[Tek-dad]

This is probably just a Florida problem, but here I go...


So I get in the car after work and its been out in the heat. The AC is set to auto around 72. It just blows out warm air. I’ll put it to max ac and it’s still warm. Then I move it back to 72 and now it’s ice cold. It doesn’t happen every time but this is at least the 3rd or 4th time something like this has happened.
Anyone else have an experience like this?

I’m going to bring it in to the dealer but I just wanted to reach out here first.

Thanks!

[MystroX5]

[VTENGR]

What was the difference in ambient air vs what you set AUTO to? I know on some cars, it will try to cool the cabin down as soon as possible, so if it's 100 degees outside you're blasted with cold air. But if it's only 75 degrees outside and you want the cabin to be 72, it doesn't have to blast the cold air to get to 72 if in AUTO mode. If in manual mode, and have the air set to below 60 with the fan on high, and it still blows warm air, you may have an issue with the AC.

first things first, though - did you reboot iDrive yet? That should be everyones first go-to trouble shoot step.

[Tek-dad]

I’ll give that a shot later this afternoon. And here all I thought I had to do was set a temp and hit the auto button!

[Leotno]

I have a similar issue, I found that the A/C is not truly activated even if its on AUTO. I have to hit MAX AC then hit it again to go back to my setting I set and it kicks on the air conditioning compressor.

If it happens again, go into the AC Menu and see if Air Conditioning is checked. I found mine was not checked even at 65 degrees and on Auto.

[thereef510]

happened to me yesterday: got in the hot car, turned the system on by pushing the 'auto' button, and minutes later it was still not cold. i was like wtf? then i went into the menu a/c and saw that the a/c checkbox was unchecked. As soon as I checked it, cold air started to blow.

wtf is the point of having an 'auto' button if you have to keep wondering if its going to turn on the compressor or not.

[Tenac]

Originally Posted by thereef510

happened to me yesterday: got in the hot car, turned the system on by pushing the 'auto' button, and minutes later it was still not cold. i was like wtf? then i went into the menu a/c and saw that the a/c checkbox was unchecked. As soon as I checked it, cold air started to blow.

wtf is the point of having an 'auto' button if you have to keep wondering if its going to turn on the compressor or not.

This may help answer your question.


I've never turned off the AC but always leave it in auto and I set mine between 68 or 70. That being said when it is cold out and my car has been in the sun (AZ sun) it heats up past my auto setting. So when I jump in and drive off to cool it down the AC does blows, but when its cold out and warm inside to me this feels like MAX AC in the summer!! So if the weather is cold enough I turn off the AC check box and it won't blast me with ICE cold air but rather a nice mix of ambient outdoor temp and heater. I found this out recently and I believe that is why there is an option to have the AC off/on.

[thereef510]

I just feel like BMW has the most complicated A/C system. its way way too tweakable, I just want cold or hot air, i dont want to think about all those settings

[TurtleBoy]

I always have my AC on even during winter, it doesn't effect the heating at all as far as I can tell. You don't need to go into settings or hit Max AC to turn on the AC, just push the center button down to toggle AC on and off.

[Mtn2Srf]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I always have my AC on even during winter, it doesn't effect the heating at all as far as I can tell. You don't need to go into settings or hit Max AC to turn on the AC, just push the center button down to toggle AC on and off.

Same. Was told this by the Dealer as well.

[homerrr]

Note that the chrome/silver/shiny menu button in the center of the ac buttons is a double button. Press the top and you get menu, press the bottom and you turn off/on the AC. No need to find settings anywhere for it. Also, the display will show if the AC is set to on or off by displaying AC (=on) or nothing (=off)

[Tek-dad]

OK well if it this behavior is intentional then it’s ridiculous.

I get in my HOT car. Put the AC on auto set to 71. Seconds later cold air is blowing out. Nice. Then a few minutes later WARM air is blowing out. I’ve changed all the settings people suggested. I have to crank it way down to get the AC to kick on again.

I’ve owned lots of cars and never once saw anything close to this behavior. Normally I get in my hot car, set the AC to 71 on Auto, and once 71 is reached the fan lowers but cold air is still coming out of the vent. My BMW is blowing warm air out of vents after the cold air.

I get some people here have a work around and are happy to press a few extra buttons every time they use the AC but this makes no sense if it is intentional. Especially in warm climates.

