# Heater housing, remove and install.

Note: This procedure requires recovery of the air conditioning refrigerant. See an appropriately certified air conditioning technician to have this recovery performed before commencing any air conditioning system repair.
Close fresh air / recirculation flaps by pressing the recirculation switch with ignition on. |
Turn ignition off and remove negative cable from battery. |

#### Non air bag equipped:

Remove the three 1/4 turn screws along top edge of panel and one below the steering column |
Pull panel forward and out. Remove chime module from bracket in panel by pulling back tabs. |

#### Air bag equipped:

Remove the four 7 mm hex head screws from bottom edge of trim panel. |
Remove the three Phillips screws securing trim panel to dash. Remove trim panel. |
Pull horizontal panel down and forward. Remove chime module wiring connectors or entire module by spreading the plastic clips securing it to the panel. |
Remove the knee bolster by removing two 10mm bolts on left and three 10mm bolts on right side of bolster. |
Remove rear console ashtray by opening, then lifting straight up, remove 10mm nut (arrow) below ashtray. |
Rigid boot: Pull up front of park brake cover and slide off handle. Leather boot: Pull up front to release boot, feed boot through opening in console. |
Pull rear section of console back to disengage it from front section. Lift up at front and slide over parking brake lever. |
Squeeze edges of shift boot in and lift up. |
Pull boot up far enough to access wiring for lighted shift knob (if fitted) and unplug connector. |
Pull shift knob straight up to remove. A sharp tug is required. |
Remove insulation pad from around shifter (if fitted). |
Remove power window switches and power window circuit breaker by lifting straight up. Tight switches can be removed by placing fingers inside shift hole and pushing up. |
Remove 10mm nut from behind shifter, holding rear of console section to floor. |
Remove front ashtray by opening, then pulling straight up. |
Remove the two screws forward of the ashtray (arrows) and lift out the ashtray / lighter assembly. |
Unplug lighter and illumination bulb. |
Remove bolt from below heater slides. Position shown in mirror. |
Turn screws on either side of console, by firewall, 90° and remove. |  |
Pull front section of console up and to the rear to remove. |

Remove dash.

Remove rubber seal from top edge of firewall in engine bay. |
Remove plastic cover from wiring at top of firewall by pulling top edge towards engine. |
Remove the two Phillips screws securing the diagnostic connector bracket and one Phillips screw at the other end of the wiring support. Pull wiring support away from firewall as far as possible. |
Remove the four 7mm screws securing upper panel to firewall. Lift out panel. |  |

Drain coolant and disconnect both heater hoses at the firewall |

If possible, place a compressed air blower in one of the heater core pipes and blow residual coolant out of other pipe.

If compressed air is not available, connect a water hose to one of the heater core pipes and flush core with plain water.

Warning : Coolant damages carpet, you want all traces of coolant removed from the heater core to prevent spillage inside the car when removing the assembly.

Disconnect heater wiring harness from main harness. Plug is located to the right of the steering column. There is no need to disconnect any wiring from the heater box components, except on the right side of the heater box, |
Remove nut and bolt from heater housing right angle bracket where center console belongs. Pull off drain tube from heater box. |
Disconnect suction and pressure lines for air conditioning system from expansion valve on right side of heater housing. Small one is 19mm, large one is 24mm and requires sealing compound to be peeled off nut for access. Both lines are flexible, pull them out of expansion valve and move them aside. Place tape over expansion valve and line ends to prevent contaminates entering system. |
Remove ducts between heater housing and rear heater outlets under carpet. Pull top of duct down to remove Pull drains on each side near firewall , off heater housing |
Remove two 10mm nuts on either side of the blower motor, accessed from the engine bay. |
Remove heater box, recirculation flaps must be closed, by pulling into car. |

### Installation:

Ensure seal around blower motor housing is in good condition, replace if necessary. |
Check rubber grommet around heater pipes correctly seats in firewall. |
Connect three condensation drains , two in front near firewall, one in left rear, beside rubber mount below center console position.

Note : If A/C system remains open for more than 24 hours, the receiver drier must be replaced. It is good practice to replace it any time the A/C system is open , to ensure longevity of the system. A receiver drier that has reached its moisture capacity will break down internally, spreading debris throughout the system.

E30 M3 Repair Manual V2.7. Copyright ©1999-2001 Koala Motorsport & Brett Anderson