A/C issue/question - 2006 X5

[jbmwx5]

AC system issue - looking for advice/feedback (I tried looking in other threads and didn't see this scenario described)

Outside temp is irrlevant - happens at 80, 90, 100 and inbetween.
Inisde setting seems to be irrlevant - I've tried at Max AC (60), and various temps from there up to 80+
Inside control knob (the one that goes from three blue dots to 3 red dots) - does seem to have an impact. However, I'm not able to roll it to 3 blue dots - but rolling it opposite does warm the air noticably.

Issue - no cold air at all coming from right side (center or window) or rear vents
Left side puts out cold air consistently and constantly - it seems to be at the proper temp.

Air coming from right vents is room temp (or warmer depending on knob and temp setting - so heat seems to work still).

I would have suspected coolant but I am getting cold air from left side and its very cold (temp solution I manually closed off the right vents.

Could this be a thermostat issue on the dual zone a/c unit?

I've turned on off the AC with the car off and then started it.
I've turned on the AC with the car running at low speed and at highway speed, on short drives and after several hours of driving - same in all cases.

Ideas? Suggestions?
any additional information needed?

Thank you!

[Naz24]

man, i wish i could remember what the solution was on this. My friend with an 06 3.0i had the exact same problem...

I know someone will chime in, or i will try to find out what the problem ended up being..

[Zulu95]

If I remember correctly- low on "freon". Try a search as it has been covered before many times.

[jbmwx5]

Zulu

Thanks for thought - I considered freon/coolant and perhaps it could be that - but....
I do get cold air just from the drivers side. It gets warmer the further right to the passenger window vent by vent.

I would have thought that if it were coolant / freon that all air would be equally lukewarm or not cold enough.

UPDATE ==========
Went to BMW this AM - and the first thing the SA said - 'freon', the next was 'recharge'. He said low charge typically was colder to the drivers side and warmer accross. So I'm off to the DIY section to see how I can try this myself as he quoted me $360 to have them do it and look for a leak.



Update - I drove 4 hours straight today, much of it down I-95 - after being parked outside in direct sun until 2 30 PM in 90+ weather.....

Car cabin interior finally cooled down after an hour - the fan blowing at top speed for a good period of that time as I had it set at 63ish on the left and the right vents closed off (and it stayed sunny and above 90 for that spell)....cooling basically happened once it got raining and overcast (outside temp sensor said it cooled off a lot).

I had the passenger side set at 74 most of the ride and the drivers in the lower 60s but finally had to move it up to 68 and then aim the vents away as it got too cold to blow on me directly (by that point outside temp reading had gone back up to upper 80s)....I did open the passenger middle vent and cold air came out....not sure if it was because it was generally cold in the cabin and the right side was just recirculating the already cooled air or somehow the unit on that side switched on or.....

Yes - I had recirculate on the whole time.

Thanks again