strange about BMW AC system

Luki · 08-22-2007, 07:18 AM

I write here as it is not a problem but I have some remarks on that...

I found strange thing about the switch in the middle of the front panel in our cars.
I wonder what is it for....

I know it is for cold or hot air but why do we have it as we can settle the temperature for left and right side.
So when I put for example 20'C for left and right side and the switch for cold air so I have cold air. But when I put it for hot it is starting to blow hot air.
But isn't it strange as 20'C should be always the same and here it is like cold 20'C and hot 20'C.
Don't you think it is strange...
Can anyone explain it to me pls...

tdc · 08-22-2007, 07:35 AM

It's a rheostat dial.

It allows the user to override the temperature coming out o the vents at a faster rate than it would take if you simply changed the temperature on the dial.

tlester · 08-22-2007, 07:43 AM

No... it's an "aspiration" vent. It allows you to blend in warm outside air.

japac1 · 08-22-2007, 07:48 AM

Wow. I just thought it allows you to better control the air coming out of the front dash vents, so, for example, if you want some warmer air hitting your face, you'd turn the dial toward the red side. I never use it, however, my wife loves this feature.

Luki · 08-22-2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlester

No... it's an "aspiration" vent. It allows you to blend in warm outside air.

You say warm outside air - but it can not be - just imagine winter time - so there will be no warm outside air...

Luki · 08-22-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by japac1

Wow. I just thought it allows you to better control the air coming out of the front dash vents, so, for example, if you want some warmer air hitting your face, you'd turn the dial toward the red side. I never use it, however, my wife loves this feature.

Not only the air for the top parts because in my car when turning the switch into red I feel hot air also going on my legs....

ctgazer · 08-22-2007, 08:22 AM

stupid thing enver works for me. i have it on clod all the time, and if i dont run the AC and just turn on the fan, hot air blows in my face

TheAcAvenger · 08-22-2007, 08:25 AM

I dont know what it does, but I do know that mine stays all the way to the blue during the summer, and when its not all the way to blue, the air isn't as cold as the temp would make you think.

Luki · 08-22-2007, 08:27 AM

But IMO temperature that I put on, for example 20'C, should be always the same no mattar if it is blue or red.

In my opinion this switch is simply weird

ctgazer · 08-22-2007, 08:29 AM

when compared to japanese cars, which blows cool air without the AC being on, i think its simply because the inline 6 runs much much hotter than most v6's or 4's.

tdc · 08-22-2007, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlester

No... it's an "aspiration" vent. It allows you to blend in warm outside air.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luki

You say warm outside air - but it can not be - just imagine winter time - so there will be no warm outside air...

Exactly.

Like I stated before, it's a rheostat dial. It overrides the temperature gauge and allows the air coming out of the vents to either be warmer or colder at your discretion.

This is why the air will be colder if you have it set on all blue or warmer if it's turned to the red. It's an OVERRIDE to the temperature dial. So it's not "weird". It's doing what it's designed to do.

Trust me, this is not some guess or rationalization. I know what I'm talking about.

tlester · 08-22-2007, 09:44 AM

As my sales associate informed me when going over the car on deliver, the blue/red dial (also on the rear vents) adjusts how much of the cool A/C is allowed in. On the warmer side, it lets air in from a vent. The vent is somewhere where it'll draw from engine heat (same source as the "rest" button).

Do you really think that BMW would allow the back seat passengers to over ride the main temp by putting a rheostat back there? I don't think so. It's simply a vent control to warmer air.

DasBlitz · 08-22-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdc

Exactly.

Like I stated before, it's a rheostat dial. It overrides the temperature gauge and allows the air coming out of the vents to either be warmer or colder at your discretion.

This is why the air will be colder if you have it set on all blue or warmer if it's turned to the red. It's an OVERRIDE to the temperature dial. So it's not "weird". It's doing what it's designed to do.

Trust me, this is not some guess or rationalization. I know what I'm talking about.

Good work. I pretty much came to that conlusion awhile ago aswell. I just keep it in the middle. Except in the summer it is always blue.

Luki · 08-22-2007, 10:06 AM

Ok thanks a lot.
I use "blue" in winter as well - I think I do not need to much warm inside

Maestro · 08-22-2007, 10:20 AM

My understand and experience with the dials, it only affects the center and rear vents. It allows the passengers to chill or warm the air around them. If you feel the air coming out the other vents those temps are still hotter or cooler.

I know my kids always mess with the rear one since they always complain I keep the car too cold for them.

bcbushman · 09-06-2007, 12:30 PM

Ok, so the dial is weird, or well designed, or doesn't work...

