Help~ car is pissing!

BMW! · 07-28-2008, 08:56 AM

This is a stupid question that I should've asked when I had my very 1st car, I found out that my car would drip water from below when it's parked, ofcourse you can say it's caused by the AC... Is dripping water normal?

Couch · 07-28-2008, 08:57 AM

Sorry had to laugh.

Yes, it's normal if you've been running the A/C.

tintivilus · 07-28-2008, 08:59 AM

Yes. If you don't drip water when the AC is running it means the evaporator housing drain is plugged and your car will soon smell like mold.

That's not to say there aren't bad reasons to drip water as well, but if you're using AC I'd be way more concerned about absence of water than presence.

BMW! · 07-28-2008, 09:03 AM

its nice to know this after driving for many years haha..

Dipdidi · 07-28-2008, 09:25 AM

When i pump the A/C i get a foul smell from the vents for the first 2-3 seconds, what causes this? The car barely has 4k on it.

BMW! · 07-28-2008, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dipdidi

When i pump the A/C i get a foul smell from the vents for the first 2-3 seconds, what causes this? The car barely has 4k on it.

ya that happened to me couple of times during spring time... I've saw a thread stating that the vent is moldy, you can fix it by cleaning it or turn on the REST or set the automatic venting time whenever its possible to get rid off the moisture.

Arustik1 · 07-28-2008, 11:01 AM

yeah thats your oil leaking and possibly your engine is about to go limp...oh i forgot your tranny is probably a mess too....

or its cause your AC was running

simp0man · 07-28-2008, 11:08 AM

I never noticed the water since I don't get out and but I do notice sometimes when I get back in the car, the car smells like moldy water but not all the time. Is that normal?

tintivilus · 07-28-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simp0man

I never noticed the water since I don't get out and but I do notice sometimes when I get back in the car, the car smells like moldy water but not all the time. Is that normal?

According to BMW yes, but reasonable people disagree on that front

It's a classic failure mode of BMW-designed ventilation systems in cars driven by Americans. It happens when the A/C has run long enough to develop condensation but not long enough to dry off. Basically when you do lots of short drives the A/C is always trying to chill hot/humid exterior air and never goes into the temperature-maintenance cycle where stuff can dry out.

The official fix is to make sure there are no clogged drains, then empty a spray-can of disinfectant into the vents.

simp0man · 07-28-2008, 12:07 PM

Sounds good, thank you tintvilus!

Tondtar · 07-28-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW!

This is a stupid question that I should've asked when I had my very 1st car, I found out that my car would drip water from below when it's parked, ofcourse you can say it's caused by the AC... Is dripping water normal?

If it's "Yellow' in color and smells funky, then I would start worrying

Chitown-Irish · 07-28-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tondtar

If it's "Yellow' in color and smells funky, then I would start worrying

Some Pampers or Depend's works fine.

This is in the manual:

When the vehicle is parked

Condensation forms while the automatic climate control is in operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water under the vehicle are therefore normal.

07-28-2008, 08:56 AM	#1
BMW! Captain 66 Rep 653 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: May 2008 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Help~ car is pissing! This is a stupid question that I should've asked when I had my very 1st car, I found out that my car would drip water from below when it's parked, ofcourse you can say it's caused by the AC... Is dripping water normal?
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07-28-2008, 08:57 AM	#2
Couch Colonel 142 Rep 2,900 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Sorry had to laugh. Yes, it's normal if you've been running the A/C.
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07-28-2008, 08:59 AM	#3
tintivilus Lieutenant Colonel 26 Rep 1,826 Posts Drives: E92 335i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lake County, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00] 2003 325i [0.00]	Yes. If you don't drip water when the AC is running it means the evaporator housing drain is plugged and your car will soon smell like mold. That's not to say there aren't bad reasons to drip water as well, but if you're using AC I'd be way more concerned about absence of water than presence.
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07-28-2008, 09:03 AM	#4
BMW! Captain 66 Rep 653 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: May 2008 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	its nice to know this after driving for many years haha..
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07-28-2008, 09:25 AM	#5
Dipdidi Private 9 Rep 91 Posts Drives: none Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	When i pump the A/C i get a foul smell from the vents for the first 2-3 seconds, what causes this? The car barely has 4k on it.
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07-28-2008, 11:01 AM	#7
Arustik1 HYEPWR 100 Rep 2,868 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mesa, AZ iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	yeah thats your oil leaking and possibly your engine is about to go limp...oh i forgot your tranny is probably a mess too.... or its cause your AC was running __________________ 2002 330ci Titanium Silver / Gray 2005 X5 3.0i Black Sapphire Metallic / Black 2002 M3 Laguna Seca Blue / Black 2001 M5 Jet Black / Black
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07-28-2008, 11:08 AM	#8
simp0man Not looking 2 SPEED, just looking GOOD 45 Rep 2,516 Posts Drives: 07 328i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stockton, Ca iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	I never noticed the water since I don't get out and but I do notice sometimes when I get back in the car, the car smells like moldy water but not all the time. Is that normal? __________________
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07-28-2008, 12:07 PM	#10
simp0man Not looking 2 SPEED, just looking GOOD 45 Rep 2,516 Posts Drives: 07 328i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stockton, Ca iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 328i [0.00]	Sounds good, thank you tintvilus! __________________
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