clicking sound in dash with engine off

[GPSnV1]

Maybe two days ago I noticed a soft clicking noise coming from the dash not far from the gear shift when the engine was off. Maybe something like that happened again on Sat. I thought it was a passing problem that would just go away.

Today I went to put something in the 2004 4.4 X5 and the clicking noise was coming from the same place and was fast and loud. I started the engine with no problem and ran it for 3-4 minutes.

An hour later I can not hear the clicking, but I am sure that whatever caused the problem has not been fixed. What do I do? Call the dealer before trying to go to work tomorrow or is this is known problem and something I can take my time on?

BTW, I lack the skills to tell the difference betwen a clicking noise from the battery, alternator or some fan running when the engine is off.

[GPSnV1]

Well by 2 hour later, the clicking noise has started again. It is lower tone and not quite as loud but I would suppose will return to the fast past and loud volume I heard earlier today.

[x5GuyInLA]

Does it happen only when you unlock the car and are you inside the X5 and is your door open or closed when you hear it? I get a clicking noise towards the rear wheels, so I assume it's the air suspension activating and the springs expanding. I hear it more on cold days, but I'm not sure if that's normal. I ask if your door is open when you hear it because it's possible that it seems like it's coming from the dash because the sound is reflecting off your windshield.

[GPSnV1]

I just opened the door and without getting inside the car can hear this low toned rumbling that I am certain is coming from the dash. But that's for helping me sort through the possibilities.

[GPSnV1]

Well the dealer didn't know if it was safe to drive it so they are having it towed in. So maybe the mystery will be solved by day's end.

[GPSnV1]

Well the dealer had it for two days about 3 weeks ago and did not solve the mystery. Since then the fast clicking or two-tone roar keeps on going.
The dealer obviously thinks this is not a threat so they would not give me an appt with a car until Oct 12. In the meantime on a day like today every time I open the car door this noise roars on.
Since they were skeptical from their first experience, I recorded the noise and left it on my service manager's voicemail. His response was that the service manager had never heard anything like it in his 20 years working with BMWs.
I now have this on videotape to make sure they know the noise is coming from my X5 and that the loudest area is right around the ashtray.
Since my dealer is clueless, anybody have insight about this? I am going to be gone for 5 days this week and hope that this X5 is not returning to the glory days when they would catch on fire and burn down houses.
Okay, so I'm being paranoid but the noise is not normal and looks like my dealer is going to take out the dash and go from there. I don't take a lot of comfort in that kind of thing since something are put back in worse condition than they were before.

[x5GuyInLA]

Originally Posted by GPSnV1

Well the dealer had it for two days about 3 weeks ago and did not solve the mystery. Since then the fast clicking or two-tone roar keeps on going.
The dealer obviously thinks this is not a threat so they would not give me an appt with a car until Oct 12. In the meantime on a day like today every time I open the car door this noise roars on.
Since they were skeptical from their first experience, I recorded the noise and left it on my service manager's voicemail. His response was that the service manager had never heard anything like it in his 20 years working with BMWs.
I now have this on videotape to make sure they know the noise is coming from my X5 and that the loudest area is right around the ashtray.
Since my dealer is clueless, anybody have insight about this? I am going to be gone for 5 days this week and hope that this X5 is not returning to the glory days when they would catch on fire and burn down houses.
Okay, so I'm being paranoid but the noise is not normal and looks like my dealer is going to take out the dash and go from there. I don't take a lot of comfort in that kind of thing since something are put back in worse condition than they were before.

my X just started getting the clicking in the dash last week......haven't had a chance to take it to the dealer though. Sometimes I think it's the nav, other times it sounds like it's coming from the A/C controls, but the only thing that seems to have power in that area is the nav. When I do take it to the dealer and if they figure it out, I'll let you know.

[GPSnV1]

Originally Posted by x5GuyInLA

my X just started getting the clicking in the dash last week......haven't had a chance to take it to the dealer though. Sometimes I think it's the nav, other times it sounds like it's coming from the A/C controls, but the only thing that seems to have power in that area is the nav. When I do take it to the dealer and if they figure it out, I'll let you know.

Please let me know what you learn. I don't have the BMW nav (use Garmin 2720), but we may end up having the same problem so post what you learn.

[GPSnV1]

I turned in the X5 this morning but not before playing the noise as recorded on my dictaphone and leaving behind a camcorder that showed where the sound was coming from inside the cabin.
They called me at 2:30 pm and said they could not reproduce the sound. Now just before closing time, they call and say they finally heard and it believe it is a fan for the 'ac console' (did I get that right?). They can reproduce the noise with this fan out of the SAV so they are putting in a new one and going to see if there is noise in the morning.
I wanted to uploaded eith the audio or video here if the dealer would have failed but lack the equipment to transfer what I have. In any event, his explanation sounds like a reasonable solution.

[vinuneuro]

Sounds like a final stage resistor problem.