AC Blower Motor Fan

[Lorenzo]

In my test drive w/Benny he pointed out the cause of my AC fan noise - needs new blower fan motor due to worn bearings...common issue. BMW part 64119204154. I checked ECS and they show wide varying prices: from $630 for genuine BMW to $338 for mahle-behr to as low as $120 for ACM. I assume I don't need BMW genuine. But I'm leery for lowest price one. Seems like the middle priced Merle may be best option, but if $120 one will work just as well, I'd prefer lowest cost. My goal is to eliminate the noise and get a few years of use on it without failing.

Any advice or experience from others on this item?

Here's the link to ECS:
https://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Search/SiteSearch/64119204154/

[Vas]

Use the blower motor from the BMW X3. They are right around $100 from the dealer IIRC. Some members here have done this before.

[ELCID86]

+1 on the X3. Not a bad DIY if you have skinny arms.

Should be a DIY here.
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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[NorCalZman]

Yup. An X3 fan motor is in my car right now. Works great. More info here:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=418987

[Lorenzo]

Use the blower motor from the BMW X3. They are right around $100 from the dealer IIRC. Some members here have done this before.

Who is dealer IIRC?

I found this:
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/64113453729/ES256098/

[ELCID86]

Search some of the other places too. Fcp euro, autohouseAZ, BMW of Fairfax (online).


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[Mtl_ZHP]

+1 on the X3/Z3 motor, used that on mine. Behr manufactures the part for BMW so I bought that to save some more $$, same part, lower cost. If you can manage not having the BMW logo on it...

[Vas]

Who is dealer IIRC?

I found this:
https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/64113453729/ES256098/

$113.75 from Husker Parts

https://huskerparts.com/

BMW of Fairfax is $121.71. Can do free pick-up if you order online.

[NoVAphotog]

+4 on BMW X3 motor

Been in my car for a long time now:

"6.7.2015 - 72,736 - Purchased from Husker BMW - DIY@Ted's Garage on ZHPMafia Family Reunion Maintenance Day 2015 - HVAC Blower Motor Removed and Replaced with OEM X3 motor, brackets swapped."

[ELCID86]

BMW of Fairfax is $121.71. Can do free pick-up if you order online.

Too easy.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[trancenation]

Can this be repaired by re-lubing the bearings or must a whole new motor be swapped in?

[NoVAphotog]

Can this be repaired by re-lubing the bearings or must a whole new motor be swapped in?

Some people have tried spraying a lubrication agent into the vents or down into the area where the motor is, but that really one makes it worse in the long-term as that agent will adhere dust/dirt faster to the bearings, fixing the short term but making it worse down the line. Best to just deal with it until you can get a motor swapped done.

[Sockethead]

Yea to properly re-lube the bearings, you'd have to take the unit out and if you're going that far in, you might as well replace it because it's not something you're going to want to do twice.

I've never had mine out so I can't say whether they are actuall bearings or bushings. If they are bushings, no amount of lube will fix it permanently.
Does anyone know if they're bearings?

Mine's been chirping since I bought the car 7 years ago but it really hasn't been annoying...yet

[NorCalZman]

Its not a hard job (just time consuming)...except on your lower back. If I can do it, anyone can. Raise the front of the car if you can. I think that would have helped my back. haha. I second that if you are going to go in there just spend the 100ish dollars and put in a new one and forget about it for another 7-10 years.

[ELCID86]

Maybe this will help. I just so happen to have a spare laying around (for Colin's car).

I would waste time trying to lube it.

24035

24036

24037


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[Sockethead]

Yea that looks more like a bushing, not worth trying to lube. There is probably one just like it in the back of that motor...

[ecrabb]

My wife's '07 X3 had a pretty annoying chirp at low fan speeds when we got it last fall, so I ordered the fan along with a few other miscellaneous items. It came and I threw it in the cabinet to do when I did the valve cover gasket. Well, not long later, it quit chirping! It's been months, and it's still perfectly quiet!

I'm still going to replace it, because if I don't, it'll start again a week after I put it all put back together.

SC

[trancenation]

For those looking to replace their AC Blower Motor Fan due to cricket noises or worn bearings; I found the X3 BEHR version (PN: 64113453729) on ebay for $80
Enjoy!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-BEHR-Factory-OE-BMW-AC-Heat-Blower-Motor-325-330-01-05-M3-X3-/131162098364

[ZHPizza]

For those looking to replace their AC Blower Motor Fan due to cricket noises or worn bearings; I found the X3 BEHR version (PN: 64113453729) on ebay for $80
Enjoy!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-BEHR-Factory-OE-BMW-AC-Heat-Blower-Motor-325-330-01-05-M3-X3-/131162098364

:cheers

Edit: Actually ended up spending $5 more to get it from FCP Euro and have the lifetime replacement guarantee

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-hvac-blower-motor-x5-behr-64113453729

Edit Edit: Totally lied about getting it from FCP Euro and got it from Jet.com with a 15% off offer that they're running. Total was $63.18 shipped.

https://jet.com/product/BLOWER-ASSEMBLY-FITS-2001-2002-2003-2004-2006-BMW-330CI-330XI-15-80172-9159201-1/1a081d855d0c44248756188a82f5fe97

Edit edit edit: I pulled that jet.com one out and sent it back. It wasn't​ balanced and was vibrating the whole car.

[ELCID86]

Never heard of jet.com. Good price.