How to remove the AC / Heater controls panel ?

[X5-D-Sport]

How to remove the AC / Heater controls panel ?

The little controls panel that has the snow-flake button & temp displays....
How is this removed ?

Is it gently eased out with some blunt-ish levers to ease it out from sat normally in the seat, or is it retained from behind the dash panel & needs lots of groping  ?

Any suggestions - except scrapping my car  :blink: >:D :-[

[jason1872]

Blunt object in the sides and lever out,it should pop out no problem

[chrisn7]

The way to remove this and similar panels is to use BMWs own method. You need old credit cards or any similar card (you can always use that one that's maxed out buying BMW bits!). The card needs to be reasonably stiff, those thin types won't work.

Slide the card in between the panel and its surround at the top and slide along until you hit a retaining barb. The idea is to try to try to rotate the card in behind the barb and move it towards you-you should feel it release. Leave this card in place, then repeat at the other top corner, and again at the two bottom corners.

If this is too much of a struggle, try the technique on the switch panel instead, which only has a clip at each end, then reach up and push the climate panel out.

Whatever you do, don't pull off the climate control buttons-they have very tiny plastic lugs to keep them in place, which break off oh so easily...

[X5-D-Sport]

Excellent - may thanks - job for tomorrow - thankyou.