alanliddington Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 New to all this so forgive any ignorance that may follow!!..... I've got a 54 plate (Jan 2005) 318 coupe. I have air con, but the control panel is a manual one (i.e. knob controlled - and I don't mean the owner!! haha!). See this pic for an example of a panel that looks identical to mine..... I have read conflicting stories, but some say that it is possible to buy a digital panel and simply swap it for the manual one, as the manual one (on facelift models) has the same wiring loom on the back. I am not expecting to end up with actual climate control (I would imagine this is a whole different kettle of fish), but just the option to select air flow direction and adjust the air con/heater fan speeds with digital button control instead of knobs. Does anyone have any experience with this or advice they could offer? Regards Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Don't know where you've read that Alan but there are leavers & pulleys behind the manual climate controls which are replaced by electronic actuators on the CC unit equipped cars so its a no-go i'm afraid ulness you want to totally strip down & replace the whole gubbins behind it Regards. Jay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Jay I dont believe your right, on the later cars they changed the levers etc for electrical gubbins and as the OP's is 05 I'm willing to bet its got no levers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 My apoligoeies so they did , there is a retrokit available from BMW Alan! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanliddington Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Sweet! Any ideas on a part number from BMW? I have seen panels on eBay, or am I gonna be taking a gamble getting one from there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 realoem.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanliddington Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Brilliant, thanks for your help everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 No worries dude hope it is an easy swap for you as them manual dials don't look like they belong on a bmw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanliddington Posted February 15, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Couldn't agree more! They look bad! I was gonna go for a higher spec, but I saw this one and it already had M-sport wheels/Steering wheel/gear knob, integrated BMW bluetooth already and was in ace condition, so couldn't turn it down! I'll post some pics if it works out ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Yes i'd go for the ES over the SE as it has the bits you have plus black rooflining & m sport suspension & the only benefit of the SE is the trip computer & C/C which can be retro-fitted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Must admit this is the first ever manual one ive seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveGT Posted February 15, 2012 Report Share Posted February 15, 2012 Must admit this is the first ever manual one ive seen! +1 didn't even know there was one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanliddington Posted February 16, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Update.... All changed now. £30 digital panel off eBay, 5 mins to change it, straight swap. Looks sooooooo much better! Adamsdad 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveGT Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Update.... All changed now. £30 digital panel off eBay, 5 mins to change it, straight swap. Looks sooooooo much better! result! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Wow great result there mate! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted February 16, 2012 Report Share Posted February 16, 2012 Result Buddy Ps. I've edited your sig to include a piccy instead of the thumbnail Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanliddington Posted February 21, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2012 Cool! Thanks Daz! Didn't have a clue what I was doing with my sig! haha! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reissc Posted March 7, 2012 Report Share Posted March 7, 2012 i shall b doing this!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bebon Posted November 7, 2012 Report Share Posted November 7, 2012 yeah have the same problem :S ............. you just swab no coding or something like that !!!! .............. and the new 1 ... is it working good or some buttons don't !!!!!! thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 You should be able to just swap on any post-2000 car RickyZ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimp Choker Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 i may swap mine to a manual setup Mengwalton 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Why ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lefton Posted December 9, 2012 Report Share Posted December 9, 2012 sorry do you have a link to the part you bought? id it just an electronic unit from any 2000+ car thats being broken you can fit straight in? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben- Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have the same manual panel. Was the change to digital plug and play? I have a 53 plate 320D ES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have the same manual panel. Was the change to digital plug and play? I have a 53 plate 320D ES. Yeah it's plug and play, just buy one on ebay for £40 or so and it'll connect right up and work right away Hard to believe (or possibly easy to believe) that BMW charged about £1k for this simple change to the car! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
