Vent Fan Failure--Final Stage Unit replacement?

28622 Views 64 Replies 29 Participants Last post by jekker01, Nov 14, 2014

Anita

Discussion Starter · Oct 6, 2006

After searching it look like what has happened to my fan has happened to others mostly when using their A/C. So first I just want to make sure you all think this is the same problem.

A few weeks back I noticed about every third time I would turn on my car, my fan would not come on right away or would start up later on after driving a bit. Now the fan will not come on when the AC is on, the heat, the defrost or anything. However the heating and cooling themselves seem to be working. Does this indeed sound like the vent fan failure? Do I need the final stage unit? Does anyone have the part number for it and approximate cost?

Finally I found this DIY link posted by board member rassi. Has anyone actually done this repair? How hard was it (ok confess here please :7: )? How much time did it take?

Thank you!

Anita

Reactions: 2

1 - 20 of 65 Posts

Gamedemon

· #2 · Oct 6, 2006

Anita,

I did it. It took me 15 minutes to change that resistor ! piece of Cake. If you are ever in the Northern Chicago Burbs, I can do it for you. The key is to make sure you are ready with some small hands or get ready to scratch them.
I was at the dealer last week, and a lady had the same problem, and they quoted her $375 ! I just cracked up, cause I paid something like $80 for the part and 15 minutes of my time

Anita

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 6, 2006

Thanks so much--both for your info and your most generous offer!! Yeah, I think my dealer was saying it would be about $200, but that wasn't an actual quote. That's the thing I forget going from having everything covered by warranty ormaintenence, then having to switch back to out of pocket--Ouch and Be Careful Once Again!

Beamer_usa

· #4 · Oct 6, 2006

Yes an easy DIY, did it on my old 540, $tealer pricing is outrageous!

ard

· #5 · Oct 6, 2006

Gamedemon said:
I was at the dealer last week, and a lady had the same problem, and they quoted her $375 ! I just cracked up, cause I paid something like $80 for the part and 15 minutes of my time

This past summer, during 'the hot' (in Sacramento we get 30-40 days over 100 each year) I was sitting at my SAs desk when SA next to us had a customer with 'urgent AC problems'. "My AC stopped blowing, cold air but no blower".

"Yes, not very common, but we see this from time to time- it is the fan speed control system and runs around $350 including a complete check of the system." Customer signs the work order

Once they left I commented to my SA "It's like printing money, eh?" he kind of looked at me, and I said "resistor pack, 15 minutes for $350?". We had a good laugh. He is a good guy and we both know the deal. he'll be honest with me- whatever he can do for me he does, when he can't he tells me in advance- no problems.

What is interesting is that there are 'layers' of customers- almost 3 or 4 layers. 'Ignorant and inattentive', 'Ignorant but knows they are geting screwed', 'OK Guys', 'Insiders'. Dealers make their big money on the first two, the last ones work at dealerships or have other relationships. I'll also say that YOU can't entirely determine where you fall- it is up to the SA to decide how they will treat you.

My take.

A

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louv

· #6 · Oct 8, 2006

Yup, I've done it.

It is easy. It might take a little more than 15 minutes, but it might not, depending on how often you go back to the cooler for beer.

Practice... you'll need to do it again someday. cherrsagai

Anita

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 10, 2006

Just ordered my part from Sweeney BMW [email protected] for $63.20 and about $5 shipping. I'm sooo excited. Now I need to do is order my beer!!:biggrinbounce: :biggrinbounce:

Thanks again!

Anita

Anita

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 10, 2006

ard said:
This past summer, during 'the hot' (in Sacramento we get 30-40 days over 100 each year) I was sitting at my SAs desk when SA next to us had a customer with 'urgent AC problems'. "My AC stopped blowing, cold air but no blower".

"Yes, not very common, but we see this from time to time- it is the fan speed control system and runs around $350 including a complete check of the system." Customer signs the work order

Once they left I commented to my SA "It's like printing money, eh?" he kind of looked at me, and I said "resistor pack, 15 minutes for $350?". We had a good laugh. He is a good guy and we both know the deal. he'll be honest with me- whatever he can do for me he does, when he can't he tells me in advance- no problems.

What is interesting is that there are 'layers' of customers- almost 3 or 4 layers. 'Ignorant and inattentive', 'Ignorant but knows they are geting screwed', 'OK Guys', 'Insiders'. Dealers make their big money on the first two, the last ones work at dealerships or have other relationships. I'll also say that YOU can't entirely determine where you fall- it is up to the SA to decide how they will treat you.

My take.

A

I think too sometimes your SA is at the mercy of management/marketplace. I saw a radical change in the price to mount tyres based what a recent survey in the area showed other dealers and tyre businesses were getting. Before they were actually not charging a straight labor rate for the change. But now they are and then some.:confused2

I just have to remind myself to check for any changes in policy and rates AND get estimates every time I come in and not get comfortable and slack!!

ard

· #9 · Oct 11, 2006

Anita said:
.... tyre businesses were getting. ...

Oh, well aren't we getting OH so continental....

Hanging out with the English riff-raff are we? Next thing it'll be boots, bonnets and discs, eh?

(Just couldn't resist!)

Adam

s62fan

· #10 · Oct 11, 2006

Anita:

It is very easy to replace. Mine was done under warranty, but I would love to get a hold of your old one if you replace it, so I can find out what burnt out. I remember smelling the familiar burnt resistor smell before mine crapped out. I'm an electronic tech, so if it is just a $2.00 power resistor, I may be able to post a cheapo DIY for folks, instead of forking out $65-$80 for a new final stage resitor unit to the Stealor. I would be happy to pay for postage. Let me know.

