I was trying to find a DIY on this for another member here and just couldn't find one. I thought there was a good one somewhere on here but maybe I'm wrong.
In any case I have access to all of BMWs technical service bulletins and since I already did the work of copying and pasting it and rehosting the images in another thread I might as well post it here too so it can be found easier. Sorry the pics aren't the greatest but it's all I have to work with.
A/C - Unable to Set Temperature at Control Panel
GROUP 64
Heating and Air Conditioning
Bulletin Number
64 02 97
Woodcliff Lake, NJ
May 1997
Product Engineering
SUBJECT:
Temperature Control Bowden Cable Detached from Heater Box
MODEL:
318ti
Situation:
On some 318ti vehicles, the yellow retaining clip of the temperature control cable can be detached from its mounting position on the side of the heater box. This results in the inability to set temperature at the control panel.
Correction:
The cable clip should be reinstalled at the heater box and secured in its location by a 2.9 x 9.5 mm self-tapping screw. A modification of the clip mounting bracket will soon be introduced in series production.
Procedure:
The temperature control cable is located on the passenger side of the heater box Remove glove box, lower trim panel, lower air duct and knee bolster.
Remove caps (1) and 9 screws. Pull out glove box with knee bolster protective panel; disconnect glove box light and light switch connectors.
Remove three 10 mm bolts (1), and remove knee bolster.
Remove lower panel by carefully pulling it out and down. Disconnect light connector.
Remove lower air duct by pushing it down and then pulling to the side.
Reinstall loose cable clip into its mounting position on the heater box (1). Using a 2 mm diameter drill bit, drill a hole through the clip and the wall of the heater box. Hint: Before drilling insert a piece of vacuum hose over the 2 mm drill bit, leaving approximately 10 mm uncovered (2). This way the heater core is protected from being punctured by the drill bit.
Insert a 2.9 x 9.5 mm Phillips head screw (PN 07 77 9 907 707) and secure the clip (1).
Cross section drawing of cable clip installation.
Reinstall all removed parts in reverse order.