ROOKiE Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 RELOCATION UNIT PART NUMBERS - Right, I had a nightmare trying to get a relocation unit from BMW. It took three orders to get this right, so I will try and clarify this for anybody that might want to get one. There are two types, the 18mm (with individual switches) and the 16mm (with the long switch box). The part number for those with individual switches (18mm) is The part number for those with the long switch box (16mm) is These part numbers are for the relocation units with the smokers package (ashtray and cigarette lighter in cubby hole). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
///Marty Posted April 13, 2010 Report Share Posted April 13, 2010 Nice one dude Hopefully people can now find this info easily. Top work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted May 16, 2010 Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 realy helpful mate cheers. how do i know witch one i need tho ? i only have the one button there so im guessing 16mm ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted May 16, 2010 Report Share Posted May 16, 2010 is this the right one ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROOKiE Posted May 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 is this the right one ? The easiest way to tell which one you have is to measure the height of the section where the button sits, or to be really sure pop the unit out (it only takes a couple of minutes) and check if you have the bars (as seen in the first picture above) ot a clear section (as shown in picture 2). If you have the bars it the 18mm one, if there are no bars you need the 16mm one. The one in your picture looks like the 18mm version... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted May 17, 2010 Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 Cheers will wip it out after work. Is this the right unit to hold the climate controle unit though ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ROOKiE Posted May 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 Cheers will wip it out after work. Is this the right unit to hold the climate controle unit though ? Can't be 100% from that picture mate. However if it is the 18mm one you need they are only £30ish brand new from the dealer. I would get it from there personally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted May 17, 2010 Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 I think it's 16mm and am not paying £70 for a pice of plastic lol I'm just not sure what the diference is between the onenthat holds the air-con amd the sunglasses one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moj Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 I agree i,m having the same trouble with my 1999 e46 328ci coupe , bmw parts department say the part number that i need is the 51168268894 but after reading this i think they have got it completely wrong cause i have the 16mm one piece switch and i,m trying to install my 8 inch carputer screen into my dash so i need to move my climate control panel lower where the sunglasses section used to be ! when you ring up they also say that it is a special order part so you will only get a credit note if it is the wrong part that is ordered which is really wrong when theres so many different part numbers i think ! its looking like i will be needing that 51167001411 thats stated on here , god i hope its right after all this messing about with the dealers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Turko Posted March 26, 2011 Report Share Posted March 26, 2011 U can still relocate without this if money is tight. It won't be 100% flush, but looks ok. It's just the curved bit at the top that's different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted November 23, 2011 Report Share Posted November 23, 2011 If you have the later type buttons ( 16mm) the panel is £60 ! I bought the earlier type to start with, ( £28 ) obviously it was no good to me so had to change it and the later type was another £30 ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Weird Daz, mine was the same price (£30ish) either way (they ordered the wrong one but I could tell when I picked it up so got them to order the right one at no cost)... Got it from Stephen James Blackheath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Oh weird indeed, I've got the 2nd invoice with refund info on also, I'll load a pic of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Got mine 4 years ago mind, might just be that they are running low on stock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 (edited) Edited March 12, 2013 by Daz 330 Cs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mit Posted November 24, 2011 Report Share Posted November 24, 2011 Ouch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purvesh Posted February 6, 2012 Report Share Posted February 6, 2012 Hi guys, I've got the same unit as in Post number 4. What's the best way of removing this as mentioned in post number 5 so that I can check which one I need? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted May 13, 2012 Report Share Posted May 13, 2012 See above for prices too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mediaman Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 RELOCATION UNIT PART NUMBERS - Right, I had a nightmare trying to get a relocation unit from BMW. It took three orders to get this right, so I will try and clarify this for anybody that might want to get one. There are two types, the 18mm (with individual switches) and the 16mm (with the long switch box). The part number for those with individual switches (18mm) is The part number for those with the long switch box (16mm) is These part numbers are for the relocation units with the smokers package (ashtray and cigarette lighter in cubby hole). Hi All, Just going through this process myself - I have a Pioneer AVIC F700BT which I intend to fit in my newly aquired 330ci. All my research points at the Hvac part number I need being 51 16 3 230 903 as pictured so helpfully by Rookie above. I have a printout from a BMW parts dept with the same number on it. My only worry is that both Rookie's picture and the BMW printout shows a LHD version and I will need the RHD one. Am I worrying unneccessarily? Thanks, John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mediaman Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I was worrying unneccessarily. It's fine. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k21xfr Posted November 3, 2012 Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 is one of these the unit to buy if i have moved the heater unit in order to put nav in? i have just put a nav in and relocated the heater below but would like it to be flush thanks Adam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimp Choker Posted November 3, 2012 Report Share Posted November 3, 2012 Yes mate. You will need 1 of these for a perfect fit Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shafz Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 sorry to bump an old thread.. is the panel from a E46 that was fitted with a nav unit from factory the same as a "relocation panel" or are they different? its just i can get my hands on a used one for much cheaper its the same! its the 16mm version iv seen and thats what i need cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 Yes it's the same, if your car was fitted with a business cd/tape player, the panel you need is the one that comes in a car fitted with Nav. shafz 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shafz Posted December 8, 2012 Report Share Posted December 8, 2012 bonus! thanks, saved myself £30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...