New E46's lose freon over the winter...????

[Bmw 325i 7803]

New E46's lose refrigerant over the winter...????

For some strange reason after the long winter my A/C doesn't work. It was 80 degrees outside on wednesday or thursday and with the snowflake pressed and the temp set to 59/60 the air vents would blow warm/regular outside air at me instead of the A/C engaging. I had to drive home with the windows closed and sweat like a dog... Anyone know what could have happened? How could the freon have leaked out or got lost in a brand new car after 10 months? Should I wait until June when the car gets its 1yr oil service and inspection or get it fixed earlier. Anyone have experience with this happening and how big a job it is to fix, can they fix it in an hour or do I need a loaner? I thought this kinda stuff happens to old american cars which need yearly a/c gasups not BMW's...

 

[deutsch100]

Has your climate control been off all winter? It is recommended by many folks just to leave your "snowflake" button activated at all times. When you are using warmer temps., the compessor still gets to run, and it makes the best moisture remover....no more foggy windows in cold or rainy weather.

Not running the A/C compressor all winter long is a killer on the seals and components.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I always drive with the snowflake pressed, my understanding is that the snowflake button is for heat and defogging in the winter and cooling in the summer. It's just I'd expect the A/C to kick in when it's next to boiling outside...

Thanks for the input, so you think the whole system is done? Maybe it's the computer or the freon?

 

[Big Daddy]

You should not lose the refrigerant (there is no freon in the system, freon has been banned for years) when the system is off and or sitting. My 98 M roadster sits all winter and has never needed a recharge. If you are losing the refrigerant than you have a leak.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

So chances are the car has a major problem which means the techs will be playing around with it for a day or two...

If it does turn out that theres a leak in the system or whatnot, will it need service every year?

I kinda didn't associate CFC's with freon, I just used the term to mean refrigerant and now the title is branded as "outdated" yikes... (I also wasn't sure if Europe banned it)

 

[tk14]

Newbie here.

I remember reading in the owner's manual for my E46 and previous vehicle (MB) that they recommend periodically turning on the AC to maintain premium operability.

I don’t believe in running with the AC on at all times, it’s a waste of power in my opinion unless you really need it for humidity or heat control. So during the winter months, I try to remember to turn on the AC for 10 minutes or so first thing every Monday.

 

[aNoodle]

Newbie here.

I remember reading in the owner's manual for my E46 and previous vehicle (MB) that they recommend periodically turning on the AC to maintain premium operability.

I don’t believe in running with the AC on at all times, it’s a waste of power in my opinion unless you really need it for humidity or heat control. So during the winter months, I try to remember to turn on the AC for 10 minutes or so first thing every Monday.

Yeah, I think they said once a month to get the juices flowing. I don't know about this idea of leaving it on all the time, even in winter. That's a killer on fuel efficiency.

 

[AIO]

I don’t believe in running with the AC on at all times, it’s a waste of power in my opinion unless you really need it for humidity or heat control. So during the winter months, I try to remember to turn on the AC for 10 minutes or so first thing every Monday.

Ditto. I run the A/C just for 15 minutes per week during winter. That is, if I don't need to defog the windows.

 

[Big Daddy]

So chances are the car has a major problem which means the techs will be playing around with it for a day or two...

If it does turn out that theres a leak in the system or whatnot, will it need service every year?

I kinda didn't associate CFC's with freon, I just used the term to mean refrigerant and now the title is branded as "outdated" yikes... (I also wasn't sure if Europe banned it)

I would not say it is a major problem, it is most likely an o'ring. They pump the system up and check for leaks. They may need the car for a day. Yes Freon is banned world wide. The reason for cycling your system as others are saying, "once a month" is to lubricate the o'rings, etc. GM solved this porblem in that the system will cycle once in awhile on it's own.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I would not say it is a major problem, it is most likely an o'ring. They pump the system up and check for leaks. They may need the car for a day. Yes Freon is banned world wide. The reason for cycling your system as others are saying, "once a month" is to lubricate the o'rings, etc. GM solved this porblem in that the system will cycle once in awhile on it's own.

That's interesting since I remember being advised with the 325i to ALWAYS leave the snowflake on to prevent the windows from fogging. If I disengaged the snowflake and just had the fan running would the windows still fog up?

 

[Big Daddy]

I just run the fan when the hardtop is on the roadster and small as that interior is I never get fogged windows, but my A/C is hardly ever on and now 7 years later my A/C is still ice cold!

