[L.A. Bob]

I'm so much of a newbie that I don't even know what part I'm looking at ... when I turn the key about to start my 1995 525 there's a noise coming from the other side of the engine wall from the steering wheel - just inboard of the fuse box. The unit that's whining has several hoses coming out of it - sounds like a pump about to blow its impeller blades all over the driveway ...

The unit is making a horrible whining noise - which doesn't vary with RPMs when I do start the motor, nor with heater fan speed, nor AC on/off. This just started ...

One, what is it? And two, how big a deal is it, can I drive the car?

Thanks - and be gentle, I admit right up front I'm a real newbie ... just can't find "that thingie" on a photo or diagram anywhere ...