BMW E46 Heater Resistor “Hedgehog” Replacement / How to Find a Parasitic Battery Drain

How to easily find a parasitic battery drain on pretty much any car
BMW E46 blower motor final stage resistor replacement. BMW hedgehog replacement DIY/tutorial

[@ForidKhan123]

Mate, you are a legend! There’s not many people who made a video on RHD but by far are the best! It was a real 🐩 of a job but your video helped big time. This is something I do not wish to do ever again all because of that top screw. Thanks a lot buddy!

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Yea it’s a bit fiddly. Imagine how much more fiddly it is with a camera in the way 😂 Glad it helped mate

[@ForidKhan123]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos Trust me, I know. I had to use my phone to see but it was obstructing my tool. It was like a double edged sword.

[@thhc1744]

Saturday evening, just finished work and about to tuck in to my tea... time to watch my favourite KZbinrs. But before that, I'll watch your video. YES!😁

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

YES. One day I’ll be a proper KZbinr,.. nah will I fuck 😂

[@marcosavio1020]

Your video is tops! If I had found this first it would have saved me bloody hours, not to mention much cursing. I struggled to get the resistor out of its receptacle (after removing all the relevant screws) because of that plastic clip holding it in place. Dis not see it because of the tight space and an extra hand to hold the flashlight, plus contorting myself to see clearly. Almost gave up. Got it out eventually but watching your video would have been so much easier!

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Thanks mate, that’s good to hear

[@timhudson577]

Brilliant. I did this 2 days ago on a left hand drive which was a little simpler but still a PITA. The blower had stopped but the battery had been draining for years and I didn't realise the 2 were connected. Thanks for your video. 🙏🫶

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@timhudson577 glad the vid helped mate!

[@sierrraleone]

Legend. Worth mentioning if you have trouble getting the FSR out while pressing the clip out the way, you can leave the plug in the unit and use that to help pull a bit

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@sierrraleone thanks mate, and cheers for the tip

[@Bartletters]

Awesome video - so helpful. Sorted. Right hand drive video was very useful. Helpful hints: 1 - In order to avoid permanent damage to my neck, I constructed a platform outside the car at the level of the cill, and boy did that help. Just laid on my back with my head in the footwell. 2 - Three of the four prongs on the white "door lock" clip that the metal rod fits into, broke upon extraction on mine. BMW Part number is 171837199 and it is indeed used on various brands vehicle door locks. Many thanks again

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@Bartletters happy to hear the video helped. It’s definitely an uncomfortable job to perform, especially if you’re a fat get like me!

[@Gourmondise]

I feel for you bruw. Wiring electronics in trucks daily. The amount of plastic trims and stuff I have to remove just to get to a single wire is tiring.😂

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Oh yea, bikes are the same tbh. Auto electrics on just about any type of vehicle can be a pain in the dick lol

[@lankyboy90]

Just been trying to do this job. First mistake, watching American videos thinking that it would be the same, but in reverse. i:e, it would still be on the passenger side. So after disassembling the glovebox and not seeing what I wanted to see, I found this video and swore a few times before reassembling the glovebox area and moving around to the driver's side. The top screw on the FSR is a right PITA. I'm a big lad, I can't get my body/head in a position where i can actually see what I'm doing. so re-fitting it was doubly challenging. Such a ball-ache of a job.

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

It is a bit of a ball ache definitely. I’m over 6ft and fat, so I understand the struggle 😂

[@lankyboy90]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos the struggle is definitely real! Got there in the end though thanks to your vid

[@messageobliquespe100]

Cheers me ole mucker 👍 I’m resurrecting a 20 yr old e46 which has been sitting for s few years & noted the heater/motor not working whereas before it was slow to start / engage. Also, the battery would drain so that’s prob another good sign this needs doing. If it gets through an mot - then I’ll tackle this pig of a job 😞 Ok your testing of the fuse measuring the millivolts through it. Nice / quick way to check - I’d recommend this video / chap re parasitic drain - he’s covered all the bases imho having watched a few vids & being a bit of a electronic nerd sometimes. Title to put into KZbin Which parasitic draw test method is best Creator is:- FordTechMakuluko I’ll post link after this msg just in case it’d get deleted in this message 👍

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

I’ll try to remember to check them out

[@paulog9109]

That is not an easy job - we'll done buddy. After watching even an expert like yourself struggle I'll be taking mine to the garage.

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@paulog9109 can’t blame you 😂

[@cptspaulding64]

Did my daughter's Renault Megane FSR multiple times. Became routine. Mrs' E46 needs this. Looks 20 times more awkward than the Megane.

