What heater blower unit do I have/need?

[John in VA]

Got tired of the noisy wobble in the blower motor so came up to Blue Shadow's to R&R it with one I got from Mike in Seattle.

The current unit has no names (Bosch , Behr, or Sofica) stamped on the motor (just remnants of an illegible paper sticker), white fan cages, and is 10.5" long overall. The red and green wires attach to it on the driver's side (right as you're looking at the firewall) of the motor.

The unit from Mike has a smaller diameter motor, pink cages, and is 11" overall. The electrical connectors are a male and female spade (vs. 2 male spades on mine) and has to be turned 180° left to right to blow instead of suck, placing the connectors on the passenger's side (left as you're looking at the firewall.

Sorry I didn't take pictures, but can do that tomorrow if it will help clear this up. Obviously I want to get the proper working replacement, new or used. Realoem shows both the Sofica (64111386369) and Behr (64111354618) when entering my VIN or 04/85 date of manufacture for this 535i.

Thanks in advance!

[a]

Sounds like your original is a Sofica and if the replacement has a smaller diameter case it is a Behr which has a Bosch motor. You have to do a little adapting but the Behr will work. Use male /female pig tails to adapt the wiring, and to get the fan spinning in the right direction. Use a piece of wire wrapped around the Sofica case as a gauge to build out the Behr case with card board and electrical tape, Oil the bushings and felts in a light oil.

[John in VA]

Thanks, Andy.
The smaller diameter motor does have "Bosch" on it. I had it in place (shimmed, turned around and adapted wiring), but the extra 0.5" length made it impossible (for me, at least!) to fit the circular end pieces & covers and have it turn freely.
Are the cage/motor cavities the same dimension for all E28s, whether Sofica- or Bosch-equipped?

[no2tracks]

Can you move the squirrel cages farther onto the motor shaft to make it fit?

[a]

Can you move the squirrel cages farther onto the motor shaft to make it fit?

yup, the normal spread is a 11 1/16" for a Behr . Uhhhm you may have an AC blower, Same motor , different squirl cages.

[Blue Shadow]

Pink cages. wouldn't want that in the car doing a/c duty as it would clash with my interior.

wolloped the cages in a bit and shimmed it into the car. Not right but maybe it will get him home. Sure would be nice to have the right part.

John took pics, maybe he'll post so others can avoid this particular PITA if they search for it first.

[no2tracks]

Can you move the squirrel cages farther onto the motor shaft to make it fit?

yup, the normal spread is a 11 1/16" for a Behr . Uhhhm you may have an AC blower, Same motor , different squirl cages.

Come to think of it, I pulled both blowers out of a junkyard and the a/c is a smaller motor and cages.

[Kovic]

Hello fellow e28 enthusiasts!

I found this old topic when searching for the part number of the Sofica blower unit.
My blower has the black squirrel cages. So I am assuming that this is a Sofica unit.

Seems a bit harder to find than the BEHR units... I know that for the BEHR units, you can order a cheap Bosch blower motor (Bosch 0 130 063 013) and just swap out the white squirrel cages....

Does anyone know if there is such a motor I can order to swap out the Sofica blower motor??

[Shawn D.]

Does anyone know if there is such a motor I can order to swap out the Sofica blower motor??

This whole thread is about that. So, yes, you can use a Behr/Bosch blower motor in place of the Sofica motor.

[Kovic]

Does anyone know if there is such a motor I can order to swap out the Sofica blower motor??

This whole thread is about that. So, yes, you can use a Behr/Bosch blower motor in place of the Sofica motor.

Yes I have read the thread. But that is with modifications and cardboard and tape etc. I prefer to replace the blower motor without such adaptations.

[Shawn D.]

I prefer to replace the blower motor without such adaptations.

Do they have the equivalent phrase to "beggars can't be choosers" in the Netherlands?

[Kovic]

I prefer to replace the blower motor without such adaptations.

Do they have the equivalent phrase to "beggars can't be choosers" in the Netherlands?

They sure do.

[Shawn D.]

Do they have the equivalent phrase to "beggars can't be choosers" in the Netherlands?

They sure do.

Well, there's your answer to "I prefer to replace the blower motor without such adaptations."

[Kovic]

They sure do.

Well, there's your answer to "I prefer to replace the blower motor without such adaptations."

thanks for your help.