Good article on the Pelicanparts website http://www.pelicanparts.com/BM…limate-control-repair.htm

Professional repair of E36 climate controls: this company was recommended on s U.S. forum BMW-Repair http://www.bmw-repair.com

Units in used condition are also available here on the forum or from the E*ay auction house for not too many EURO.

Q&A copied from a U.S. forum:

Q:
Don't they need to be programmed to the car by the dealer?

A:
Only codable options are degrees C/F
if it should remember the last setting of the fresh air flaps after ignition shutoff
If it has independent ventilation or not
If it has auto recirculation or not
Increase idle speed when heavy consumers are on / when voltage is low
and some cylinder count/fuel type.

But apart from all that, the unit will operate.