[WULFFZA]

Coworker has a 2012 328i luxury. Was complaining of a noisy AC fan this morning. I checked it out and noted that in the fan speeds middle to high or using max, with or without recirculate function on the fan blower rattles, a sound similar to a piece of cardboard in your bicycle wheel, but not that loud. Its annoying enough to think something is wrong. I don't see any posts on this.
Normal or an issue?

[Weaselboy]

I'm hearing the same thing. It just has not bothered me enough to take it in yet.

Your description is accurate. It sounds like a little tiny playing card stuck slightly into the blower cage.

[ZPinhead]

I definitely do not hear the noise described.

[Micleg]

No risk of a leaf having ended up in there? I know some part of the intake filter has been moved to be useful during recirculation so perhaps the fan isn't protected from debris any more.

[E90Fleet]

Sounds like something in there or the microfilter is touching the blades

He can either have the dealer check it out or try look into the blower motor himself.
If you remove the lower dash panel by the passenger footwell and look up you will see where the air microfilter slots in. Removing it will allow you to see into the blower motor with a flashlight.

[huskercubfan]

I've experienced this noise a few times right at start up. I normally shut it off and turn it back on and it is fine. It even blows hot air for the time that the noise is happening despite being on air conditioning...

Slightly OT: Why the hell does the air conditioner start up EVERY SINGLE time I start the car? Even when I didn't have it on during the previous drive...

[TEAShea]

I dont know why but BMW blowers have always been loud.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by huskercubfan

I've experienced this noise a few times right at start up. I normally shut it off and turn it back on and it is fine. It even blows hot air for the time that the noise is happening despite being on air conditioning...

Slightly OT: Why the hell does the air conditioner start up EVERY SINGLE time I start the car? Even when I didn't have it on during the previous drive...

Try setting the AC where you want it and set your seat memory. If that setting is on auto, then expect the AC to turn on to bring to temp to desired setting. There is a way to set the auto function so that it doesn't automatically turn the AC on, but on my E60 this had to be done through the software, not a user selection on idrive.

[benpatti]

I have the same exact blower noise on my car....going to wait a little while before I bring it in to get fixed.

[ramonE90-NL]

I have the same problem, a dark rattling noise from the right side blower outlet. I only hear it when a/c is at full speed and recirculating.

Its going to the dealership june 12

[WULFFZA]

Update. Noise disappeared after a trip. My guess is that it was a leaf on the intake. Get your wife's hair drier out and blow around the windshield wiper area under the hood.

[arnsbrae]

Originally Posted by WULFFZA

Update. Noise disappeared after a trip. My guess is that it was a leaf on the intake. Get your wife's hair drier out and blow around the windshield wiper area under the hood.

Can't we use our own hair dryers...

[Maz335i]

Originally Posted by arnsbrae

Can't we use our own hair dryers...

[Dennis335i]

My 2013 BMW F30 335i makes the same fan noise. It has been to the dealer twice already, and it's starting to do it a third time. I've only had the car for 3 months. There is nothing they could do to fix it. If I have to go to the dealer once a month for this, that means 60 trips to the dealer in 5 years.The vents are made of cheap plastic that creaks when they expand or contract from the temperature. A Honda Civic makes less interior noise. I should have bought a Lexus IS 350.

[Q18]

leaf, brought to my dealer and they cleaned it for me.

[MikeCason]

I've got this problem too. I suppect it's a leaf as it's that time of the year. Any one know how (and where) to take apart on my 320D F30 please? I dont mind undoing a few screws - it's easier than doing to the dealer

[J2G!]

I took my car into the dealer they claimed that the microfilter was "blocked and split" They replaced the filter and it is slightly quieter, however at full speed it still sounds and vibrates like a dyson vacum cleaner. The dealer told me they had 3 cars in that week with the same problem! My vents and dash creaks and crack when it starts to heat up. The F30 is not up to it in terms of quality and is starting to annoy me and already regreting my purchase after 8 weeks!

[speedf]

My F30 has a similar problem - the noise, a "rasping" type noise was present only when the automatic circulation was set to outside circulation. Have taken it into a dealer who said they "removed some debris" from the blower motor and fixed a gauze to prevent it from happening in the future.

When I asked why the gauze wasn't there to begin with, I was told that it wasn't a place where BMW expected debris to be able to reach.......

[changgull]

So... I had the same problem as well and fixed myself.

First, we need to open up the bottom cover of the glovebox. (10mm hex).
Second, look at the passenger door side - you'll find the fan motor housing.
(Picture here)

You need 3mm star driver to take three screws. (I luckily had that from Victorinox cyber tool).

The fan is cylinder type and it was making noise due to a small (a really small) leaf stuck inside of it. This relatively big leaf can go in there when there's an abrupt pressure change in the filter chamber. I had that pressure change when the AC was fully running and I changed that to window defogging.

Anyway... it's about 20min job so you don't need to bother yourself going to the dealer. Hope this helps.

[mdsbuc]

I had this as an intermittent problem on my E60. It would do it except on the very lowest fan speed and DRIVE ME NUTS. It sounded like the fan blade was tapping on the shroud. Anyway, one complaint to the service department and I never had the problem again.

[jtuds]

Originally Posted by Dennis335i

My 2013 BMW F30 335i makes the same fan noise. It has been to the dealer twice already, and it's starting to do it a third time. I've only had the car for 3 months. There is nothing they could do to fix it. If I have to go to the dealer once a month for this, that means 60 trips to the dealer in 5 years.The vents are made of cheap plastic that creaks when they expand or contract from the temperature. A Honda Civic makes less interior noise. I should have bought a Lexus IS 350.

I have an equally loud noise and they are not willing to do anything to fix it, so I'm starting to wonder if I made the right decision as well

[jwilly]

Originally Posted by changgull

So... I had the same problem as well and fixed myself.

First, we need to open up the bottom cover of the glovebox. (10mm hex).
Second, look at the passenger door side - you'll find the fan motor housing.
(Picture here)

You need 3mm star driver to take three screws. (I luckily had that from Victorinox cyber tool).

The fan is cylinder type and it was making noise due to a small (a really small) leaf stuck inside of it. This relatively big leaf can go in there when there's an abrupt pressure change in the filter chamber. I had that pressure change when the AC was fully running and I changed that to window defogging.

Anyway... it's about 20min job so you don't need to bother yourself going to the dealer. Hope this helps.

This is the solution. T20 Trox bit.