AC is GONE!! :(

[CACTUS1549]

So yesterday I'm taking a long commute to work on the highway in regular traffic, no stop and go's, just driving. And I have the AC on MAX, (it was hot outside!); and I notice about 15-20 minutes after running it that I start to smell freon/coolant/burnt smell. I have the P3 cars gauge, so I flip through my numbers and it all looks good and no instant codes, and I leave it displaying coolant temp. I start to notice my coolant temp is fluctuating unusually, it's usually 180-195 just cruising down the highway, and now it is fluxing between 185 and 215/220 and then back down. And it is increasing/decreasing at a rather moderate speed. It never got to any temp that caused concern, and I don't believe the cooling fan ever kicked on. Then the worst happened, I smell burning (plastic-ish smell), and then the HVAC fan speed drops, picks back up, and then dies within 10 seconds. When it died, SMOKE poured from my vents and I cut the AC switch off, and the fan speed completely off. I remembered the blower motor is close to behind the glove box, so after I roll the windows down I dropped the glove box and smoke poured out from there as well. I pulled over at the next exit and checked the firewall and compressor and no more smoke or fire, but now the regular blower fan will not turn, even with the setting on high. I have NOT tried to turn on the AC again, as I am afraid of what will happen. I'm guessing the Compressor is done for, but wanted other opinions. I pulled all three fuses this morning associated with HVAC to see if all the fuses were OK and they were. But the blower fan still will not turn. Also, even with the entire HVAC system off, I still get the coolant temp fluctuations ??? What is going on???

Also, can I safely run with the fuses to HVAC pulled or not? Will it be a fire hazard? In theory I shouldn't even be able to run a component with a fuse pulled, but I'm worried that there is a separate bridge of continuity.

All help appreciated! Thank you!

[floppyedonkey]

A/C has always sucked in my 135i. Weakest degree of cooling i've ever seen out of any car i've owned.

[Billup]

Agreed. The AC is pathetic in this car. I usually have to have it cranked almost full just to feel like it's doing something.

[CACTUS1549]

It's a damn DENSO that's why... Japanese! on a German car?!?!? Poor taste, BMW. But anybody have any ideas or suggestions for help?

[mikefil128i]

Is it possible to replace the ac unit with another one that actually works?

[rrinker]

Maybe some are just defective? It's but a short drive from my office to one of the places to eat in the shopping center across the highway, and even after sitting out in the sun all day, my car is noticeably cool by the time I park to go eat. That's without switching to max AC, just hitting the snowflake and auto. Nearly 90 out, no shade in the office parking lot, black interior - fan doesn't even max out, car's cool in a few minutes. So far seems to be working great for me.

[Lucky1]

I find that it takes quite a while before the A/C cools the cabin and even on max when it starts blowing cold air it isn't immediately "refreshing" nor does it feel very cold or able to combat the heat. You have to initially max it out to feel anything through the heat. But eventually when it does cool the cabin I have to back the A/C fan way off and close the vents halfway because it is too frigid. Ran the A/C all the way from Toronto to Atlanta in the summer and was always comfortable. My conclusion is that the A/C is adequate to cool and maintain comfortable cabin temperature but takes time and patience before it provides immediate relief after first turning it on.

[RoundelM3]

Interesting observations...bought my wife's '11 128i convertible in Texas and drove it in that climate for 3 years, never once had any issues with the A/C not cooling adequately. Even after it was parked outside in 100+ degrees, it always cooled down within a few minutes.

[e36addict]

I don't think coolant temp fluctuations have anything to do with the fact that your AC blower doesn't turn... Sounds like your blower motor resistor shorted out. Which means it probably melted the wiring going to it. Pretty common problem on E8X E9X cars. I'd recommend replacing the blower motor, resistor and the harness end if needed.

[edisapimp]

Originally Posted by CACTUS1549

It's a damn DENSO that's why... Japanese! on a German car?!?!? Poor taste, BMW. But anybody have any ideas or suggestions for help?

Yeah because Denso has such a horrible reputation for reliability versus Bosch ::eyeroll::

My suggestion is that you replace it. Because it's manufactured by a company that supplies the AC condensers for roughly 1 out of every 2 vehicles on the road, it costs like 5 cents.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1059034

Good luck.

[Ed P]

Not sure, but it might be that the "warm weather version" of the cars have better A/C systems. Mine works fine, and there's not a more demanding place in terms of heat and humidity.

[Xyloft]

for those of you who think your AC isn't cold, check your freon pressure. I bet it's low.

seems to be a relatively common problem for the 1 series to have a freon leak pretty early in it's life. I think my AC started getting warm at the 4 or 5 year mark.

[optigrab]

I have a 08 and my AC is weak. I need to get it refilled

[floppyedonkey]

My A/C has been weak since day one while the car was brand new. American cars seem to have superior A/C compared to what the 1 series comes with.

[Xyloft]

Originally Posted by floppyedonkey

My A/C has been weak since day one while the car was brand new. American cars seem to have superior A/C compared to what the 1 series comes with.

might have been broken from the factory then. I want to say the condenser has a weak spot that leaks easily.

after I filled mine the first time it was ICE cold.

[Wakka]

I remember mine being much colder much faster last year. Maybe i should invest in doing a recharge and see if that changes anything up.

[CACTUS1549]

I'm starting to think its the resistor. But the confusing part is why exactly is my coolant temp behaving unusually... I know it could be two separate issues, but what is the likelihood of it occurring EXACTLY at the same time?

[Xyloft]

Originally Posted by CACTUS1549

I'm starting to think its the resistor. But the confusing part is why exactly is my coolant temp behaving unusually... I know it could be two separate issues, but what is the likelihood of it occurring EXACTLY at the same time?

coolant thing may have already been there and you only noticed both issues at the same time?

[CACTUS1549]

Originally Posted by Xyloft

coolant thing may have already been there and you only noticed both issues at the same time?

That's what I'm guessing, but with that gauge I usually leave it on coolant temp and glance at it every drive. It'd be strange to not have noticed it before the issue. But it is definitely something that is a possibility. I guess I'll just fix the HVAC and see if it self remedies or not.

[Joaco135]

The condenser on this cars are notorious to leak and go bad, last year had mine replaced. Noticed once the air coming out of the drivers side vents was warm while in the passenger side was cold. My SA told me that they replace condensers on the 1 & 3 series often. Just my .03

[cvandenhaute]

Originally Posted by Joaco135

The condenser on this cars are notorious to leak and go bad, last year had mine replaced. Noticed once the air coming out of the drivers side vents was warm while in the passenger side was cold. My SA told me that they replace condensers on the 1 & 3 series often. Just my .03

+1 on the condensers, it is a very well know issue as the part is a mix of metal and plastic and the plastic tend to crack and let the whole system leak. Good news is that the new part has been improved, bad news is that replacing the condenser involves removing the dash and is a repair that is much better to have under warranty

[MightyMouseTech]

Any update on this?