Help: how to get heater box out REALLY SCARY PICS TOO!

[mpower325]

Im swapping my heater box, its all disconneted, but there is a metal support beam in front of it, and i cant remove that beam really, so now what.. im hoping scottycs will chime in...

Check out the pics

[mpower325]

how can i make those pics smaller?

[mpower325]

anyone?

[Balthazarr]

To make smaller, you should have an option for pic size with your photo program.
There should also be a "HELP" tab or button so you would just enter "pic size" or similar to get info.

[STEVE36]

Done.

[///M_Nicht]

If that beam is welded in, you're going to have to get creative to find a way to get that out.
Maybe try to clear out everything else around it? It looks messy, but there are some pieces above and towards the passenger side that may be hiding the answer.

I hope you labeled everything! :

[scottycs]

It comes out easy when you take the front cover off like he did. Still has to disconnect the Coolant and AC lines from the engine compartment, as well as disconnect the blower motor assembly.

If that beam is welded in, you're going to have to get creative to find a way to get that out.
Maybe try to clear out everything else around it? It looks messy, but there are some pieces above and towards the passenger side that may be hiding the answer.

I hope you labeled everything! :

[zeit00]

You won't need to remove that beam. There are three metal tubes that connect to the left side of the heater core. There are 4 bolts that are very hard to reach. But once you get those out just pull the 3 pipes out from the core. Then the heater core just falls out through the front. You pull it up and out to remove. If you look at the pic you will see that the metal support is to the left of the actual heater core. You will not need to remove everything to do this....

I did this about 2 months ago.. It was actually pretty easy.

[zeit00]

[scottycs]

they DO NOT need to be removed.

[zeit00]

they DO NOT need to be removed.

How else do you remove just the heater core? I can understand if he wants to replace the condensor as well. But this is only a 20 minute job the way I did it.

This is what I went by..

http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ic/ic80136.htm

[scottycs]

I took out the entire box. And with the heater core exposed (front cover off), I managed to slide it out.

[zeit00]

Ah.. You don't have to go that far. You can do it with the box in the car. Its only 4 bolts nothing more. I am glad I did not have to take the whole box out.. Which ever way works best though..

[scottycs]

I converted to digital. So put a entire new box in. That is what mpower325 is trying to do.

[GQ_Style]

Oh look, another Plug-n-Play writeup. I am scared already.

[zeit00]

Ah.. If only I would have known.. Cool good job!

[mpower325]

update: its all finished and back together 90%. the heat works, the ac works, the vents work.. everything was plug ang play, i have a small coolant leak now though.. i beleave it is where the coolant enters the heater box... is there a difference between the fittings on those 3 hoses between 92-94 and 96+?


Anyway, it is plug and play, and ill post pics soon.. if i were to do it again, i wouldnt. ha.

[mpower325]

my '94 325is console:







99 M3 center vent
01 M coupe CD43 headunit
99 M3 Digital Control unit
Orange Mood lighting (not to visable)

all in all, it is such a pleasure to be surrounded by the new controls. They look amazing and sophisticated. The digital control mod works perfect but is a huge undertaking. I still have the work all the gremilins out.

Next:

HK system retrofit
BMW heated steering wheel :
leather everywhere!

[IgotMy18s]

any write up to convert from analog controls to digital?

[adeelpowers]

those initial pics really did scare me...

[vawrvawerawe]

I have to say, that's an awful lot of work just to change the controls to digital controls. Wish it were possible to simply plug and play without changing the heater core as well.