Problem with Air conditioner and Window

Tiny
HAWKSTER1974
  • MEMBER
  • BMW 328
I recently bought a 1996 BMW 328is with 159,000 miles. Within 3-4 hrs of buying it the air conditioner stopped putting out cold air. I'm not sure if it needs freon, was overcharged with freon, is a computer issue, electronics issue, or anything like that. The air conditioner unit (digital unit) appears to work fine, it just stopped putting out cold air. It was fine when I test drove it and when I drove it home. Also, the next day after I bought the car the driver's side window wouldn't go up. Not sure if it's the regulator or what. When you hit the button to make it go up, you can hear it try for a second and the window moves about 1 or 2 milimeters (very small amount) but doesn't go up. But it doesn't grind and keep trying to make it go up. So I'm not sure if these 2 issues, the air conditioner and window, are related (electronics or computer) or if they are isolated incidents and just a coincidence that they happened around the same time (right after I bought the car). Any help you can give would be appreciated.
Sunday, August 19th, 2007 AT 10:14 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
The A/C issue could just be bad luck, I don't know. The window regulator is a common failure in that car. There is a plastic gear that fails inside the regulator. When the A/C is on, does the compressor clutch engage, and is the auxiliary fan coming on?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, August 20th, 2007 AT 4:48 PM
Tiny
BEATBARN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I also have a 1996 328I (not IS), and have the similar issue. My A/C stopped working some months back and I was told by a mechanic that it is probably my sensor and or computer that needs to be replaced (costly).

Anyone have other suggestions, maybe fuse? The A/C shows on in the computer but doesn't turn on at all, it uses to work randomly (usually once I reached 75+ MPH), and is now totally dead.

Thanks in advance for any pearls of wisdom.

Cheers! :D
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, September 24th, 2007 AT 1:48 PM
Tiny
DOCHAGERTY
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,601 POSTS
The A/C issue could be the control unit and is a simple repair, repost with a private message and I will direct you
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 AT 1:40 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links