E92...how much difference does the AC make?

BMW FOREVER · 02-26-2017, 10:13 PM

Hi guys,

I have a 08 E92 325i AT. The car is great and currently has 70k miles. With the aircon off the car feels much lighter..the steering is easier to turn and the performance is better in terms of the accelerator input. Now I know the aircon will definitely take some power away when switched on but is this normal to feel so much diff? Specially in terms of heaviness of the steering etc. Maybe something is wrong with the aircon?

siphor1989 · 02-26-2017, 10:24 PM

I've never really noticed a big difference with the AC on vs off, at least not in an E9x. There was a significant difference in my previous cars but they were all 4 bangers though.

BMW FOREVER · 02-27-2017, 01:52 AM

Which e92 have you driven? Maybe my question applies more to the 328i model since it uses the same n52 engine.

Dan Bilzerian · 02-27-2017, 04:17 AM

I can definitely feel the difference in the N52

BMW FOREVER · 02-27-2017, 05:52 AM

So I spoke to a workshop today...he told me it could be the ac compressor dragging which is reducing the engine power. In which case the compressor would need to be replaced for $1600!
He asked me to bring th car down to know for sure if that's what the issue is. Will be taking it down this weekend. Just hope it's not the ac compressor...if the compressor is bad will my ac work fine? Because right now my ac works great...

gunnerxq · 02-27-2017, 07:32 AM

Is your car stock? Get a 3 stage manifold, drop in K&N filter, a nice exhaust and top it off with a tune. I feel the difference in my 325i but barely. A lot less then before not enough to bother me.

fredcase · 02-27-2017, 07:33 AM

Sounds like time for an ac delete

Dekansnowman · 02-27-2017, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMW FOREVER

So I spoke to a workshop today...he told me it could be the ac compressor dragging which is reducing the engine power. In which case the compressor would need to be replaced for $1600!
He asked me to bring th car down to know for sure if that's what the issue is. Will be taking it down this weekend. Just hope it's not the ac compressor...if the compressor is bad will my ac work fine? Because right now my ac works great...

Your compressor is what moves freon and cools the air. If your compressor wasn't doing it's job, you wouldn't have AC. Now, if the pulley is starting to seize up your engine may lose a little power due to more restriction, but your belt will slip and squeak before anything bad happens.

That diagnosis sounds fishy to me.

Mr. Tasty · 02-27-2017, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dekansnowman

Your compressor is what moves freon and cools the air. If your compressor wasn't doing it's job, you wouldn't have AC. Now, if the pulley is starting to seize up your engine may lose a little power due to more restriction, but your belt will slip and squeak before anything bad happens.

That diagnosis sounds fishy to me.

Yea, sounds like the Mechanic smells blood in the water based on your comments.

Efthreeoh · 02-27-2017, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dekansnowman

Your compressor is what moves freon and cools the air. If your compressor wasn't doing it's job, you wouldn't have AC. Now, if the pulley is starting to seize up your engine may lose a little power due to more restriction, but your belt will slip and squeak before anything bad happens.

That diagnosis sounds fishy to me.

This.

If it compressor is going bad, just let it break so you are sure. If the compressor seizes it will break the clutch in the pulley and free-spin.

BMW FOREVER · 02-27-2017, 09:52 AM

To be fair...the workshop has not taken a look at the car yet. Will be going down this weekend and will update you guys

Indyeah · 02-27-2017, 10:38 AM

I feel zero difference in my n52. It's not even something I've thought about. This isn't a frigging 3 cylinder turd-mobile. But don't go off that. Everyone's car has different wear and maintenance. Only you know HOW much heavier/worse everything is. If your gut says something isn't right then get it checked out.

02-26-2017, 10:13 PM	#1
BMW FOREVER First Lieutenant 164 Rep 392 Posts Drives: 2014 535i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	E92...how much difference does the AC make? Hi guys, I have a 08 E92 325i AT. The car is great and currently has 70k miles. With the aircon off the car feels much lighter..the steering is easier to turn and the performance is better in terms of the accelerator input. Now I know the aircon will definitely take some power away when switched on but is this normal to feel so much diff? Specially in terms of heaviness of the steering etc. Maybe something is wrong with the aircon?
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02-26-2017, 10:24 PM	#2
siphor1989 Lieutenant 198 Rep 562 Posts Drives: 2020 m340i xdrive Join Date: May 2015 Location: . iTrader: (3)	I've never really noticed a big difference with the AC on vs off, at least not in an E9x. There was a significant difference in my previous cars but they were all 4 bangers though.
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02-27-2017, 01:52 AM	#3
BMW FOREVER First Lieutenant 164 Rep 392 Posts Drives: 2014 535i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Which e92 have you driven? Maybe my question applies more to the 328i model since it uses the same n52 engine.
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02-27-2017, 04:17 AM	#4
Dan Bilzerian Major 355 Rep 1,192 Posts Drives: E90 325i 6MT Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Edmonds,WA iTrader: (0)	I can definitely feel the difference in the N52
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02-27-2017, 05:52 AM	#5
BMW FOREVER First Lieutenant 164 Rep 392 Posts Drives: 2014 535i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	So I spoke to a workshop today...he told me it could be the ac compressor dragging which is reducing the engine power. In which case the compressor would need to be replaced for $1600! He asked me to bring th car down to know for sure if that's what the issue is. Will be taking it down this weekend. Just hope it's not the ac compressor...if the compressor is bad will my ac work fine? Because right now my ac works great...
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02-27-2017, 07:32 AM	#6
gunnerxq Lieutenant Colonel 213 Rep 1,782 Posts Drives: e90 "325i" Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: New York iTrader: (1)	Is your car stock? Get a 3 stage manifold, drop in K&N filter, a nice exhaust and top it off with a tune. I feel the difference in my 325i but barely. A lot less then before not enough to bother me. __________________ Koni special active red, eibach pro-kit springs, Remus exhaust, stage 3 intake manifold,Stage 2 AA tune, BMW Short shift kit. Silicon intake pipe. M3 control arms front, M3 rear. ECS trailing arm with whiteline bushings. Purple powerflex subframe bushings. Yellow power flex upper shock mounts. Single mass flywheel OE weight.
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02-27-2017, 07:33 AM	#7
fredcase Captain 261 Rep 776 Posts Drives: Bmw=trash Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Noyb iTrader: (1)	Sounds like time for an ac delete
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02-27-2017, 09:52 AM	#11
BMW FOREVER First Lieutenant 164 Rep 392 Posts Drives: 2014 535i Xdrive Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	To be fair...the workshop has not taken a look at the car yet. Will be going down this weekend and will update you guys
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02-27-2017, 10:38 AM	#12
Indyeah First Lieutenant 141 Rep 374 Posts Drives: E92 328i 6MT SGM Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Phoenix AZ iTrader: (0)	I feel zero difference in my n52. It's not even something I've thought about. This isn't a frigging 3 cylinder turd-mobile. But don't go off that. Everyone's car has different wear and maintenance. Only you know HOW much heavier/worse everything is. If your gut says something isn't right then get it checked out.
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