2006 330i Evaporator

A few days ago I noticed a smell on my car that lasted like 3 minutes and was gone. Today I decided to hook up a Diagnostic Code Reader just fooling around with the car and getting to know the car (bought it a month ago) and the Diagnostic Code Reader tells me that I got a leak on the evaporator.
Ok, if the Evap is leaking is it something that just has to be done in the dealer or can any other good AC shop (not the dealer) can do this? I have been driving around and haven got the smell again.

I got some extended warrantee on the car and might try to get the dealer i got it from look at it.
is there any service bulletin about problems with the evap?

I live in Key West so I got to go to Miami for anything. (if someone knows of a good shop).

Thank you in advance!

Originally Posted by Rafy27

A few days ago I noticed a smell on my car that lasted like 3 minutes and was gone. Today I decided to hook up a Diagnostic Code Reader just fooling around with the car and getting to know the car (bought it a month ago) and the Diagnostic Code Reader tells me that I got a leak on the evaporator.
Ok, if the Evap is leaking is it something that just has to be done in the dealer or can any other good AC shop (not the dealer) can do this? I have been driving around and haven got the smell again.

I got some extended warrantee on the car and might try to get the dealer i got it from look at it.
is there any service bulletin about problems with the evap?

I live in Key West so I got to go to Miami for anything. (if someone knows of a good shop).

Thank you in advance!

Have you been saving those nickles and dimes? This is surgery!

Verify with the special smoke, please....

Which code reader?

Tax return $$$…. ….Surgery? i guess replacing the evap?

special smoke?

"code key" (code reader)

why my cars always end up with AC problems? oh well.

Hey Rafy....I feel your pain, I went through 2 on my x5. Definately explore your extended warranty on this one, as mine quoted out to $3200...For as difficult as these things are to get at, one would think they would make them completely bulletproof...

Whooaa!! 3k for that thing? Was that at the dealer? I better start looking for none dealer place in Miami to repair it if the dealer that sold me that car wont cover it. plus I looked on line and the evap cost between $300 and $500 new, how can it cost 3K? Was the job done at the BMW dealer? Just wondering!

Needed one on my wife's X3. They have to tear out the whole dash to do the job. I negotiated the price with the dealer. Started @ $2800 - got it done for $1900.

Originally Posted by Rafy27

Whooaa!! 3k for that thing? Was that at the dealer? I better start looking for none dealer place in Miami to repair it if the dealer that sold me that car wont cover it. plus I looked on line and the evap cost between $300 and $500 new, how can it cost 3K? Was the job done at the BMW dealer? Just wondering!

Yes, that was the dealer quote...I ended up only paying $500, since my car was just out of warranty, and my SA went to bat for me, and BMW stepped up and did a goodwill repair. The second time was done under the 2 year, unlimited mile warranty...generated by the initial repair (I paid nothing for the second repair). As in many things, its the labor that gets you on this one, not the part. This part sits very deep in your dash

The special smoke is a dye that they inject into your AC system, and it is detectable with a "sniffer" This is the gold standard for diagnosing these things...(not the speak for CWB, as I am sure he can elaborate on this issue)

Thank you everybody for your responses, I'm gonna have to try that warranty first to see what happens if that doesn't pan out then pay with the tax return…..if that is whats wrong with the car because it takes 3 ½ Hrs to get to Miami from Key West to get this checked out. It's been 4 days and I haven't got "that smell" again.

Thank you!

.
Have a look HERE

if your evaporator is leaking, you would loose your freon charge and your AC would quit working, so does your AC still work?

Hondo

Yes it is still working.

I wonder how the computer knows if the Air Conditions system has a leak it can pinpoint the area of the leak? High side Vs low side I can see that but specifically the Evaporator

I would just keep adding Freon when its low

Hondo