BMW Repair: Final stage resistor maybe??, series e46, foam seal

Question
Hi Tino
The blower fan on my 2001 3 series E46 has been playing up. It runs for a while then stops for maybe a minute or two then starts up again. It has been doing it for about  6 months. Anyway after reading other posts I thought it's got to be the final stage resistor. But when I removed it, it is already the newer aluminium type one. So do these fail as well.  

Answer
Hello Tony,
Newer type or not, a final stage is just a gang of switches that can fail. Both old and new have aluminum prongs. But the newer ones have thinner prongs/protrusions and have a foam seal at its base.
In order of possible failures in cases like yours, the final stage comes first, then a far second would be the IHKR/IHKA control module itself (AC/Heater switch module) .
Have a nice day.
Tino