You first have to remove the stereo. To do this you have to open the two small flaps on the sides and then use the factory tool or a small allen wrench and twist until the catches release and allow you to slide the deck forward.
Looking up you see two screws going up into the bottom of the vent. Remove these.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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Pull the bottom out and then slide downward to release the plastic clip holding on the upper left corner.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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You will not be able to remove it at this point.
There is a cable attached to the back of the left most dial that controls the bias in temperature between feet and face vents.
In order to release this cable you will need to remove the lower driver's side knee panel and the heat shield beneath it.
Once you do this if you look towards the center of the car on the side of the central plastic core to the ventilation system you will see a blue cable with a yellow end.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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You have to release it in two places. The first is at the bottom of the cable on the side of the heater core vents.
It is a black plastic hoop that is snapped over top the white nub that looks like it is split in two. You will see this at the center of the picture
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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The second place is at the yellow portion of the cable. It is snapped into a black catch on the side of the ventilation chamber. In these last three pictures down is to the right.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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Removed, the complete assembly looks like this:
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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Thanks for the info old skool. I have a rattle coming from my center vent that I need to hunt down and kill, and this makes my life much easier.
Glad to hear it.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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This article covered my initial problem, but what is the trick to removing the lower driver's side knee panel and the heat shield beneath it. As usual I feel there is a brain saving tip that will help.
Thanks for all your DIY's.
I have those writeups in my sig. Follow the link to the BF.C articles and you should be able to find one that covers this.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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Nice, tried this myself, but wasn't sure on how the get the cable off.
Btw, the cable on the vent is the bias between hot/cold air coming from it without effecting the foot and window vent temps.
Maybe a little nuance....
That scrollwheel is still highly strange. Image climate control set at 30 degrees. Now the temp sensor will detect cabin temp and alter fanspeed and prolly warm/cold air to get into the cabin too get it to the set temp.
Now the temp is 30 and you begin playing with the scrollwheel on the centre vent. You want a little colder air so you don't fall asleep. But with this cold(er) air coming in, the temp sensor should register a decrease in temp and will start changing output untill the set temp is reached again.
So it's kinda odd.
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BMW's seem like the most complicated cars to take apart. I am always breaking things. Thanks for this excellent instruction.
Maybe they are hard to take apart, because the are so well put together!
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Allow me to revive this thread to say thanks much to the OP and others. I used the information here to replace the center vent on my 98 recently. Here's a linky to my DIY. Not much new info there, but a few more pictures. Hope others find it helpful...
http://www.dvatp.com/bmw/diy/center_vent/
-Doug
Looks good
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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Not sure what happened but mine is nothing like your's. Just a simple connector behind the radio panel. Wish I hadn't spent an hour trying to find that blue cable. Bummer!
This is mine 93 325is built 12/92 if it matters.
Interesting. What AC controls do you have? The digital climate control or the analog AC control?
One option is to start to pull the vent out of the dash and look behind it to see if it has the blue cable attached to it.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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Analog I thought but digital would explain it. It came out really easy once I figured out that the blue cable didn't exist. One clip right in behind the radio. Should have taken less than 5 minutes.
This is not a critique just a heads up for others. Maybe someone can explain which models have which style of connection.
pre-9/96 have the eletric plug, post 9/96 have the blue cable which i am still trying to get to. The metal wall is hell to get off.
Will the cable in question here be the same cable that allows the temp control to change from Hot to Cold
Reason is that my control does not change and is always on cold, when i turn it to heat it goes around 360 so i'm guessing the cable is loose....
Bump
Thanks
The cable adjusts the temperature of the center vent relative to the rest of the vents. It can be adjusted to colder or hotter.
To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead. ~ Thomas Paine
You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do. — Anne Lamott
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FOR SALE: watch straps!!
E36 DIY: My articles are now located in the E36 DIY page
Anyone know? Dont leave us nonbluecable guys out in the cold!
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