Replacing the final stage unit/blower motor resistor (E39)

thank you! anyone has a link to buy the FSU?


edit- got it! ebay.

As others have already stated, this is an awesome DIY - thanks! I just replaced the FSU in my '01 525 to rectify a "possessed" fan control. However, the part I removed was the new style part. Do the new versions of the FSU also wear out or go bad? BMW should be embarrassed about this one...kinda like the design of the rear door vapor barrier window drain...

Thanks for the detailed instructions. I lucked out. Parts Dept. was closed on Sat., so I just tried to see if I could remove the unit per your instructions and I did. After putting it all back together again, the blower began working again. (Not sure how long it will work, but I'm good for now!)

got it

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgivings!

Assistance please. Please advise.

I decided to replace the FSU today and have already pulled the 5-prong plug and the FSU, in addition to the panels. However, there is also a small 3-prong plug with black and white wires that is attached to the 5-prong that had apparently detached from it's connector and I can't seem to find what it connects to. I don't see any 3-prong female to insert it too.

Can someone familiar with the process please explain where it inserts too! Thanks in advance.

Elvis530i thank you for taking the time to post this article.

I bought a used 530d a few months ago and didn't realise it had a problem until yesterday when the fan stopped and never restarted.

I dreaded a large BMW bill to repair and checked the 'net - found this article, bought the part today from BMW (£74) and spent 30 mins this evening on my knees fitting it.

It works like a bloody charm now! :-)

Thanks again for taking the time to post your excellent article - the photographs were invaluable.

Cheers mate!

Ian

I've had a dead battery twice now and AAA said there was a current drain. Took it to the dealer and there first diagnosis was that it needed the central command module for $550 part and $250 labor! When I challenged them and said this had better be the problem and not just swap a part and see if it fixes, the Service Manager said he was sure. Calls back two hours later with the good news that after checking again, it was the Final Stage Resistor. Hopefully this is the problem. Not cheap, but much cheaper than the other.

Has anyone who's had this problem had it drain the battery? SM claims when they fail that sometimes the fan will run very low speed even with key out of ignition.

Seem reasonable?

Keith

The heater is not blowing warm air. The air is cool, but not cold; considering that the temperature outside is below zero degrees. What could be the cause of this? I have yet to bring the car in for a diagnostic test but I want a few pointers before I do so.

NOTE: THE A/C DOES WORK.
It's happening to my 02' X5.
Could it be the same problem that everyone else has experienced? (FSU)?

Well this is the issue I am having and will order the part this week and install this weekend, great post

hey has any one replaced this part on a 2003 x5

I wanted to say THANK YOU for your step by step instructions and pictures. You made the job extremely easy!! The only thing that confused me was that I was looking under the glove box to remove the cover when it is actually a carpeted piece that runs from the corner of the passenger front foot well area back along the center console.

Anyway, thank you again very much!!

Elvis, you are the king.
i just did the swap and it was only with your helpful photos that I would have been able to complete it. It really is easier to feel your way once you see it because you really can't see it and reach in to do anything. You will have better ergonomics facing it upright.
The replacement is much smaller length wise. My biggest trouble was getting the orientation of the replacement when installing.

I need to change mine aswel , thnx for the grate post man . Hope it is going to be the same for my E46 ,316i - 2001 (right hand drive)

Great post! I immediately ordered the part after reading your extremely good post, and can't wait to execute my first DIY project on my 525i Wagon! The car is going to need more work, and I look forward to reading all of the great posts here!
Thanks!

I just wanted to share with the Bimmerworld that I have found the issue of my always dying battery in my '01 e39. I've just replaced the secondary vacuum pump and valve which were giving me codes. I didn't test the pump after I pulled it but I did test the valve which seemed fine. No matter, the codes have not returned and the valve only cost $50. I had hoped that maybe my pump was running continuously and that would be causing my dead battery problem. It only took one day to find out that that wasn't the issue. Dismayed, I came up with the notion of removing 3/4 of the fuses and testing it that way. Luckily I was too lazy for all of that. Tonight while waiting for my son at the metro, I notices that my fan was still blowing in the rear passenger compartment. I'm sure that a constantly running fan is not a good thing. So I got online, googled and it brought me back here. I'm so excited. I only wish I could buy this part tonight. I would install the thing immediately. I love my car. I love it even though I must jump it everyday. I'll love it even more when it's running and starting like it should.

paz y amor

BSIDE Did you find the FSU online or from a dealer. Mine is going out and wanted to get it ordered so I can replace it soon.

Thanks

I got mine at bavauto.com. They have most every thing. I do have to say that 15 minutes is a huge exaggeration. I've just given up for the night after maybe an hour. I'm not the most competent mechanic but my car looks not a whole lot like the images I've seen. Maybe I have an e39.2 or something. Anywho, good look with yours. I'm going to wait till Saturday's DIY sponsored event from my local club chapter.

Thank you for the instructions. My A/C-heater blower started acting strange going completely dead (although all the instruments seemed to work) and then the next day going back on. I did the replacement and it took me 15 min. Everything seems to work fine now.

I just fixed mine yesterday. It took me roughly ~30 minutes. The only tools i used were the screwdriver from the toolkit and a mini flashlight

If I had to do it again it would take anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on how good/lucky you are at pulling the old unit out and the more difficult putting the replacement back in. The longer it takes, the more frustrating it gets and at around 20 minutes you start to develop a case of alligator arms.

I was lucky and I didn't need to end up ordering a new FSR because removing it and putting it back in was good enough to fix my problem for now. Mine was apparently already replaced as well.

It actually took me only 15 minutes when I got to a proper environment for working on a car. My garage is too crowded and I couldn't get to the passenger side to stretch out like I needed to. Very easy repair that most anyone could do... even me. My car is starting every time I try. It's running perfectly now. I even dusted this M3 yesterday (that had nothing to do with the repair but I felt it was worth mentioning).

Isn't it a shame that this thread is going strong many years later? Thanks for the original instructions! Just replaced in my 2000 528i which had the original part. It is very far forward towards the firewall, and I was finding it very difficult to release the FSU tab and pull out the FSU at the same time. I put the wire plug back on, released the tab, and was able to gently pull on the wires to pull the whole FSU out. Much easier to do and it slid out very easily - no real stress on the wires. Cured all my fan problems.

1000 Thank You's to Elvis...this post is still going...The Part was $70.14...installation was a little difficult for a large guy but duable. Once I removed the Fabric panel, it took about 10 minutes to complete.

What a relief and a gigantic money saver !

I wish I would it found this info earlier, the BMW dealer in Virginia Beach, VA (Checkered Flag) made me expent over $6,000 in a 3 years period and the battery drainage problem was never solved, I summit a complaint with BMW USA and their replied was that they were going to investigate but 2 years passed and nothing happen....thanks

Seriously guys, before you replace the FSU, try this:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=309399
It worked for me (just be very careful not to damage any part of the circuit board.

I followed the advice of ELVIS530i who convinced me that the faulty blower on my 330D was due to a faulty FSU. He was correct but I got the BMW main dealer to replace it. they called in the Blower Resistor.

Immediately after it was done the Parking Aid doesn't work. Of course the dealer says it cant be anything they've done. But could they have affected the wiring to the dashboard "beeper" when changing the FSU/Blower Resistor?