A/C Hot till Coolant Temp Guage is Center
 

The title is pretty much the jist of it.
2006 BMW E53 X5
Ive had this problem for a couple of years. Luckily it doesn’t stay super hot around here for very long. The AC does work, I just have to drive it eh.. 7 to 10 minutes for the Coolant Temperature Guage is right smack in the middle between cold and hot. This is my second X5 E53 I diggem, I had a problem on the other one a 2004 model and blowing the Climate Control vents with air duster helped out. On this 2006, I went ahead and pulled the whole thing apart and cleaned every nook and cranny free from dust.
It didn’t help. :dunno:
So if you guys have any advice I would be inclined to listen!
Thanks in advance!
Phil

it sounds like the pause when hearing to not blow cold air when coolant temp is low but for AC I would expect that to be defeated unless it’s waiting for the evaporator to be cold before blowing 140° air at your face

Hmm, I don’t totally understand what you’re saying.
What would your suggestion be to fix the problem?
Thanks
P

It's the compressor. Typical failure on the X5, it has a valve that regulates the refrigerant, rather than the clutch going on and off like 'normal' compressors. Mine does this too. I bet if you rev the engine, it gets cold quicker.

APG is saying the variable rate compressor is failing.

To know more details, would have to know for example, what's the high/low pressures, also once you get cold air does it stay that way all day. Typically when the variable compressor wigs out that's the symptom: takes a long time to make cold but once it finally starts it'll cool all day.

Exactly. :thumbup:

I don't think there is a precise correlation to the temp dial (it's not actually a gauge more like a three position indicator), more likely just time related or perhaps as suggested Ron related.

I don't have the variable compressor. People have modified them to stay in the one position that works rather than replace so look into that.