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

It’s much more awkward than it needs to be!

[@arnietwo11]

Bien hecho ! Yes u know its been a pain in the arse job when u manage to draw blood ! Bmw technicians must have small hands !!

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

This car’s often a proper dick to work on tbh 🙄

[@arnietwo11]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos ive owned an X5 and a 530 saloon but thankfully not had too many issues to deal with other than services !

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@arnietwo11 never had an X5 but used to have a 540. E39, I wish I’d never have sold it tbh. It was definitely a better built car than the 46

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@arnietwo11 this was the 540 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZWxfaainM-Hlck

[@SteezyG]

Mate, im, having right laugh at this, I left mine for 2 weeks, alarm started going off, fob not working etc.... my heater isnt working either so im going to give it a go. Also Im in Oldham too.... small world!

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Haha nice. Where abouts in the sunshine state are you?

[@SteezyG]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos just on the other side of Shaw in Delph! You've made me get my arse into gear and sort it out today as I've got a few suspension bits to correct. The joys of these cars!

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@SteezyG oh you posh then 😂 Yea the suspension isn’t the most robust on these. I find myself nursing it over and bumps where as the c1 I just hit them full bore 😂

[@Jry088]

I switched in a new resistor just last week on my E46 and it fixed the problem. But just yesterday my blower motor wouldn't turn off even when the engine is off. It was draining the battery so I had to unplug the battery. Could this be because of a faulty motor heater resistor that I purchased ?

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Yes. That sounds like it’s definitely a faulty resistor.

[@Jry088]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos ah, thank you.

[@seanyd5698]

I really hope you drive around in the c2 shitter with sonic hedgehog blaring out the speakers 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

It’s probably not strangest thing I listen too

[@Pure-Luck447]

I had an e46 320d es (extra shit) good cars reliable engines and drive great, rusty brakes lines crap on fuel so sold it.

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Mine is a 330d, it’s decent on fuel if you’re in a run but round town it’s pretty shite. It’s about 300bhp so it goes ok though

[@Pure-Luck447]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos 330 is the magic figure ✨️ 👌

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@Pure-Luck447 I’d like a 335d, but I’m too much of a pauper to afford one 😞

[@tomthompson7400]

why did the hedgehog cross the road ... , , , , To see his flat mate ,,, lol Those hedgehogs give a lot of trouble on RangeRovers too , pulling about 22 amps and not dropping back to six amps in four mins then milliamps after ,, so its not just dubs...

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

😂. Yea FSR are possibly the most abundant parasitic drain causers in the world tbh 🙄

[@stevetkocz]

Did it sort the flat battery issue then?? Funny video mate 😂 You’ll never know how long it me to get the clip to pause in the right place to see your subliminal message 😅 That’s some funny shit 👍🤣

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Welllllll, I thought it did but today the fucker was flat again,.. but it has been left a few weeks. Before I changed this it was going flat within a week 🤔

[@ussamatayub5794]

Man I've got a battery drain issue with my e39 530d but I don't fancy giving it crack my self and finding somebody to do it is proving difficult.

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

I used to have a e39 540 before this, was a way better made car tbh. I’m not sure where the resistor is located on those, probably in some equally awkward place though 🤔

[@ussamatayub5794]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos i have a aftermarket speaker fotted so been advosed to disconnect that first. if thats the source of the problem and i disconnect it and charge the battery would that solve my issue in theory?

[@sandyalysonamos9396]

THis is a way easier job on an E39, takes no more than 5 minutes

[@sandyalysonamos9396]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos E39 same place but far easier than E46

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@sandyalysonamos9396 superior car…

[@k5nda]

Great video I’m doing mine now and it’s a pain, dumb design

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Thanks mate, and yea it’s a shit struggle job… good luck.

[@k5nda]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos getting to that one screw in the channel, my socket torx feels too fat, then the length of the extension has to be precise or it hits the steering shaft, so fiddly… the rest will be easy

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

@@k5nda yeah, I reckon bmw must make a special tool the perfect length to fit the shitter

[@waynelittle5583]

Hey mate have you got any stickers in yet 👍

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

No not yet mate

[@edytakaliciak1953]

Hi bloke i saw ur car today lol

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

Haha sick. I drove into a bin in manchester today.

[@VYM]

I double dare y'all try to do it yourself without proper tools and skill. You will die under your steering wheel, trust me.

[@StupidBlokeStupidVideos]

😂 😂 😂

[@VYM]

@@StupidBlokeStupidVideos coz we almost died together with my friend today 😂