New car but Air cond wet smell and other annoyances

[thom]

Hi guysNeed some advice. As intro earlier, i got meself a new e90 323i earlier this year. Love the car. Yday went in for my first service. Nd ur advice;1. I complained that every time i start the car esp in the am, there's a wet, mouldy smell from the aircond vent for perhaps 5-10 seconds. Complained to Quill, they said it's a common problem and blamed the weather. Asked me to pay RM300+ for some 'gas' but prob may reccur again. This is not under warranty apparently, and not covered under Service inclusive. Does anyone have the same problem. Im a bit cheesed off w this actually.2. Steering makes a loud grok noise (like rubber rubbing) everytime i turn. The steering has become heavy. They tried to justify the heaviness on the rft and 3 series but i told them when i first got the car it was much lighter. After the sound appeared, the steering becomes heavy. Was wondering if anyone else has such issues?Thanks in advance

 

[Maniac]

musty smells is a common issue, and apparently due to mold forming in the condensers. it can be handled through a warranty claim (not BSRI), and what they do is to spray chemicals to disperse/melt the mold. i got mine done at AB, and if you search the forums, quite a few others have also done this.

steering - while it's true that the 3-ers have probably the heaviest feel of the lot, you better get it checked out because of the abnormal sound & progressively heavier feel. power steering fluids levels ok?

 

[3er]

Could it be the ozone smell?

 

[gameover]

Not ozone, according to what I read it's actually some mold due to moisture build up somewhere in the AC vents. I got the chemical cleaning thing done at AB Sg Besi under warranty last year, but it took overnight. Thank god for courtesy cars! The smell does come back even after the cleaning but never as bad before. What I do occasionally is to turn on the heater for 2-3 minutes right before I park and turn off the engine at night.

 

[thom]

Yup, that was what they advised me, turn up the heater for a bit. They no longer do it under warranty as there are too many complaints and its due to the humidity, so it's 'not parts defect'...blooming lousy excuse if u ask me

 

[keneshiro7]

Same as my ride,when engine started..will come out smell. Does our aircond can be input aircond filter?

 

[thom]

musty smells is a common issue, and apparently due to mold forming in the condensers. it can be handled through a warranty claim (not BSRI), and what they do is to spray chemicals to disperse/melt the mold. i got mine done at AB, and if you search the forums, quite a few others have also done this.

steering - while it's true that the 3-ers have probably the heaviest feel of the lot, you better get it checked out because of the abnormal sound & progressively heavier feel. power steering fluids levels ok?

Quill is saying BMW dun cover under warranty anymore, cos the problem is too prevalent and not a parts defect but weather. Quite frustrating

 

[gameover]

To me it's an engineering defect, BMW engineers obviously didn't take into account the weather and humidity when they did their design. If you google though it's not just Malaysia that has this problem.

 

[zhul]

The simplest solution to avoid the musty smell is to turn off the air-cond button and internal circulation button (while still keeping the fan on) about a minute or two before arriving at your final destination of the day. Then switch off the fan once your car is at rest.

My car had sounds coming from the steering during the first week of ownership. Turned out that the foam inside the steering housing came loose. Can be fixed within the day.

 

[thom]

I just collected my car, the steering problem persisted. they greased it. I already told them i dun think its something so simple as greasing problem as the steering becomes very heavy during the groaning sounds. Left it at the service center for 2 whole days and not resolved. Have to go back again

 

[germ]

Same shoes as you Thom...got my 323 early this year. Though i'd add on to the thread, here are some of my issues after few months of driving and status to date (after bringing car to svc centre (SC) last week):

i) Musty air cond smell - similar issue like your car and many others.

- SC said will look at it and wasnt asked to pay RM300. How? Didnt have time to ask and if I do, will update. After few days no smell...for now. Mold build up in condensers? thats a worrying thought....was driving another conti for 5yrs+ and didnt have the air cond smelling funky. Only time it did, was when a rat decided to climb into my engine bay, die and decompose :31:

ii) Soft electronic humming sound whenever the car is locked / unlocked via remote or comfort access. Usually lasts for a 1 min + and then goes off. Comes on again when locked/unlocked.

