FRONT DEFROST CONTROL?
 

Hey everybody, quick question. I have a '00 X5 4.4, and it has always seemed that the front window defrost function is limited to no fan speed or temperature control?? It's just full blast hot, it's a pain when you're fogging but you're hot! Does someone know something I don't?

most euro cars are like this..
it does it on my Benz and X5... and did the same in my Z4

Minus the older BMWs(e21, e30, e28 etc) the newest ones blast heat. My e36 and now X5 does that. All my other ones do the same. Older BMWs you set where you want the air to come out and adjust fan speed. My E28 even had a real 'vent' on the dash that brought air from the cowl directly into the cabin.

I don't know on the E53, but on my X3 and E90 3er, you can adjust the fan speed manually while retaining the full heat defrost button.

Mine 2004 e53 does it too, very annoying, but on wifes e46 fan speed can be lowered while on defrost.....

Try turning on the A/C button when you do this - seems to cool the temp down some.

If the X5 operates like every other BMW I have had that is newer when the defrost is hit the A/C should cycle. Still blowing heat but removes moisture. Makes the defrost work better.

If this is the case, then the A/C must work "behind the scenes". On mine, the A/C button does not illuminate when the front defrost is turned on, however, you can turn it on manually and when you do, the air temp seems to go down while still blowing on the windshield. This is something I just figured out recently bc I too hated how hot the air was with the defrost, especially if you get into a cold car right after the gym - all the wondows fog up, but the last thing I want blowing on me is 400F air!!!:D

Hit the heater like normal...Hit the up arrow (the arrow that controls where the air is coming out of, there should be 3..an arrow for the front or forward, down for your feet, and up) and that will allow you to control the speed of your fan so its not on full blast..that "up" arrow is the air that comes out from the dash that hits the windshield (same as the defrost function). And that is how you can control your front defrost...

If you hit the actual 'defrost' button it does this. If you hit the 'up' arrow it just blows hot air.