BMW Blower Motor Not Working? Here's What It Could Mean

Has the air flow from your BMW AC vents gotten weaker lately?

If such is the case, we are pretty much sure that there is something wrong with its blower motor. Yup… that’s the most feasible explanation. This blog post outlines some of the prominent reasons why a BMW’s blower motor may malfunction and the things that you can do to address the issue. Plus, we will have a brief discussion on BMW’s blower motor recall. Let's start by talking briefly about how a blower motor functions.

Blower Motor: Where Is It Located & How Does It Work?

The blower motor, as the name suggests, is an electric motor that essentially works to force heated or cooled air through the vents. One blower motor is standard in almost all cars, and it is located behind the glove box.

Speaking of blower motor, there is a resistor in place to control its speed. Just so you know, there are currently two different types of resistors being used in modern cars to regulate the blower motor's speed. One is a coil-based resistor, and the other is a transistorized resistor. Simply said, the resistor enables the blower motor to run at various speeds so that cabin temperature can be effectively regulated.

Now that you are familiar with the basics of a blower motor, let's discuss some of the most typical signs and causes of BMW blower motor failure.

Signs Your BMW Blower Motor May Be Malfunctioning

The following is a list of signs that your BMW blower motor has reached the end of its useful life:

Air flow from the heating & cooling system has gotten weaker

Fan behaving erratically

Fan has stopped working

Fan is rotating at a particular speed

Reasons Why Your BMW Blower Motor Might Fail

Blower motor of your BMW can fail for a number of different reasons. Check out some of them in the list below;

Reason #1- Faulty speed control module

One reason why your BMW’s blower motor may start acting up is a defective control module. After all, the control module aids the driver in adjusting the blower motor's speed. Corrosion or excessive heat might cause the control module to malfunction. In any case, if your blower motor is acting wired, the first thing you ought to do is have someone examine the speed control module. If it has flaws, have it checked by a certified professional.

Reason #2- Blown fuse

This adds yet another reason why the blower motor in your BMW could break down. The blower motor, just like any other electrical parts of your car, is guarded by a fuse. If for some reason this fuse blows up, the blower motor's power supply will be cut off. As a result, it will stop working. Therefore you are advised to keep an eye on the fuse protecting the blower motor. When a fuse reaches the end of its useful life, replace it.

Reason #3- Bad wiring

BMW previously had to recall a few of its models due to this reason. Wires connecting the blower motor with the rest of the system can degrade over time. Degraded wires, if not replaced on time, can contribute to a whole host of problems including blower motor failure. Check if your BMW is included in the list of models that are subject to BMW's blower motor recall.

BMW Blower Motor Recall

BMW AG issued a recall notice for BMW 3 Series vehicles (model years 2006–2011) on November 2, 2017 to address the blower motor wiring problem. As much as 627,775 vehicles were affected by this recall. And, if your BMW model comes under this recall, contact your after-sales area manager right away.

In Conclusion

Blower motor is the part around which your vehicle’s heating and cooling system revolves. This is nothing more than an electric motor that, in essence, rotates in different speeds to control cabin temperature. Just like any other car parts, the blower motor can malfunction. Fortunately, it gives off warning before dying.

You may find all the information you need to ensure the upkeep of the blower motor in your BMW in the discussion we had above. We hope this will add value to your knowledge.