A/C evaporator leaking. Dealer wants $4k to fix

[positiveions]

OP, since BMWNA offered you $500 dollars in discount, see if you can get them to cut you a check instead. Then take it to a mechanic of your choice. Worth trying.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by aus

You going to send the pics to BMw to show them how crappy their evaporator is? Maybe they'll cover some of the cosy?

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I was told that once the decision is made at the BMWNA level, the issue is a dead issue. There is no changing that decision. The car is fixed now so I'm done with it. I'll just take joy knowing the BMW or the dealer didn't get any of my money for the labor on this. BMW and the dealer still got some money since the indy used OEM parts ordered through the dealer.

[Bluesummer]

Im surprised there's no PUMA case opened if this has been a common issue for cars in Hawaii.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by Bluesummer

Im surprised there's no PUMA case opened if this has been a common issue for cars in Hawaii.

Market is too small. A common issue on M3s in Hawaii is about 5 cars

[aus]

BMWNA used to monitor RoadFly, but not sure if they're still there.
Too bad they're not here much, because this is an obvious case where someone should have taken care of you, even if it was pay for 1/2 of the repair; which wouldn't save you any money, but would look a lot better and maybe keep a customer.

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[Templar]

Glad to see you got it fixed OP, and at a better price!

[rouxeny]

I just was told my evac failed. $4300 to fix through my one (and only) BMW dealer (not the one on Oahu).

I don't know if there's an independent on island that would do this. It may be cheaper to have the car shipped to Oahu.

I contacted BMW NA, curious to see if I'll hear back.

2008 m3 e93. 26k miles

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by rouxeny

I just was told my evac failed. $4300 to fix through my one (and only) BMW dealer (not the one on Oahu).

I don't know if there's an independent on island that would do this. It may be cheaper to have the car shipped to Oahu.

I contacted BMW NA, curious to see if I'll hear back.

2008 m3 e93. 26k miles

I had mine done at an Indy for $2300.

[templarklimek]

Mine went out at 9800k miles here in Houston. 4k plus repair. Barely still under warranty.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by templarklimek

Mine went out at 9800k miles here in Houston. 4k plus repair. Barely still under warranty.

You have the highest mileage M3 evar!

[US///M3]

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

Market is too small. A common issue on M3s in Hawaii is about 5 cars

Does the M3 use the same E9X 3 series ac evaporator?

[808@702]

Yes its required to remove the dash

[drvai]

The typical price in a dealer is over 4K because as everyone said, they have to remove the dash. If you have a good relationship with your dealer, they might go down on the price, but will at least be 3K.

[speedaddictM3]

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

You have the highest mileage M3 evar!

Yeah. And still on the original rod bearings

[IB M]

How can you tell evaporator is bad - AC blows warm??

[rouxeny]

Yes, basically the AC blows warm air.

When you bring it to the dealer, they put dye in the system to look for a leak.

At my first visit, they couldn't find it, and just refilled the freon. Within 3 weeks, I had warm AC again, and this time they took a panel under the car off and found it.

Parts are less than 1/4 of the estimate, was told it'd take 2 days.

[JonM]

I am pretty pissed about the evaporator too. Sounds/looks like a design or manufacturing flaw with all the cases. It's a really stupid mistake for such a mass produced car like the 3-series.

I had my freon recharged (and dyed this summer) but it's only a matter of time before it leaks out again. I did notice in realoem the evaporator part number has been updated 3 times. That sort of indicates BMW knew there was an issue. Apparently you don't know if you have a Denso or Valeo until you get in there and you are supposed to replace with the same brand when you do.

for Denso only
03 Evaporator DENSO 1 64119179802 $391.42

ONLY APPLIES TO VALEO
03 Evaporator VALEO 1 01/2011 64116934781 ENDED
03 Evaporator VALEO 1 07/2012 64119256346 ENDED
03 Evaporator VALEO 1 64119290888 (current part)

[aus]

For you guys with the condenser failure, did you have your AC on pretty much all the time or the controls in AUTO mode?

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[rouxeny]

Kind of doesn't make sense to replace it with the same failed part number.

I have mine on almost all the time. Usually set to 2-3 bars, 70 degrees.

When it's always in the mid 80's, you need your AC!

[JonM]

Originally Posted by aus

For you guys with the condenser failure, did you have your AC on pretty much all the time or the controls in AUTO mode?

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I have never used the Auto mode the whole time I have owned the car. I run the AC maybe 20% of the car's life. It is humid here and it does have to work hard here. But, the AC in my M coupes and my GMC truck work in the same conditions and they have no issues, ever.

[davesaddiction]

Considering the number of failures (mine included), it's clearly due to a design flaw.

I was lucky enough to catch mine under factory warranty, but barely.

My recommendation for anyone getting close to end of warranty would be to complain about the AC so that they'll test it for leaks...

[eocrm3]

I too was very lucky in that I had mine replaced at around 49,800 miles.
As others have stated, it seems to be a design flaw as it's somewhat of a common problem on e92s (my SA told me they see this problem often).