- SC had a look, said sound is from fuel pump activating?? Could not do anything and apparently its normal. Has anyone noticed this? Apparently I am the only one who has complained bout this. The sound is real soft and you have to be in a quiet place to hear it.

iii) After car engine is turned off, loud metallic creaking sounds from undercarriage.

- Initially i thought it was probably some piping issue ie water dripping on hot metal surface. Again SC feedback was this is normal , due to the heat of the engine. Common?

iv) Headlamp vibrates when driving over our less than perfect roads

- Bracket replaced and issue resolved

v) Steering squeaks when turning

- Was greased and resolved

vi) Metal plate on steering wheel is loose on one side (not fitted properly)

- not resolved as SC said couldnt do anything bout it. Not acceptable and will have them relook at it later. Should be easiest thing to resolve.

vii ) I-drive software and navigation map was 2009 version

- Apparently the software version you get should be similar to year the car was manufactured. My map was updated to the 2011 version (only difference i noticed so far was that it featured 3d renderings of some major buildings) but I drive software was not updated. Feedback from SC was Germany recommended that I dont update the software since there could be potential issues arising from an update. Something about non-compatibility with hardware. Funny if you ask me. Anyway, I have requested for a more comprehensive explanation.

Key priorities to resolve will be (ii) and (iii) above.

 

[willie]

can help with number iii: it is due to the cooling down of the exhaust tubing etc... more obvious in a cool night... it is normal...

 

[thom]

Same shoes as you Thom...got my 323 early this year. Though i'd add on to the thread, here are some of my issues after few months of driving and status to date (after bringing car to svc centre (SC) last week):

v) Steering squeaks when turning

- Was greased and resolved

vi) Metal plate on steering wheel is loose on one side (not fitted properly)

- not resolved as SC said couldnt do anything bout it. Not acceptable and will have them relook at it later. Should be easiest thing to resolve.

vii ) I-drive software and navigation map was 2009 version

- Apparently the software version you get should be similar to year the car was manufactured. My map was updated to the 2011 version (only difference i noticed so far was that it featured 3d renderings of some major buildings) but I drive software was not updated. Feedback from SC was Germany recommended that I dont update the software since there could be potential issues arising from an update. Something about non-compatibility with hardware. Funny if you ask me. Anyway, I have requested for a more comprehensive explanation.



Key priorities to resolve will be (ii) and (iii) above.

My steering wheel still not resolveds. Dun know what the problem is yet.

My map is also v outdated. I asked for an update and they told me to pay RM1000. Was wondering which SC did u go to and did u have to pay anything? A bit frus with my service center and i've been there only once

 

[germ]

thom, i went to ingress as i got the car there...what version is your map?

They updated for me FOC. If your car is manufactured in 2010, it should at least have the 2010 version...or if 2010 is obsolete, they will update to latest version, which is 2011. Based on what they my sales assistant told me, they sent details of my car (chassis number) to Germany and once verified and approved that I am entitled to a newer version, they sent the authorisation code to ingress, and they installed it for me within a day. You should insist and let them know that other SC's have done it.

Willie, thanks for feedback...i take it your car has similar sounds?

 

[thom]

I have to find out which year my map is. All i know is that its kinda outdated. Car is manufactured 2010. Will pursue the matter and also the sterring wheel. Besides the sound which is annoying but the steering feels v heavy, almost like with v little power steering. I know 3-er is heavy in the first place but this is way heavy. Anyway will keep u posted. Thanks for ur advice

 

[willie]

thom, i went to ingress as i got the car there...what version is your map?

They updated for me FOC. If your car is manufactured in 2010, it should at least have the 2010 version...or if 2010 is obsolete, they will update to latest version, which is 2011. Based on what they my sales assistant told me, they sent details of my car (chassis number) to Germany and once verified and approved that I am entitled to a newer version, they sent the authorisation code to ingress, and they installed it for me within a day. You should insist and let them know that other SC's have done it.

Willie, thanks for feedback...i take it your car has similar sounds?

yes yes... confirmed the source of the noise when i jacked up my car in workshop...