TXPearl

I've noticed that my climate control system makes a sort of pulsating, whining noise that's particularly noticeable when idling. I can tell how loud it is by comparing to when the climate control system is turned completely off - the difference is pronounced. Is this normal?

Try this when you're in a quiet area and not moving - turn off the CC and see if the background noise drops dramatically.

BMW#7

There should definitely not be a pulsating whining noise.

katheikia

I have no noise.

sigma

I'm sorry to bump such an old thread but TXPearl, did you ever resolve his problem? Your issue describes mine to the 't' and I am getting pushback from my dealer that it is normal.

MacSid

Mine give out a very low humming + pulsating noise that is only noticeable when the car is stationary and the radio is off. My E39 did the same too. However, it's a really soft, low and inobtrusive sound. I would hazard that anything more than that is something you'd want to get your dealer to look at.

MAK

This seems to have been a problem for a long time now and indeed I have had this since buying my car in 2004.
The noise is seemingly coming from an electric auxilluary heating pump which is supposed to heat the car up quicker from cold.
My dealer informed me this is indeed normal and so I have learned to live with it and also it disappears after a few miles.

If you search the Forums you will find that someone here has actually had this pump changed but the noise is still there.

All I would say is that if the noise does not go away once the car reaches normal temp. then by all means bend the dealer's ear and see what they suggest. I would have thought that by now the latest models would have changed the design of this part so that it is more user friendly.

Good luck!

Marzzz

Interesting- my '05 545 does this also, but I only recently noticed it. In AZ I don't run the heat very often, so this may be a factor. I was going to ask my dealer about it, but I am less than 8 weeks away from turning it back in....

MacSid

I think MAK maybe right on the money with this - I seem to hear the sound only in the colder months of the year.

sigma

In some of the older threads people mention two classes of problems, one when the car is cold and another where it happens much more often. I'm in the latter camp where I can hear it about 80% of the time when the radio is off and it doesn't matter if the CC is warming or cooling the car.

It's definitely the loudest sound the car makes when at idle for me.

MrBimmer

I have the exact same problem as sigma. I have a UK 2004 E60 and this pulsating whining noise is so annoying. I'm now finding myself switching climate control off or turning up the music. This must be a known fault. Any ideas anyone?