Help me find my FSR Please!
 

I've looked at the DIY on the How To's Page but that pic seems like for older models.

I have a 2004 X5 3.0 and for the life of me, I can't find the FSR on mine. Do you see it on these pics?


http://www.en2creative.com/FSR/IMG_7040_fix.jpg

http://www.en2creative.com/FSR/IMG_7041_fix.jpg


Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I was just browsing and I can't believe that you haven't received a response. It's just behind and a little above the rubber air hose, below the light. It's fiddly to get out. There's a connector on the back. Squeeze the tabs and wiggle. Press down the tab at the bottom of the FSR and wiggle the FSR out. Some cursing will be required but you shouldn't need to remove any other parts. The hose for example can stay attached but it may make it a little easier to just remove it. Non of these bits comes out willingly.

Good luck....Jim

FSR Location
 

I uploaded your picture with the FSR marked with a red X. I hope it helps

Attachment 48725

Okay... I'm new to the x5 lingo. What the heck is a FSR? And why will I need to know this?

final stage resistor. it regulates the fan speed in your car. Sometimes they go bad, and can cause battery drain, or not being able to adjust fan speed.

Welcome to one of the more enduring terms in use by X5 folk. FSR is the final stage resistor and it controls the blower motor on the cabin heating cooling system. It tends not to last too long and as it deteriorates the cabin blower becomes erratic, speeding and slowing for no apparent reason. The fun part happens after you turn off the car; often the blower stays on or comes on all by itself. By the time you next try the car the battery is flat. This becomes irritating. If you've never experienced it you're lucky.

Search this forum for FSR and battery drain problems you'll be amazed.

Sweet. Thanks guys. I'm sure I'll have a million other stupid covered a thousand times questions. At least once in awhile I try the search button first.

Oh I almost forgot... these things share some of the electronics from the P38 Range Rover... my other car. Lol... this ought to be fun.

No stupid questions, only stupid answers.

The FSR is also known as a hedgehog

Thanks JimBeattie! That is what I was looking for.

I have had to replace this 3 times. once by BMW under 50k and twice myself. It is easy for me I just have a low end stock 3.0. The good is you can find an after market one for about $40 vs. the $120 BMW want for one.

I am about to do this when the part comes in off ebay! Many thanks for this post!

Done. Took about 45 minutes!

Is this what you did? http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...placement.html

Yes I did.

This is a very informative thread, especially the link to the step-by-step procedure for you to replace the FSR. Just one question: The thread describes the symptoms of a bad FSR (erratic fan speed, fan won't turn off after turning off the the car, etc.). I don't have any of these symptoms, but I do have a wicked parasitic leak that drains my battery stone dead from a full charge in about two days, and many people have said this could be caused by a "bad" FSR. If my car isn't displaying any of the symptoms of a faulty FSR, could it still be responsible for my massive current drain? Thanks.

Suggest you pull fuses one at a time and isolate the circuit with the parasitic draw before looking at individual components.

Yes, that's what I was thinking as well, but the procedure for doing this on this car with the battery inside the passenger compartment has me confused, as there appears to be several ways to do it, with strong opinions as to which way is best. I have another thread asking for clarification on the procedure.

Awesome thread. I just went through this and replace the FSR. It was a bee-ache to get the bugger out and then back in. Even had my 12yo son try with his smaller hands. Finally we got it together and my AC is blowin' cold. :thumbup:

Thanks

Jeff

awesome!! thanks!!:thumbup:

another stupid question on this....

I was guessing that is under the dash on the passengers' side? is there a quick reference i can look at online for finding this?

I've got an 01 x5 (3.0, stock), and my fan just quit entirely.. was working fine last week, though the motor was making some faint chirping sounds (well, it had been doing that for the past 125,000 miles, since about 30,000 after we bought it)... so I can't complain.

my fan will not come on at all.. zip, nada, zilch...

i did occasionally have it fluctuating slightly prior to this, but am not sure if that's the culprit or if it's something else..

But at $40 for a quick attempt, i'm happy to give it a shot and see if I can save $$...

How to change your FSR.

BMW X5 Instructions on how to replace the FSU (Final Stage Unit) - YouTube

I had same issue with parasitic drain every 2 days on a 2002 X5. No need to remove glove as you can just reach up under dash on passenger side and replace FSR. Dealer said it would take almost 1k in tests to find after they had car overnight doing tests. I bought the FSR for 90 bucks and replace it myself in 5 minutes. fixed issue. Only hint was randomly I could hear a very quiet fan still running after car went into sleep mode.