Q&A

I worked in a BMW shop and I did lots of work to the A/C climate control systems. I replaced every component you can think of, including the very expensive climate control computers. You may want to get a second opinion on the diagnosis. What problem is your climate control having? There is a special tool for pressurizing the evaporator that uses a calibrated leak down to determine if the evaporator is defective. Be sure the shop is using this tool or they may be guessing. It could be a simple o-ring used in the connection of the evaporator and not the unit itself.

Hi
I wonder what happened w/ your a/c repair.
I was just quoted $2,750 to repair evaporator when my ac
quit working. they say it requires removing dash. 2004 x3 60,000 miles. Seems super expensive!

I have identical problem on my 2006 X3 with 51,000 miles. A new AC charge leaked and I was told that the dashboard had to be taken apart to get at the evaporator, a $2500 cost. I'm taking back to dealer, who said hasn't been a recall.

I have had an A/C problem since we bought our x3. Went to pick it up and the AC wasn't working. Went home in a loaner. Continuous problems since then. Should have said I don't want this one!!

I have 39,00 miles on BMW X3 and have the same problem with the same repair quote.

I have identical problem on my 2005 X3 with 59,000 miles with more expensive repair quote ($3000+). Called BMW customer relationship, who said hasn't been a recall.

I have a 2005 BMW X3 75,000 miles and my evaporator core needs to be replaced at a price of $2,000.00. I really thought I was the only one having this problem. I am upset I thought I was buying a quality car, why is this happening?

I have 2006 X-3 with 33,000 miles. Evaporator leaking, two day repair, Have to pull dash due to fact that the evaporator goes through the firewall from engine compartment, on passenger side of the car. I bought the extended warranty at $2,000 when I bought the car. My costs of repair $0.

Also just discovered this problem on an '04 X3 with 58,000 miles. Dealer quoted $2800 for core replacement. Looking at other options. A little concerned about replacing with a BMW core - might go aftermarket. This shouldn't be happening - should be a recall.

Have a 05 x3 with 45000 miles evaporator out 11 hours to repair 85.00 per hour evaporator $640.00. Will cost $2,000.00 . Should be a recall!

my wife's Just went at 55000---3.01

53,000 2006 X3. Started car 3 days ago. A poof sound (like a pop gun), bunch of what I thought might have been water vapor - but smelled a bit funny comes out of the air vents. AC initially worked fine. 3 days later, no AC.

Dealer cost to replace evaporator coil plus and expansion valve - $900 in parts and 15 hours of labor. Same statement about having to get at the part through the dash.

Now in the market to find a smaller shop that can do the job for less or offer an alternative solution.

Total repair estimate is over $3k. UGHHHHH

Having same issue with my 2005 X3. Dealer charged it last summer. They charged it again 3 days ago and added dye to find leak. Today I went out and the ac air vents were leaking gas/smoke. The car had been sitting for 3 hours not even running. Calling back tomorrow. 900 miles left on extended warranty.

You are not alone. We have the same problem. 2005 x3 71,000 miles 12 hours labor and $2000 later. Is there an alterantive? My fear is what will happen again in 4 or 5 more years. Another $2000.

At dealership now. Have an X3 with 58,000 miles on it. A/c went out, sounded like darth vader, and was not cooling. Dealership says it's the evaporator and it will take 2 days at least to repair it and the estimate was $3100. They even put dye in it to see exactly where it was leaking from. I asked them if BMW was going to do a recall on this since it seems to be a reoccurring thing in the x3 and they said no way. This is my 2nd x3 and third BMW and I have had issues over and over again with the a/c

Just happened to me today also in my 2004 BMW X3 with 56,000 miles. Evaporator sprung and leak and they don't know why. I was also in the car when the scary mist started pouring out of the vents. Luckily I still had 25 days left on my extended warranty I bought.

Now the question is should I spend an additional 3k for another 4 years coverage... Im thinking no. Im thinking if this happens again... I just trade it in.

I have an 04 X3. I had the evaporator changed by the dealer under warrenty Mar '07 with 33k miles.
I am experiencing the problem again. 59K miles. 1st an odor from the vents and then the compressor got noisy. Now no AC
should be a recall

I Have the same problem with my X3 04 with 63000 miles and the dealer quoted me $ 3100, and send it to my mechanic, I charge $ 897.00 and 1 year warranty, the evaporator costs out of the dealer $ 235.00 and labor $ 600.00 I live miami

yesterday, as we were leaving the house turned up the a/c in my X-3 2006 and a funny smell like like if a first aid cabinet was opened came out of the air vents. No cool air but climate control was at 59f. I had the evaporator replaced in dec. 2009. That was at about 33,000 miles now the problem is back at 45,000 miles. I called the Autogermana BMW dealership in PR they told me, " I'll get back to you." It's 7:37 PM and still waiting for an reply. I was going to trash the people over here but after reding all the other answers It's the BMW company as a whole that are inefficient. This is totally not acceptable. BMW must acknowledge manufacturer defect and recall. We must pressure with class act. This is not right. Kenneth R.

I have a 2006 BMW X3 with 69k miles and my a/c went out too. Brought is to BMW for inspection ($120) and told me the evaporator and such needs to be repaced. Cost for repair is $3000. I'm now looking at other alternatives. I only been using the A/C for about 2 1/2 years as I am stationed in Puerto Rico, before i was in PR I was in a state where I didnt have to use my A/C but maybe 1-2 weeks of the year. Very stressful!

I too have an X3 2006 with 59,000 miles and BMW dealer charged the AC, added DYE ($358) and said to come back that the diagnostic test they ran did not show a leak. Took it back, and they said it was the Evaporator: two days to repair, $2500. They would remove the dash. Bla, Bla, Bla
I did get a second opinion, and they could not see dye leakage and advised me to return to BMW.

I have 2006 BMW X3, the AC unit was not work when I bought it, so I had it checked by an auto/AC and they told me that the suction line O-ring need to be replaced on the compressor side, but they refused to work on it, so I had to fix it myself, after I order the O-Ring form BMW dealer for $3 and I vacuumed the system and waited for about an hour and the system still hold same vacuum, so everything looks ok and I recharged the system with R134a, tested the AC was working very well until last summer, in this summer the system went back to same problem, so I put some DIY in it and its appear that I have a small leak in the Evaporator core. Now I am working one getting it done myself, but the Evaporator core itself will cost me about $550 from dealer. I have done some research on this subject and I found out that all BMW has problem in the AC and especially in the Evaporator, also I have been told by BMW dealer/Part Dep that the Evaporator in the BMW AC unit is a common problem and they have done a lots of Evaporator replacement. Sounds bad on BMW that they know this problem and they don't recall it??!!!!!!!!!

2004 X3 w/ 150,000 miles
I just got a quote from a repair shop for $2,100 to replace the evaporator ($1,200 labour + parts)
It's a 10+ hour job, as BMW was really smart in hiding this thing behind the dash! Morons!
Anyways, given the mileage on the car, not sure if it's worth it to sink $2K into it just to have a/c
I'm surprised that many have failed with a lot less mileage, maybe it's a time thing,

This is clearly a recall item or class action lawsuit on the basis of impunity. Instead of waiting for the suit, we should each take BMW to small claims court. Don't hire a lawyer, summarize all the info on the web, present your case. Do infor BMW NA your intention of going to the court, before filing your claim. Good luck to all of us