Heater blower noise??

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by StanF18

FSETH, congratulations on your humming problem. I've just started having the same problem . Well, almost the same. Mine is a soft, persistent humming when the A/C is on. Turn off the air, no hum. Turn it back on: hum....Seems to be coming from somewhere behind the dash. Of course, Murphy's Law dictates that this problem appeared immediately after my 50,000 mile BMW warranty expired.

It almost feels like BMW NA specifically programmed this problem to appear precisely when the warranty runs out.

I'm wondering if the Warranty Direct Major Care coverage (which I currently have) would apply to this. Weasel56: Do u know if blower motor is covered by Major Care?

Anyone else here having this A/C issue?

That sux. Especially just outside of the warranty period. My extended warranty is about to expire in a couple thousand miles. I sure hope my tranny doesn't decide to do what you blower just did.

I still have to try what Weasel suggested a few posts back, but I have been busy and my wife is the primary driver of the X, so I havn't had a chance.

[Nate Harasim]

fseth.... My issue is identical did you figure it out?

[Weasel]

FSETH and others that apply I guess... If there is a slight vibration to be felt with a fan speed dependant humming noise then my guess would be the squirrel cage on the blower fan is getting slightly out of balance. Quite possibly from slight/uneven dust buildup or usually a leaf falls down in there when the ac microfilters are changed, which can also get past the blower cage against the outer casing and cause the fluttering sound some hear as the blower fan rubs against it. When it comes to perceptive problems like this, details are key! As a tech at the dealer I can't tell you how many times I have to get the service adviser to call the customer back and all but grill them for more details on certain circumstances needed to duplicate the complaint. I don't want to "could not verify" because BMWNA does not pay me unless work is done, and not "adjustments" either, I have to change a part to get paid under warranty. If you give them all the details needed, that already narrows it down to the point that they can pretty much just change your blower motor, which means r&i the dash to open the hvac box. But if you just say "the air sounds different" (yes, I've had that one) then we have nothing to go on! So god luck and good speed!

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by weasel56

FSETH and others that apply I guess... If there is a slight vibration to be felt with a fan speed dependant humming noise then my guess would be the squirrel cage on the blower fan is getting slightly out of balance. Quite possibly from slight/uneven dust buildup or usually a leaf falls down in there when the ac microfilters are changed, which can also get past the blower cage against the outer casing and cause the fluttering sound some hear as the blower fan rubs against it. When it comes to perceptive problems like this, details are key! As a tech at the dealer I can't tell you how many times I have to get the service adviser to call the customer back and all but grill them for more details on certain circumstances needed to duplicate the complaint. I don't want to "could not verify" because BMWNA does not pay me unless work is done, and not "adjustments" either, I have to change a part to get paid under warranty. If you give them all the details needed, that already narrows it down to the point that they can pretty much just change your blower motor, which means r&i the dash to open the hvac box. But if you just say "the air sounds different" (yes, I've had that one) then we have nothing to go on! So god luck and good speed!

Thanks for the info. I guess I will take it down there and see what they say.

The noise does not appear to be comming from behind the dash. If sounds almost like it is coming from under the car or something. It is not that loud, but it is a deep humming/droning noise that like I said, almost causes a very slight vibration in the entire car. Almost like a seat of the pants vibration. It does not fluctuate with fan speed, but once the whole HVAC system is shut down, the noise stops. It is really only noticible when I am stopped at a traffic light or something. The noise is also not constant. It comes and goes randomly for a few seconds on and a few seconds off. The duration of the noise and the time between noises varies.

I know that these noise issues are nearly impossible to diagnose without people hearing it for yourself. I was just trying to see if enough people have had a similar issue and had it resolved so I knew what to tell the dealer.

[Weasel]

If it seems more from under the car it might be in the ac system, stemming from the compressor... Try this, when it is doing the vibration try leaving the air blowing but turning the ac compressor off and turn off the recirc. If it goes away it is likely the compressor , and the pressure would likely show a slight fluctuation in ac gauges.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by weasel56

If it seems more from under the car it might be in the ac system, stemming from the compressor... Try this, when it is doing the vibration try leaving the air blowing but turning the ac compressor off and turn off the recirc. If it goes away it is likely the compressor , and the pressure would likely show a slight fluctuation in ac gauges.

Will do. The wife has the car now, so first chance I get I will try this out and let you know.