New E34 Owner first time german anything owner.. Have some issues

[Shady195]

Well first time if you don't count my bosch dishwasher :D

I took delivery of my first German vehicle the other day, a 1990 BMW 525i. The car is in "decent" shape. The body is pretty straight aside from a single rust spot and some damage during transportation that got the price knocked down quite a bit.

The car has 195kmi on it, supposidly the motor is out of another car with 120k and was rebuilt, although I do not belive this one bit after meeting the guy. I still ended up buying the car, almost 1200 off his asking price which was kind of high to begin with after seeing the car because well, it ran and drove great aside from a missfire/hiccup which most certaintly will be fixed after I do a complete tune up this weekend before I put it on the road.

It's silver with a black hood, im assuming the hood was replaced and not re-painted, black interior that is in fairly good shape aside from some panels needing to be replaced due to the previous owner ripping them apart to install a stereo and sheet screwing them back into place. Also a few switches need to be replaced.

Now I have some issues with it, one big one which is my own fault for not checking before I made the final transaction because well, I've never encountered a car where the heat did not work.

Later that night after recieveing the car, I took it for a quick spin with a freind, the windshield started to fog up so I tried to turn on the heat/defrosters. It was then in the dark I noticed that the center console panel does not light up, aside from the 3 buttons next to the vent? sliders. I tried to turn on the heat with no avail, after pulling back in my driveway i fiddled with the center control panel. I initially thought the panel just did not work, removed the panel and noticed the stereo was not hooked up just simply placed in there with the radio harness hacked from whatever headunit they had in there previously. After shining a flashligh on the LCD i could see that it did work, but there was just no lights, so I'm assuming the lights in the center console unit are burned out.

When I fiddle with the Fan speed/and then 3 sliders, I can here what sounds like vents opening/closing and a thumping.. when I turn the bottom recirculation? slider all the way to the right, and then pay with the fan switch I can here a thumping for a few minutes then it goes away. Now basicly im trying to figure out if anyone has any idea what woudl caus ethe heat/blower not to kick on besides the blower motor being bad right off the bat, mainly because I'd like to cross out anything I can before replacing a 200 dollar blower motor.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v489/Shady195/25605610_1X1.jpg

[WhoNew]

Okay, first things first. Welcome to the wonderful world of the e34. Things will get better from here.

So the blower motor is NOT working ?? There is a blower motor resister, commonly called the "sword". This could be the problem. Also, there is a book you need called a bentley manual. You can find it for free on PDF format if you search. Also, I am not sure what you mean about the panel not working ... Sure the bulbs could be out.

You are in the right place for sure. Sorry about the PO sheet metal screwing the interior back together ... I actually had a similar issue. And the black hood, sorry to say may have been an attempt at a CF look, or a replacement. Either way, it needs to be one solid color !! I hope you didn't pay too much.

[Shady195]

To be honest, I probably over paid for it a bit.

E34's are few and far between to find here in upstate NY, i've been scowering craigslist/ebay for a few months now. This thing came up, she sent me pictures, and the body is fairly clean like I said, the only real bad spot is on the rear quarter, and obviously the hood, after a good cleaning and some paint the body will be great. The interior is in GREAT shape from some of the e34's i've seen/looked at here locally which to be honest was kind of the reason I wanted this one so bad. Everythigns there, just needs some TLC and a few pieces replaced.

The hood looks replaced not repainted.

As far as me saying the center console not working. I have no idea what to call it, the little LCD with AVG MPH/MPG and all the other little buttons. That works but there is no backlight, along with the Dials for the HVAC, they do not work. When I play with it, I can hear things moving around and a couple clunks, just no blower turning on.

I'm positive the bulbs are blown, but idk if possible that center unit is busted?


EDIT: I come from a world of Nissans, and nothing I have ever worked on seems as complicated as some of the thigns in this car. A friend of mine has an E34 and I fell in love with it.

BTW I downloaded a bentley last night so I'm good there, and I read something about the "Sword" somewhere and IIRC they said its ~100 bucks to replace

[WhoNew]

Okay, getting a better picture now. The little computer type thing next to the stereo is the OBC. It does have bulbs in it. They are mini bulbs (don't remember the number off hand), but there are 4 or 5 of them in the unit. If you get it out, you will see the bulb sockets. The three on the back are for the display, and the 4 or 5 around it are the back lighting bulbs. They come on with the headlights/parking lights. It also has NOTHING to do with the heat or A/C system.

