Is "auto" climate full auto?

[London Lad]

Blighmy its so easy!!!

1. Press auto

2. Set the temp you want

3. Press the AC button if the light is not already on.

4. Never touch it again !!!

AUTO will control the temp in the cabin, the fan speed and the distribution all automatically.

AC really needs to be on all the time to dry damp air even in the winter. AUTO will control the AC behind the scenes anyway.

The 3 auto settings, low, medium and aggressive, control how fast the system brings the cabin to the temp you set. Medium works well or low if you prefer low fan speeds.

I don't know how much more 'auto' you can get!!!

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

It seems that all German cars (especially BMW and Mercedes) have 'Auto' climate controls, yet require the "snowflake" or AC button to be activated/illuminated at the same time.

Well, I haven't had my X5 is the Summer yet, but whenever I press the "Auto" button, my A/C snowflake key lights-up, i.e., it seems that auto does make the A/C available without another button press, at least on my X5.

I actually find that irritating, as I want to decide when the A/C should be used, rather than cooler outside air, and would prefer the auto button to not activate the A/C.

[London Lad]

You can turn it off and still have full auto climate control but obviously at no lower temp than ambient and no dehumidification.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by London Lad

You can turn it off and still have full auto climate control but obviously at no lower temp than ambient and no dehumidification.

Yup, and that's what I do -- press auto and them press the A/C button to turn it off.

[bimmerpwr]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Well, I haven't had my X5 is the Summer yet, but whenever I press the "Auto" button, my A/C snowflake key lights-up, i.e., it seems that auto does make the A/C available without another button press, at least on my X5.

I actually find that irritating, as I want to decide when the A/C should be used, rather than cooler outside air, and would prefer the auto button to not activate the A/C.

This is what I wanted to find out. To see if AUTO should engage AC and show the indication by lighting up the button. On the same token, when conditions are met, the AC button should turn off by the auto program, thus preserving what unnecessary energy it doesn't have to waste.

Which is not the case with my X5. I would have to manually select the button as London indicated to get any cool air.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by bimmerpwr

On the same token, when conditions are met, the AC button should turn off by the auto program, thus preserving what unnecessary energy it doesn't have to waste.

I don't think that having the A/C button lit-up green means the A/C is actually working, it just means that it is available and will be used if the auto program deems it necessary, e.g., if you press auto and the A/C light goes green, it doesn't mean the A/C compressor is actually engaged, using energy.

[London Lad]

[bimmerpwr]

Thank you for input. I think I will just push that button and forget about it. I don't think I will worry about "temperature" control hidden in idrive as mentioned previously.

[London Lad]

The iDrive controls are just a doubling up of what is available on the dash.
The one exception being the option to adjust the distribution of the heated seat output between the squab and back.

[JCL]

Originally Posted by Penguin

I don't think that having the A/C button lit-up green means the A/C is actually working, it just means that it is available and will be used if the auto program deems it necessary, e.g., if you press auto and the A/C light goes green, it doesn't mean the A/C compressor is actually engaged, using energy.

Exactly. The system is designed for the snowflake button to be always on. The compressor clutch doesn't engage unless it is required. Other threads have posters complaining that the snowflake always comes on when they turn the key on, which is related to this issue.

The system has far too many adjustments and controls. It isn't intuitive. That said, the best thing to do is to get it set right, and then never touch it again. It is fully automatic, but some want to fiddle with it and then is when it becomes semi-automatic.

I haven't had any issues with the BMW automatic HVAC system on any vehicle, but I do take the time to get it set right when I get a new vehicle. After that, the only thing that gets adjusted is the left and right temperature. Snowflake button is on all year, as it was designed to be.