Chirping Interior Blower

mr.fabulous · 03-19-2017, 03:09 PM

Every time I decelerate, the interior blower motor in my car chirps. Pretty loudly, actually. From the time I start to brake until I am at a total stop. If I turn the fan up all the way I do not hear it... but it's loud at that point and so who knows. I do not have to brake hard, every time I come to a stop. Every time. I hear nothing if I turn the fan all the way off.

Attached is a picture I took a few months ago for another thread regarding the connector at the fan burning out (which I believe is/was a water problem, but honestly I haven't been back to that thread since). This is taken looking up from the right side front footwell with the bottom of the dash removed (maybe the glovebox too, frankly I can't remember). This is my interior blower motor? Does this just drop out? For a car so difficult to work on, it really would be a hoot if the interior blower motor would come out so easily... every other car I've ever worked on required removal of the dash to get to this.

RealOEM shows this too http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=64_1453

Any thoughts? I feel like I should be replacing this before it stops working altogether.

Dackelone · 03-19-2017, 05:13 PM

Sounds like the bearing in the fan is going, replace the fan. I would also replace FSU blower resistor(#2) on that RealOEM diagram.

Also... checkout this thread... (which I think you have seen before)

HVAC blower intermittently does not work. Solution: wiring is faulty spans across sev
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1206142

EndOfAnEra · 03-19-2017, 09:30 PM

Mine chirps only when I make a left-hand turn lol.

Eventually I know I'll need to replace my blower motor.

Matticus91 · 03-20-2017, 09:48 AM

Had the same issue in my last 135i, just replace the fan and you'll be good.

But if Dackelone is telling you to do something additional, do it.

His word is Gospel

mr.fabulous · 03-20-2017, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matticus91

Had the same issue in my last 135i, just replace the fan and you'll be good.

Does it just drop out? What did you un-bolt?

mr.fabulous · 03-20-2017, 10:38 AM

ECS has the part from Valeo, incl the regulator, for $135. Winner. Their product description includes this:

"If a peculiar squealing noise is present when using your HVAC system, a new blower motor may be needed. Located behind the glove box within the vehicle dash."

I still find the location of this thing to be quite remarkable (easier to get to than, say, a fuse... that's not normal

).

Matticus91 · 03-21-2017, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Does it just drop out? What did you un-bolt?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

ECS has the part from Valeo, incl the regulator, for $135. Winner. Their product description includes this:

"If a peculiar squealing noise is present when using your HVAC system, a new blower motor may be needed. Located behind the glove box within the vehicle dash."

I still find the location of this thing to be quite remarkable (easier to get to than, say, a fuse... that's not normal

).

I didn't do it myself, I'm all about warranties lol. Good luck!

Matt@EuroJerks · 03-21-2017, 10:12 AM

Thank you for this. I have been wondering what was going on with my "noise" Mine too also makes more noise during left hand turns.

Is there a DIY on this?
On ECS website there are a few different versions (Valeo vs Vemo) what is the difference?

dandandan · 03-21-2017, 10:41 AM

Mine is chirping on medium speed intermittently. Must be the change in seasons, but definitely sounds like the blower bearing is dry.

Havocsteve · 03-21-2017, 11:31 AM

Mine makes a chirp noise when it's cold out so below 5 degrees celcius. Only when you come to a stop with the brakes as well. I'm assuming the bearing needs to oiled as it's dried up (or becoming) and its from the vibration of braking. I can't be bothered to remove the dash. For some reason this seems like a huge task. I have done stuff before but it was on my first BMW, 1987 E30 325IS. It seemed so simple back then.

Cosmoslux · 03-24-2017, 12:22 AM

Mine is doing the same - under braking in cold/rain. I don't think the dash needs to be removed to get at things.

bluebeemer · 03-25-2017, 07:07 AM

FWIW my blower in my previous 1999 323i chirped lightly for the last 80,000 miles and ~8 years. It never gor much worse or went out.

Southjersey128 · 03-25-2017, 06:06 PM

Mine too, left turns only. I'll replace it eventually.

HyeWarrior · 03-25-2017, 06:29 PM

Definitely will be needing this in the future

mr.fabulous · 05-20-2018, 12:48 PM

I just added my experience to the DIY for the interior blower (mine altogether stopped working today, good thing I had a replacement ready to pop in).