The sword may cost 100 new, or you might be able to find a used one in the classified section. There are plenty of e34's being parted out in there. Also a blower motor for that matter.

[sfgearhead]

Obviously start simple. Check the fuses for the blower motor. Then check the wiring back by the radio to make sure they didn't cut the fan motor wiring by mistake.

The on-board computer (OBC) has 3 bulbs in it that need replacing, once you replace them it will light up again.

There are also at least one if not two lights in the HVAC unit that are likely burnt out.

Do you have an owners manual?

The top slider is to control the windsheild vent. Center controls the dash vents, bottom is for footwell.

Also, you might want to try popping open the access panel on the pass side and digging all the leaves and crap out of there. Later cars have a filter there, earlier ones don't. If enough stuff has fallen in there the motor might be jammed and burned out, or just rusted up.

Dash fires have happened a few times so be careful getting it going again.

And welcome, you'll like it here. Good peeps.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll get it sorted quickly.

[Shady195]

Obviously start simple. Check the fuses for the blower motor. Then check the wiring back by the radio to make sure they didn't cut the fan motor wiring by mistake.

The on-board computer (OBC) has 3 bulbs in it that need replacing, once you replace them it will light up again.

There are also at least one if not two lights in the HVAC unit that are likely burnt out.

Do you have an owners manual?

The top slider is to control the windsheild vent. Center controls the dash vents, bottom is for footwell.

Also, you might want to try popping open the access panel on the pass side and digging all the leaves and crap out of there. Later cars have a filter there, earlier ones don't. If enough stuff has fallen in there the motor might be jammed and burned out, or just rusted up.

Also I did check the fuses, they still looked fine although a few of them looked like the OLD OEM fuses

Dash fires have happened a few times so be careful getting it going again.

And welcome, you'll like it here. Good peeps.
Good luck, I'm sure you'll get it sorted quickly.


Thanks man

Do you know the part numbers for those bulbs in the HVAC unit and OBC unit?

Also, maybe i just missed it when i opened up the center console, but i think the wire for the foot panel vents is missing

Uploading a video so you can here the noise I told you about when I do flip it on, sorry for calling the OBC an OBD in the video.

Also I did check the fuses, they seemed fine although they were old/worn OEM looking ones, Pastel color with the link on the top of the fuse with an opening rather than newere plastic ones that you can see inside of, so maybe they're bad? although they are so simple as long as theres a contact I wouldent see that being the case..

As far as the wire for the blower motor, none of the wires seem cut on the HVAC/OBC unit, they all look intact, and I am completely terrible at wiring haha

[attack eagle]

well... does the fan blow?

if it doesnt, then that would be my first guess.

or sword?

I love the oEM fuses btw... much better than the sealed in plastic design.

[Shady195]

Okay heres the video..

Again, my apologies for calling the OBC and OBD :stickoutt

Might have to turn up the volume but u can here the noise I was talking about

I do have a feeeling its probably just the blower motor.. FML

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndf0Km0cX7I

[Binjammin]

I can't hear a damn thing, but the little fan on the head unit pulls air through there to measure interior cabin temp.

[Shady195]

I can't hear a damn thing, but the little fan on the head unit pulls air through there to measure interior cabin temp.

Liek I said may have to turn up the volume but it is there, through my headphones even on low i can make it out

It's like Buzz....Buzz.....Buzz.....Buzz

when i turn it off its quicker Buzz..Buzz..Buzz

almost sounds like when I turn the car off and it runs the ltitle system check or whatever and you can here it buzzing

[RobertV1]

Do you know the part numbers for those bulbs in the HVAC unit and OBC unit?
Check out realoem.com for oem part numbers.
HVAC bulb should be 62111391777 and the OBC bulbs should be 65811374495. Plenty of online vendors for them....get the German made ones they last longer.

[Shady195]

Check out realoem.com for oem part numbers.
HVAC bulb should be 62111391777 and the OBC bulbs should be 65811374495. Plenty of online vendors for them....get the German made ones they last longer.

