OK here goes:-

This DIY is for pre-LCI cars, the LCI panel is wired slightly different.


Parts needed :-

AC control panel high (IHKA)
Socket housing black, 2 pol 61131378108 x1
Snap in receptacle 61131376204 x2
Universal socket housing uncoded, 26 pol 61136913626 x1
Covering cap blue 61136913644 x1
Solar sensor 64116944017 x1
Bushing contact 61130005199 x4
Universal socket housing, 4 pol 61138380696 x1

Before you start you need determine where the basic panel gets its power.
According to the WDS for cars upto sept/2005 the power is at fuse 26 front fuse box
For cars after sep/2005 the fuse is at fuse 57 rear fuse box, the basic has a 7.5 amp fuse and the high has a 15 amp fuse.
Disconnect the battery before starting.

Dismantle the dashboard :-
Remove the dashboard I-strip, undo the two screws securing the IHKA cover panel, use some slight force to pull panel out of its clips.
Disconnect the two black plugs from the AC panel and put panel to one side.

New pin assignments :-

The basic AC has two plugs :- X01130 12 pins and X18793 18 pins.
The High AC has three plugs :- X01130 12 pins, X13765 2 pins and X1527 26 pins
Carefully prise out the plug from the cover cap of X18793 (18 pins, right hand plug).
Follow this next list to assign the pins to the 26 pin socket contact :-
X18793 X1527
1-----------------1
2 not used
3 ----------------9
4 ----------------8
5 not used
6 ----------------6
7 ----------------7
8 ----------------21
9 not used
10 see explanation for X13765
11 --------------15
12 --------------16
13 --------------18
14 --------------19
15 --------------20
16 --------------14
17 not used
18 See explanation for X13765

For the solar sensor connect :-
Sensor X1527
1--------------- 10
3 ---------------11
4 ---------------12
2 ---------------13

After this is all done, you should have two pins left, these are power and ground (1 red, 1 brown).
Cut off the pins and add around 6 inch of red and brown cable to each, fit the snap in receptacles to the new cables and snap in the red to pin 1 of the 2 pin connector and the brown to pin 2.
Now for the fun part, connect the new connectors to the new high panel and put a 15 amp fuse in to replace the basic 7.5 amp fuse and re-connect the battery.
Switch the car on and the panel should light up, now the car will need coding for SA534 automatic air-conditioning.

Made some changes and added the part no. for the solar sensor plug.

hy and thanks for your post,

i'm working on it in my 530D E60, but i need some help if you can just explain me if i'm correct,

first, my AC basic look's like : http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...am/StdAlci.jpg (Standard Auto Air-Con LCI) and i would like to change it to : http://www.bmwblog.com/wp-content/up...accontrols.jpg ( i have the AC on the top of the picture not the LCI one)

is it possible to change mine and connect the old one non lci model, but my car is a NX71 code production, she is from 02/2007.

can i follow your post ?

thanks for your help in advance

Yes, should be the same.

Thanks for your quick answer...

i'm waiting the ac panel, when i will receive it i will let you know to be sure that i made it correct... :notworthy:

just to be sure that it was understood that i have :

Auto Air-Con LCI facelift :
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...am/StdAlci.jpg

not the standard Auto Air-Con before the LCI facelift :
http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...m/DSCF9126.jpg

it's should be the same ? so your modification should be work also ... correct ?

Hi Blood,

You mention about some different wiring for non LCI and LCI models...

I too have an LCI 09/2007 E61 with the basic spec panel. Can you tell me please if I can retrofit either the pre LCI High panel or will I have to source the LCI High panel for this to work in my car?

I am also in Essex, If I was to get all the parts needed, would you do the necessary please? (I'd pay you of course!)

Cheers,

James.

Get an LCI panel it has better functions and yes I will be glad to. Also get your post count above 10 then PM me about it.

I was wondering if there is no way to replace the panel for the 3series model with display? Functions are exactly the same, button layout comparable but it looks so much better up to date then the ac panel of the e60 5 series! I recently swapped my 318i for a 530i, but this ac panel looks outdated to me, if I'm honest... :-)

Thanks for the quick reply!

Am I right in thinking that the LCI panel has "Auto" written on the centre knob, where as the non LCI has "off"?

Cheers.