Don't see many cars with Factory fitted sunroofs

MacRS4 said:
One thing I do find odd - climate control on modern BMWs. They're crap. What's the point of having a temperature controlled climate where you can also have different temperature air coming in through the manual control fo some random wheel in the middle of the dash.

Set temp at 20 deg, but then adjust temp by changing the mix of hot/external air.

It doesn't make any sense.

If I set it to 20deg I want the cabin at 20deg surely?
Click to expand...

I have literally spent half this thread explaining exactly why this little feature is so amazing. Effectively it gives you the option to immediatly change the air to suit your taste at that moment whilst leaving the core settings intact. Just because you are a bit hot and bothered doesn't mean you want the entire car to be 16c. You just want a quick blast of cold air. Just because its snowing outside and you've just got back in doesn't mean you want the car to be a 32c Sauna. You just want a quick blast of hot air..
 
The BMW system, which I find particularly good, has an extra feature - there is a knurled wheel which allows you to over-ride the air coming out of the centre vents. So if the system has decided you don't need a pile of hot air but you want some anyway, you can request that. From the amount of threads i've seen on BMW forums this seems to be beyond most people who drive around with it either on cold or hot and then complain about how crap the climate control is.
Click to expand...

Ah, right-o. I've worked it out. It's obviously because I'm utterly retarded, and nothing to do with the fact that it's a crap system that a lot of people don't like or get. Never had this issue on any other car I may add :rolleyes:
 
Don't use it then, how does the presence of an extra feature that you can choose to completely ignore if you don't want it render the entire system 'crap'? :confused:
 
So what do you do if its set to 21c and you fancy a bit of aircon in your face? Mash the controls until it says 16c?

If you leave it set to the middle you can bash at the climate controls instead all you like - it'll be as if the extra feature isn't even there. Not sure how it makes the system 'crap'.

That said I did find the climate control system in the E92 to be not quite as effective as that in the E39. I'm wondering if its because the vents are smaller on the dash or something.
 
I don't use it now, can't remember the last time I touched it - but it's simply a confusing system that's all.

Like I say, I like to set a temp and expect that to be the temp I get - not set at 20deg but then some +/- randomness depending on what some random wheel is set to.

Maybe I should read the manual :D
 
It's only confusing until you learn how it works. The reason why I can speak with such confidence about how good it is and how everyone who disagrees simply doesnt understand it is because I was there once. I spent an entire year slagging the climate control off to anyone who would listen because I could never quite get it to be comfortable and it had this stupid pointless manual wheel - why do I need that, I have climate control.

Then I got the hang of it...
 
Forgive me for disagreeing with thou BMW Holyness :p, I just find it a confusingly pointless system. Unlike any other car I've owned, without any real benefit to it.

and how everyone who disagrees simply doesnt understand it
Click to expand...

Well maybe that's part of its failure?
 
Kenai said:
It's really not that confusing is it? It's one extra dial with a pretty simple function.
Click to expand...

The confusion is working out why a fully automatic digital climate control system has an analouge wheel thats seemingly not connected to the rest of the system. Until you get there, the temptation is to ignore it and instead wish that there was an easy way to get cold air when you are hot..
 
I've never seen the appeal of sunroofs, now aircon is so easy and cheap to implement into most cars, wouldn't feel the need. So miss the CC in my 172, as Fox said 21 was the supreme temperature!
 
and instead wish that there was an easy way to get cold air when you are hot
Click to expand...

Quite, by setting the temp I want. Oh, wait, it's not the temp I want it's the temp I want + some random analogue wheel factor.

Fox, I get that you like it. But on the same token can you understand some people think it's a waste of space and pointless?

Your AC can provide light into the cabin from above?
Click to expand...

Some people couldn't care less about light from above. I'm one of them. Doesn't make it a wrong choice does it? Or are you saying that that's not the *only* function a SR gives? Cooling? Fair enough I guess.
 
Last edited:
MacRS4 said:
Quite, by setting the temp I want. Oh, wait, it's not the temp I want it's the temp I want + some random analogue wheel factor.
Click to expand...

But you don't really want a certain temp, do you? You don't get into the car and think 'You know what, I really wish it was actually 17.5c right now'. You just want it colder or hotter. Thats how it works. You set a comfortable base temp and can then quickly and easily make adjustments on the fly to suit your mood.

What you are doing is simply dialling the temperature down to get momentary cool air. Sure, it works for you, but thats not the intention of the system and thats not how its designed to be used. Thats what the wheel you hate is for.

Fox, I get that you like it. But on the same token can you understand some people think it's a waste of space and pointless?
Click to expand...

I can understand, yes. Because I thought it was a waste of space and pointless as well.

Do you adjust the thermostat in your house 5 times a night?

Some people couldn't care less about light from above. I'm one of them. Doesn't make it a wrong choice does it? Or are you saying that that's not the *only* function a SR gives? Cooling? Fair enough I guess.
Click to expand...

I'm saying that a Sunroof and AC are not items that replace each other. They serve different purposes. If you dont want light from above dont spec a SR. But people seem to think if they have AC they dont need a sunroof, or if they have a sunroof they don't need AC. This is a bit bizarre really. AC can't give the car the light airy feel a sunroof can, and a sunroof cannot give the car chilled, conditioned air like AC can.
 
No, same way I rarely adjust my car temperature either?

It's pretty much always set on 20degs. Sure, as the climate changes that may change to.

Climate Control+Wheel=System A
Climate Control=System B

Always had System B, always worked just fine. System A works just fine with an element of randomness thrown in.

Both just as good as each other in some respects I guess. Like I say, I just find it utterly pointless.

Still, if we all liked short large breasted blondes where would the world be...oh, wait :)
 
But people seem to think if they have AC they dont need a sunroof, or if they have a sunroof they don't need AC. This is a bit bizarre really.
Click to expand...

Yup completely agree with that. Would always go for A/C/Climate - couldn't care less about a sunroof.
 
Dual zone climate and skydome roof on our luxury Grande Punto ;)

I wouldn't spec one myself at the cost that Fiat charge but it is a nice to have and did swing us towards this particular example when buying used. My gf very rarely uses it but if it is a nice day, not too hot and I won't be going over 60 I slide it right back and catch some rays :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom