Since I have a US left hand drive version... I think I will need to take off the facia beneath the steering wheel to access the screw underneath the air duct. I can't seem to get to it from behind because that air duct is in the way. It looks like I can get to it from the front if I remove the facia. Let's see...

Right in the middle of this job just now using Gary's excellent guide. Started yesterday and have got to the point of removing the heater flap panel, the bolts are out (that second one is fun isn't it?). I'll be back out there a bit later. Target is to have the job completed by tomorrow, we'll see!! Drives:
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue - Stornoway Grey
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue SE - Zermatt Silver
1998 BMW E36 M3 GTII

How did it go? I have stalled on my hub and hope to pick it back up this weekend. I am taking apart the driver side panels so that I can get to the flap panel screw that is under the air duct from the front. I need to take out the airbag above the knees… but other parts have to come off first, of course. I hope I can get all this back together afterward!

All done and working. You can access that flap panel screw from the top, it's not easy and it goes back in much easier, but it can be done (I used one size smaller torx due to the angle). The main issue for me was disconnecting the lighting wiring from the two dash end vent units, real pain and LR don't give you much length in cables to get at anything properly. I also had a scare because I removed the instrument binnacle to see if there was more access (there isn't, don't bother!), I put it back together but when I tested the fan a bit later, the car wouldn't turn on. It turned out to be a dodgy connection on the instrument binnacle connector only found when I removed it again and sprayed it with some switch cleaner and all was ok again, only found be luck. The other thing to be aware of is that the centre screen won't work unless the CD player is plugged in, no doubt loads of people already know this, but I didn't (I do now!).

Apart from being brave when bending bits out of the way (nothing broke) it was all pretty straightforward, fiddly and very time consuming (it took me about 12hrs total). Saved a pretty penny though on getting the garage to do it and with winter approaching, demist is going to be a must.

I did find a cable behind the lower glovebox that doesn't connect to anything, does anyone know what it does? Drives:
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue - Stornoway Grey
2010 FFRR TdV8 Vogue SE - Zermatt Silver
1998 BMW E36 M3 GTII