[335i_4D]

Had the same problem, and the dealer fixed it permanently the 1st time I went there.
They removed leafs that were stuck there, and they added a small screen to prevent leaf from ever go back there.

Never had a single problem since.

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by jwilly

This is the solution. T20 Trox bit.

Slow day at the office?

[paigej]

Thanks for the pics! Just had to pull the fan and filter out of my girls car. Sounded terrible, now I know why

[Joe_E]

Haven't had this problem, hoping I won't either

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by Joe_E

Haven't had this problem, hoping I won't either

Early cars had this problem and SIB called for a screen to be fitted..
Later cars had the screen from the factory.

[Neurorad]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Early cars had this problem and SIB called for a screen to be fitted..
Later cars had the screen from the factory.

Any details on that SIB?

I have a whirring noise from the fan, unsure if it's the rusting bearing or debris.

Can the screen be DIY'd?

->2006 e90

Thanks for any info.

[GringoStar]

chalk up another fixed car due to a leaf in the blower

[loudnoise]

Thanks for the easy fix. Just fixed my 2014 328i as suggested. Found two leaves the size of my thumb in there. How did that happen? Where is the intake for this thing that allows such large objects to enter the fan?

Dealer already cleaned it out once so I was fed up. I am not a mechanic but this is what I did. It was not hard.
Step1:
Passenger foot well. Remove two nuts attaching the lower dash panel. 10mm
Step2:
Remove lower dash panel disconnecting the power outlet connector (didn't even know it had power there) and the connector for the interior foot well light.
Step3:
Locate the AC blower motor. It is in the front left of the dash closest to the door hinge and is round. It has 3 star shaped (TORX) screws. I had some drivers from a kit that worked.
Step4:
Remove the screws for the blower and clean out the blower. It drops straight down and goes back in the same way.
Step5:
The filter box is exposed now that the dash panel is removed. It is a crescent shape on the right side. Take out the screw, open the cover, remove the filter and give it a clean.

Put everything back the same way it was. No more lawnmower noise when it's hot outside.

[int]

So I have the same issue described, and tried the instructions in this thread, but couldn't get the third T20 screw off (the one in the back) because the screwdriver head was too longer and kept hitting the foot rest/floor part ... so I was only able to do 2. With 2 off, the blower came down enough to see the inside a bit, so I used a can of compressed air to blow some air into there, hoping to dislodge whatever 'leaf' might be stuck in there. Having done so, and put it all back together, now my blower fan doesn't make ANY noise (i.e. doesn't turn AT ALL) at any speeds... low or otherwise. Any idea what I might have done/caused? I thought maybe I had tightened the screws back too tight, so loosened them, but no cigar... Hoping I didn't screw anything up royally... (or something expensive at least)

[int]

Originally Posted by int

So I have the same issue described, and tried the instructions in this thread, but couldn't get the third T20 screw off (the one in the back) because the screwdriver head was too longer and kept hitting the foot rest/floor part ... so I was only able to do 2. With 2 off, the blower came down enough to see the inside a bit, so I used a can of compressed air to blow some air into there, hoping to dislodge whatever 'leaf' might be stuck in there. Having done so, and put it all back together, now my blower fan doesn't make ANY noise (i.e. doesn't turn AT ALL) at any speeds... low or otherwise. Any idea what I might have done/caused? I thought maybe I had tightened the screws back too tight, so loosened them, but no cigar... Hoping I didn't screw anything up royally... (or something expensive at least)

Took it all apart again this evening, this time figuring out how to remove that last screw. With the blower out, I started the fan and it worked fine. Put the fan back and it wouldn't turn. Eventually figured out that the screws need to be left a little loose? I feel like the whole blower might not be in the right spot, and that's why tightening the screws fully causes issue -- but there are 'pins' (at least 2, on the sides) that it fits into to ensure it's in the right spot? Not sure what could be the issue, but basically the screws have to be left VERY loose for the blower to turn...

[jjf]

Thanks for all your contributions & guides on this! I’ve just removed a leaf the size of my thumb from the fan and just that was making it sound like I had a motorbike in the car with me!

[ychoi01]

Those have fan noise, does it sound like this?

In 00:27, you can hear low tone whirring/buzzing like noise after turning high to low heating.

Any one had this issue?

[jjf]

Its worth having a look to see if there is something in the fan, but that is nowhere near as noisy as mine was!

[Bawbag568]

noisy fan.. small leaf ... 😎

[bmw435iM]

hello guys so ive been having this issue lately that my cars fan is making this weird noise like the fan is hitting something, it doesnt happen all the time but i noticed that as soon as i drive my car for a while and the fan kicks in to cool down the engine it happens and i dont hear it untill i turn of the engine and the fan is about to turn off toohttps://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/multisite-style/f30/editor/menupop.gif.... and then today i noticed that the black plastic of my front bumber the one under the kidney grill it looks like its loose so could that be the reason why is making this noise or no...?
(please take look a the pictures to see what plastic part im talking about)

[AndDown]

Quick test would be to duct-tape the loose piece and see if the noise goes away or remains.

[bertha01]

never experienced it. but this is a very interesting discussion to follow

[Bawbag568]

Originally Posted by Bawbag568

noisy fan.. small leaf ... 😎

update May - 2nd time 😡😡. need to look at that leaf guard mod 🙄

[Aaroona]

Originally Posted by ychoi01

Those have fan noise, does it sound like this?

In 00:27, you can hear low tone whirring/buzzing like noise after turning high to low heating.

Any one had this issue?

Did you ever solve this issue? Mine is still making the same noise over a year later... Never got round to fixing it, but its really starting to bug me now.

[gRant96]

You all just saved me from taking it back to the shop and giving up. I had just replaced my AC Motor Resistor - and thought I had messed up. Tiny leaf was snagged.

[L7WEENIE]

My F30 has had a blower rattle that I can't seem to trace back to the source. Originally thought it was something caught in the blower assembly, but I have replaced the blower motor and cabin filter while ensuring that no debris was left in the assembly. The rattle still persists and I can't figure it out, it only occurs at medium (3rd-5th bar) fan speeds. If the fan speed is near the min or max., the rattle goes away.

Link to video:

If anyone has any advice, it would be greatly appreciated.

[fe7565]

I am about to try this in the next few days. Had the vacuum cleaner sound at high speeds for about 5 months. Would be good to know where that intake screen was retrofitted by BMW for the later models.

UPDATE: Had a tiny leaf inside the squirrel cage fan...that's all it was. 15 mins fix.