M5POST
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Go Back   M5POST - BMW M5 Forum > F10 M5 Forum > Mechanical Maintenance - Break-in, Oil, Fluids, Servicing, Etc.

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      03-02-2019, 02:58 PM   #1
weeman6556
New Member
3
Rep
11
Posts

Drives: f10 M5
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

AC Condensor inspection / replacment

About 6 months ago my AC started blowing hot, sure sign I had a leak. During the refill the guy could hold pressure so was happy to recharge and this time add some yellow dye.

The AC system has just started to blow hot again, highlighting I’ve got a relatively small leak. Looking around with some UV light I’ve spotted My top suspect, the bottom left of the condensor (as you look into the grills), however it appears to be venting the yellow dye onto the main radiator, suggesting the dreaded F10 condensor part weakness rather than a rock impact.

My next task was remove the top brace and covers above the radiator and condensor to get a better view of the back side of the condensor.

Has anyone had this issue on their car and any tips / tricks to try / look at?
Not planning on taking a look until Friday so any advanced support would be ace.
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2019, 05:09 AM   #2
technician117
Captain
United_States
251
Rep
606
Posts

Drives: 2000 M5, 2001 M5, 2013 M5 6MT
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Buffalo

iTrader: (1)

Garage List
1990 BMW M5  [0.00]
2000 BMW M5  [0.00]
2013 BMW M5  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by weeman6556 View Post
About 6 months ago my AC started blowing hot, sure sign I had a leak. During the refill the guy could hold pressure so was happy to recharge and this time add some yellow dye.

The AC system has just started to blow hot again, highlighting I’ve got a relatively small leak. Looking around with some UV light I’ve spotted My top suspect, the bottom left of the condensor (as you look into the grills), however it appears to be venting the yellow dye onto the main radiator, suggesting the dreaded F10 condensor part weakness rather than a rock impact.

My next task was remove the top brace and covers above the radiator and condensor to get a better view of the back side of the condensor.

Has anyone had this issue on their car and any tips / tricks to try / look at?
Not planning on taking a look until Friday so any advanced support would be ace.
I can't relate any direct experience on the F10, but if it helps your diagnosis confidence, I've read the condensers are weak in these cars. Your troubleshooting plan was solid. I would just find a TIS and follow the procedure for R&R condenser. If you have ISTA, it has TIS loaded too. I found this to be a great feature of the program and have started using it maybe more than the diagnosis capability.

Not to get totally sidetracked; for the removal, I would still have the shop do a pull down to remove the remaining freon. I know it's a pain to go there 2 more times (removal and then recharge later) but it's safer than putting that crap in the air you (we all) are breathing.

Good luck. Take pictures and post updates here!
Appreciate 0
      03-04-2019, 03:59 PM   #3
M5Rick
General
M5Rick's Avatar
58874
Rep
19,241
Posts

Drives: M5 F10 DCT Gunmetal
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Southern England

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by weeman6556 View Post
About 6 months ago my AC started blowing hot, sure sign I had a leak. During the refill the guy could hold pressure so was happy to recharge and this time add some yellow dye.

The AC system has just started to blow hot again, highlighting I’ve got a relatively small leak. Looking around with some UV light I’ve spotted My top suspect, the bottom left of the condensor (as you look into the grills), however it appears to be venting the yellow dye onto the main radiator, suggesting the dreaded F10 condensor part weakness rather than a rock impact.

My next task was remove the top brace and covers above the radiator and condensor to get a better view of the back side of the condensor.

Has anyone had this issue on their car and any tips / tricks to try / look at?
Not planning on taking a look until Friday so any advanced support would be ace.
i had two months of my warranty left and the condenser blew when it was 36C.
Bm changed it for no charge but wouldn't open up whether it was manuf. fault or stone hit.My guess is that it was too light a construction for weight saving.
Appreciate 0
      03-27-2019, 04:44 AM   #4
Guy M5
Enlisted Member
Scotland
17
Rep
39
Posts

Drives: M5 F10 2014 MCB
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Scotland

iTrader: (0)

I was on my last 3 months of warranty when my a/c failed. I was pretty certain it was the condensor issue, a weak spot on F10s and booked it into the dealer for a replacement.

They then refilled it and said it was holding a charge and blowing cold air, fair enough I thought. A week later it was blowing warm again, so a bit annoyed, I took it back to the dealer again and this time they agreed it was a faulty condensor and replaced it, all good since then.
Appreciate 0
      04-23-2019, 06:28 PM   #5
BMWM5NYC
Captain
BMWM5NYC's Avatar
496
Rep
812
Posts

Drives: 2013 F10 Monte Carlo Blue M5
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Guy M5 View Post
I was on my last 3 months of warranty when my a/c failed. I was pretty certain it was the condensor issue, a weak spot on F10s and booked it into the dealer for a replacement.

They then refilled it and said it was holding a charge and blowing cold air, fair enough I thought. A week later it was blowing warm again, so a bit annoyed, I took it back to the dealer again and this time they agreed it was a faulty condensor and replaced it, all good since then.
I went through the same scenario back in Sept 2018 . I was really annoyed because I am in the HVAC field, so I know when a system has a leak. When I came back 2 days later I was NOT a happy camper, and they bent over backward to accommodate me since they did not listen to me the first time.
__________________
Formally known as BMWM3NYC
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:34 AM.




m5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST