How to access blower motor?

[BimmerJB]

Driving on a hot day day in Las Vegas, the A/C just let out a loud BOOM. Found out the blower motor just clonked out.

To replace it, do I access it from under the hood or do I have to rip apart the dash.

[TiAgX5]

Dash has to come out.

[BimmerJB]

Is there a link on a how-to take apart the dash?

[petener999]

BMW TIS Online Repair Manuals

[BimmerJB]

Thanks guys

[Dr_Smith]

I did it, it's not that bad really, took about 15hrs total.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by Dr_Smith

I did it, it's not that bad really, took about 15hrs total.

15 hours isn't bad? That sounds absolutely horrible to me.

These things go out like clockwork on BMW's. It is crazy they have to be so damn hard to replace. I had to remove the intake manifold my e36 and still bend some sheetmetal to get it out. The one in my e53 squeaked as well as the one in my current e46. I am dreading this repair.

[Dr_Smith]

Don't get me wrong I think it's absolutely ridiculous that the whole dash has to come out for a 1 minute blower motor swap and then the whole reassembly. I can't fathom why they couldn't have thought of a better access route. That being said, I've done much worse jobs on Ford and Chevys swapping heater cores - so relatively speaking it wasn't that bad. Here's some pics...

[SlickGT1]

Any tips for those that will be doing it in the future. Ty.

[wallyx5]

15hrs.....is over kill. It took me 6 and I am not a mechanic. I just followed the Bentley manuals steps. Good luck, there is nothing difficult about this job but its just tedious.