When is climate control not really climate control
 

Can somebody please explain why BMW climate control isn't climate control?

Or am I doing something wrong?

I want 23°C so I set it but if it's cold I get no heat unless I mess with the heater dial in the centre air vent and turn it from blue setting to at least 1 red?

What is the purpose of this? Why is this even a thing? Why does every other manufacturer allow a simple change of temp to get results while BMW needs you to phaff about with a heater dial in the centre vent?

Bloody confusing for anyone borrowing my car.

Cheers!

That dial affects only face vents. When it's fully red the air coming from the face vents is the same as from every other vent. When you turn the dial towards blue cold air passing the heater core is mixed to face vents. You can keep it all the time on red to make it work like on every other vehicle. Never had a problem with this when you know how it's functioning. Though I have to admit I have to use it more often on E53 compared to E39. Could be partly for the larger window area affecting the feel of air warmth depending on weather. I almost never touch the temp setting. It's constantly on 21,5 C. When needed I just use the dial.

Thanks,

Red I, II or III for normal climate like in every other car?

Fully red (mixing flap closed) is the "normal" setting with every vent giving the same air. Usually during winter I keep it mostly on the full red and during summer on the neutral mixed position and turn the wheel if I need to change the feeling of the temp (not touching the basic temp setting on the control panel).

https://xoutpost.com/attachments/x5-...ation-flap.png

Really like this thing — esp. this time of year — which no other car-maker seems to offer.

The only mystery is why there isn't back lighting on it. Though after years your muscle memory knows where to find it.

Thanks Clavurion for the pic

One thing I like on the e70 is that the mix setting is separate left and right and set in idrive so you can see exactly where it's set (2 steps over neutral for example).

In fall when temps can swing 50F or 28c inn a day it's very easy to have the dial set opposite what you need from the night before.


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