Front / Rear A/C control separation

[ldgregory]

Ok, I've searched around for the answer on this, read the manual a bazillion times, even took it to the BMW dealer (we'll get to that in a minute).

So here's the issue. I have tried every combination of settings in iDrive to gang and separate the front environment controls from the rear. No matter what configuration I have them in, my four year old can control the front A/C with the rear controls. It drives me bonkers when she accidentally hits one of the buttons with her foot, or deliberately changes them to make herself more comfortable. I would love that she could access her controls to change the heat/cold for the rear so she could make herself more comfortable, but she's more or less banned from touching the controls because it jacks us up in the front.

So, I take it to BMW to get a ski and snowboard rack installed. Drove back and had them remove it and refund the cost after driving 15 miles at 45MPH listening to that thing scream and whistle in the air. Sorry, got sidetracked.

Anyway. While I was there at BMW, I brought up the front/rear control issue. They had a couple people jump in and play with iDrive but couldn't get it figured out. Made an appointment for the next day to drop it off for them to look at. They kept it the entire day doing various things to it (like reflashing the computer), and ultimately, the next morning tell me. "It's supposed to work like that."

WHAT!?!?!?!? My last Dodge RAM truck allowed my kids to control the rear environment without jacking up the front. You're telling me my BMW can't do that?

So, I'm appealing to the folks here who know this most likely isn't the case. How do I keep the rear controls from controlling the front. I honestly don't even care if we can control the rear from the front anymore. I just want them independent of each other.

Any help will result in copious amounts of free virtual beer as thanks.