Climate setting (heat) always comes back on at start

[rh71]

I use the same keyfob everytime. I would be driving and (via the smaller fan button) turn off the heat completely so it would not display anything in the temperature / fan speed area. It's completely off. And no, it's not on the AUTO program.

Next time I start the car, the heat is back on (still not on the AUTO program). Why isn't it saving my setting from when I had it last (like off)?

I tried looking through the entire Climate section of idrive and there's nothing related to this except making fan settings. Auto-climate allows soft/medium/high but again, just fan settings and at soft (which is checked), is set at neutral with no fan speed.

[deutsch100]

I've complained, and posted about this. BMW added this "feature" in 2004 to the X5 models only. I HATE it.

Even if you turn the climate control completely off, and the car sits for more than 30 mins or so, upon restarting the climate control will go to fan speed 1 or (but not Auto). BMW thinks we need this. It cannot be disabled, and will always happen, regardless of what key fob you use, or what you save in regards to Memory settings.

And again, this is only the X5...no other BMW model does this. Really stupid, IMO.

[mtech8]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

I've complained, and posted about this. BMW added this "feature" in 2004 to the X5 models only. I HATE it.

Even if you turn the climate control completely off, and the car sits for more than 30 mins or so, upon restarting the climate control will go to fan speed 1 or (but not Auto). BMW thinks we need this. It cannot be disabled, and will always happen, regardless of what key fob you use, or what you save in regards to Memory settings.

And again, this is only the X5...no other BMW model does this. Really stupid, IMO.

Sorry. Don't quite understand what that the above statement in red means.

From all the posts so far and other threads. It sounds like the X5's climate control will always come on when the car is restarted after 30 minutes of inactivity? Has anyone contacted BMW directly to inquire about this? Is it an intentional design or bug?

So what happens within the 30 minutes if the car is restarted? Would the A/C or heater remain off (if not in AUTO mode and was shut off)?

Has anyone been able to turn off there AC, turn off their car, and restart it without the AC coming back on?

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by mtech8

Sorry. Don't quite understand what that the above statement in red means.

From all the posts so far and other threads. It sounds like the X5's climate control will always come on when the car is restarted after 30 minutes of inactivity? Has anyone contacted BMW directly to inquire about this? Is it an intentional design or bug?

So what happens within the 30 minutes if the car is restarted? Would the A/C or heater remain off (if not in AUTO mode and was shut off)?

Has anyone been able to turn off there AC, turn off their car, and restart it without the AC coming back on?

Don't understand? The climate control comes on in a super low fan speed, but not the 'AUTO' setting for the climate (round knob, green led light, that says "AUTO" for Automatic climate control).

If you turn the Climate Control totally OFF, and then re-start the car in a short amt. of time, then yes....the climate stays OFF. If you wait a bit, say like 30 mins or so...then the Climate Control will come on automatically, in a low fan speed, but not 'AUTO".

I complained to BMW extensivley when we had our 2004 X5 4.4i, the 4.8is and with my 2007 3.0si. They don't clearly answer, and just say it's a design. Oddly, the dealership cannot explain why it does it either, as NO other BMW model does this.

[erick_c]

I thought BMWs with automatic climate control units have always had their climate control turn on automatically.

This is (at least 'was') a dealer configurable setting. It always has been at least in my experience. This along with automatically locking the doors at 5mph. Of course, I'm not so sure with iDrive since my car isn't here yet for me to test.

My '99 E46 used to turn on the HVAC automatically whenever the key was turned to Position 2.

I had my Service Center set it to 'remember the last setting' and it does (well, did. I sold the car). Whenever I turned off the car and the HVAC was off, it stayed off. If it was on, it would turn on at the same temperature but the lowest fan setting.

My tip, find a service center willing to set it to what you want it to be set to.

[X5audi]

Is it really that terrible? Minor inconvenience.

[rh71]

Originally Posted by X5audi

Is it really that terrible? Minor inconvenience.

So everyone's fan is always on when they jump in the car?

I haven't really paid close attention if it keeps the last temp, but I hope in the summertime, it doesn't keep a default temperature (heat now) and turn the fan on too.

That's why I'm concerned.. I'm not going to want this setting all year round. I don't want to have to adjust it everytime.

Also, there have been many "minor inconveniences" piling up in this forum. If we talk about it enough, they can get fixed in future versions rather than just carry them over year after year because they never thought it was an issue.

[pureflames]

minor inconvenience yes...but the price of an X5 is not minor by any means

[mazinkaizer]

It's not inconvenience, it's more like "ANNOYING". Why can't it stays off when you wanted it to?

I personally think it's a bad design.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by mazinkaizer

It's not inconvenience, it's more like "ANNOYING". Why can't it stays off when you wanted it to?

I personally think it's a bad design.

Exactly! Why do we have to just live with "a minor inconvenience"? I'm sure the majority of you would not want your A/C or heat automatically starting everyday in your home, and you cannot change the setting. Sure, you can just turn it off, but should you have too?

Also, why do this just on the X5? This kinda seems like the last car that should have this feature.

I personally find this "feature" (defect) really annoying. And yeah, for $70,000 should I be annoyed daily, no matter how "minor" the issue?