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Thread: E46 Evaporator DIY now available

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Columbus, OH
    Posts
    2
    My Cars
    R53 E46

    E46 Evaporator DIY now available

    Since all the DIY write-ups, discussions, and advice has helped me perform DIY jobs and save countless dollars over the years, I decided to document and record a procedure that doesn’t have a lot of detail out on the Internet: The entire process of replacing a leaking evaporator in an E46 330i!
    In the 8 part video viewable here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO9...AhBPGTWBOO68jg

    I show the following:

    Part 1:
    How to safely put an E46 on 4 jack stands
    Remove door trim plates/sills and weather stripping
    Remove covering and mucket for the curtain airbags
    Disconnect the OBD connection and other wiring on the driver’s kick panel
    Remove the steering wheel airbag and the wheel itself

    Part 2:
    Disconnect the electrical for the key antenna, wiper switch, and turn signal
    Remove the steering wheel column stalk, dashboard trim pieces, headlight switch
    I also take out the vents/grills, gauge cluster, radio, and the entire center console
    The HVAC/IHKA controls come out along with the passenger side airbag and glove box

    Part 3:
    Remove the passenger side kick panel
    Remove the dashboard
    Remove the dashboard support structure which involves disconnecting the fuse box and lowering the steering column along with the side curtain airbag connections
    I also drain the coolant from the radiator and engine block.

    Part 4:
    I work inside the engine bay to remove the cabin air filter (micro filter)
    Remove the heater bulkhead detach the IHKA coolant lines for the heater core
    I disconnect the AC lines and illustrate how to remove the IHKA housing itself.
    This part also demonstrates how to access the evaporator inside the IHKA housing.

    Part 5:
    Here, the new evaporator is prepared and placed back in the housing
    Then everything begins to get put back together; but not before I show how to test the repair with a vacuum pump first!
    I also show how to change the o-rings and get the IHKA intake flaps back on

    Parts 6 – 7
    Reinstallation of everything we took off

    Part 8
    More reinstallation and the proper procedure to refill the coolant and how to change the dryer.
    How to ensure moisture is removed from the system with the vacuum pump.
    Finally, I charge the AC system and have nice cool air again!

    I hope these videos and available color prints or PDF will help others save big money on this time consuming, but relatively easy job.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Atlanta, GA
    Posts
    93
    My Cars
    2008 X3 3.0si
    Great job! Super big job.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2001
    Location
    Fort Lauderdale, FL.
    Posts
    95,176
    My Cars
    2020 X3M Competition
    Let me get this straight... You are swapping out parts designed by hundreds of engineers that get paid thousands of dollars for something you bought at Pep Boys because your buddy who doesn't have a job told you it was 'better'?!?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    Canada
    Posts
    601
    My Cars
    BMW E39 528i 1998
    Is it the same for all M54, i.e. E53 X5?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Aug 2020
    Location
    Pacific Northwest
    Posts
    117
    My Cars
    2000 BMW 323i
    Sounds like a royal pain. Subscribed to your channel!

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