That's for the cabin blower motor, not the radiator fan.

 

A good friend & fellow R53 owner had this made for me to test. Yes, it's a resistor closest to OEM specs wrapped in epoxy resin heat sink, disguised as C4.

 

The only problem with that would be getting a plug that fits it, and mounting. It's a little awkwardly shaped.

I'm hopefully implementing my gold alum. resistor fix today.

 

Ok gang, could use a little help here. I ordered what I thought was the right part from Mouser: 284-HS100-47F, PWR RES 100w 47 1%, Arcol wirewound resistor. http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/...kSjPXYqw%3d%3d

So, got everything wired up, it's not pretty but it'll do for now, started the car, turned on the AC, high speed fan's working, but no low. Granted it's warm here today, but still, no low. Had a voltage test light, there's voltage going from the car-side low speed wire to the resistor, and through it with no lead on the end, but once I connect the fan-side low speed wire to the resistor to complete the circuit, it drops to such a low amount, that nothing happens (very low/dim test light).

Can someone verify that I bought the right part, and shed any thoughts on what might be going on? I'm also using 12G wire all around.

Thanks in advance!

So I know it's getting power, but it seems like the resistor is diluting it too much.

 

This is the link to what most have used:
http://ph.mouser.com/ProductDetail/A...XjsYM7uQ%3d%3d

 

Oh, wow, yeah, 330mOhms vs my 47ohms...no wonder. I'll be doing an RMA as soon as I can.

Thank you!

 

Read through most of this thread and I have not found the answer to my question.

Is there a fix for the early model with the 2 wiring harnesses that does not require removing the fan? From what I have read the resister fix that works on the late model cars will not work on the early models with the 2 wiring harnesses on the fan, is this true?

 

The purpose of the metal housing of the resistor is to dissipate heat caused by current flow. It is intended that it be mounted to a larger metal surface. You really want to dissipate heat into the car frame, so as not to burn up the resistor. In the electronics business we call that a heat sink.

 

Thanks.

I hear you, but given that the resistor is contained within it's own Aluminium heat sink I don't envisage any problems. There is enough of the heat sink in contact with the chassis to dissipate heat, probably about 50%.

Also the climatic differences between Britain and SoCal mean the fan is seldom in action anyway.

Maybe BMW should have used your logic when they suspended/exposed the original and rather fragile resistor in an air dam!

Aaron.

 

Unfortunately for those w/ 2 plugs, resistor must be wired onto the terminals of the old shot 1 inside the fan. The difference is the relay wiring route. I dunno if anyone has extracted that known-to-stick relay inside & relocated outside for easier access & troubleshooting. I'd definitely wanna try to once I'd need this mod.....at same time, testing that C4 looking concoction of a resistor(in the pic above) from a good friend.

 

Correct part ordered from Mouser, great customer service, giving me a refund for the wrong ordered part without requiring the original part back!

Hopefully have this working this weekend/when I get it.

 

Has anyone tried using two .68 ohm resistors in parallel instead of a single .33 ohm resistor in series?

Lower current through each resistor would be less heat. You also get the stock .34 ohms as the final resistance.

At Mouser:
http://ph.mouser.com/ProductDetail/A...JylgtxTg%3d%3d

On eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/150684453740...#ht_760wt_1163

Maybe overkill, but maybe not, considering how hot some of your resistors are getting...

 

That should work just fine. Just a little bit extra effort to mount.

 

Just joined to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. I successfully installed the resistor to the frame as shown in this thread and got my low speed back!

 

Received my updated/correct resistor, hopefully installing this weekend, pics to come!

 

Has anyone with an early model attempted to rewire the fan with a new relay and resister by disconnecting the 2 plugs and building a new relay and resister on top? Anyone have a wiring diagram for the early model relay setup?

 

For the earlier design, this should be it:
http://wds.spaghetticoder.org/en/svg...5989.svg?m=r50

 

Just to beat on this subject a bit more, I found a data sheet for resistors of this type:
http://www.arcolresistors.com/wp-con...S-10-05.45.pdf

Note that the heat dissipation rating is much less if there is no heat sink -- e.g. 100W on heat sink goes to 30W no heat sink. The verbal description of this in the data sheet is:
"the resistor must be mounted on a heat sink of correct thermal resistance for the power being dissipated."

 

just replace mine a couple weeks ago. the part was only $89 and it took about 45 min. to replace.

 

IMHO, the problem is a marginal design by MINI. Simply replacing the resistor with an identical one, will do nothing to prevent it from happening again (and again).

The mouser resistor is better, because it has a good heatsink for better cooling possibilities. BTW, the original design seems to rely on air flow by the fan for cooling. That's almost a suicide pack.

I am surprised that no one has simply tried a better design from scratch. Instead of using a resistor to step down the voltage, use a switching regulator, with an input of 12v and an output of, what, 6v? The ones I use everyday can easily handle 15 amps.

 

Yep. Its for the interior blower. Thanks, gknorr, for the warning/clarification.

 

I implemented the fix this weekend with the correct resistor, right before our weekend run out to Maryhill Loops Rd. Works like a charm. Will post pics later of the mounting location, etc.

 

I have a fan assembly I just replace on my 05 Mini S. Get me your address and I can send it to you, if it helps.

 

That looks like the version for 12/2002 to 03/2003.

Here are the three that I know about:

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...9-post435.html

So far so good...