E70 Air Conditioner

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by LVR

Our car has been over in Western Australia whilst we were there, and we discovered that the current model A/C is pretty useless. A call to the dealer found out that those in hot climates are complaining about the same thing.

Firstly check that you have the rear a/c turned off altogether (Idrive uncheck rear pasenger and make same settings as driver) That alone significantly increases the airflow to the front.

It is not the initial cool down of the car that is such a problem, it is that the volume of COLD air is so low that having passengers (or our son) in the rear means we sweat in the front or have it turned up so much that the 'less hot air' is roaring out the vents. It does appear to be a pretty weak solution to warmer climates as we had the dealer check all the settings and we had it right.


The temps we were experincing were in the 40's (110'F) and it was causing a problem for us....

Thanks for admitting the same problem. 2 local dealers here in Southern California (BMWs largest market in the entire world!), and some of the most valued & respected dealers verified that A LOT of X5 owners are complaining about poor air volume, not cold enough, oddly complicated and useless i-Drive climate settings...It's not that I complain A LOT, it's just that for what we spend, I expect A LOT from a car. I will be the first to say the BMW makes one of the safest & strongest cars on this planet, but electronics and reliability to a degree, is not their strongpoint. Some of you have your head so far in the clouds with the notion that BMW can do no wrong, that you just refuse to admit a flaw(s) with your E70. I guess if that makes your E70 ownership more enjoyable, then more power to ya!!

[lakai]

press the "AUTO" button until it says Intense and turn off the rear a/c.

[mwares212]

As rh71 said,
I think the problem is there are too many different settings. Once you figure out the perfect A/C, fan speed, etc. configuration, there isn't a problem.

[soda_stereo]

very well said deutsch100 .... i'm curious, have the dealerships done anything to correct the problem with your AC? i've pretty much done everything suggested on this thread to this point and still am not satisifed with the results (and neither is my 8 week old son) ... i'm seriously contemplating taking it in to the local dealer to have it looked at. btw, it was 113'F here today (and will get hotter this weekend).

[X5FX]

If the intensive setting isnt cooling the car, then yes you should have taken it to the dealer.

[deutsch100]

Originally Posted by soda_stereo

very well said deutsch100 .... i'm curious, have the dealerships done anything to correct the problem with your AC? i've pretty much done everything suggested on this thread to this point and still am not satisifed with the results (and neither is my 8 week old son) ... i'm seriously contemplating taking it in to the local dealer to have it looked at. btw, it was 113'F here today (and will get hotter this weekend).

For the past 2.5 days, we've had 105-111F, so HOT here too!! With my 06' E90 and both X5s, the dealership just says "that's the new BMW climate control systems". The air temp. is cold, and will eventually cool the car, but if you compare the force, temp and evenness with other car makes...the BMW (especially the new X5) it is for sure subpar. I don't think the dealer can do anything, as BMW does not think there is a problem. Sorry!!

[Judyd]

I'm wondering if some drivers don't realize the vents on both sides of the dash have two adjustments. They adjust up and down to open and also open side to side. When I first got my 08 x5, the side to side adjustment was closed and only a small amount of air was coming out. Once opened, the air is more than enough for our warm summer climate in CA. I've also adjusted settings in idrive. I don't see a problem.

[genew]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

For the past 2.5 days, we've had 105-111F, so HOT here too!! With my 06' E90 and both X5s, the dealership just says "that's the new BMW climate control systems". The air temp. is cold, and will eventually cool the car, but if you compare the force, temp and evenness with other car makes...the BMW (especially the new X5) it is for sure subpar. I don't think the dealer can do anything, as BMW does not think there is a problem. Sorry!!

I tend to disagree with you and your dealer. If all BMW's had bad a/c then your and your dealers theory would be right. A lot of us have no complaints. I live in Kansas and we get hot here with some humidity also and mine cools just fine. As to all BMW's I have had two E53's prior to the 70 and never had problems with the A/C including several months in Arizona. If yours is not satisfactory the problem has to be in the eletronics or A/C or ours would be bad too. It's not the system!!!! Take it too the dealer and tell them other people are happy.

[wg8221]

This is the second summer we've had our X5 and the A/C continues to work and cool very effectively. On super hot humid summer days, after the X5 has been sitting in the sun here in Florida, I've pushed the "MAX" button to cool the car quickly and it does so very well. After a minute or two I just go to the Auto Intensive position and the vehicle stays very comfortable.

When I first got the vehicle I like many of you thought the system was weak. But once I got the settings for the vents right through I drive and began modulating the intensity through the "AUTO" button I found the system to be very good.

[X5FX]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

For the past 2.5 days, we've had 105-111F, so HOT here too!! With my 06' E90 and both X5s, the dealership just says "that's the new BMW climate control systems". The air temp. is cold, and will eventually cool the car, but if you compare the force, temp and evenness with other car makes...the BMW (especially the new X5) it is for sure subpar. I don't think the dealer can do anything, as BMW does not think there is a problem. Sorry!!

I have to ask, why do you continue buying BMW's if you are so unhappy?