Quote:
Originally Posted by skeeattle
Maybe I dont understand, thanks for the clarification.
So then I have a few questions: Are the vents in the middle supposed to change temprature to offest the "Automatic" temp?
My previous car 2006 Ford Explorer with climate control was perfect, I never had to adjust a thing.
This thing I feel I have to always adjust because the cabin gets hot then cold and I can never find consistancy or a balance.
Where on the dial is the netural area? All I see are 3 red dots and 3 blue dots. I thought the netural area is in between the 1 red dot and 1 blue dot (in the center of the dial)---that is where I have it now.
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The root of the problem is that BMW loves complexity. It is an engineering thing. I say that with respect, as an engineer myself, but they obviously have too many of them and sometimes need to invent things that don't need inventing. Quick example: Other manufacturers vary intermittent wiper speed with a timer. That assumes that raindrops are falling at a constant speed. BMW says, "No, let's count the raindrops, because there might be more or less before the next sweep..." Complexity for complexity's sake. On long drives, some of us amuse ourselves by figuring out examples of other needlessly complex systems on our BMWs. That is even easier if you have iDrive.
So they design in separate left and right temperature control. Fine. Some vehicles have separate rear controls as well. They're getting complicated now, but that's OK. Put in an auto button on the HVAC panel (just one button) and use the same auto button to control everything (air distribution and fan speed) or just one of those, depending on how many times you push it. Now turn the AC on every time the vehicle is started, because the designers assumed that nobody would ever want it off. Some guy in the design office says "but I like cool air on my face, no matter what temperature the vehicle is, it keeps me awake on the autobahn". OK, put in a manual thumbwheel that isn't connected to the auto system, to provide the ability to get cool air on your face, even when hot air is blowing on your feet. This whole system has become pretty complicated, but that is OK, because German engineers can't imagine that their customers won't study the owner's manual (yeah, right...). How else would the owners figure out all these features?
Now we have an auto system, a manual put away in the glove box, and a little thumbwheel right in front of the new owner that has red and blue dots on it. I am in no way picking on you here, it is just that this happens. A lot. The good news is that that is why forums like this exist.
The usual comment is that "this system is crap, my (Ford/GMC/Toyota/Lexus/Cadillac/insert any make here) worked fine." And they are right. My two Explorers had auto systems that worked perfectly as well. But the system in the BMW works very well once it is understood. I am happy with mine. On the other hand, some owners are on their third or fourth BMW, and can't figure out the HVAC system.
The offset is only to the air flow coming out the centre vents. It doesn't change the auto setting. Think of sitting in a 72 degree car, quite comfortable, but with a nice refreshing flow of air on your face, maybe a 70 F airflow. It is still 72F, but there is a temperature gradient top to bottom, and from the centre to the sides (the thumbwheel doesn't mix the side vents). Trouble is, you may notice the air temperature on your face before the car gets to the auto setting. Then the see-saw of switching controls begins. Resist.
Neutral is in between the single red and single blue dots. Off requires closing the two side wheels on the centre vents, then the thumbwheel has no impact. I would just leave it in neutral. It is really only a problem if you have the car set hot, and the vents set really cold, or vice versa.
Let us know how it works out.
PS: Welcome to the forum!