I am posting a link to a video clip from my dv camera to express my frustration with what the dealer told me after keeping my 2008 X5 for 5 days. I was told the tech 'took the dash apart' and his judgment confirmed by the service supervisor was that what I was hearing was "normal". When I asked my service rep why I only heard it for the last 3-4 weeks, he then suggested that I simply did not hear it during the previous three of months of driving 4.5K miles. (Reminds me of the sub rep who thought I didn't know the difference between my key chain noise [in my pocket, no less, using Comfort] and a/c doors.)
I was also told that were I not using the "auto" mode that the sound would not be present. I asked what they meant by "auto" mode since I do not push the "auto" button and was told that by setting the tempts on both controls and not manually changing the vents to feet only or dash vents only that the doors would open and close thus causing the noise I find irritating.
I don't know what the cause of the problem is but the first 1/2 mile I drive every morning is a service street full of potholes. I avoid as many dips as possible but sometimes there is no choice when traffic is thick. But then again I really don't know if this is a factor in this situation or if that shaking of the vehicle does something to the a/c doors.
I have only driven the X for two mornings since getting it back from the dealer, but the noise is still present although for the moment not as pronounced or prolonged as before.
I am willing to talk directly to the local service super, but before I do that or move on to BMW NA, I wanted some feedback about how this is viewed by others. I know the medal clicking noise - which is much louder inside the cabin than on the clip - is a recent development. I did not hear it in my X nor any of the others I drove before making the purchase. I'm sure the results would be the same if I drove a new one sitting on the dealer's lot.
Anyway the video clip may be found at
http://www.pctii.org/E70.htm