95 E36 M3 climate control upgrade

[flossen20]

Hi.. I'm sure this subject has been brought up before already. I was wondering how hard would it be to upgrade the climate control from a 95 E36 M3 (climate control with knobs) to the 96-98 E36 M3(digital climate control unit). I went ahead and bought the digital climate control unit from someone and all I know is that you have to rewire some stuff. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks. If anybody is located in the Los Angeles area and knows how to perform this upgrade, please PM me or email me at: flossen20@yahoo.com

Thanks and have a nice day everyone.

[Baby M3]

You're not going to be able to do it. Maybe you'll have a slim chance if you have $10k to spare.

Post 95' cars come with wires/sensors installed when the cars were put together in the factory. It's a lot more complicated than just taking off the units and rewiring them.

I've been browsing through BMW message boards for 7 years. To my knowledge, no one has successfullly done this conversion so far.

Jon

[scottycs]

Why would you want to switch? Just a clumsy system.

Sell the unit, you wont be able to put it in. TOTALLY diff as said.

[Fissionx]

i have digital and it sucks, I would rather have analog.

[TINIK]

it is very simple change, and i've done it. I went from ti set up, to 1995 set up, and then to 96+ set up, and it works fine.

the most expencive part in this swap is digital control.
http://www.dtmpower.net/ppost2/showp...t=1&thecat=500

[BENT///M3]

Any more details as to what is required to do the conversion TINIK? Thanks.

[SoGold]

anyone have a writeup? the digital cc just looks cleaner imo... i'll trade someone my manual one for their digital one

[TINIK]

here is what you need for that swap.

1. digital climate control
2. heater core w/ all of the wire harness

here are steps, on how install it.

1. take your dash board off
2. open your hood, and remove heater core
3. install new heater core
4. install your dashboard back
5. fill your antifreeze, and freon
6. try your new digital climate control.

labor wise, it will take you about 1 full day, but its well worth it, if you want digital climate control, instead of manual.

[speshuled619]

TINIK, you make it sound really easy when for so long many people on many forums say that its basically impossible. is it really that hard of a change? and how much would you say it would cost?

[Baby M3]

Perhaps the wirings on a Ti are simply different from all the rest of E36s.

Look at it this way. Go to www.alantaur.com and check out Alan's car. This guy is a total BMW OEM parts guru and has probably installed all the available BMW options on his 95' M3. He's retrofitted BMW OEM side airbags, HK stereo, european light self-leveling kit, headlight washers, BMW power seats/lumbar support kit, rear electric windows/sunscreen, traction control, 99' steering wheel, Euro M3 motor, 6 speed tranny, and a whole lot more BMW options on his M3.

The only thing he didn't do is the climate control update. That definitely tells you something, doesn't it?

Jon

Originally posted by speshuled619
TINIK, you make it sound really easy when for so long many people on many forums say that its basically impossible. is it really that hard of a change? and how much would you say it would cost?

[TINIK]

Originally posted by speshuled619
TINIK, you make it sound really easy when for so long many people on many forums say that its basically impossible. is it really that hard of a change? and how much would you say it would cost?

I payed around $100 for digital climate control
and around $80 for heater core w/ wire harness
-- and like i said it took me almost all day to do that swap.
then the cost of antifeeze, and freon.

Originally posted by Baby M3
Perhaps the wirings on a Ti are simply different from all the rest of E36s.

Look at it this way. Go to www.alantaur.com and check out Alan's car. This guy is a total BMW OEM parts guru and has probably installed all the available BMW options on his 95' M3. He's retrofitted BMW OEM side airbags, HK stereo, european light self-leveling kit, headlight washers, BMW power seats/lumbar support kit, rear electric windows/sunscreen, traction control, 99' steering wheel, Euro M3 motor, 6 speed tranny, and a whole lot more BMW options on his M3.

The only thing he didn't do is the climate control update. That definitely tells you something, doesn't it?

Jon

Baby M3 - i use COMPLETE 1995 M3 wire harness in my ti.
I have full OBC working - please tell me that that thing is impossible to wire also - for a ti


EDIT:and i have all of the parts for european light self-leveling headlights - i need to find time to install it.

[Baby M3]

Very interesting.

If that's the case, then I definitely need to give you a big thumb up for your efforts.

Regards.

Jon

[TINIK]

Thanks

[Mekihead]

That guy is selling his car! It's on Turner Motorsports classifieds!

Clicky

It's under "M3 w/ 3.2 Euro motor - 1995"

[Arman]

Digital sucks dude!