Weird sound when AC is on

Ibo24 · 04-20-2019, 05:24 PM

Hi everyone,

Could someone please help me with this?
I'm having some issues with my AC.

When my AC is on, I'm hearing from the interior the revs.
More like RRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr (when going higher the sound pitch is higher, when leave the gas the sound get slower)

I have made a small video, please take a second and watch it.
Please put the subtitles on, can't seem to find the annonation button..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YMHzxTq0Jc

Enabled · 04-20-2019, 08:13 PM

I would check the belt tensioners, and then the AC compressor for noises. You can use a large screwdriver as a stethoscope to locate the noise.

Ibo24 · 04-21-2019, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enabled

I would check the belt tensioners, and then the AC compressor for noises. You can use a large screwdriver as a stethoscope to locate the noise.

AC compressor has been checked, everything is fine with that.

Which belt tensioner would you suggest to look after?

TC016999 · 04-25-2019, 03:02 AM

I have the same issue, I took it to a BMW independent garage, they said it was the gas levels.. topped up and sound gone!

Very annoying sound

Ibo24 · 04-25-2019, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC016999

I have the same issue, I took it to a BMW independent garage, they said it was the gas levels.. topped up and sound gone!

Very annoying sound

I have changed the gas + oil now 3 times.

Still same sound..

I now even added fluo to see if there is a small place where the gas is escaping.

Hooded · 04-25-2019, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TC016999

I have the same issue, I took it to a BMW independent garage, they said it was the gas levels.. topped up and sound gone!

Very annoying sound

Yes agree, it usually is the gas level getting a little low that causes this sound.

VernonD · 04-26-2019, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibo24

Hi everyone,

Could someone please help me with this?
I'm having some issues with my AC.

When my AC is on, I'm hearing from the interior the revs.
More like RRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr (when going higher the sound pitch is higher, when leave the gas the sound get slower)

I have made a small video, please take a second and watch it.
Please put the subtitles on, can't seem to find the annonation button..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YMHzxTq0Jc

Same here, but with me it's only when its really cold in the mornings for the first 10 minutes as the car is park outside. BMW checked my gas and its 3/4 full and the belt tensioner is fine.

I was thinking of looking at maybe doing this:

alex-xs · 05-03-2019, 07:15 AM

it may be the oil level in the AC, I had the same, oil level was half, topped up at BMW dealer and sound was gone

herbalking · 08-02-2021, 02:03 PM

Did you fix the problem?

junlikesf30s · 05-08-2023, 10:42 PM

I'm here to necro this. Hello!

Here's my sound:

This is on my new to me 2016 435i Gran Coupe (F36) with 67k miles.

This sound occurs anytime the AC clutch is disengaged; whether it disengages automatically while in AUTO mode or if I hit the AC button manually. The sound occurs for approximately 20-30sec then goes away or if I shut the fan off manually. Sound intensifies with RPM while it's active (which is why I was giving it gas to 1k RPM in the vid).

It's not coming from the AC compressor; I've searched under the hood and the sound isn't in the engine bay at all. It's coming from somewhere under the dash.

I thought it was from the passenger side, so I removed the blower motor (it was clean) and swapped in a brand new charcoal micron cabin filter. I also did the tensioner, belt, and idler. Figured why not, since I was doing spark plugs.

Is this sound normal? Do fellow F3x owners just deal with it? Some say its normal, some say "replace blower motor", "replace AC compressor", "refill AC".

Seems to me refilling the AC is a temp fix but I'll have BMW do it when I drop my car off next week for warranty work.

Caspinoo · 09-29-2023, 11:06 AM

junlikesf30s Ibo24
Did anyone resolved the AC noise issue? What did the dealer do?

zigamet228 · 04-03-2024, 07:41 PM

Had the same issue, symptoms were whining noise when A/C button is on, no noise under the hood, only in the cabin at lower rpms very noticeable, was thinking about selling the car lol. Turned out to be the refrigerant was low. My x3 takes about 1.2pounds total, according to the A/C machine it only took out 0.4 pounds. After the refill the sound was gone immediately. If you are in Land of the free should be no problem to top it up yourself, as i heard you can buy r134a in stores, in Canada you cant, so you have to go to HVAC licensed tech.

