[accel]

Anyone knows how e90 evaporator drain pipe can be located? I did search this forum and the web overall. There's a bunch of topics on this matter but none answers this question.

I suspect mine is blocked to some extent and this leads to some unpleasant smell. I think drainage is very important to our AC systems, 'cause I believe once you either turn AC off or turn the engine off some lid blocks AC evap. to prevent windshield fogging. You can hear this lid working as well as airflow redirect. Because of this useful and convenient feature, evaporator's ventilation is very limited and not in your control. Drainage is very critical.

I tried to inspect underbody as much as I could, but with no results. Most is covered by plastic panels, and whatever is not covered, is related to exhaust. I doubt they would locate the plastic/rubber piping next to source of heat.

There should be some water under the car after AC usage, but I do not see this under mine car, and, honestly, can't remember if I ever saw this.

[smithf80]

Mine drains in the front center of the car (around where the gear selector knob would be on the inside)

If the unpleasant smell is only when you first turn on the AC for a few seconds then thats normal.

[accel]

ok, I just found some service info (not in english) which states, that the system has drain holes in the area of gear box tunnel. This might explain.... I was looking for some sort of a hose/pipe, but it might be the case when no hose exists....

[Efthreeoh]

The evaporator drain is on the right side (passenger side) of the trans tunnel about halfway up. It has a rubber flap on the end to keep bugs from nesting in the tube. The end is right about at the end of the transmission where the driveshaft connects. Marked in pic below.

[mythek]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The evaporator drain is on the right side (passenger side) of the trans tunnel about halfway up. It has a rubber flap on the end to keep bugs from nesting in the tube. The end is right about at the end of the transmission where the driveshaft connects. Marked in pic below.

Good to know, thanks for the image....

[e92_enthusiast_1]

Man i wish i had a lift like that lol. Lucky, is it yours? or just random pic?

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The evaporator drain is on the right side (passenger side) of the trans tunnel about halfway up. It has a rubber flap on the end to keep bugs from nesting in the tube. The end is right about at the end of the transmission where the driveshaft connects. Marked in pic below.

[accel]

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The evaporator drain is on the right side (passenger side) of the trans tunnel about halfway up. It has a rubber flap on the end to keep bugs from nesting in the tube. The end is right about at the end of the transmission where the driveshaft connects. Marked in pic below.

Thank you!

[GearRex]

Wow! Nice lift.
Kudos on the garage setup...

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The evaporator drain is on the right side (passenger side) of the trans tunnel about halfway up. It has a rubber flap on the end to keep bugs from nesting in the tube. The end is right about at the end of the transmission where the driveshaft connects. Marked in pic below.

[wwc310]

Originally Posted by smithe90

Mine drains in the front center of the car (around where the gear selector knob would be on the inside)

If the unpleasant smell is only when you first turn on the AC for a few seconds then thats normal.

sorry to thread jack but can you tell me why this is norma? dealer told me the same thing

[smithf80]

Originally Posted by wwc310

sorry to thread jack but can you tell me why this is norma? dealer told me the same thing

Has something to do with the leftover water not draining and it get hot and causes the smell... something like that. Its honestly very technical and one of the things I just didn't fully understand.

[Efthreeoh]

Originally Posted by e92_enthusiast_1

Man i wish i had a lift like that lol. Lucky, is it yours? or just random pic?

Mine. Rotary SPO-A10 installed 2004. That was my car at about 22,000 miles. It now has 250,200. LOL

[PhaseP]

Originally Posted by wwc310

sorry to thread jack but can you tell me why this is norma? dealer told me the same thing

After you shut down A/C, since fan is stopped, air stops flowing through the ducts. But they are still cold, and so the humidity on air starts condensing on them making them wet and damp. (They are not wet when the A/C fan was blowing dry air over them) Damp promotes mold and bacteria growth, and this gives that smell when first started next time.

One way to fight this is to turn off the A/C a few minutes before your trip is about to end, but keep the fan running. This will dry the ducts, reduce the bacteria/mold growth and keep the smell low.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by PhaseP

One way to fight this is to turn off the A/C a few minutes before your trip is about to end, but keep the fan running. This will dry the ducts, reduce the bacteria/mold growth and keep the smell low.

This. Also, you should manually turn the hvac system to OUTSIDE AIR (unless it's more humid outside than inside - read SE US) which often helps dry the system, especially in the dry SW.

[accel]

Originally Posted by PhaseP

After you shut down A/C, since fan is stopped, air stops flowing through the ducts. But they are still cold, and so the humidity on air starts condensing on them making them wet and damp. (They are not wet when the A/C fan was blowing dry air over them) Damp promotes mold and bacteria growth, and this gives that smell when first started next time.

One way to fight this is to turn off the A/C a few minutes before your trip is about to end, but keep the fan running. This will dry the ducts, reduce the bacteria/mold growth and keep the smell low.

I doubt this works for our BMWs. Turn off AC and listen, - you'll hear some air flow redirect and lid closing. The air is bypassing AC.

[PhaseP]

I doubt this works for our BMWs. Turn off AC and listen, - you'll hear some air flow redirect and lid closing. The air is bypassing AC.

What I wrote as recommendation against smell was written in our BMWs user manual, if memory serves correctly, has been 8 years but that is what I remember.

Edited: Checked the user manual, can't find it. I must have read it somewhere else then. I had been doing this, I don't have smell issues.

If your drain is clogged, you will get that water coming out somewhere, most probably on the passenger feet well area. I had a Miata which had its A/C drain clogged, it did that. Water won't disappear by itself, it will come out of somewhere if it can't come out of the drain.

[accel]

Ok, I found it. Here's how it looks like. The image done by some sort of web cam I bought at amazon, so the quality is poor, but that was the only way I could get there.

First image - the pipe is closed. Second, - I slightly opened the cap using some rod I mounted with web cam.

Third image - this device I built in order to get to the pipe somehow.

Fourth - the place I inserted the device. Camera is looking towards front of the car.

The access was very limited. My car has sport package, and its ground clearance is only 5". I don't think one can get to this pipe without getting under the car.

My pipe didn't look like it was blocked, I'll use some cleaner to eliminate the smell.

P.S. Red mark on the last image - the area of water discharge, - around the edge of the plastic cover.

[MEN54]

Originally Posted by accel

Ok, I found it. Here's how it looks like. The image done by some sort of web cam I bought at amazon, so the quality is poor, but that was the only way I could get there.

First image - the pipe is closed. Second, - I slightly opened the cap using some rod I mounted with web cam.

Third image - this device I built in order to get to the pipe somehow.

Fourth - the place I inserted the device. Camera is looking towards front of the car.

The access was very limited. My car has sport package, and its ground clearance is only 5". I don't think one can get to this pipe without getting under the car.

My pipe didn't look like it was blocked, I'll use some cleaner to eliminate the smell.

P.S. Red mark on the last image - the area of water discharge, - around the edge of the plastic cover.

So where to insert cleaner, in red circle area or where you have put your device with cable inside?

[IllSic_Design]

This thread might be of some use to you guys. I plan on doing this in the next few weeks. https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1075529