Eric

Gamedemon

· #11 · Oct 12, 2006

s62fan said:
Anita:

It is very easy to replace. Mine was done under warranty, but I would love to get a hold of your old one if you replace it, so I can find out what burnt out. I remember smelling the familiar burnt resistor smell before mine crapped out. I'm an electronic tech, so if it is just a $2.00 power resistor, I may be able to post a cheapo DIY for folks, instead of forking out $65-$80 for a new final stage resitor unit to the Stealor. I would be happy to pay for postage. Let me know.

Eric

Just heads up. this thing is like sealed wierd with melted on Plastic or something with a bunch of prongs coming out of it ! so not sure how you will get to the resistor !

s62fan

· #12 · Oct 12, 2006

Anita:

On second thought, It doesn't look like it is servicable. They poured epoxy around all the components. Thank you anyway.

Anita

Discussion Starter · #13 · Oct 12, 2006

ard said:
Oh, well aren't we getting OH so continental....

Hanging out with the English riff-raff are we? Next thing it'll be boots, bonnets and discs, eh?

(Just couldn't resist!)

Adam

HA HA I know I know!!!:biggrinbounce:

And for once I have someone else to blame for my use of spelling "tyre." It's the bad influence of a certain board member who's name starts with "6" and ends with "spd" :biggrinbounce: :biggrinbounce:

Even worse is I go to Barnes and Noble to get the British version of a certain woman's magazine (which share remain nameless--I'm already embarassing myself enough here!) almost every month. I really enjoy seeing how other folks view the same issues (and love the bonnet type words) and it's the perfect lazy way to do it. I don't have to translate much!:biggrinbounce: :biggrinbounce: :biggrinbounce: I know I really should be really buying British car mags.....Hey I do look at them!!

OK the truth is I'm a sucker for an accent...southern, British, whatever, there're all good!:biggrinbounce: :biggrinbounce: :biggrinbounce: :biggrinbounce:

Anita

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 12, 2006

s62fan said:
Anita:

It is very easy to replace. Mine was done under warranty, but I would love to get a hold of your old one if you replace it, so I can find out what burnt out. I remember smelling the familiar burnt resistor smell before mine crapped out. I'm an electronic tech, so if it is just a $2.00 power resistor, I may be able to post a cheapo DIY for folks, instead of forking out $65-$80 for a new final stage resitor unit to the Stealor. I would be happy to pay for postage. Let me know.

Eric

Are you sure?? I'd be more then glad to send it to you to do whatever to!! What do you think that burning smell means actually is happening? It happened awhile before mine seemed to fail completely. Of course the past few days it's been suddenly coming on for like a minute or two then quiting after doing nothing for a time.

Speaking of accents and such, the "crapped out" phrase is somthing my Philly FIL loves to use, along with "psyched" and other more colorful ones!:biggrinbounce:

s62fan

· #15 · Oct 12, 2006

Yo Anita!

Are youse makin' fun of my Fluffyan accent?:biggrinbounce: It's not as hoity-toity as those English blokes, but it's our dialect.:3:

I think the odor came from either a transistor or resistor. I've smelled many a fried semiconductor in my day. If you want to send me the dead unit, feel free. I'll PM you with my address, and send you a check for your shipping cost.

Thank you,
Eric

Anita

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 13, 2006

s62fan said:
Yo Anita!

Are youse makin' fun of my Fluffyan accent?:biggrinbounce: It's not as hoity-toity as those English blokes, but it's our dialect.:3:

I think the odor came from either a transistor or resistor. I've smelled many a fried semiconductor in my day. If you want to send me the dead unit, feel free. I'll PM you with my address, and send you a check for your shipping cost.

Thank you,
Eric

Eric,
No worries re: shipping, but I do have to tell you that if I misdiagnosted the problem, I'm gonna keep the original resistor at least until I figure out the problem--sorry!:3: :3: :3: I got the part in last night and will give it a go next week! Man, it's an odd looking part!!LOL:7:

kiddhan625

· #17 · Oct 13, 2006

BMW replaced mine last month just before the factory warranty expired.

BCS

· #18 · Oct 13, 2006

When mine went bad it was turning the fan on when the car was off causing the battery to go dead. Didn't have the symtom of erratic fan speed or intermittent fan problem so it is a good thing to check if you are having battery problems

willsyachts

· #19 · Oct 13, 2006

HHHHHHHHHHHmmmmmmmmmmmmm

BCS said:
When mine went bad it was turning the fan on when the car was off causing the battery to go dead. Didn't have the symtom of erratic fan speed or intermittent fan problem so it is a good thing to check if you are having battery problems

Came home to a dead battery after a vacation. When I connected a new battery, noticed fan running. Took it to the $tealer, $841 later they told me the fan was shorted internally. I needed new fan and resistor. Did I get f*****?

BCS

· #20 · Oct 13, 2006

The first go around I replaced the battery because it was original and I just thought it died of old age. Then the new battery went dead four days later so I figured something else was wrong. When I was just sitting in the car with everything off and I heard the fan come on. With some help from the Roadfly site I determined it was the FSU. Replaced it myself and haven't had a problem since. Parts man at my dealer said they go through a lot of FSU's so it is a pretty common problem.

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