Heating

[JCL]

Originally Posted by CrazyOneToo

Question is....do X5s heaters work well normally? I mean it is a roomy vehicle and would take a pretty good heater to heat the whole truck.

Yes. Mine worked well down to about -30 C on fully automatic mode (automatic control of fan speed, temperature modulation, and distribution). Below that, I needed to adjust the airflow distribution to put more heat on the windows, to prevent frosting on the rear side windows.

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by JCL

Yes. Mine worked well down to about -30 C on fully automatic mode (automatic control of fan speed, temperature modulation, and distribution). Below that, I needed to adjust the airflow distribution to put more heat on the windows, to prevent frosting on the rear side windows.

OK thanks. That sounds great to me.
Does your temp guage run colder that mid way normally?

[puddinboo]

my temp gauge is always in middle , -23 with wind chill today,

[JCL]

Temperature gauge has run at 12 o'clock in all of my BMW vehicles. It isn't a true representation of coolant temperature, as the gauge is heavily buffered. If the coolant is anywhere within a wide actual temperature range, it is programmed to show straight up. If it doesn't, either you are running cold (usually a thermostat), or the gauge buffer is not functioning correctly.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by puddinboo

my temp gauge is always in middle , -23 with wind chill today,

Your vehicle doesn't know about wind chill.

[puddinboo]

k -11c

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by JCL

Temperature gauge has run at 12 o'clock in all of my BMW vehicles. It isn't a true representation of coolant temperature, as the gauge is heavily buffered. If the coolant is anywhere within a wide actual temperature range, it is programmed to show straight up. If it doesn't, either you are running cold (usually a thermostat), or the gauge buffer is not functioning correctly.

That suxx. Mine is staying about halfway in between nothing and 12 noon.
I already plan to replace the ET and Automatic Transmission Thermostat anyway.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by CrazyOneToo

I have a question. This is the first cold weather I have seen since buying my X5. On my temp gauge it shows about one quarter across. My E46 always runs about straight up in the middle. The X5s heater didn't seem to get very warm either. My ET I believe is going to need replacing but don't have a thermostat yet. I saw coolant around the top of my ET and when I checked the level it showed over filled. Yay for me.

Question is....do X5s heaters work well normally? I mean it is a roomy vehicle and would take a pretty good heater to heat the whole truck.

Two things:

1. recheck your coolant level (when engine has cooled down)
2. UNLOCK your OBC and run TEST 7

If you run TEST 7 while driving around...the 1st screen (of 2 screens) will show the coolant temp (in Celsius)...you should see KTMP: 076°C (obviously the temp will vary based on actual conditions) in your instrument cluster display.

If memory serves me correct, I believe that the average coolant temp of a warmed engined usually hovers around 108 °C (225 °F)...so if your coolant temp is below this...it may be the reason for your lack of heat.

If I have the incorrect coolant temp for the OP's engine...please feel free to chime in with the correction...my experience has been with the V8 engines (M62/M62TU/N62) for the past 10 years.

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Two things:

1. recheck your coolant level (when engine has cooled down)
2. UNLOCK your OBC and run TEST 7

If you run TEST 7 while driving around...the 1st screen (of 2 screens) will show the coolant temp (in Celsius)...you should see KTMP: 076°C (obviously the temp will vary based on actual conditions) in your instrument cluster display.

If memory serves me correct, I believe that the average coolant temp of a warmed engined usually hovers around 108 °C (225 °F)...so if your coolant temp is below this...it may be the reason for your lack of heat.

If I have the incorrect coolant temp for the OP's engine...please feel free to chime in with the correction...my experience has been with the V8 engines (M62/M62TU/N62) for the past 10 years.

OK I'll try that when I go driving today.
Hope I can remember how. Last time I switched my display into Celsius by accident
and erased my preset profile display options....time, date, mpg mph, etc.



edit: Added a pic of gauge after some spirited driving about town.
About 5 miles worth and I could only get the temp up to 63C.
That outside temp reading is correct.

[Clockwork]

your thermostat is probably stuck in open position and there cooling your engine all the time. Replace thermostat.