 » Site Navigation | | | | » Recent Threads | | | |  |  |  | |  08-09-2009, 09:35 PM | #1 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 178 |  Loose Center Dash Vent
The "volume" dial on the center vent is loose and when you turn up the fan, it shuts down the vent. Other than wedging a piece of paper between the adjusting wheel and the body of the vent, is there any way to tighten it? |  |  | | 08-09-2009, 09:43 PM | #2 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SOUTH Jersey Posts: 1,085 |
that is how I "adjusted" it I never turn them off anyway | | | | | 08-09-2009, 09:44 PM | #3 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 |
take it apart and see how it works??  mine had the same problem __________________ -Jeff
 | | | | | 08-09-2009, 10:36 PM | #4 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 |
They all have the same problem.
I have been using a black guitar pick for 8 years!
Can't even tell it's there. __________________ ...steven
BMW CCA #146825
1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i
www.bmwcca.org
| | | | | 08-09-2009, 10:41 PM | #5 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 178 |
I'm game to figure out how the darn thing works. Has anyone tried to take one apart? Anyone know how to take it out of the dash?
Last edited by DGWGuitars; 08-10-2009 at 12:36 AM. | | | | | 08-10-2009, 04:56 AM | #6 | | Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: asdfasdf Posts: 10,002 |
I used to have electrical tape holding it up, I didn't know it was such a common problem though, I know that if I only turn the fan up to 3 it usually won't close up on me | | | | | 08-10-2009, 05:38 AM | #7 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte / Thomasville NC Posts: 240 |
I've had the same problem with my vents and dial. What you need to do is take them apart and use the little tiny sticky felt pads from a hobby/craft store.
They add just enough friction to make them stay in place but still move easily.
People use this method with great success on the lazy eyeball vents in Miata's.
I can vouch that this works well in the Ti as well. If I can find the pictures I took when doing this, I'll post them up. | | | | | 08-10-2009, 09:49 AM | #8 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 178 |
Quote: Originally Posted by mgbman69  I've had the same problem with my vents and dial. What you need to do is take them apart and use the little tiny sticky felt pads from a hobby/craft store.
They add just enough friction to make them stay in place but still move easily.
People use this method with great success on the lazy eyeball vents in Miata's.
I can vouch that this works well in the Ti as well. If I can find the pictures I took when doing this, I'll post them up. | Thanks for the tip. I hope that you can find the pics, since I hate to start blindly taking it apart. | | | | | 08-10-2009, 01:02 PM | #9 | | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Raleigh/Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,233 |
Quote: Originally Posted by DGWGuitars I hope that you can find the pics, since I hate to start blindly taking it apart. | Thats half the fun  __________________ -Jeff
| | | | | 08-10-2009, 01:03 PM | #10 | | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 678 |
Jam a dime or a penny in there. Works great! __________________
BostonGreen 97' w/ DASC & Technique Stage 1 software
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Angel Eyes Headlights, doubled brake lights
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Panasonic 70Wx4 CD/MP3 player + 4x Alpine 6x9's rear | | | | | 08-10-2009, 07:49 PM | #11 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Rocky Hill, CT Posts: 1,065 |
Never knew this was a common problem, I've got it too
I wonder if it happens to all of us, and BMW actually meant it to do that? __________________
1995 318TI base. 95 2.5L from 325IS. S50 cams+pistons, e36 M3 front brakes. H&R race springs F+R. Turner Motorsport front sway bars, M3 control arms. M Roadster rear sway bar. Racing Dynamics strut brace. e36 325i 5spd. 3.25lsd from e28 535is. M Roadster short shifter. Conforti chip. | | | | | 08-10-2009, 08:09 PM | #12 | | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Milford, NH Posts: 150 |
Its good to know this is a common issue! I have the most problem with the drivers side vent. I always seem to barely brush it when I change channels on my Sirius receiver, which is mounted on the windsheild right above the vent. I'm looking forward to the pics of the fix. | | | | | 08-10-2009, 09:23 PM | #13 | | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Charlotte / Thomasville NC Posts: 240 |
No luck on pics yet. They have to be on a memory card somewhere (I have like 4 or 5).
Before my fix I would only have the problem when the ac was on full blast. When the plastic was warm via heater or ambient air they would be fine.
Who knows, this was bmw's econo box anyhow ;-) | | | | | 08-10-2009, 10:44 PM | #14 | | Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 234 |
i just pushed it up at a weird pressure to fix it. too hard or too soft and it would go back down and now i just never touch it | | | | | 08-26-2009, 06:36 AM | #15 | | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 1,587 |
My car had a dime wedged in there since the day I got it. Works fine and I don't notice it at all. | | | | | |
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