My e30 318is would fog on occassion and I would run the fan without A/C, clear right up!

 

[Layton]

Did you make sure the top vents are set on blue (cold) and not red?

Mike

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I always set the vents on blue, since I don't like the car too hot even in the winter... The setting on the vents even if it were red, wouldn't prevent the A/C from cooling the car. At least I don't think it would....

 

[DrivingTopless]

I would think that the settings on red would prevent the A/C from cooling the car effectively since it would be mixing in engine heated air, especially if you have the fan setting on for dash vents only. Either that or you'd have warm air blowing out of the dash and cold air blowing on your feet.

 

[Average Jae]

Did you make sure the top vents are set on blue (cold) and not red?

Mike

i didn't want to insult your intelligence Steve, but i thought the same thing at first, just in case. (like computer techs ask if your computer's pluged in, when you first call in for computer not powering up, just in case i have seen in happen in more than one occasion, esp in a new car: "my heat doesn't work!" turn the dial to red

since you are in ny, you'll get the weather that we just got here: snow! so you have some time before the warm up again, but i would call your service rep right away and have him take a look at that, and request a bmw loaner. if you don't need it good, but it's always good to request it just in case. (there's usually a lead time to get the loaners.)

another reason for taking it in asap: even in the cold, as Adam (deutsch100) mentioned you'll need the ac on to help defog the car. so you'll need the ac either way. hope you get it fixed soon.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Actually it wasn't insulting, I appreciated his input. It was a valid suggestion (the only time those computer techs get on my nerves is when they insist that the computer or monitor isn't plugged in, which is why I tech support myself, unfortunately in reasons like that you have to go through the heavily accented BS to get the unit repaired. Thankfully it only happened once!). The car defogs fine in the cold with the snowflake pressed, (probably the fan heating effect big daddy mentioned) as I haven't tried it without. I'll give each of the dealers I have in mind a call and whoever offers me a BMW loaner gets the service job. I'll probably be waiting until June anyway since it's only a month away and that when the car is scheduled for its oil service and inspection.

 

[BMW NA Customer Relations]

I’m with BMW of North America, LLC. I’m sorry to read you are experiencing a problem with your air conditioning. If you and your BMW center would like our assistance, please phone us at (800) 831-1117 or email us at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com, and mention Reference #200512400386 so that we can help you more efficiently.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

I finally got a service appointment with a loaner for after 7am on June 2nd, the only problem is lately it's been rather warm and the black leather interior gets HOT. What's the purpose of the sunroof? If you keep it open when the sun is in the sky, it SURE BOILS. If you just crack the sunroof open a bit in the back, you get that somewhat musty engine smell that I'm not too tolerable of after a while. Opening the side windows tends to get too loud and windy, and especially on the turnpike in NJ, it just plain STINKS outside. The beads of sweat run down my forehead... Think I should give BMWNA a call, I mean I already have an appt. and my experience with them hasn't been all that helpful in the past as "dealers are seperate individually owned and not directly subject to BMW" the only possible thing they can do is move my appt up earlier? But that would be too much to ask for.

Anyone know how to keep their E46 cool in the warm weather without using the AC??? Your INPUT would be GREATLY APPRECIATED...

 

[AIO]

What's the purpose of the sunroof?

Your partner watches the stars while you're driving during hot summer evenings. Other than that, it's just useless. BTW, I don't smoke. Smokers may find it quite useful, though.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

Today I took the car in for service and walked around the dealership for an hour and a half enjoying the company of the many BMW's... I have to say that I didn't like sitting in the Z4 it was too small and compact for my liking. The 5er is just too bland inside and the front seats were uncomfortable, but the backseats were GREAT! lucky passengers who get to ride back there... Also, the X5 backseat really does look and in a sense feel like a school bus seat as said before. I also saw the E90's (quite a few on the lot) nothing special and seemingly bland, especially the fact that the turnsignals are a flashing brake light now... I doubt the E90 will sell for a markup since they didn't look to flashy or desireable. I didn't even want to testdrive it, but Im sure if I offered 40k flat for the 41,800?? or such one they had on the lot I'd have easily had a deal...

As an update it turned out the system was low on refrigerant and they just had to pump it up... They also added a dye to check if it was leaking but didn't detect one. Maybe it was just running the A/C all winter that slowly depleted the refrigerant, either way it was a fast hour and a half... I guess I can overlook this and say I'll have a problem free 1 year anniversary with my 330i [bmwdance]