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SI B64 04 12
Heating and Air Conditioning

September 2013
Technical Service

This Service Information bulletin supersedes SI B64 04 12 dated October 2012.
designates changes to this revision
SUBJECT

Blower Makes an Unusual Noise
MODEL

F30
Produced from May 31, 2011 to February 13, 2013
SITUATION

An unusual howling noise is heard coming from the glove compartment and passenger foot well area (blower
motor).
CAUSE

Foreign material such as leaves may have entered the blower motor via the fresh air intake.
PROCEDURE

1. Using ISTA, perform a vehicle test and complete all test plans for related stored fault codes.
Note: When the ISTA system message displays: “Battery voltage only “XX.XX” V. Please connect
charger”. Note the displayed battery voltage reading in the repair order comments section.
2. If there are no fault codes stored and/or step 1 above does not resolve the issue, proceed with the steps
below.
3. Perform and follow the recommendations in test plan AT6450_20GEBL – Blower output stage and blower
motor. This test plan can be found as follows: Activities / Information search / Function Structure / Body /
Heating and air conditioning functions / Blower / Start search.
4. If no debris or foreign material is found, repair the vehicle as per the test plan recommendations. Do not
perform the steps listed below, as this SI no longer applies.
5. The steps listed below should only be performed if debris or foreign material is found in the blower motor.

6.

Remove the cover (1) by
loosening the three fasteners
circled in red, and then remove
the side panel trim piece (2) by

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removing the 3 expanding rivets
circled in yellow.

7.

The windshield cowl panel
(3) must be loosened to better
access the fresh air intake cover.
Release the five fasteners circled
in red, and then remove the
expanding rivet shown by the
white arrow.

8.

The fresh air intake cover
(4) must be removed.
Disconnect the sensor shown by
the white arrow and remove the
two fasteners circled in black.

After removing the intake cover, determine which repair procedure needs to be performed. Two different
repair procedures are possible.
A. If the vehicle already has the early basket screen kit installed:

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

Remove the basket and foam strips.



Install new repair kit P/N 64 31 9 321 616.

9.

Inspect the underside of the
removed fresh air intake cover.
The two foam pieces attached
confirms it has the early version
kit installed. Remove these two
foam strips.

10.

The basket (P/N 64 31 9
296 394) must also be removed
and discarded. After removal, be
certain to check and remove all
remaining debris, such as leaves
and sticks, from the exposed
area of the blower opening.

11.

The next step describes the
installation of the new repair
screen.

12.

The new repair screen (P/N
64 31 9 321 616) contains a
more robust honeycomb grid
that provides better protection
from debris. Fit the new screen
over the blower opening and
rotate underneath the cowl.

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13.

Check for proper fitment of
the screen and ensure it is
properly fitted to the upper
dividing wall, as shown by the
white arrows.

PARTS INFORMATION

Part Number
64 31 9 321 616

Description

Quantity

Air intake screen

1

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Covered under the terms of the BMW New Vehicle/SAV Limited Warranty.
Defect Code:

64 11 00 48 00

Labor Operation:

Labor Allowance:

Description:

00 00 006

Refer to KSD2

Performing “vehicle test” (with vehicle
diagnosis system – checking faults)

Refer to KSD2

Charging battery

Work time

Performing vehicle diagnosis – test
module

Refer to KSD2

Removing and installing or replacing
blower for heater/air conditioner to
check for and remove debris or foreign
material (as instructed by the test plan)

and if necessary, also
61 21 528
and if necessary, also
61 00 006
and if necessary, also

64 11 710

and
Work time to remove fresh air intake

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64 99 000

5 FRU

cover, modify foam material and install
intake screen and reassemble (when
debris or foreign material is found)

Labor operation code 00 00 006 is a Main labor operation. If you are using a Main labor code for another repair;
use the Plus code labor operation 00 00 556 instead.
Refer to KSD2 for the corresponding flat rate unit (FRU) allowance. Enter the Chassis Number, which consists of
the last 7 digits of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Click on the “Search” button, and then enter the
applicable flat rate labor operation in the FR code field.
Even though work time labor operation code 61 00 006 ends in “006,” it is not considered a Main labor operation.
Work time (WT) labor operation 61 00 006 requires an individual punch time.
Even though work time labor operation code 64 99 000 ends in “000,” it is not considered a Main labor operation.
Other Repairs
As outlined in the Procedure section “Step 1”, if performing the ISTA diagnostics and related test plans results
with other eligible and covered work, claim this work with the applicable defect code and labor operations listed
in KSD2.
[ Copyright ©2013 BMW of North America, Inc. ]

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