Does anybody know if you can set the temperature controls so that the driver dial works both? Lexus does this with a button, Audi does it some other way, even some NORTH AMERICAN cars have this option. I think BMW has missed a function, or have they...?

Luki · 10-24-2007, 07:12 AM

When temperature goes below 15 I have to put the button into red as on blue no matter what temperature I have I only get cold air but not on my legs.
Down there I have like heat when temperature is more than 17 on my AC system.
Then turning the switch into red I can make tmperature on AC system like 18 or 19 and it's ok.
I noticed however that BMW AC system works wird. It keeps giving warmer air from the legs side and cooler from the top parts.
It is ok when we have like - 10 but when having 10 - 15 it is sometimes making me crazy. I start to burn from my feet

jlspeed29 · 10-24-2007, 09:58 AM

that thing is useless....its only there to confuse people....we are car enthusiats and we barley know whats up with that stupid thing...you expect the layperson to know?

i knever use it

darkcloud · 10-24-2007, 02:36 PM

I was told by my CA that the dial adjusts the temp by 3degrees hot or cold. So if you have the temp set at 67 and the dial all the way to the blue the temp is really 64 or all the way red its 70. This also allows the coldest temp in the car be 57 not just the 60 that it stops at.

I could be wrong but that was my belief. Someone read their manual. It is prolly well explained in there.

Kiemyster · 10-25-2007, 07:19 AM

i never use mine, its always cold in my car, because its always fucking hot outside.

