[m80theWolf]

I didn't read the whole thread, but this happened to me also. It ended up being an oil leak, leaking out onto the ac belt primarily. Car would squeal for about 10 seconds after turning on ac, especially common on startup.

[DieselRacer]

Mine just did it today for the first time, 52000 miiles, I have an extended warranty but I don't think they will take care of me on this one, I heard there was a bulliten poseted about this with bmw, maybe I can use that as leverage, anyone have any ideas if I can get them to cover it....

[Pierre Louis]

Originally Posted by DieselRacer

Mine just did it today for the first time, 52000 miiles, I have an extended warranty but I don't think they will take care of me on this one, I heard there was a bulliten poseted about this with bmw, maybe I can use that as leverage, anyone have any ideas if I can get them to cover it....

I had mine fixed under warranty - a rattle that was the AC unit - new unit put in.

Later (around 40,000 miles) it needed a new belt, which is what the squeak on startup was.

PL

[Yozh]

Originally Posted by DieselRacer

Mine just did it today for the first time, 52000 miiles, I have an extended warranty but I don't think they will take care of me on this one, I heard there was a bulliten poseted about this with bmw, maybe I can use that as leverage, anyone have any ideas if I can get them to cover it....

If your warranty will not cover it, your can swap the belts yourself. They are cheap to buy, a bit of a pita to snap on there, but doable. Another option is you can try tightening the belt before you replace. Tightening is done with the compressor bolts.

[DieselRacer]

Originally Posted by Yozh

If your warranty will not cover it, your can swap the belts yourself. They are cheap to buy, a bit of a pita to snap on there, but doable. Another option is you can try tightening the belt before you replace. Tightening is done with the compressor bolts.

I just got a belt for $8, Autohauz AZ, 11-28-7-520-177, oem new recommended part, it is not a BMW belt persay but it is the one recommended here and by BMW now...

[Yozh]

Yeah, they are about $20 for the genuine. BavAuto and ECS has them for $10 Continental made ones.

[myculito]

Originally Posted by Yozh

Yeah, they are about $20 for the genuine. BavAuto and ECS has them for $10 Continental made ones.

Can you provide some guidance here on how the belt can be changed? Do you know of a DIY?

[myculito]

Originally Posted by taibanl

I would approach them again.

The original part was defective the day it rolled off the production line, that is why they switched parts. Though you may not have had symptoms until after warranty expiration, the defect existed during your warranty.

My dealer would do it under goodwill. Problem is, I don't want a $140 repair to eat up one of the 3 goodwills we get.

I had a service manager tell me that BMW recently changed their policy on providing goodwill fixes, and that owners will get three, and it's on a sliding scale.

[DieselRacer]

Originally Posted by myculito

My dealer would do it under goodwill. Problem is, I don't want a $140 repair to eat up one of the 3 goodwills we get.

I had a service manager tell me that BMW recently changed their policy on providing goodwill fixes, and that owners will get three, and it's on a sliding scale.

I would love to see paperwork on that...

[myculito]

Originally Posted by DieselRacer

I would love to see paperwork on that...

So would I to be honest with you, but I'm powerless in this situation.

[DieselRacer]

Originally Posted by myculito

So would I to be honest with you, but I'm powerless in this situation.

Just talked to my SA, Monday I take car in for the check on this, I need to find the SIB so I can show them, makes it easier to deal with them...

[Yozh]

Originally Posted by myculito

Can you provide some guidance here on how the belt can be changed? Do you know of a DIY?

Please do so at your own risk. I'm not responsible as this is only what worked for me and based on my limited experience. I do not have an official repair manual nor have I got any instructions from any official source. I'm sure dealers use special tools.

You will need to remove the under tray. AC condenser is held by three long bolts. See here:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...96&hg=11&fg=18

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...21&hg=64&fg=50

Loosen the front two (front-rear as in reference to the front-rear of the car). The rear one is the one that controls the tension on the belt. Start releasing the rear bolt. You will see the condenser tilt towards the front and belt will loosen. You may have to nudge it a bit. Remove old belt, install new. Installing the new one will be difficult as you will still need to stretch it onto the pulleys. I did this by removing all three bolts, this may be necessary. I was doing some other repair and thus needed the compressor off anyway.

