AC not turning radiator fan on
 

When my 2005 X5 4.4 sits for hours and engine is cold, the AC doesn't blow cold for the first 5+ minutes. The clutch is engaged-compressor is turning, but the radiator fan does not come on when engine is cold (no auxiliary fan on this car, just main radiator fan). Once the engine warms up and the fan comes on, the AC begins to blow cold. I'm assuming the fan should come on when AC is on. Any suggestions?

Any ideas?

if you clutch is engaging when you start the car, then i'll suggest you recharge your refrigerant. is your temperature sensor reading the outside temp correctly?

clutch is engaged, gauges read 33/185, after 5+ minutes the cold air comes on like someone flipped on a switch. Just takes too long. Will check if outside temp reading is correct. I'm assuming the temp reading on the dash?

yes the temp reading on the dash. components i know that will affect AC on a bmw are, ac clutch, amount of refrigerant, amount of coolant, outside temp sensor. so if all of these checked out on your car, i don't know where else to turn to. refer to this thread for more info:

BMW Car Repair: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot.......FIX YOUR A/C

You could be a little low on refrigerant. Depending on the outside air temp the High side pressure should be around 200+ psi.

Here's what I've found. The AC compressor engages right away when started, but since its a variable displacement type, its hardly pumping any refrigerant. I know this because the low pressure tube is warm. Once the engine reaches operating temperature and the electric radiator fan turns on, the AC compressor changes to higher displacement and starts to pump refrigerant, the low pressure tube gets cold, and cold air begins blowing inside. The cold air comes on fast, like someone flips on a switch.
Maybe the engine fan has multiple speeds and is supposed to turn on at some slower than normal speed when AC is on. There's a direct relationship between the compressor pumping and the fan coming on, but the variable displacement valve in the compressor is mechanical so I don't see how an electric fan coming on can tell the compressor to increase displacement. The only wire to the compressor is the clutch wire and the clutch never disengages.
Could someone with a 2004-2006 X5 4.4 tell me if their radiator fan comes on when the engine is cold and the AC on? Assuming it doesn't have the same delay issue my car has. I've seen lots of posts with this same problem, but no answers. Any ideas?