BMW 530e Car surges when air conditioning is on Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(6,828)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(6,828)

Car surges when air conditioning is on Inspection Service

How much does a Car surges when air conditioning is on Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a BMW 530e Car surges when air conditioning is on Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
2019 BMW 530eL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeCar surges when air conditioning is on InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
2021 BMW 530eL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeCar surges when air conditioning is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2022 BMW 530eL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeCar surges when air conditioning is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2018 BMW 530eL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeCar surges when air conditioning is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
2020 BMW 530eL4-2.0L Turbo HybridService typeCar surges when air conditioning is on InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
Show example BMW 530e Car surges when air conditioning is on Inspection prices

For most of us, turning on the AC on a hot summer day is a relief. Cooled air fills the cabin and you’re able to relax and drive comfortably. However, if your car surges with the AC on, then there’s definitely a problem that needs to be hunted down and repaired.

How this system works:

First, understand that this problem isn’t tied to just one system – it’s a combination of different things. When your AC turns on, it puts a load on the engine (the engine is responsible for turning the compressor, which builds pressure in the system, which allows low-pressure, gaseous refrigerant to be turned into high-pressure liquid and used in your cooling system.

When the engine is put under a load by the AC system, the car’s computer automatically attempts to compensate for that by adjusting the idle. If there is carbon buildup within any part of the system, including the idle air control valve, throttle body, or possibly even the EGR valve, it can cause surging. The car’s computer essentially miscalculates the amount of power necessary, and ends up overshooting, leading to a surging engine.

Any problem with the AC system can also exacerbate this condition. For instance, if the system is low on refrigerant, the compressor will kick on more often, causing the surging to increase in frequency (if not in intensity).

Common reasons for this to happen:

Carbon Buildup: A number of engine components are subject to carbon buildup over time, and this can place a significant load on the engine. When the additional load of your AC compressor is added, it causes the computer to miscalculate and increase idle speed too much. Common sources of carbon buildup include the IAC valve, the EGR valve, and the throttle body.

  • Low Refrigerant in the AC System: If your AC system is low on refrigerant, it will make the compressor cycle on more frequently, increasing the load on your engine.

  • Failing AC Compressor: If your AC compressor is beginning to fail, this can also add to the surging problem.

  • Bad Belt: One often overlooked cause of a car surging with the AC on is actually a worn compressor belt. If the belt is stretched or worn smooth, it can slip during operation. This places significant strain on the engine and the AC system. Replacing the belt often eliminates the surge, and ensures better AC operation.

  • Bad AC Cycling Switch: The AC cycling switch controls the compressor cycling pattern. Over time, it can go bad. When this happens, it will place a significant load on the engine and can lead to surging.

  • Overfilled AC System: While low refrigerant can cause problems with your AC and engine surging, an overfilled system can cause the same problem. Refrigerant must be “just right” or you will experience a number of different problems.

What to expect:

Our professional mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to inspect the engine and the air conditioning system. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will inspect the AC system, as well as the vehicle’s engine. A test drive may be necessary if the surging only occurs when the car is in drive. The mechanic will check the car’s refrigerant level, as well as other possible causes, such as the AC cycling switch.

How important is this service?

If your engine is surging while the AC is on, it’s a sign that there’s something wrong. Driving without the air conditioner might solve it at least temporarily, but this is only a short-term fix. The actual problem must be addressed. One of our professional mechanics can inspect and diagnose your problem, and then provide a repair that ensures your engine runs smoothly and that your AC system works correctly.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert BMW mechanics

Real customer reviews from BMW owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(6,828)

Rating Summary
6,369
206
60
45
148
6,369
206
60
45
148

David

13 years of experience
424 reviews
David
13 years of experience
BMW 530e L4-2.0L Turbo Hybrid - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Marietta, Georgia
Great work, very on times , fast reponse and explained all the details after inspection to me

James

8 years of experience
128 reviews
James
8 years of experience
BMW 528i L6-3.0L - Car surges when air conditioning is on - Atlanta, Georgia
James was awesome. He has a great personality and was very thorough. He gave me preventive tips as well

GARRETT

17 years of experience
29 reviews
GARRETT
17 years of experience
BMW 535d L6-3.0L Turbo Diesel - Brake Pads Replacement (Rear) - Temecula, California
Garrett was professional and reconfirmed what the dealership suggested.

Brikk

18 years of experience
389 reviews
Brikk
18 years of experience
BMW 750Li V8-4.8L - Alternator - Indian Trail, North Carolina
Brikk is very professional and knowledgeable. He knows his way around my BMW.

Excellent Rating

(6,828)

Rating Summary
6,369
206
60
45
148
6,369
206
60
45
148
Number of BMW services completed
75108+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT BMW MECHANICS
1100+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How to Buy a Good Quality Windshield Washer Pump
You You rely on your windshield washer wipers to clear away all the dirt, slush, grime, rain, and snow. Sometimes a simple wipe isn’t enough, and this is why you turn to your windshield washer pump to provide the cleaning...
How to Buy Fuel Treatments
Adding Adding a fuel additive to your gas tank when you fill up is one way to clean vital engine parts (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/what-causes-fuel-injectors-to-get-clogged-or-dirty) of deposits, improve the performance of your engine, and increase gas mileage. When trying to decide on which...
How to Replace a Side Window
Our Our cars are our second homes most of the time, and as a result we tend to leave some pretty important things in there. Unfortunately, this means that people could try to break in and steal these items. Coming...

What does the Passenger Air Bag Off indicator mean on?

While there are several important dash lights that provide information regarding your air bag system, the Passenger Air Bag off indicator is one of the most important. It’s simple – if the light is on, the system is off on...

Car hard starts, rough idles , fan on all the time and stalls when accelerating.

Hello. The symptoms you are experiencing can be caused by many things. A few things I would look at are the fuel, ignition, and engine management systems. If there is an issue with the components to any of these systems...

yellow engine light with p0300,p0302,p0304 codes.

The first thing these codes show is cylinders 2 and 4 are misfiring. You swapped coils around but notice you moved coils 2 and 4 with each other. If these were misfiring then swapping these coils will not move the...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com