It's AC season and I need some help

[mike who]

I've searched high and low and have seen posts with similar problems but the responses are all pretty vague compared to what I am looking for so try and bare with me here.

I recently bought a '95 525i (LOVE IT but 18-year-old car obviously comes needing a few repairs) and the blower fan doesn't work properly. No matter the setting, it blows at or below the rate that my dad's 530i blows on "1". The common denominator between all of the other posts with my problem seems to be the sword but I am looking for preferably

A) Some potential quick fixes that may be available to cool me down in this 100 degree heat, or
B) A way to be certain that the sword is my problem before I shell out $100+ to order the part.

Thanks in advance for any help I might get.

-Mike

[MBXB]

BMW E34 Website (http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Electrical/Sword.htm)

[MBXB]

There are several sword fixes on this site too:

BMW E32 7-series information and links (http://www.e38.org/e32/)

[genphreak]

Have you verified the cabin filter is not blocked? Also, if you're AC is not 100%, you may need a new TX valve tucked in under the dash, a bitch to get to. If you do that, you are opening the system to the atmosphere. So you might as well replace all the seal rings ($20 to get them all in a packet) and will also need a new drier. Don't open it up and release the gas, get it gas harvested by the shop that will re-fill it once you are done replacing stuff. Else it'll cost you a heap for new gas to re-fill the system.

Once the TX (evaporator) valve is done and new seals are in place, take it back and have them fit the drier, gas her up and you'll have a nice, shiny (cold) AC system again.

[shogun]

Fan speed is controlled by the sword, on E34 also the resistor, as linked before
BMW E34 Website (http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Electrical/Sword.htm)
That means:
Failure syndromes:
• Fan blower not working on position 1,2 or 3,
• Fan blowing in full blast whatever the position of the knob.

However, if the speed of the fan works, but still not enough air is coming:
failure is a clogged microfilter for cabin air
BMW E34 Website (http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Gen_maintenance/Filters.htm)
replace the microfilter right side legroom inside the IHKA box

[Tiger]

Your 1995 E34 has a blue resistor pack for fan speed... very easy fix... buy new one and install it... on driver side... may be hidden behind some black wire... shine flashlight and you will see the blue.

When you pull out the old resistor pack... stick your hand in the hole and clean out any leaves that may be stuck there... guaranteed you got something there. Or sweep them down.

That will fix your fan speed.

At the same time... from passenger side... change out the cabin filter. Use a 1/2 or 3/4" copper pipe and vacuum to sweep the innards while you got the filter out.

[mike who]

So I got a new resistor (blue pack), swapped it out, and the fan still doesn't blow on 1-3. Any ideas on where should I look next?

Thanks for all of the advice so far, guys.

[Tiger]

Check fuses... and see if you can power up the blower directly to battery... wanted to check if blower is ok at full speed. Is the blower louder when you set to like 4 than compared to 1?

How is your cabin filter?