Fan kind of sound coming from driver side dash area??

[skim]

This happened a few times where there's some kind of a fan sound coming from the driver side vent / dash area. This is noticeable by my passenger(s) as a few have already asked "what is that sound?". I didn't have AC/heater on at the time.
I popped the hood, but I really can't locate where exactly it's coming from. The main fan behind the radiator was never on when this happened. This happens after some driving.
Any experts here know what it is??

[gearl]

What kind of a nosie see my thread about tap tap noise. This was a service bulletin item i understand. They are now replacing my ac evaporator becasue of a simple noise i heard coming form the center vent in the dash which i thought was just a fan noise. All covered under warranty. The tap tap noise has to do with the dampers resetting each time you start the car.

[GeorgeT]

Sometimes I have the same noise when I get into the even car before the key goes into the ignition - even after the car has sat for several days. I'm also curious as to what it is.

GT

[motorknut]

Originally Posted by GeorgeT

Sometimes I have the same noise when I get into the even car before the key goes into the ignition - even after the car has sat for several days. I'm also curious as to what it is.

GT

I get a strange ticking sound, sounds like its from the centre vent on the dash. comes on while driving, while parked, engine on/off and even key in/out. couln't tell if it was a fan or what. first suspect was a/c.

finally one day when i got in to clean the dash i heard the sound, and suddenly there was a "beep" and the noise died down. I later realized i hear the same beep when i turn on my music and the cd in the head unit resumes play!

so this morning the sounds starts again, and i try turning the radio on and off. voila! ticking noise is gone. for some reason my head unit seems to be doing something while everything is turned off. and it does it regardless of a CD loaded in the head unit/changer or not.

[jragan]

Originally Posted by GeorgeT

Sometimes I have the same noise when I get into the even car before the key goes into the ignition - even after the car has sat for several days. I'm also curious as to what it is.

GT

I don't think yours is the same as the original poster's. Your sound is the stereo reading the CD you have in, and getting it ready so it would start play immediately.

[motorknut]

Originally Posted by jragan

I don't think yours is the same as the original poster's. Your sound is the stereo reading the CD you have in, and getting it ready so it would start play immediately.

is the stereo supposed to do that even while not switched on?

[jragan]

Haven't seen/heard one that doesn't... I belive the NAV unit spins up too... In other cars with the MkIV navigation system where the display is constantly exposed (X5, etc), the Navigation display automatically comes on to the BMW splash screen by just opening the door(s). So I'm going to guess that our systems (CD and NAV) spinning up are a side-effect of this.