Annoying air flow from front when sunroof rotated

Tom · 20th October 2000, 21:45

I don't remember having this problem when the car was new, but now everytime I go at higher speeds (~>50 mph) I hear clearly the air flow coming from the middle front air console, you know like turbulences. It is only when I have the sunroof "rotated", I mean the slighty open automatic position.
When sunroof closed the air flow is normal, make no noise.

Any one with this problem, and repaired ?

JJF · 21st October 2000, 18:07

I think having the sunroof open even slightly can disrupt the airflow in the driving compartment. Also, unless you can FEEL the turbulence in the vent(s), the effect may be more of an aural phenomemon (not exactly echoes--sound repetition) like sound reflections from the vents. If the vents are open, and the rest of the compartment is closed (windows/roof), you can expect the noise level to be low. Air enters and exits via the designed climate control system orifices. But, when you suddenly have DIRECT communication with the outside air, the environment inside the car is directly affected (a little or a lot). I think that there is nothing wrong with the vents and that you are probably experiencing the subtle effects of having the roof only partially open. Besides, I have had several BMWs and ALL of them had noisy, and sensitive, climate control systems. They make great driving machines, but they can't make a decent cupholder. I certainly wouldn't expect them to be able to control the environment.

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PCH CA1
'98 M3 Sedan Cosmos/Blk
'95 M3 Coupe Avus/Lt Gry

rtorre · 21st October 2000, 20:07

Tom,
Turn the a/c on, engage the "closed" position (you do it by turning on the right little green light {A} on the right side of the a/c controls). This closes the outside air intake and recirculates the air inside the car. The designed function won`t apply but you`ll get rid of the turbulence. If you turn the a/c off when in this mode, the shutters should remain closed. May be that`s why you didn`t before and now you do?

Dany · 22nd October 2000, 00:54

Hi Tom,
could it be that, when you have the sunroof 'rotated', it create a sort of vacuum in the car, that makes this noise?

Dany

'01 M5 - lemans blue (Body Shop Started - Status 151)
'97 M3 - cosmos black