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1206142

saxybimmer · 01-11-2020, 07:08 AM

My fan quit working earlier this week, so I came to this thread, did some reading, watched the video and fixed it myself. For now. Surprised again how easy it was to do this. The motor was really tight and wouldn't free spin, so I sprayed the bearing areas with some PB Blaster low odor stuff, and just kept spinning by hand until it felt a little looser. Plugged it back up and let it run while hanging from under the glove box for a few minutes. Unhooked and sprayed again. Worked fine this morning. The wiring looked fine. My 08 128i is part of the recall, and I've had 3 conversations with the closest dealer about fixing it, but they have to wait on parts and call me back (since early November &#128580

Guess I'll call them again Monday or try the next closest dealer.

It blows fine, but the weird thing is that the defrost and floor blows warmer than the center position. Fooled with different combinations of floor, center and defrost for 30 minutes and the floor and defrost would follow whatever temperature I selected, but the center was just blowing ambient air.

03-19-2017, 03:09 PM	#1
mr.fabulous Captain 209 Rep 893 Posts Drives: Women Crazy Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Florida Gulf Coast iTrader: (0)	Chirping Interior Blower Every time I decelerate, the interior blower motor in my car chirps. Pretty loudly, actually. From the time I start to brake until I am at a total stop. If I turn the fan up all the way I do not hear it... but it's loud at that point and so who knows. I do not have to brake hard, every time I come to a stop. Every time. I hear nothing if I turn the fan all the way off. Attached is a picture I took a few months ago for another thread regarding the connector at the fan burning out (which I believe is/was a water problem, but honestly I haven't been back to that thread since). This is taken looking up from the right side front footwell with the bottom of the dash removed (maybe the glovebox too, frankly I can't remember). This is my interior blower motor? Does this just drop out? For a car so difficult to work on, it really would be a hoot if the interior blower motor would come out so easily... every other car I've ever worked on required removal of the dash to get to this. RealOEM shows this too http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=64_1453 Any thoughts? I feel like I should be replacing this before it stops working altogether. Attached Images __________________ 2011 135i MSport 6MT AW/black, 72Kmiles, bone stock, moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney I LOVE THIS CAR
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03-19-2017, 05:13 PM	#2
Dackelone European Editor 10539 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Sounds like the bearing in the fan is going, replace the fan. I would also replace FSU blower resistor(#2) on that RealOEM diagram. Also... checkout this thread... (which I think you have seen before) HVAC blower intermittently does not work. Solution: wiring is faulty spans across sev http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1206142 __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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03-19-2017, 09:30 PM	#3
EndOfAnEra Lieutenant Colonel 515 Rep 1,705 Posts Drives: AW X3 35i Msport + S2000 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Largo, FL iTrader: (13)	Mine chirps only when I make a left-hand turn lol. Eventually I know I'll need to replace my blower motor. __________________ flickr
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03-20-2017, 09:48 AM	#4
Matticus91 Brigadier General 3475 Rep 3,722 Posts Drives: 2013 135i Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (6)	Had the same issue in my last 135i, just replace the fan and you'll be good. But if Dackelone is telling you to do something additional, do it. His word is Gospel __________________ "Tobias" 2013 135i ///M-Sport 6MT • Pure Stage 1 • XDI 35 HPFP • 404whp/440wtq IG: msteelio91
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03-20-2017, 10:38 AM	#6
mr.fabulous Captain 209 Rep 893 Posts Drives: Women Crazy Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Florida Gulf Coast iTrader: (0)	ECS has the part from Valeo, incl the regulator, for $135. Winner. Their product description includes this: "If a peculiar squealing noise is present when using your HVAC system, a new blower motor may be needed. Located behind the glove box within the vehicle dash." I still find the location of this thing to be quite remarkable (easier to get to than, say, a fuse... that's not normal). __________________ 2011 135i MSport 6MT AW/black, 72Kmiles, bone stock, moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney I LOVE THIS CAR
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03-21-2017, 10:12 AM	#8
