What does an air conditioning condenser do?
The condenser sits at the front of the radiator and is an integral part of your air conditioning (AC) system. It converts the refrigerant gas into a cold liquid to provide chilled air throughout your vehicle, to keep you and your passengers at a comfortable temperature on a hot day.
How often should a condenser need replacing?
A well-maintained and properly serviced condenser should last as long as your car will. However, as with all vehicle components, they’re prone to wear and tear, and leakage and blockage can create irreparable damage.
The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT
A faulty air conditioner won’t affect your car’s MOT but it can affect the comfort of you and your passengers. It’s worth keeping your air conditioning running at its optimum performance as the impact it can have on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency could significantly affect the day-to-day cost of your motoring.
What causes an AC condenser to stop working correctly?
There are a variety of reasons your **AC condenser **could need replacing. It could be that the fan has stopped functioning correctly, or that the condenser has developed a leak or blockage somewhere. It may be because it has become clogged by refrigerant contaminated with unwanted elements, infiltrating it from other parts of the system.
It’s also possible that objects being thrown up from the road—including gravel, litter and other debris—could cause damage to interfere with your condenser’s correct operation.
Symptoms of a malfunctioning AC condenser
Your air con isn’t as cold as normal or not working at all
Your condenser could have stopped working correctly if you notice that the air conditioning in your car isn’t providing the usual levels of cold air as normal, or if it isn’t working at all.
You can hear a ticking sound or see liquid
A ticking sound from your engine or areas of liquid leaking around the air conditioning unit are signs that your condenser could be malfunctioning.
Your fuel consumption isn’t as high as normal
A malfunctioning condenser could also affect your fuel consumption, so if you notice that you’re not achieving your usual mpg, it could be time to have your condenser checked out.
BMW
BMW AG is a German automobile and motorcycle manufacturer that was established over 100 years ago in March 1916. They also own Mini and Rolls Royce, after taking over the two British marques in 2000 and 1998 respectively.
How popular is BMW in the United Kingdom?
BMW makes luxury vehicles and is possibly most famous for its sports saloon models. In 2018, BMW had 1.9m vehicles on the roads in the UK, a number that has been steadily increasing each year for the past decade.
As one of the ‘big 3’ German marques, along with Audi and Mercedes, BMW carries a strong reputation for making high-quality stylish vehicles, and have captured a large section of the UK market.
Luxury family and business models for every driver
Probably most popular for the 3 Series and 5 Series saloon models, BMW has got every possible angle covered for the more discerning drivers.
The full range includes everything from the 1 Series city car to the full-size saloons and sports coupes of the 7 and 8 Series models.
To provide everything you’d ever need for family motoring there’s a seven-seat MPV, their range of X model SUVs, and since 2014, the introduction of their plug-in electric i models. Top it all off with their M model high-performance supercars, the Z4 convertible and the i8 Roadster—and you’ve got the full package.
BMW has a successful history in a range of motorsports.
They have been significant performers in touring car racing and rally driving, enjoyed success in Formula One with the BMW Sauber team, and BMW cars have been regular competitors and winners at Le Mans since the race’s early years.
BMW’s reliability and reputation
BMW ranked 16th place out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018. BMW hasn’t always had the best reputation for reliability but to rank alongside marques such as Honda, Volkswagen and Fiat they’re holding their own alongside plenty of the other big names.
Recent BMW recalls and reliability issues
Various recalls have been made on BMW models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.
22/03/2019 – BMW X5 (2018)
Incorrect tightening torque of left front seat fixing bolts
22/03/2019 – BMW X5, 5 Series (2000–2003)
Potential rupture of driver front airbag inflator
04/03/2019 – BMW X1 (2018–2019)
Rear lights may be fixed with incorrect securing units
01/03/2019 – BMW X5, X6, 7 Series, 6 Series and 5 Series (2009–2011)
Auxiliary water pump’s electronics could lead to a short circuit
01/02/2019 – BMW X5 and X6 (2007–2010)
The idler pulley bolt could become loosened
21/01/2019 – BMW M3, M4 and M4 convertible (2016)
The flange of the propshaft may become detached
27/12/2018 – BMW X6 (2014–2015)
EGR module cooler could leak
27/12/2018 – BMW 4 Series (2013–2015)
Exhaust gas recirculation module cooler could leak
All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.
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