[bern330ci]

Hello all,

I'm a newbie on the board. I just took delivery of a 2002 330ci that I ordered back in January. The car is amazing!

While sitting in the car tonight with windows closed, no key in the car and nothing turned on, I noticed a very faint whirring sound coming from the radio/climate control area as if something was turned on. You can hear it well when you put your ears close to the center console. I'm used to complete silence in the car when everything is off.

Can anyone tell me if they've noticed any type of similar sound while the car is off? I was inside a closed garage so there was no surrounding noise. Do I have an abnormality here? I'm hoping that I don't have something drawing current when it shouldn't be.

I only have a few miles on the car, but I'm looking forward to every mile I add!

Thanks,
bern330ci

 

[ChrisTO]

it can be normal depending on the timing...i recall that the manual stated something about the vents 'resetting' themselves every 5th time the car is turned off. basically all the vents move from full open to full close.

how long before the sound stops? does it even stop?

 

[bern330ci]

I could hear the vents moving and then stopping, but the noise I'm describing remains even when the vents stop moving.

This morning I stepped into the car and noticed that the noise finally stopped. I now know that it is triggered when the key is turned to the second "on" position and then taken out without actually starting the car. The noise apparently stays for many minutes, but eventually does stop so I feel a little better. I wonder what it is.

 

[Gs330Ci]

My 01 330Ci does the same thing and my 96 M3 did also. Apparently the climate control remains with power for a while after the ignition is turned off. The blower does not run, it is just a slight sound. My 330Ci is a steptronic and the transmission position indicator stays on for a while also after the ignition is turned off, unless I lock the car with key transmitter. All that I have seen do this. I have never timed the length of time it takes for the tranmission indicator light to go out, but I think it is at least 10 minutes. The noise from the climate control might go out at the same time.

 

[ashecnc]

Yes you are right..they stay lite up for a while.....or until you press the button to lock...then they all shut off

 

[bern330ci]

I have a manual tranny so I didn't have a position indicator shutoff delay to notice, but I think Gs330Ci's comments describe exactly what I'm hearing. My mind's at ease now that I know it's not only my car exhibiting that characteristic.

Now I can go back to enjoying the car until I find the next quirk!

 

[jgrgnt]

I realize my post is ridiculously late, but I just noticed this on my car tonight and thought I'd do a search on the forum to see if others had answers. From what I could tell, it appears to be some sort of small fan hidden behind the rectangular slats on the left side of the automatic climate control display. If you place your finger within about a centimeter of this area you can very faintly feel the air moving.

Could this be some sort of cooling fan for the electronics inside the climate control (and possibly the head unit)? If so, very cool (literally).

Michael

 

[vern]

Small fan

You should have two small fans,one behind each one of the lovered openings.These fans draw the air in the cabin across sensors by the lovered openings so your climate control can maintain the degrees that you have set when your on auto.
hopes this helps
vern