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View Full Version : E36 climate control unit fix

BeerBurner
04-02-2013, 11:18 AM
The climate control unit in my wife's BMW crapped out yesterday, rendering her entire HVAC system dead. A quick online search showed that you can get "rebuilt" units for $450-600 (depending on which one I'd need) so I decided to look elsewhere. I found two procedures online that basically said the same thing but with different pictures so I dove right in to it.

The short version is that I was able to fix the unit in about an hour with a $2 capacitor from Radio Shack.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/Borrowed/e36-climate-control-repair.htm
http://www.macadamizer.com/bmwfix.html (this one has a better picture of where you need to melt the solder from)

Anyway, I'm just throwing this out there for any other E36-owning Dorkis who may have this problem and aren't aware of the fix. All in all, it's definately worth trying this before replacing the unit!

BB.
Jase007
04-02-2013, 11:35 AM
nice, love a $$$ saving fix.
Fritz
04-02-2013, 12:03 PM
I performed that exact fix on my E36. Worked perfectly.. Definitely worth the try. I don't remember it being particularly difficult, but I am pretty comfortable with soldering.
Jazzbass
04-02-2013, 12:09 PM
Nice fix. Lots of electronics tossed in the scrapheap thanks to bad capacitors. Quick and easy fixes usually.
magnetic1
04-03-2013, 04:32 PM
nice. Id also add to contact various E36 racers who might still have units laying around that they dont want anymore ;)
roundel
04-04-2013, 01:36 PM
nice. Id also add to contact various E36 racers who might still have units laying around that they dont want anymore ;)

So anyone have an E36 stereo head unit they no longer want? Mine has a misbehaving volumn knob and the LCD back light just went out. :grrr:
magnetic1
04-04-2013, 02:21 PM
So anyone have an E36 stereo head unit they no longer want? Mine has a misbehaving volumn knob and the LCD back light just went out. :grrr:

Ill have to look in attic... hopefully I didnt trash it. Will look this weekend.
turbohugh
04-04-2013, 03:41 PM
How do you get your Climate control out. Do you have to take out the Control/Notification unit as well? My climate control isn't 'secure' and pops halfway out..
Thanks in advance..
magnetic1
04-04-2013, 04:44 PM
I dont remember. I dont think it screws into anything
BeerBurner
04-04-2013, 05:21 PM
Yeah, it basically just pops out. There is a hole in the top of the cubby that you stick your finger in and, after much swearing, you just pop the notification thingie out. After that, you can reach up and pop the climate control unit out as well.

BB.
roundel
04-05-2013, 08:59 AM
Ill have to look in attic... hopefully I didnt trash it. Will look this weekend.

THX!