08-22-2007, 07:18 AM	#1
Luki Poland approaching... 24 Rep 264 Posts Drives: BMW F10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Warsaw iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW F10 [0.00]	strange about BMW AC system I write here as it is not a problem but I have some remarks on that... I found strange thing about the switch in the middle of the front panel in our cars. I wonder what is it for.... I know it is for cold or hot air but why do we have it as we can settle the temperature for left and right side. So when I put for example 20'C for left and right side and the switch for cold air so I have cold air. But when I put it for hot it is starting to blow hot air. But isn't it strange as 20'C should be always the same and here it is like cold 20'C and hot 20'C. Don't you think it is strange... Can anyone explain it to me pls... __________________ F10, Styling 312, Eibach Pro Kit, Black Grill
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08-22-2007, 07:35 AM	#2
tdc always notorious 2 Rep 98 Posts Drives: beater Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	It's a rheostat dial. It allows the user to override the temperature coming out o the vents at a faster rate than it would take if you simply changed the temperature on the dial. __________________ stockwerks
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08-22-2007, 07:43 AM	#3
tlester Enlisted Member 3 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Sport, Crimson Red Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 328i Sport [0.00]	No... it's an "aspiration" vent. It allows you to blend in warm outside air.
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08-22-2007, 07:48 AM	#4
japac1 Major 25 Rep 1,100 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Keller, TX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335xi [0.00]	Wow. I just thought it allows you to better control the air coming out of the front dash vents, so, for example, if you want some warmer air hitting your face, you'd turn the dial toward the red side. I never use it, however, my wife loves this feature. __________________ [FONT="Garamond"]2007 E90 335 xi, Monaco Blue, Beige, Prem, Cold, Step, Navi, Sat, iPod
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08-22-2007, 08:22 AM	#7
ctgazer Major General 398 Rep 7,952 Posts Drives: a dilapidated ride Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: canada eh! iTrader: (10) Garage List 2006 e90 [0.00]	stupid thing enver works for me. i have it on clod all the time, and if i dont run the AC and just turn on the fan, hot air blows in my face __________________
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08-22-2007, 08:25 AM	#8
TheAcAvenger Brigadier General 134 Rep 3,133 Posts Drives: 2018 R35 GTR / 2007 E92 335i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: 757 > Nova > Denver iTrader: (1)	I dont know what it does, but I do know that mine stays all the way to the blue during the summer, and when its not all the way to blue, the air isn't as cold as the temp would make you think. __________________ 2018 R35 GT-R Cicio800 \| 2007 E92 335i - RB Turbos, TC Kline DA Coils, HPA M3 Suspension, Quaife LSD, Stoptech BBK, JB4, FuelIT, AR Downpipes, RDSport Quads, Stett OC, Helix IC, Volk TE-37, Vorsteiner V-35, OSS Headlights \| Retired - 2015 F82 M4
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08-22-2007, 08:27 AM	#9
Luki Poland approaching... 24 Rep 264 Posts Drives: BMW F10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Warsaw iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW F10 [0.00]	But IMO temperature that I put on, for example 20'C, should be always the same no mattar if it is blue or red. In my opinion this switch is simply weird __________________ F10, Styling 312, Eibach Pro Kit, Black Grill
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08-22-2007, 08:29 AM	#10
ctgazer Major General 398 Rep 7,952 Posts Drives: a dilapidated ride Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: canada eh! iTrader: (10) Garage List 2006 e90 [0.00]	when compared to japanese cars, which blows cool air without the AC being on, i think its simply because the inline 6 runs much much hotter than most v6's or 4's. __________________
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08-22-2007, 09:44 AM	#12
tlester Enlisted Member 3 Rep 40 Posts Drives: 2007 328i Sport, Crimson Red Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 328i Sport [0.00]	As my sales associate informed me when going over the car on deliver, the blue/red dial (also on the rear vents) adjusts how much of the cool A/C is allowed in. On the warmer side, it lets air in from a vent. The vent is somewhere where it'll draw from engine heat (same source as the "rest" button). Do you really think that BMW would allow the back seat passengers to over ride the main temp by putting a rheostat back there? I don't think so. It's simply a vent control to warmer air.
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08-22-2007, 10:06 AM	#14
Luki Poland approaching... 24 Rep 264 Posts Drives: BMW F10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Warsaw iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW F10 [0.00]	Ok thanks a lot. I use "blue" in winter as well - I think I do not need to much warm inside __________________ F10, Styling 312, Eibach Pro Kit, Black Grill
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08-22-2007, 10:20 AM	#15
Maestro Major 1126 Rep 1,270 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Sedan, 2021 X3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	My understand and experience with the dials, it only affects the center and rear vents. It allows the passengers to chill or warm the air around them. If you feel the air coming out the other vents those temps are still hotter or cooler. I know my kids always mess with the rear one since they always complain I keep the car too cold for them.
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09-06-2007, 12:30 PM	#16
bcbushman New Member 0 Rep 5 Posts Drives: 2007 328xi 6sp - sport premium Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Victoria iTrader: (0)	Ok, so the dial is weird, or well designed, or doesn't work... Does anybody know if you can set the temperature controls so that the driver dial works both? Lexus does this with a button, Audi does it some other way, even some NORTH AMERICAN cars have this option. I think BMW has missed a function, or have they...?
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10-24-2007, 07:12 AM	#17
Luki Poland approaching... 24 Rep 264 Posts Drives: BMW F10 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Warsaw iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW F10 [0.00]	When temperature goes below 15 I have to put the button into red as on blue no matter what temperature I have I only get cold air but not on my legs. Down there I have like heat when temperature is more than 17 on my AC system. Then turning the switch into red I can make tmperature on AC system like 18 or 19 and it's ok. I noticed however that BMW AC system works wird. It keeps giving warmer air from the legs side and cooler from the top parts. It is ok when we have like - 10 but when having 10 - 15 it is sometimes making me crazy. I start to burn from my feet __________________ F10, Styling 312, Eibach Pro Kit, Black Grill
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10-24-2007, 09:58 AM	#18
jlspeed29 Major 526 Rep 1,393 Posts Drives: F80 SO ZCP CCB Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Somewhere along PCH... iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 335 coupe [8.00]	that thing is useless....its only there to confuse people....we are car enthusiats and we barley know whats up with that stupid thing...you expect the layperson to know? i knever use it __________________ A fisherman always sees another fisherman from afar
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10-24-2007, 02:36 PM	#19
darkcloud Colonel 370 Rep 2,385 Posts Drives: 09 VW JSW Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: cleveland, oh iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	I was told by my CA that the dial adjusts the temp by 3degrees hot or cold. So if you have the temp set at 67 and the dial all the way to the blue the temp is really 64 or all the way red its 70. This also allows the coldest temp in the car be 57 not just the 60 that it stops at. I could be wrong but that was my belief. Someone read their manual. It is prolly well explained in there. __________________ retired 06 E90 325i New: 09 VW Platinum Grey Jetta Sportwagen 2.0T SEL w/DSG, panoramic sunroof and Ipod adapter
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10-25-2007, 07:19 AM	#20
Kiemyster Bimmerpost Resident Marijuana Consultant 515 Rep 3,204 Posts Drives: 320i, 325xi, 335Xi, 335i, M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queens/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2011 BMW X335i [0.00] 2006 BMW E90 325xi [0.00] 2011 BMW E90 335xi [4.00] 2011 BMW M3 E90 [7.00] 2006 E90 320i [0.00]	i never use mine, its always cold in my car, because its always fucking hot outside. __________________ "AMG What! S-Line Who? If you ain't got that M I got no respect for you!" '06 Alpine Weiss E90 320i \| '06 The Green Machine E90 325xi \| '11 Alpine Weiss E90 M3 ZCP \| '10 Silverstone X5M \| '11 Alpine Weiss E90 335xi
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