Any e46 owners, need a/c advice

[nomansland92]

Well I got tired of the dd slowbaru so I figured it was time to move up in the world.

Found this 03 330xi with sport, cold weather and premium packages for a little over 7k so I jumped on it knowing the a/c had problems. I was hoping it just needed charged. But that's not the case.

First of the clutch wouldn't engage so I figured it had a leak so wanted to charge it myself to verify before paying to have charged to only last a week.

Got some a/c pro and it had no pressure so I started putting it in and the clutch kicked right in abs a/c blow have decent cold. That lasted about a day then again Nothen. So I injected some die and used a uv light, I only looked over what I could see with out taking anything apart but are there a common leak spots for these? From what I've read it seamed common for the evaporator but I'm praying that's not the case because I know that would be a blast to change and I'm not paying 2k for a shop to do it.

Any other e46 guys have a/c troubles in that regards?
Photo for the hell of it :)

[der affe]

My blower resister died last week, but that just makes it stay on with the key on. It is about a 1/2 & $90 to fix that.

Not your problem though. Can't help there.

[hendrixvodu]

A few questions did you electic fan come on? Did you lose pressure after you charged it or it just won't work ? ... The most comon places on anything I've gone through are at the dryer or the condenser ... I seriously doubt you have a leak inside the car

[einhander]

Check your water/heater valve. I had a 330ci that had the same problem - replaced it and it worked. Quick fix, too.

There is an E46Fanatics thread about it, but I can't seem to find the link.

[amcink]

Check your water/heater valve. I had a 330ci that had the same problem - replaced it and it worked. Quick fix, too.

There is an E46Fanatics thread about it, but I can't seem to find the link.

This is your fix also join e46fanatics.com great resource

[nomansland92]

^ That would be awesome so ill check that out, and ill join that forum for sure.

And ya the blower works fine, when i charge it, it works great for a day then dies.

[Julien]

e46 issues that i've ran into:
1. outside air temp sensor disconnected/wired in improperly
2. Leaking Evap (e46 dash is herra easy to pull)
3. Leaking by the suction (iirc?) line right where it goes through the firewall
4. just low charge is most common tho

[nomansland92]

e46 issues that i've ran into:
1. outside air temp sensor disconnected/wired in improperly
2. Leaking Evap (e46 dash is herra easy to pull)
3. Leaking by the suction (iirc?) line right where it goes through the firewall
4. just low charge is most common tho

the dash is easy to pull? And i think i found a leak at the low side Schrader valve. I sprayed water on it and seen it bubbling, so hopefully that's the only leak there is.

[Julien]

the dash is easy to pull? And i think i found a leak at the low side Schrader valve. I sprayed water on it and seen it bubbling, so hopefully that's the only leak there is.

i swapped from tan to a black dash in 2 hours. really quick techs can do it in 45 mins

[nomansland92]

That's good to here, I heard the Dash was a 16 hour job. I'm waiting for a new valve and drier and then I'm going to have a shop charge it the right way. If it still leaks I'll pull the dash in spring.

[TobyB]

Scan it.

The computers are pretty good about talking to you if you have something BMW specific like PASoft.

But a bubbling valve is your first fix.

t