interesting thing is that the buttons come attached to an air conditioning control panel. YOU ARE NOT TO REUSE THE AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL PANEL.

In fact, there is a sticker in German & English that states: ATTENTION!!! THIS IS NOT AN AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL PANEL!! PLEASE TAKE THE REQUIRED CAP AS A SINGLE PART OUT OF THE PANEL!!!

Basically, they used this air conditioning panel to house the "caps"/buttons.

As you can see in the pics, here is my split button for the "blue/colder temp" for the driver's side.

Step 1: Remove broken/split caps/buttons from your X5's air conditioning control panel

Step 2: Remove the new caps/buttons from the "fake" air conditioning control panel from the new set of caps/buttons (push it out from behind the panel)

Step 3: Insert the new cap/button on your air conditioning control panel by inserting the top of the button first and then the button part of the caps/button snaps in. Voila, it is done.

REMEMBER: YOU DO NOT REPLACE THE AIR CONDITIONING PANEL AT ALL!!
The Crevier parts guy told me a funny story. He had sold a set to another customer and even warned him that you just use the caps off the panel and only replace the caps. The customer called back and angrily accused Crevier parts dept. of selling him a used air conditioning panel since there are marks on it (therefore, you don't use the panel to replace your air conditioning panel) Finally, the customer came back and parts guy showed him that you do remove the cap from the panel to replace your broken cap.


Keep your set of buttons because I am sure the other buttons on the climate control panel will split. In fact, I am starting to form a hairline split on the driver's side "red/warmer temp" button as well.

Bottom pics: My old split cap & the new caps housed on the "fake" air conditioning panel.

[babysvt]

I am new to working on my own vehicle and after reading your article I think that I can do this myself. However, how do you actually get the panel off to replace the buttons. I don't want to break anything trying it without knowing what the heck I am doing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have the buttons I just need the know how.

Tracy

[babysvt]

Well I found the answer to how to get these out. From what I understand they just pop out from the bottom on you pop the new ones in. AMAZING!!! The dealership was going to charge me $275 to do this. CRAZY!!!

[Kewl X5]

Exactly! That is what I did. Good luck. I think you do have the buy the whole panel of buttons for about $50 (US). All you have to do is pop out the buttons from the panel and replace them. No need to take apart the panel whatsoever.

Glad you found this thread useful.

By the way, it is also listed in the "ARTICLES" section of X5World, under the "Interior" section.

There are plenty of DIY repair articles on xoutpost.com

Check them out for future references: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/interior/

Originally Posted by babysvt

Well I found the answer to how to get these out. From what I understand they just pop out from the bottom on you pop the new ones in. AMAZING!!! The dealership was going to charge me $275 to do this. CRAZY!!!

[babysvt]

I had the buttons changed out in about a minute. INCREDIBLE!!! I can't believe they were going to charge me so much to do so little.

This site has be a huge help with my new purchase. Everytime I get on the site I learn something new that I didn't know about my X5.

MAN DO I LOVE MY X5.

Thanks for your help!

Tracy =0)

[gwung]

I'm missing a couple of the climate control caps (the ones to adjust the temp upwards or for heating). Now winter is closing, I like to find out the best place to purchase them. My dealership was going to charge me $121 for the set of caps, not like the forum discribed, $50 for the caps.

Please advise and please help.

Thanks in advance.

[DocMike]

Originally Posted by gwung

I'm missing a couple of the climate control caps (the ones to adjust the temp upwards or for heating). Now winter is closing, I like to find out the best place to purchase them. My dealership was going to charge me $121 for the set of caps, not like the forum discribed, $50 for the caps.

Please advise and please help.

Thanks in advance.

guess you didn't need much help after all

[DocMike]

gwung I sent you a PM, I have the parts new PM tell me what u need? I used only one of the buttons (max button i believe) , hopefully not the same one you need. I can send it out tomorrow USPS priority mail

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Hey y'all--

I have an E39, but the button problem is the same and y'all are talking about this "DO NOT USE" climate control panel, so here's my problem.

I have the usual falling-out and cracked buttons. When I bought the car, it came with the "DO NOT USE" panel. I pulled the buttons out of it and installed in my panel, but they kept falling out. I then saw that there was nothing wrong with my buttons; rather the original panel had developed notches where the tab at the bottom of the button is supposed to hold it into the panel. So I needed to replace the whole panel.

I took the IKHA out of the dash. I took the panel off the front. I took the circuit board out of the panel. I crawled around on the floor, picking up the brass contacts that popped out. I compared the original panel face to the "DO NOT USE" panel and saw no difference. I ASSumed BMW maybe didn't want us messing with the guts of the panel and chasing brass contacts around on the floor, so I put the contacts into the "DO NOT USE" panel, put the circuit board back in, put the buttons back on (seemed to keep the contacts from popping out of place like they did the 20 previous times I tried to reassemble it), and put the panel back on the unit.

And it doesn't work. :

What's the difference in the panels? It's just a piece of plastic!

Or is this the problem: It's hot out. I'm sitting in a black car, with black leatherette, in the sun. The AC works great, so I might as well use it while I'm sitting here messing with buttons. So like an idiot, I disconnected the circuit board from a LIVE circuit. While it was running, y'know? Did I blow something out? I'll get into the fuse box behind the dash tomorrow and check the IKHA fuse...

Thanks for any help you can give...

kevin

[g300d]

Well, that's a new and novel BMW trouble area..the panel itself and not just the buttons.

Maybe post pics of both panels side by side and our more tech-saavy members can help you out.