air conditioning malfunction

Pepe_pr · 06-25-2012, 08:14 AM

i own a x3 2006, 3.0l

a week ago the air conditioning started acting up weird, the car air conditioning was cold cold cold very nice, and all of the sudden, the drivers side vents cool very nicely and the passenger side vents just blow air no cold like it was in fan mode.

a tech told me it was the evaporator? any thoughts?

its weird that one side cools and the other does not cool, i thought it was a sensor or something like that.

CarCzar128i · 06-28-2012, 08:17 PM

I have a 2006 X3 that had the same problem. When the AC refrigerant level drops (leaks), the passenger side will lose cold air before the driver's side. You need an AC recharge and a check for leaks. I've had to recharge mine twice in 2 years, but they have not been able to find the leak.

Mark M · 09-07-2012, 10:06 AM

$20 bucks says your leak is in the evaporator assembly. This is the giant peice that is deep behind the center of the dash.

My coworker had the same problem on a 2006 X3 and ironically at the same time my local independent BMW mechanic had a different 2006 in with the exact same problem. Quoted repair cost was ~$2300, mostly driven by all the labor involved to replace it.

Needless to say my coworker traded his in rather than deal with the problem.

06-25-2012, 08:14 AM	#1
Pepe_pr Lieutenant 35 Rep 553 Posts Drives: 135i black on black Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Juan PR iTrader: (1)	air conditioning malfunction i own a x3 2006, 3.0l a week ago the air conditioning started acting up weird, the car air conditioning was cold cold cold very nice, and all of the sudden, the drivers side vents cool very nicely and the passenger side vents just blow air no cold like it was in fan mode. a tech told me it was the evaporator? any thoughts? its weird that one side cools and the other does not cool, i thought it was a sensor or something like that. __________________ USED TO HAVE A 385 whp 479 tq N55 335 2011 (AT) AND NOW A 135 M package 2010 (AT) 447whp/504tq
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06-28-2012, 08:17 PM	#2
CarCzar128i Enlisted Member 3 Rep 46 Posts Drives: 2010128iconvertible Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: RedSoxNation iTrader: (0)	I have a 2006 X3 that had the same problem. When the AC refrigerant level drops (leaks), the passenger side will lose cold air before the driver's side. You need an AC recharge and a check for leaks. I've had to recharge mine twice in 2 years, but they have not been able to find the leak.
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09-07-2012, 10:06 AM	#3
Mark M Major 240 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: E30M3 E83X3 E90335D Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lancaster, PA iTrader: (0)	$20 bucks says your leak is in the evaporator assembly. This is the giant peice that is deep behind the center of the dash. My coworker had the same problem on a 2006 X3 and ironically at the same time my local independent BMW mechanic had a different 2006 in with the exact same problem. Quoted repair cost was ~$2300, mostly driven by all the labor involved to replace it. Needless to say my coworker traded his in rather than deal with the problem.
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