Matt@EuroJerks Lieutenant 496 Rep 476 Posts Drives: 2021 Jeep Cherokee Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: CT iTrader: (1)	Thank you for this. I have been wondering what was going on with my "noise" Mine too also makes more noise during left hand turns. Is there a DIY on this? On ECS website there are a few different versions (Valeo vs Vemo) what is the difference?
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03-21-2017, 10:41 AM	#9
dandandan Second Lieutenant 102 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 2012 135i N55 DCT Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1)	Mine is chirping on medium speed intermittently. Must be the change in seasons, but definitely sounds like the blower bearing is dry.
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03-21-2017, 11:31 AM	#10
Havocsteve Second Lieutenant 82 Rep 276 Posts Drives: 2011 E82 135i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Mine makes a chirp noise when it's cold out so below 5 degrees celcius. Only when you come to a stop with the brakes as well. I'm assuming the bearing needs to oiled as it's dried up (or becoming) and its from the vibration of braking. I can't be bothered to remove the dash. For some reason this seems like a huge task. I have done stuff before but it was on my first BMW, 1987 E30 325IS. It seemed so simple back then.
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03-24-2017, 12:22 AM	#11
Cosmoslux New Member 10 Rep 11 Posts Drives: 2011 128i AW Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: SF Bay iTrader: (0)	Mine is doing the same - under braking in cold/rain. I don't think the dash needs to be removed to get at things.
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03-25-2017, 07:07 AM	#12
bluebeemer Dinan S3, VRSF FMIC,Inlets,Whiteline RSFB, M3 arms 7 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2009 135i MT Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: columbia missouri iTrader: (0)	FWIW my blower in my previous 1999 323i chirped lightly for the last 80,000 miles and ~8 years. It never gor much worse or went out.
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03-25-2017, 06:06 PM	#13
Southjersey128 Second Lieutenant 43 Rep 272 Posts Drives: 2008 128i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: South Jersey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	Mine too, left turns only. I'll replace it eventually. __________________ Afe Scoops and CAI, PBX, BMS Paddleshift upgrade, 261M's Powder Coated Gunmetal, 225/255 Michelin PSS, (BMW Performance: BBK, Illuminated Door Sills, Shifter Knob and Boot, E-Brake Handle, Steering Wheel, Front Strut Bar), E93 FSB, E92 RSB, M3 Rear Subframe Bushings, M3 Front Control Arms, HPA coilover kit (Koni Adjustables and Swift Springs), Steel Brake Hoses, Black Kidneys, Smoked LED side markers, Blacklines, Msport lip spoiler...
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03-25-2017, 06:29 PM	#14
HyeWarrior Major 747 Rep 1,119 Posts Drives: 2012 135i DCT Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Dimas, CA iTrader: (1)	Definitely will be needing this in the future
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05-20-2018, 12:48 PM	#15
mr.fabulous Captain 209 Rep 893 Posts Drives: Women Crazy Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Florida Gulf Coast iTrader: (0)	I just added my experience to the DIY for the interior blower (mine altogether stopped working today, good thing I had a replacement ready to pop in). http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1206142 __________________ 2011 135i MSport 6MT AW/black, 72Kmiles, bone stock, moneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoneymoney I LOVE THIS CAR Last edited by mr.fabulous; 05-20-2018 at 06:18 PM..
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01-11-2020, 07:08 AM	#16
saxybimmer Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 128i Join Date: May 2019 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	My fan quit working earlier this week, so I came to this thread, did some reading, watched the video and fixed it myself. For now. Surprised again how easy it was to do this. The motor was really tight and wouldn't free spin, so I sprayed the bearing areas with some PB Blaster low odor stuff, and just kept spinning by hand until it felt a little looser. Plugged it back up and let it run while hanging from under the glove box for a few minutes. Unhooked and sprayed again. Worked fine this morning. The wiring looked fine. My 08 128i is part of the recall, and I've had 3 conversations with the closest dealer about fixing it, but they have to wait on parts and call me back (since early November &#128580 Guess I'll call them again Monday or try the next closest dealer. It blows fine, but the weird thing is that the defrost and floor blows warmer than the center position. Fooled with different combinations of floor, center and defrost for 30 minutes and the floor and defrost would follow whatever temperature I selected, but the center was just blowing ambient air.
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