NHTSA Complaint #10234104 — 2001 BMW 325CI

I PURCHASED A USED BMW 325CI 18 MONTHS AGO. IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF DRIVING THE CAR THE AC/HEATER WORKED FINE. HOWEVER, OVER TIME THE BLOWER HAS BECOME INTERMITTENT AND NOW CEASES TO WORK COMPLETELY ON HOT DAYS. SEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS COMMON TO MANY BMW DRIVERS OF SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. MECHANICS POSTING ONLINE HAVE ATTRIBUTED IT TO A FAULTY FINAL STAGE RESISTOR FOR THE BLOWER MODULE. THEY STATE THAT THE METAL WAS MADE OF INFERIOR QUALITY. I INTEND TO ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THIS MYSELF OR TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC BUT THE ESTIMATES I HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR ARE ABOUT $300 FOR TOTAL REPAIRS. LAST WINTER MY CAR BROKE DOWN WHEN IT WAS VERY COLD OUTSIDE AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF FOR A TOW TRUCK TO ARRIVE, DURING THIS TIME I TRIED TO TURN ON MY HEATER ONLY TO HAVE IT CEASE TO WORK AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES. FORTUNATELY I HAD EMERGENCY CLOTHING IN THE CAR, BUT EVEN WITH THAT MY FINGERS WERE NUMB BY THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. I THINK BMW SHOULD OFFER TO REPLACE THIS PART FOR FREE. *TR