Definately a man who knows his a/c from his d/c! Mine makes a rather strange noise in the passenger footwell as mentioned earlier. It's also distinctly cooler with it switched on, that's how I tell if mine is working. Not forgetting the importance of using it at least once a week to circulate the gases and prevent the seals from drying up.

 

haha panic over thanks m1pjr. its noway near as noticeable on the S when the AC cuts in as on my old gti6 and i think that caused the confusion. standing with my head in the engine bay i heard the compressor a couple of times and then the fan started up

cheers again