DIY repair of climate control buttons
 

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.:thumbup:

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.:rofl:


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.

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 :confused:

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!!!

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.:thumbup:

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/

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)

climate control caps, where to purchase?
 

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.

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

guess you didn't need much help after all

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. :slap::banghead::!ouch::swear:

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

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.

Holy 7 year thread bump Batman....

What can I say, I'm old-school. I like to use the search function and tag onto a relevant thread, rather than start a new one.

I fixed mine by ordering a new one. Most money I've ever paid for the least amount of plastic :)

Did you get the whole $800+ controller or the $80-$100 faceplate with buttons?

If you got the faceplate, did you install the whole thing or just the buttons?

I looked again at my old faceplate and once the springy brass contacts are swapped over, there is absolutely nothing electronic (or metal) in the old faceplate and I don't see why my panel is dead.

When the car gets home, I'll check the fuse and hope that's all it is.

I picked up an IHKA controller for $25 at my local U-pick yard, plugged it in and it worked.

I believe I damaged my original circuit board due to careless handling.

I've carefully studied the original plastic faceplate and the "DO NOT USE" faceplate that comes with the replacement buttons. My theory is they say do not use because of the risk of damage to the circuit board during handling and the difficulty of reassembling the panel with the springy contacts. There is absolutely no apparent difference between the plastic faceplates, and my original was damaged and needed to be replaced. There are no electronic components or connections in the panel once the circuit board, contacts and buttons are swapped over.

BTW, after ~20 tries at reassembling the panel, only to have one or more contacts fall out of place in the process, I removed the buttons and it went together the first try. Pure luck, practice makes perfect, or the secret trick? I dunno.

Anyone got spare buttons? I need the one with the seated person and the up arrow, and the one with seated person and the arrow pointed at the person. I have several other buttons to trade.

Thanks!
kevin

IHKAButtons.com

you can buy individually there, I bought 2 when I first got my X

Thanks, but I'm WAY too cheap to do that... ;)

ooh, I have a sig now!