Anyone else that wants to correct me, please chime in.

[myculito]

Originally Posted by Yozh

Please do so at your own risk. I'm not responsible as this is only what worked for me and based on my limited experience. I do not have an official repair manual nor have I got any instructions from any official source. I'm sure dealers use special tools.

You will need to remove the under tray. AC condenser is held by three long bolts. See here:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...96&hg=11&fg=18

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...21&hg=64&fg=50

Loosen the front two (front-rear as in reference to the front-rear of the car). The rear one is the one that controls the tension on the belt. Start releasing the rear bolt. You will see the condenser tilt towards the front and belt will loosen. You may have to nudge it a bit. Remove old belt, install new. Installing the new one will be difficult as you will still need to stretch it onto the pulleys. I did this by removing all three bolts, this may be necessary. I was doing some other repair and thus needed the compressor off anyway.

Anyone else that wants to correct me, please chime in.

So you essentially removed all 3 bolts?

Did you have to remove the serpentine belt as well?

[myculito]

Okay, so I've researched this a little more, and it may not be necessary to loosen those AC compressor belts to install this belt.

Lisle makes a tool for this. Tool model is 59370, and looks like this:


Video of how it works is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEI_06b1F_8

[DieselRacer]

Bmw would not fix my belt for free, im at 51000 with extended warranty, said it was a maintenance, then I told him its not because your not going to replace it with the same part because it the wrong size, he did not know what to say and I went on my way. He also compares diesels to a prius and does not know why anyone would buy them with all the maintenance problems, I explained its not a diesel problem but a BMW bad design problem, lets just say he learned a few things after I explained the whole engine to him in a half hour, WHAT A JACKASS...

[Nushibo]

Originally Posted by DieselRacer

Bmw would not fix my belt for free, im at 51000 with extended warranty, said it was a maintenance, then I told him its not because your not going to replace it with the same part because it the wrong size, he did not know what to say and I went on my way. He also compares diesels to a prius and does not know why anyone would buy them with all the maintenance problems, I explained its not a diesel problem but a BMW bad design problem, lets just say he learned a few things after I explained the whole engine to him in a half hour, WHAT A JACKASS...

Just replace it yourself when you have the time. Its not worth creating a fuss at the dealership.

[DieselRacer]

Originally Posted by Nushibo

Just replace it yourself when you have the time. Its not worth creating a fuss at the dealership.

As soon as I drove off the lot I changed it, right after I hooked back up my JBD, I ordered a belt last week, they did fix my brake lights it was flickering so all were replace free...

[myculito]

Originally Posted by DieselRacer

As soon as I drove off the lot I changed it, right after I hooked back up my JBD, I ordered a belt last week, they did fix my brake lights it was flickering so all were replace free...

How did you change it?

[Nushibo]

Originally Posted by myculito

How did you change it?

Same question. Im looking at the compressor and the 3 bolts are in a very tight spot. Diesel did you use a special tool? id be easy if it had it but im looking for another method.

[skychismo]

Originally Posted by DieselRacer

Mine just did it today for the first time, 52000 miiles, I have an extended warranty but I don't think they will take care of me on this one, I heard there was a bulliten poseted about this with bmw, maybe I can use that as leverage, anyone have any ideas if I can get them to cover it....

They replaced my belt under warranty at BMW north scottsdale because of squeaking.

[skychismo]

Originally Posted by DieselRacer

Bmw would not fix my belt for free, im at 51000 with extended warranty, said it was a maintenance, then I told him its not because your not going to replace it with the same part because it the wrong size, he did not know what to say and I went on my way. He also compares diesels to a prius and does not know why anyone would buy them with all the maintenance problems, I explained its not a diesel problem but a BMW bad design problem, lets just say he learned a few things after I explained the whole engine to him in a half hour, WHAT A JACKASS...

That sucks. BMW north scottsdale replaced mine for free with the updated one under warranty.

[DieselRacer]

Originally Posted by skychismo

That sucks. BMW north scottsdale replaced mine for free with the updated one under warranty.

What is your millage, if I was under 50k they would have, im at 52k with extended warranty and no go...