Theres a fairly big distributor of german auto parts 2 seconds away from my work..

www.germanautoparts.com

[RobertV1]

Liek I said may have to turn up the volume but it is there, through my headphones even on low i can make it out

It's like Buzz....Buzz.....Buzz.....Buzz

when i turn it off its quicker Buzz..Buzz..Buzz

almost sounds like when I turn the car off and it runs the ltitle system check or whatever and you can here it buzzing
I can't hear it either.
On mine, with a blower motor that works. I get an on and off buzz from the fire wall above my feet and always thought is was the auxiliary water pump for the HVAC system that is mounted to the firewall. Pop the hood and put your hand on the aux pump you should feel the on off I wrote about. The aux pump is right by the firewall on the driver side right next to the fuse box. It has two large metal circles in the center with three bolts and a wire plug. Hopefully the "experts" will chime in on this one.

[K Fox]

Liek I said may have to turn up the volume but it is there, through my headphones even on low i can make it out

It's like Buzz....Buzz.....Buzz.....Buzz

when i turn it off its quicker Buzz..Buzz..Buzz

almost sounds like when I turn the car off and it runs the ltitle system check or whatever and you can here it buzzing


I can't hear it either.
On mine, with a blower motor that works. I get an on and off buzz from the fire wall above my feet and always thought is was the auxiliary water pump for the HVAC system that is mounted to the firewall. Pop the hood and put your hand on the aux pump you should feel the on off I wrote about. The aux pump is right by the firewall on the driver side right next to the fuse box. It has two large metal circles in the center with three bolts and a wire plug. Hopefully the "experts" will chime in on this one.

We have a winner!! The aux pump is the noise after the car shuts off. That said, I haven't got any ideas for the blower other than get a multimeter and start looking for voltage at the blower with it turned on - if there's voltage and it's not spinning, it's toast. If you don't have voltage, then you need to trace backwards and find the break. This will possibly be frustrating, but you'll learn a lot in the process. Good luck.

Fox

[RobertV1]

We have a winner!! The aux pump is the noise after the car shuts off. That said, I haven't got any ideas for the blower other than get a multimeter and start looking for voltage at the blower with it turned on - if there's voltage and it's not spinning, it's toast. If you don't have voltage, then you need to trace backwards and find the break. This will possibly be frustrating, but you'll learn a lot in the process. Good luck.

Fox
Good to know that I can offer some advice here....LOL

[Shady195]

Thanks guys..

Yea thats about where it is, at first I thought the noise was near the passenger side but its pretty much in the center of the console and sounds identical to when you turn the car off and it runs through its checks.


The more I think about it and play with it, common sense says its the blower motor. Luckily NAPA has one for 120 bucks. Every scrap yard around here wants 100 for some used busted up one, mine as well just buy it new.

I'll let you know how I make out. Just got my tune up parts from GermanAutoParts.com

If you don't go there already check the place out, its local to me but they ship all over the country and have awesome prices compared to all the parts stores local to me.

[m60b30530i]

So if you don't mind me asking how much did you pay ?

[Shady195]

So if you don't mind me asking how much did you pay ?

a little over a grand.. he was originally asking 2500.

I actually don't think the car is as bad as the picture makes it out to be, its fairly clean, but its so dirty and that black hood makes it look like a complete disaster


I plan on getting a new front bumper/fixing the rear quarter and getting the car painted/little bodywork it needs done in the future. This by no means is going to be a toy.. I just want it to be a really nice/somewhat fun daily. I have my Z31 for a toy

[84318i]

e34s are not complicated. you have to go with e39+ if you want things to get complicated.

[m60b30530i]

a little over a grand.. he was originally asking 2500.

I actually don't think the car is as bad as the picture makes it out to be, its fairly clean, but its so dirty and that black hood makes it look like a complete disaster


I plan on getting a new front bumper/fixing the rear quarter and getting the car painted/little bodywork it needs done in the future. This by no means is going to be a toy.. I just want it to be a really nice/somewhat fun daily. I have my Z31 for a toy

Oh ok not bad at all man, If you run into any major problems I'm not too far from you so I can help out with diagnosing and such.

[Shady195]

e34s are not complicated. you have to go with e39+ if you want things to get complicated.

Mechanicly it doesnt seem it, everything major seems pretty straight forward, hell a timing belt on this thing seems a bit easier than on my Z31 with everything on the front pretty much out of the way. I am a fairly mechanicly inclined person, not a mechanic but I do anything/everything I can myself. My downside is wiring/electrical


Oh ok not bad at all man, If you run into any major problems I'm not too far from you so I can help out with diagnosing and such.

Awesome man, where abouts are you?