Air con mist in cabin

wedrum · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:24

Quick one guys seems to be a haze coming from the vents in the BMW.
Have had a search around but can't find much info.

Other than my body aching from head to toe like flu once I breathed it in.

I'm guessing this is a leak ?

Edit: also the windscreen tends to cloud over too with a film like texture.

wedrum · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:25

Ooops wrong forum..

andy_mk3 · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:26

Potentially the condenser leaking in the A/C system. It shouldn't take long for it to completely empty the system if the leak is that bad though.

wedrum · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:31

Seems to be of going on for weeks.
Odd times there is a like foggy haze coming from the vents a bit worried

andy_mk3 · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:33

I doubt it's aircon then. Have you had any loss of coolant, does it smell sweet?

Dis86 · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:39

Jimmy Saville said:
Seems to be of going on for weeks.
Odd times there is a like foggy haze coming from the vents a bit worried

Used to get this in my old 3 series. Normally after there'd been a temperature rise then drop outside. Just put it down to condensation.

Finglonga · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:40

Check the AC drain is clear as if not water stays on the evaporator and will mist the car up when started.

wedrum · 17 Mar 2019 at 16:45

Worrying bit is any of the above dangerous?

Dis86 · 17 Mar 2019 at 17:11

Jimmy Saville said:
Worrying bit is any of the above dangerous?

Bacterial build-up can result.

Scania · 17 Mar 2019 at 17:53

My E38’s both did this, an antibacterial clean with re-gas cured it completely.

Fairly sure the guy who did it said my drain was pretty blocked too which exacerbates the issue.

acemastr · 17 Mar 2019 at 18:02

Does it here too, humidity in the air is the usual cause.

Check cabin filter, may be time for a change. Leaky boot?

Minstadave · 17 Mar 2019 at 18:11

My F10 did this last week. Drove to work and waiting in traffic and just started pouring vapour through the vents for a few minutes, smelt like car exhaust.

Seems to be working fine since, AC works, super weird.

wedrum · 17 Mar 2019 at 18:36

Yes it's weird.
Like I said though the windscreen smogs up to with a like oily film.

Will take it for a aircon service see what happens after that.

Nasher · 17 Mar 2019 at 19:24

If it starts to smell rotten then bacteria is growing in there.

Minstadave · 17 Mar 2019 at 19:51

Jimmy Saville said:
Yes it's weird.
Like I said though the windscreen smogs up to with a like oily film.

Will take it for a aircon service see what happens after that.

Oily film sounds like a compressor leak but I don't think they normally leak into the vents.

Howard · 18 Mar 2019 at 08:30

Mine did this last summer when the drain pipe that lets condensation out underneath the car got blocked, and the water was pooling in the plastic housing that holds the heater matrix and AC evaporator. I presumed it was steam caused by the water's relationship with the heater matrix and/or the evaporator or whatever. Exact same symptoms - vapour through the vents and oily-looking condensation at the bottom of the windscreen. I unblocked the tube and let about half a litre of water pour out onto the ground under the car, and it's been fine since.

So check your AC drainage would be my advice.

zammo · 20 Mar 2019 at 16:41

Mine did this last October. Heater matrix leaking coolant then being blown into cabin... Smelt of fish, oily residue inside windscreen / windows, and as you describe, haze coming thorough vents.

Clarkey · 20 Mar 2019 at 19:30

I had this in my E36, was a leaking heater matrix.