Climate control died
 

Yesterday I hopped in the x5 and the inside fan was blowing full bore and nothing was lit up on the climate control. I pushed every button and no change. I got to work and turned the vehicle off, took the key out of the ignition and fan still going full bore.

I opened up the back and disconnected the battery while I was at work.
On leaving work I used a jumper pack on the terminals at the front to open the tailgate, reconnected the battery and headed home with fan again going full bore (hot air on feet, outside air from top vents). Disconnected battery again once home.

I had a previous problem with the climate control where I had every light on every switch light up and nothing worked and so climate control panel was replaced with second hand one about 3 years ago.
This morning I swapped the old one for the newer one to see if the fan kept going and lo and behold, no fan just all the lights on.

I then swapped the front panel with the screen from the newer one to the older one and fault remains the same (all lights on). The newer on with older front still made fan go full bore.
By swapping the control units I think I have eliminated the final stage resistor as the culprit (replaced that 3 years ago also).

Do the control panels regularly die or am I just unlucky, or is there a possible other cause.

Check your FSR. Classic failure.

I don't think FSR will cause the climate control panel to be totally dead.

Perhaps, but it will make your fan run continuously.

This occasionally happened on my 03 e46. I would pop out the control panel disconnect it momemtarily and it would stop. It was always on the back burner of maintenance and suddenly it stopped occuring. Very strange, but true.

Get yourself a Lottery ticket, your luck is bound to change.

Bought another climate panel from a wrecker and all good now. I have now replaced it twice in 4 years. At least I have a lot of spare buttons. X5 has 324,000 kms.



It was on 160,000 kms when I bought it 4 and a half years ago. I replaced the climate control for the first time not long after I bought it, so I'm guessing next change will be at 480,000?

Glad to hear you sorted it. :thumbup:

How's your turbo doing? Do they last that long? Just curious... ;)

I got mine 4 1/2 years ago too, with 173,000kms on it. 234,000kms now, so not as much use as yours.

No mechanical problems. Turbo is still fine. Only engine maintenance has been a new crankshaft pulley at about 220,000 kms. Still pulls like a train and I get around 8.0 lt/100 kms.

Pretty awesome! :thumbup:

I've only had to replace my exhaust manifold (cast iron to replace the crappy stainless one that was fitted from factory), along with glow plugs and the glow plug controller - all at 200,000kms.

My turbo whistles a bit when cold but is near-silent once engine warms up. Other than oil, filters (air and fuel) and the occasional engine breather, they don't need much. ;)