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    DIY: Blower Motor Replacement

    I've removed and reinstalled the blower motor on my car about 10 times in the past few days (for a separate project). I've done it the wrong way many times (as is obvious by the many scratches on the plastic pieces), but I think I've developed a fairly foolproof method now. None of the resources I found online were suitable, so figured I would document. Don't get me wrong, this job still absolutely sucks, but it's a bit less sucky this way.

    This post will cover the actual blower motor-related steps in detail, but I'll just assume you know how to do all the other work.

    Also, you'll see that I have more stuff removed than is necessary. This is for that aforementioned project and is definitely not needed if you're just doing the blower motor. There's also an aluminum piece stuck in there above the blower motor. Again, separate project, just ignore it.



    Prerequisites:

    The following things need to be removed in the engine bay.
    • Strut bar
    • Cabin air filter housing
    • Firewall plug
    • Engine beauty cover
    • Intake
    • Idle air rail
    Remember to plug any holes so that nothing falls into your engine.

    This plastic bracket also has to be moved out of the way:

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    There's three 10mm nuts under the cylinder 6 throttle body holding it in:

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    It also has a tab that holds the injector loom. Separate the two (and don't forget to reattach when putting back together!).

    Lastly, the windshield wipers need to be pointing vertically:

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    Do not try to move them by hand. Turn the ignition on, pull the wiper stalk and turn the ignition back off halfway through the wiper's motion.

    At this point, your engine bay should look something like this:

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    Time to actually get the blower motor replaced.



    Blower Motor Removal:

    Step 1: Remove the top T20 screw on the blower motor front cover.

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    Step 2: Undo the two clips at the bottom of the cover and push both of them to the side.

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    Step 3: Pull the bottom of the cover out past the firewall. It'll want to catch on the clips and the firewall, but it does clear with a bit of bending. Moving the engine harness out of the way also helps with clearance.

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    Step 4: Keep rotating the cover and pull it out on the intake side.

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    Step 5: Remove the top T20 screw for the right side flap assembly.

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    Step 6: Remove the other two T20 screws holding the right flap assembly in.

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    Step 7: Pull up the flap lock.

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    Step 8: Pull the flap assembly forwards and up so that it just clears the firewall. Don't pull more than that or you'll risk breaking it.

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    Step 9: Wiggle/rotate the assembly until the top part is fully out into the engine bay.

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    Step 10: Wiggle/rotate again until it looks like this and pull it out.

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    Step 11: Unplug the blower motor.

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    Step 12: Unhook the blower motor retainer.

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    Step 13: Pull the blower motor forward out of its bracket.

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    Step 14: Carefully pull the blower motor out through the exhaust side. Be careful not to damage the vanes with the front cover clips.

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    Blower Motor Install:

    Just follow the removal steps in reverse

    Make sure the new blower motor is oriented the same way as the old one and don't forget to reattach the injector loom to the bracket in the back of the engine.

    Only other thing worth noting is to make sure that everything lines up on the left side when reinstalling the right flap assembly:

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    2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - MSS54HP Conversion - Kassel MAP - SSV1 - HJS - PCS Tune - Beisan - MK60 Swap - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

    2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

    #2
    Nice write up!

    Not looking forward to doing this in the near future, just looking at the pictures hurts my back.

    The squirrel noises from the blower monitor adds character to our cars right??? 😁

    Comment


      #3
      Awesome write up...Thank you!

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Ramage View Post
        Not looking forward to doing this in the near future, just looking at the pictures hurts my back.
        Yeah it's not fun at all. I ended up laying sideways on the engine for a good chunk of the time. Arms are all scraped and bruised up
        2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - MSS54HP Conversion - Kassel MAP - SSV1 - HJS - PCS Tune - Beisan - MK60 Swap - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

        2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

        Comment


          #5
          Thank you Heinz! I have a spare blower on the shelf as I get the intermittent chirping and figured it's only a matter of time before I need to replace it. But, definitely will wait until absolutely necessary to do this!

          Comment


            #6
            Awesome write up! Thank you for compiling the info and posting for us.

            Comment


              #7
              Which blower motor did you install? I heard the X3 (?) one was cheaper or something

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by zivagolee View Post
                Which blower motor did you install? I heard the X3 (?) one was cheaper or something
                None

                Factory blower motor is still in the car. Had to remove it to prep the chassis for the mounting point of my front strut bar triangulation project. Removed/reinstalled it so many times that I developed a strategy and figured I'd share.
                2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - MSS54HP Conversion - Kassel MAP - SSV1 - HJS - PCS Tune - Beisan - MK60 Swap - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

                2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by heinzboehmer View Post

                  None

                  Factory blower motor is still in the car. Had to remove it to prep the chassis for the mounting point of my front strut bar triangulation project. Removed/reinstalled it so many times that I developed a strategy and figured I'd share.
                  do you think the new mounting point for the slon bar will make it more difficult to remove/install the blower motor assembly?
                  /// 2004 SG/IR - Build Thread

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by ugaexploder View Post
                    do you think the new mounting point for the slon bar will make it more difficult to remove/install the blower motor assembly?
                    I can't say for certain, since I haven't tested with the Slon piece, but it does look like it would get slightly in the way of removing the front cover. It should still be doable, but might need some extra bending. Don't think it would get in the way of removing the blower motor itself, though.

                    My design is smaller (or at least disassembles smaller) and doesn't get in the way much. All the pictures above were taken with my piece in place, so it's definitely doable.
                    2002 Topasblau M3 - Coupe - 6MT - Karbonius CSL Airbox - MSS54HP Conversion - Kassel MAP - SSV1 - HJS - PCS Tune - Beisan - MK60 Swap - ZCP Rack - Nogaros - AutoSolutions - 996 Brembos - Slon - CMP - VinceBar - Koni - Eibach - BlueBus - Journal

                    2012 Alpinweiss 128i - Coupe - 6AT - Slicktop - Manual Seats - Daily - Journal

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by heinzboehmer View Post

                      I can't say for certain, since I haven't tested with the Slon piece, but it does look like it would get slightly in the way of removing the front cover. It should still be doable, but might need some extra bending. Don't think it would get in the way of removing the blower motor itself, though.

                      My design is smaller (or at least disassembles smaller) and doesn't get in the way much. All the pictures above were taken with my piece in place, so it's definitely doable.
                      appreciate your thoughts on the matter, looking forward to your design
                      /// 2004 SG/IR - Build Thread

                      Comment

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