BMW A/C Question

Styles · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:01

I have the dual zone climate control in my F21 1 series, but the inlets in the centre and rear of the car have a wheel (just like the vent open/shut) that you can turn to cold or warm. What exactly are these for? When do they have any effect and why do I have these if the temperature is controlled by the dials below?

Cheers

SDK^ · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:06

Isn't it obvious.
The rear passengers can control temperature independently of the front temp.
The front middle temp dial allows you to set a different temp to modify your side of the cabin.

I.e. I like to be cool but my 2 year old son in the back likes to be warm.
In Winter I prefer warm legs and body but a cool face

Clarkey · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:08

Those vents are controlled by the dial, not the CC system. It's a slightly ridiculous system tbh, always found it a faff.

OllyM · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:09

Clarkey said:
Those vents are controlled by the dial, not the CC system. It's a slightly ridiculous system tbh, always found it a faff.

Leave it in the centre and it is controlled by the climate control?

Clarkey · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:15

It isn't, it's always too cold, I have mine on full hot almost all the time. The only time the CC has any effect is when the target temp is set to the extremes. My experience of it does not extend to the newer models though tbf, maybe they made it work properly.

[TW]Fox · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:17

Clarkey said:
Those vents are controlled by the dial, not the CC system. It's a slightly ridiculous system tbh, always found it a faff.

It's not ridiculous at all, it's excellent once you learn what its for which you've not yet done because you incorrectly state the vents are not controlled by the CC system. They are.

With the wheel in the centre position, the output from the centre vents is totally controlled by the CC system. But the wheel allows you to temporaily override the vent temperature. Perhaps although the car is set to 21c you want a blast of chilled air in the face? Maybe you want warming up? The wheel allows this where other CC systems don't unless you change the temperature setting for the entire zone.

They are a fantastic part of the BMW CC system which you really, really miss when you don't have them. I never touch the CC in my 530i, it's always right and always set to exactly 21.5cc. I just use the wheel as and when I need it.

Just spent 3 weeks in another car with conventional climate control. It drove me insane and I had to kept changing the temperature setting...

Kenai · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:17

My understanding was the climate control is controlling all the vents and those dials were an 'override' so you can quickly give a blast of hot or cold air if you want it for some reason (say you just had a window open for a toll booth and the car got cold, you could give a quick hot blast for a few minutes) without messing around changing the temperature set in the climate control up and down.

edit - well it looks like Fox got there first

acemastr · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:18

mine shifts depending on how warm/cold i am, mornings hot, evenings cold

Dangerous Dave · 2 Oct 2013 at 20:41

Never seen the point of this option, my CC hasn't moved from 22c since I bought the car and I never feel the need to change it.

Even if you do need to change the temperature what is the difference between changing it via dual zone CC rather than the dial you get the same outcome ?

In my car the left centre vent is directed to the passenger side so if I had the equivalent I would be giving the passenger a blast of what ever I want rather the dual zone climate which only changes the right hand vent for the driver or left for the passenger.

Styles · 2 Oct 2013 at 21:34

[TW]Fox;25045383 said:
It's not ridiculous at all, it's excellent once you learn what its for which you've not yet done because you incorrectly state the vents are not controlled by the CC system. They are.

With the wheel in the centre position, the output from the centre vents is totally controlled by the CC system. But the wheel allows you to temporaily override the vent temperature. Perhaps although the car is set to 21c you want a blast of chilled air in the face? Maybe you want warming up? The wheel allows this where other CC systems don't unless you change the temperature setting for the entire zone.

They are a fantastic part of the BMW CC system which you really, really miss when you don't have them. I never touch the CC in my 530i, it's always right and always set to exactly 21.5cc. I just use the wheel as and when I need it.

Just spent 3 weeks in another car with conventional climate control. It drove me insane and I had to kept changing the temperature setting...

Brilliant answer, thank you.

godinman · 2 Oct 2013 at 21:44

I leave the CC temp the same all year round and just mess with the middle dial when required, I think it's a naff system and would be happier just changing the CC temp.

[TW]Fox · 2 Oct 2013 at 21:51

godinman said:
I leave the CC temp the same all year round and just mess with the middle dial when required, I think it's a naff system and would be happier just changing the CC temp.

So do that, nothing stopping you. Leave the dial in neutral and use the CC if thats what you really want.

Havana_UK · 2 Oct 2013 at 22:00

I agree with Fox in that I think it's a brilliant system, and gives you much finer (and more immediate) control over the temperature of the air coming from the vents.

Spartacus · 3 Oct 2013 at 02:28

Ive owned quite a few BMW's over the last 20 years and FOX is spot on here, he has explained exactly how it works and I agree it work brilliantly once you know how to use it.

You should also leave the ********* button on all year round.

Django x2 · 3 Oct 2013 at 08:05

Spartacus said:
You should also leave the ********* button on all year round.

You mean the aircon

Spartacus · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:26

Django x2 said:
You mean the aircon

Dont be too smart, it doest suit you

Yeah of course I mean the air con, but you'll be surprised how many people use the climate control with the air con button off :eek:

Gepetto · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:32

Spartacus said:
Ive owned quite a few BMW's over the last 20 years and FOX is spot on here, he has explained exactly how it works and I agree it work brilliantly once you know how to use it.

You should also leave the ********* button on all year round.

Why leave the aircon on permanently Spartacus?

Amos91 · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:44

Spartacus said:
Dont be too smart, it doest suit you

Yeah of course I mean the air con, but you'll be surprised how many people use the climate control with the air con button off

Does it not automatically control this?

With my climate on auto it only uses the AC when it cant meet a certain temperature due to the difference in inside and outside temp.

Howard · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:47

Most CC systems will use the AC all the time (as long as the outside temperature is above about 4-5c) in order to keep the cabin air clean and dry. This is especially useful if it's a bit damp outside. There's no need to ever turn it off.

Spartacus · 3 Oct 2013 at 10:49

Gepetto said:
Why leave the aircon on permanently Spartacus?

Pressing the '*********' button on means that the air is dried before it is warmed up again (if in heating mode) or cooled down (if in cooling mode). This dries the air inside the cabin. Gets rid of condensation / misting on the windscreens & windows.

Also it is that continuous process which helps keep the HVAC system itself, as dry as possible, at the same time. When we switch it on and off, we can cause moisture to sit in the unit, at a warmer temperature, and that is where the bacteria usually grows.