[Oli3]

Hey ya all,
There is a buzzing noise behind the centre console which I believe may be the reason for draining my battery. I have been able to trace that the noise goes away when I remove fuse #11 from the glove box which is one of the Air Con fuses. The car is a 1995 730i.

Has anyone ever experienced anything like this before? Can anyone shed some light on if there's anything that can be done.

Thanks

 

[QSilver7]

Which HVAC control panel do you have...the IHKA or IHKR? THe IHKA (auto/digital control panel) has a small fan that sucks in cabin air across a thermister...which is how the IHKA maintains the temperature that has been set.

This fan is also on the P-bus which continues to run certain items on the P-bus up to 16 minutes after shutting down the car (just like the little orange light on the gear shift plate). If there are no calls on the door handles or remote buttons on the key...the car will go to SLEEP and the little fan & orange light will turn off. Any time you lift a door handle or press buttons on the remote key...the car will AWAKE and items on the P-bus turn on.

Again, that little fan can get noisy from a build-up of dust that accumulates on it...take note of the vent on your IHKA panel...if it is full of dust...so is that little wheel:

(is this the IHKA control panel you have?)

(or do you have this IHKA control panel? if so, the fan is up & behind the left vent)

(small fan inside the IHKA control panel that makes that little buzzing noise for up to 16 minutes after shut down)

 

[Oli3]

Thanks for the prompt and detailed reply! However my console is the IHKR manual one that looks like is:

Is there a way to open up the centre console so I can have a look inside?

The battery is drained in about a week which i believe is far too quickly as its fairly new so I thought it may be due to this, is there any other reason this could be happening?

 

[BMWFatherFigure]

Any number of things. After market items? Boot light staying on? (Test by leaving it open - light will turn off after 16-20 min). If those tests and checks are good - leave the car locked with the boot open for 20 min and then start to look for draining currents from the battery. If you have that problem pull fuses until it goes away - then check that circuit. Other possibilities are bad alt diode, battery not getting charged in the first place etc etc.

 

[EMNAJN]

Dear QSilver7,

Thank you for your detailed response to this question. I too am suffering from the buzzing noise behind the centre console of my 1997 E38. Following your comments and pictures (very helpful thank you) I think it is the small fan inside the IHKA control panel (the last of your pictures). How would I access this fan to clean it and might I start breaking things if I try!?! I am happy to try stuff, but am not the most skilled, also not the worst.

Any advice and help would really be appreciated please.

Best wishes,

EMNAJN

Which HVAC control panel do you have...the IHKA or IHKR? THe IHKA (auto/digital control panel) has a small fan that sucks in cabin air across a thermister...which is how the IHKA maintains the temperature that has been set.

This fan is also on the P-bus which continues to run certain items on the P-bus up to 16 minutes after shutting down the car (just like the little orange light on the gear shift plate). If there are no calls on the door handles or remote buttons on the key...the car will go to SLEEP and the little fan & orange light will turn off. Any time you lift a door handle or press buttons on the remote key...the car will AWAKE and items on the P-bus turn on.

Again, that little fan can get noisy from a build-up of dust that accumulates on it...take note of the vent on your IHKA panel...if it is full of dust...so is that little wheel:

(is this the IHKA control panel you have?)

(or do you have this IHKA control panel? if so, the fan is up & behind the left vent)

(small fan inside the IHKA control panel that makes that little buzzing noise for up to 16 minutes after shut down)

 

[QSilver7]

... How would I access this fan to clean it and might I start breaking things if I try!?! I am happy to try stuff, but am not the most skilled, also not the worst.

Any advice and help would really be appreciated please.

Best wishes,

EMNAJN

Here's a link to Mario's DIY (which can be found at www.e38.org) on how to remove the IHKA unit and open it up...in fact, the last pic is from his DIY. This isn't a difficult DIY...once you get at least one of the components removed from the dash...it's easy to push the IHKA control unit out.

Here's a direct link so that you don't have to search for it on e38.org: http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/428942

 

[EMNAJN]

Dear QSilver7,

Thank you so much that is really helpful. Now to give it a go and see if I can get rid of that noise...wish me luck (it's my wife's car and she won't be pleased if I break any of those brittle looking plastic clips)!

Best wishes and thanks,

EMNAJN