I have a 1996 740IL and I need to replace the climate control unit. The one that was in the car had two little wheel type fan switches on it.
Can I replace it with the newer style one that has the push buttons with the + and - on it? or should I just get what was in it to begin with?


Thanks in advance

yes. it is a direct fit - plug & play.

Your 96 has that wheel type fan switch? That's interesting... my 96 came with the + and -

Does anyone else's A/C suck?

I turn mine on full-blast, and it takes 10 mintues before I really get cold air blasting through.

The weird thing is, it blows in intervals. The air will come out strong for a while, then it will be very weak. Then strong, then weak. It's almost like it stores up cold air for a while, then when it has enough, whoosh.

And, it gets weirder. Durring its "storage" phase of weak air, I can turn off the recycled air, and switch to outside air, and wham! I get whatever is stored up in its little cold storage. But then that runs out and I get the outside air.

And it's not the level of freon.

You should flush your freezing fluid in the a/c and check the temperature sensor. The working in intervals is normal. The a/c will turn down when it has reached the desired temperature and turn up when inside temperature rises again. If it never gets really cold, replace fluid. If it would get cold, but automatic doesn´t allow, check sensor. Also, is the compressor working correctly? All hoses okay?

@mammy: Yes, direct upgrade p´n´p.

@rsn: ´96 was the year of change. The later ones have the facelift a/c control.

Your 96 has that wheel type fan switch? That's interesting... my 96 came with the + and -

They were installed up to early 97s.

This is what mine looks like

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b8/rsnpride/IMG_8405.jpg

I believe my car is also an early 96 model too.

Your 96 has that wheel type fan switch? That's interesting... my 96 came with the + and -

If you're not the original owner...perhaps a previous owner upgraded already. :)

yes. it is a direct fit - plug & play.

well...its not quite plug-n-play. When going from the "analog/digital" thumb-wheeled control unit...you will most likely need to get the newer digital/digital IHKA control unit coded or programmed. The software will need to be updated so that the ECU/DME will turn on the AC compressor. If you do a search you will see that many that had the original analog/digital units had to do this to get their AC working properly.

If you already have the digital/digital control unit with the REST button...to go to the digital/digital unit with the MAX button is plug-n-play. :D

[the thumb-wheel part of the older IHKA unit is analog...the newer units with the "+ & -" push button fan control is digital]