E30 Zone

I've noticed a noise coming from the area in front of the dashboard. The noise is only present when the heater is running so I assume it is the heater motor. Is this a known problem and how is it fixed? Is it a new heater motor or can it be serviced or repaired?

the blower motor bearings have gone by the sounds of it ...........mine went i had to take the panel off under the bonnet on the bulkhead and take the tortoise shells off and change the motor that way

What sort of noise? Fan bearings normally just gradually seize quietly, but the odd shriek from them is conceivable.
If it's a repetitive ticking noise, then put the heater hoses on the right way around!

It does sound like bearings. Is it a big job and how much will it cost if I do it myself.

My cabs one sounds like it shot, sounds like an aeroplane when you switch the heater on, Number 1 speed doesn't work all!

Fan motor bearings aren't replaceable, but, if they haven't been left too long, respond well to being lubricated with some thin oil.
To do this properly, the motor needs to be removed from the fan housing, and powered up in your hand.

I removed the top 2 7mm bolts & saw the top of the motor. Can't seem to see how the motor comes out, squirted WD40 everywhere. Still sounds the same, I guess the motors shot

Thanks Will, Thats a great help, How do I get the bulkhead panel off, to gain access?

I've recently replaced the blower unit in mine, using this guide.

http://www.howstuffinmycarworks.com/BMW ... motor.html

Swearing a lot seems to help aswell.

Bulkhead panel is held by the rubber bonnet seal across the top, and four 7mm self tapping screws.

Thanks Brian, great help as usual, got to sort out my jerky wipers which don't work on the intermittent speed now as well, its never ending!!

Ranchero, that site is superb, thanks for that. If it ever stops snowing I'll sort that out.

Wipers and fan are jobs to do at the same time, since both require the bulkhead panel off.

No Horn either, don't know what that is, the relay clicks when its pressed,. No reserving lights either, I've been told, It blows fuse 10 when connected to the switch.

Horn problem is probably the horn itself, or horns, if this is one of the better E30s.
Reverse lights is the insulation on the wiring loom underneath the car, which runs from the gear lever grommet to the switch on the gearbox. It has either perished, or has come loose and been savaged by the propshaft.

Do you know where the horn is located? its an 1988 F Reg. 320I cabby.

The bloke I bought it off, said something about perished wiring under the gear lever. Hopefully I can get the wiring out of a breaker somewhere.

Cabs are one of the better E30s, so I expect it has two. They are on the underside of the panel beneath the outer headlamps.
E30s that have only one horn, have it right in the centre of the front, behind the top of the kidney grill.
Perished wiring under the gearlever is the reverse light loom I referred to above. Second hand ones aren't likely to be in much better condition than the one you have though, as the insulation is rubber.

Thanks for all the responses. Heater and wiper motors it is then.

Took it to have its cambelt changed today, Horn started to work by itself!, the reserving light wiring & the switch was melted! The spring holding the tensioner on is missing as well, new tension roller & spring also.

If the wiring has melted, it's likely that some pea brain has tried to cure the fuse blowing by fitting a bigger fuse!
Missing tensioner spring suggests that the water pump has been replaced since the cambelt was last changed. The spring isn't necessary once the belt tension has been set, and it's close to impossible to refit the water pump (and keep its gasket in place), as well as keep the spring where it should be!

Thanks Brian, hes repaired the wiring, about 6 inches of it. Just waiting for a new switch to come in, hopefully that'll cure this fault & I'll have reserving lights.

Don't know why but the horn suddenly started working, but the indicators only self cancel on the left turn.

I've replaced the water pump along with the new belt. The old pump did have play in it. There looks like theres been lots of tinkering with this car, the check control kept saying my brake lights weren't working, until I discovered the 10W bulbs in the light cluster, IIRC they should be 21W, all sorted now.