E30 Blower motor differences

[zig553]

So I went to the junkyard and grabbed a blower motor out of an 85 318i that looks like this.




assuming it would work in my 87 325is but low and behold I see this



It appears to be bigger then the one that is in my e30. Is there anyway I can make this work? Or do I need to find one that looks like the second picture. I was under the assumption that all e30s used the same blower motor but I guess not?

[Das Delfin]

^ oh yeah btw they're different. Grab one from a 325. I'm pretty sure only the early 318s had the style like the one you picked up. My early model 325i and the early 325e I got my new motor from were both the style your car has, so I'm -pretty- sure just the early 318s are different.

I really haven't read up on this in a while but from what I remember form searching about this a year ago is that the two motors are the same except the early motor's shafts extend further out than the later, so you'd have to cut them or something to make it work. But I've also heard taking the fins off the shafts throws them out of balance. Seems easiest to return the motor and grab one form another car.

[estoguy]

I have an '86 325, and I have the upper fan in mine. I think AC could be a determining factor on the fans - mine never had it. And my resistor pack is mounted to the wall, not the blower itself.

[Ceeker]

check the diameter of the 2 motor bodies to see if the are the same. if they are...you can pull the baskets off with some effort but be careful not to break them otherwise it renders them useless. go from there.

[alpineE30]

Does anyone know if a E36 blower motor would work in the e30 and not the z3 since its the same as the e30? I just wanted to know the dimensions of the e36 unit to see if its same or slightly the same thanks?

[modernist]

If you find a JY with all 3 you can find out and tell the rest of us ;)

[jeffnhiscars]

Keep in mind the early blowers were 3 speeds which means the resistor would have fewer terminal than the later 4 sped units. I suspect even if you could make the blower itself physically fit, you would have to address the wiring somehow

[alpineE30]

If you find a JY with all 3 you can find out and tell the rest of us ;)

Yeah didnt get there yet, but they look very similiar in appearence from pictures off the web. Maybe this week I may check it out, funny how everyone swaps some parts from the e36 except this unless they dont/or do fit but no one ever said anything about it.

[alpineE30]

Keep in mind the early blowers were 3 speeds which means the resistor would have fewer terminal than the later 4 sped units. I suspect even if you could make the blower itself physically fit, you would have to address the wiring somehow

Are you talking about strictly early/late model e30s or e30 and e36s?

[TobyB]

I think AC could be a determining factor on the fans

Yes, no AC had a very different design for the heater box, and a fan that carried through
into the Z3...

And the E36 fan/motor is somewhat different than the E30. At least when the E36 has A/C.

t

[jeffnhiscars]

Are you talking about strictly early/late model e30s or e30 and e36s?

My 84 e30 had a 3 spd and my 87s and later each have/had a 4 spd. I lent know an e36 of it ran me over ;)

[alpineE30]

My 84 e30 had a 3 spd and my 87s and later each have/had a 4 spd. I lent know an e36 of it ran me over ;)

Yeah I looked at the control panels on ebay and noticed the 3 speed but it shouldnt be to bad to wire up cause the resistor determines the speed and not the actual windings in the motor but those long blower motors aren't common, the short ones are, but im still on quest of the e36 blower motor fitting and noticed the e46 looks similiar but no one has the measurements, not sure what you wrote as in (quote) " I lent know an e36 of it ran me over" ?

[jeffnhiscars]

The resistor connects to terminals that are hard wired to then motor. I do not think they are interchangeable so way easier to just get the correct motor for your car

[ScentOfGasoline]

Does anyone know if a E36 blower motor would work in the e30 and not the z3 since its the same as the e30? I just wanted to know the dimensions of the e36 unit to see if its same or slightly the same thanks?

the motors appear to be the same but the wanes are different.. e36 on left/bottom resp.
.

[alpineE30]

the motors appear to be the same but the wanes are different.. e36 on left/bottom resp.
.

Thanks for the comparison. Now i wondering if the center body of the motors are the same diameter.