04-20-2019, 05:24 PM	#1
Ibo24 New BMW owner 139 Rep 621 Posts Drives: BMW 316d, BMW F40 116d Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW 316d F30 [0.00]	Weird sound when AC is on Hi everyone, Could someone please help me with this? I'm having some issues with my AC. When my AC is on, I'm hearing from the interior the revs. More like RRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr (when going higher the sound pitch is higher, when leave the gas the sound get slower) I have made a small video, please take a second and watch it. Please put the subtitles on, can't seem to find the annonation button.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YMHzxTq0Jc
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04-20-2019, 08:13 PM	#2
Enabled Lieutenant Colonel 1406 Rep 1,797 Posts Drives: 328xd Wagon, M2 Competition Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Houston iTrader: (0)	I would check the belt tensioners, and then the AC compressor for noises. You can use a large screwdriver as a stethoscope to locate the noise. __________________ -2014 328d Wagon, 8HP. Self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs. -2019 M2 Competition MT, Alpine White. Self-tuned 560hp -2016 Mini Cooper S, MT. Many plans. Others: -E36 328is. 2000 Z3 Roady. 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual. Estoril Z3M Coupe.
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04-25-2019, 03:02 AM	#4
TC016999 Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: BMW F31 2016 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Surrey iTrader: (0)	I have the same issue, I took it to a BMW independent garage, they said it was the gas levels.. topped up and sound gone! Very annoying sound
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05-03-2019, 07:15 AM	#8
alex-xs New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: BMW f31, BMW f25 Join Date: May 2019 Location: Amsterdam iTrader: (0)	it may be the oil level in the AC, I had the same, oil level was half, topped up at BMW dealer and sound was gone
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08-02-2021, 02:03 PM	#9
herbalking New Member 5 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 320i Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: serbia iTrader: (0)	Did you fix the problem?
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05-08-2023, 10:42 PM	#10
junlikesf30s Enlisted Member 18 Rep 42 Posts Drives: 2016 435i Gran Coupe Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Northern California iTrader: (0)	I'm here to necro this. Hello! Here's my sound: This is on my new to me 2016 435i Gran Coupe (F36) with 67k miles. This sound occurs anytime the AC clutch is disengaged; whether it disengages automatically while in AUTO mode or if I hit the AC button manually. The sound occurs for approximately 20-30sec then goes away or if I shut the fan off manually. Sound intensifies with RPM while it's active (which is why I was giving it gas to 1k RPM in the vid). It's not coming from the AC compressor; I've searched under the hood and the sound isn't in the engine bay at all. It's coming from somewhere under the dash. I thought it was from the passenger side, so I removed the blower motor (it was clean) and swapped in a brand new charcoal micron cabin filter. I also did the tensioner, belt, and idler. Figured why not, since I was doing spark plugs. Is this sound normal? Do fellow F3x owners just deal with it? Some say its normal, some say "replace blower motor", "replace AC compressor", "refill AC". Seems to me refilling the AC is a temp fix but I'll have BMW do it when I drop my car off next week for warranty work.
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09-29-2023, 11:06 AM	#11
Caspinoo New Member 0 Rep 12 Posts Drives: BMW X5, 428 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	junlikesf30s Ibo24 Did anyone resolved the AC noise issue? What did the dealer do?
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04-03-2024, 07:41 PM	#12
zigamet228 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: bmw x3 Join Date: Apr 2024 Location: yyc iTrader: (0)	Had the same issue, symptoms were whining noise when A/C button is on, no noise under the hood, only in the cabin at lower rpms very noticeable, was thinking about selling the car lol. Turned out to be the refrigerant was low. My x3 takes about 1.2pounds total, according to the A/C machine it only took out 0.4 pounds. After the refill the sound was gone immediately. If you are in Land of the free should be no problem to top it up yourself, as i heard you can buy r134a in stores, in Canada you cant, so you have to go to HVAC licensed tech.
	Appreciate 0 Quote