I have a 2001 525.
Sometimes when I dirve with the A/C on the car feels very sluggish and the engine noise becomes louder. As soon as I turn the A/C off the car feels fine and the engine noise reduces quiet a lot. Is this a sign that my compressor is giving way?

How is the cooling?

Sometimes when I dirve with the A/C on the car feels very sluggish and the engine noise becomes louder. As soon as I turn the A/C off the car feels fine and the engine noise reduces quiet a lot.

LOL, sounds like every car I have owned. :) Seriously though, not trying to be funny but i think that should be normal unless you have significant loss of power, shaking etc..

My compressor tends to be louder when the temperature is lower outside. I wonder if the R-134a is a little low.

Thank you for all the input, I will take it to the dealership to check the freon in the system.

Thank you for all the input, I will take it to the dealership to check the freon in the system.

Any new update with the AC? I've been having the same "problem". I wonder if its even a problem at all.

AC compressors tend to rattle with age even if they aren't ready to give up yet. So the noise is normal.

It's also very obvious that the AC will make a lack of power when it is on - it takes its power directly from the engine.

AC compressors tend to rattle with age even if they aren't ready to give up yet. So the noise is normal.

It's also very obvious that the AC will make a lack of power when it is on - it takes its power directly from the engine.

I do recognize that all cars lose some performance when the AC is on however, I have never heard an AC so loud as the one my car has. The AC works fine but the higher I put on the fan, the louder the engine noise. It sounds like the engine is revving at high rpms. Pretty embarrassing when the car is at an idle with the AC cranked at medium.

I understand you will loose some power when you turn the A/C. But now I feel the car is very sluggish it was not like this before. I am planning to take it to the dealsership. Any recommendations on what shoudl I tell them to look at?

I do recognize that all cars lose some performance when the AC is on however, I have never heard an AC so loud as the one my car has. The AC works fine but the higher I put on the fan, the louder the engine noise. It sounds like the engine is revving at high rpms. Pretty embarrassing when the car is at an idle with the AC cranked at medium.

Do you mean that when you turn up the blower fan, the engine speed increases? Did you confirm that with the tachometer? That actually makes no sense to me. The blower fan should be a purely electrical load.

Do you mean that when you turn up the blower fan, the engine speed increases? Did you confirm that with the tachometer? That actually makes no sense to me. The blower fan should be a purely electrical load.

The tachometer doesn't go up at all. All I was saying is that when I turn on the AC, the sound of the engine is similar to the engine revving. It is a loud rumbling sound.

i am also getting that same type of sound

I understand you will loose some power when you turn the A/C. But now I feel the car is very sluggish it was not like this before. I am planning to take it to the dealsership. Any recommendations on what shoudl I tell them to look at?

Ask them if the compressor is seizing up... Sometimes that could also indicate the need for a tune-up.

The tachometer doesn't go up at all. All I was saying is that when I turn on the AC, the sound of the engine is similar to the engine revving. It is a loud rumbling sound.

That might be your compressor rattling.

That might be your compressor rattling.

The car itself doesn't rattle at all so I doubt it. You know what - I'm gonna upload a sound clip for you guys tomorrow. That should help with the confusion.

Maybe its the engine tone changing due to increase in load?

Maybe its the aux. fan turning on?