FSU can fail in any way. In e53 often they fail while still seeming to operate properly they just drain power 24/7.

If you have a spare, swapping will be faster than figuring out the pinout to jumper

well, poop. Its gotta be the blower motor in the FREAKING dashboard.
I know its doable, but F it, this job is being done by my mech while I'm on holidays.

FSR swap didn't change anything. I didn't bother to take time to create jumper cables for the pins in the FSR connector as I reread my problem I had 10 years ago with this fan motor and its the exact same symptoms that i wrte about on Xoutpost here. EXACT. damn. But I guess a 10 year life of a part constantly used is not bad really. the labour is what sucks and the potential to have squeeks and rattles introduced now that entire dash/center armrest come out.

thanks everyone for taking time to read and respond.

I would still make the diagnosis 100% before digging in because it's not a fun job.

I can connect it to my BMW laptop and run diagnostics on it and see if I can get the error to replicate where the software shows the same as the control panel which indicates the signal for fan speed is increasing and decreasing yet just no output FROM the fan blower. This is what was done 10 years ago the first time the fan blower motor was replaced :( My mech showed me. He will be doing this again as I dont want to deal with removal of such interior parts. if it was just a few hours, my life could deal but with it being such a long procedure and needing another hand to remove parts...just no time for that.

While I was in the footwell last night, I had an opportunity to re-wrap with cloth tape all the wires that had loose cloth tape, so not a waste of time. I love clean wiring and looms and replaced another small part in the footwell too. So still good to have messed around in the FSR area, but I'm not going back in :)

If you can somehow give the blower motor a good rap with a bar or something while it's getting power it might start for you making sure that it's the problem.

80stech, I was wondering HOW I could reach it. I do not have a NAV system so I can't remove that NAV screen and then access the screws to remove the fan motor cover to physically touch it. I've beaten on the dashboard like it owed me money, to no avail.
I wish I could "jump start" it just to confirm its on its deathbed, for sure, but I also know my mech and once he looks at it and attempts a thing or two first, I'll trust he doesnt want to waste time on it either, if he can avoid it :p He says I'm one of the LAST clients of theirs with an e53 still, but mine is in beautiful condition so I see no need to replace it.

You can supply power to the fan. Use the FSR wiring diagram. One of those wires should be full 12V to the fan. Ground wire should be easy to ID. I have not done an X5. I've used the same process on other vehicles.

If I have the correct diagram.
Color SW/GN is negative
Colow RT/GN is positive.

The wiring for bypassing final stage in my previous post #5.

To give the blower motor a test flick (kick start) can you access the fan "cage" via the front (engine bay)? I know the front of the blower assembly is easily accessed (as I have to do this to change my engine air filter!) via the engine bay. You can see the two intake ports in this image: -

https://s2.dmcdn.net/v/ASMfF1LbGm7Zh8rtN/x720

Here's what it looks like (out of the car and upside-down) from the front (ignore the red circles): -

https://xoutpost.com/attachments/x5-...63342_ebay.jpg

I know you cannot replace the motor via the front but at least you might be able to prove the current one has a "dead spot" on the armature or if the motor shaft has seized etc.

Wpoll, awesome idea!

I wouldn't have even considered that.

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