[TurtleBoy]

^ You probably want to take it in to get serviced since that does not seem to be normal. As long as you have the AC activated and the vent air set to cold, you should not be experiencing what you are. Are you sure you have done those two steps?

[Tek-dad]

So car was picked up today by the dealer via their valet service. The tech called me half way to the dealer and said he was experiencing the same thing as me! 10 minutes in to the ride the car was not blowing out cold air.

Keep in mind I’m not saying the car interior is hot and cold air is coming out and just taking a while to cool the cabin. I’m saying no cold air. For like 10-15 minutes. Then all of the sudden BAM. Ice cold.

I’ll post an update when I hear from the dealer.

Stay safe and healthy everyone!

[Leotno]

Originally Posted by Tek-dad

OK well if it this behavior is intentional then it’s ridiculous.

I get in my HOT car. Put the AC on auto set to 71. Seconds later cold air is blowing out. Nice. Then a few minutes later WARM air is blowing out. I’ve changed all the settings people suggested. I have to crank it way down to get the AC to kick on again.

I’ve owned lots of cars and never once saw anything close to this behavior. Normally I get in my hot car, set the AC to 71 on Auto, and once 71 is reached the fan lowers but cold air is still coming out of the vent. My BMW is blowing warm air out of vents after the cold air.

I get some people here have a work around and are happy to press a few extra buttons every time they use the AC but this makes no sense if it is intentional. Especially in warm climates.

I have been having the same problems since I took delivery! I asked them to look at it when I went to get my license plate. They said it was fine. Im now due to for my 10k and will bring it up again but with video showing what its doing. Mine seems to only do it for the rear driver side seat. It always blows out heat even if the rest of the cabin is synced and is blowing cool air.

[Tek-dad]

Originally Posted by Leotno

I have been having the same problems since I took delivery! I asked them to look at it when I went to get my license plate. They said it was fine. Im now due to for my 10k and will bring it up again but with video showing what its doing. Mine seems to only do it for the rear driver side seat. It always blows out heat even if the rest of the cabin is synced and is blowing cool air.

Dealer had my car all day. Said they could not replicate the problem again. Going to keep it again tomorrow and see if they can replicate. Dealer has been fantastic considering the mayhem in the world.

[Tek-dad]

Update. Dealer called and said the A/C compressor is shot and needs to be replaced per BMW. So while I’m happy they found the problem and are addressing it I’m a little miffed that a car less than 2 months old and approaching 6 figures is having this issue. I realize it can happen to any car but it doesn’t make it an easier pill to swallow.

[MystroX5]

Originally Posted by Tek-dad

Update. Dealer called and said the A/C compressor is shot and needs to be replaced per BMW. So while I’m happy they found the problem and are addressing it I’m a little miffed that a car less than 2 months old and approaching 6 figures is having this issue. I realize it can happen to any car but it doesn’t make it an easier pill to swallow.

This is actually what you want. A defective part usually fails within the first year of operation. I wouldn’t consider this anything to worry about. It’s not chronic and these isolated incidents do happen so your problem is easily fixable.

[Tek-dad]

Originally Posted by MystroX5

This is actually what you want. A defective part usually fails within the first year of operation. I wouldn’t consider this anything to worry about. It’s not chronic and these isolated incidents do happen so your problem is easily fixable.

True. Didn’t think about it this way. As long as its not chronic then a new compressor should last and operate as intended.

[VTENGR]

Originally Posted by Tek-dad

Update. Dealer called and said the A/C compressor is shot and needs to be replaced per BMW. So while I’m happy they found the problem and are addressing it I’m a little miffed that a car less than 2 months old and approaching 6 figures is having this issue. I realize it can happen to any car but it doesn’t make it an easier pill to swallow.

This is exactly why car manufactures offer warranties. Don't be miffed, just be happy it happened now and not a day after the warranty expired.

[Tek-dad]

So haven’t had a chance to drive too much lately but I can confirm so far with the new AC compressor the system is working as intended!

[thereef510]

okay this A/C is STILL annoying. I'm not a huge A/C person till it gets hot or something, so I'm happy with just the seat ventilation. Except it got hot yesterday and I pushed the Auto button. One would think that would be enough for the A/C to come on but it didnt! 5 minutes later I'm still hot and I look down and see no A/C indicator. Then I had to push Auto again for it to come on. WTF why does BMW insist on having the most complicated A/C system on the planet jesus it shouldnt be this hard.