That's probably the heater mixing valve.

Thanks I'll take a look


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

With the 4 zone system, you can custom tailor the amount of airflow on each side, (not talking about the knobs on the vents here.) You push the "individual" air flow button, (the one under the seat A/C-seat heat button). From there, the driver side can select airflow amounts for windscreen, face vents, and floor vents. The passenger can select just face vents and floor vents. Notice the red/white/blue bars? That's the equivalent of the temperature mix knob in the center vents on older BMWs. The temperature knobs do not fully control face vent temps; only footwell temps and defroster temps. The digital control handles that.

If any of this is news to you, then it may be your problem; otherwise you may have some sort of system issue. Start with a code scan...and not just the A/C codes; scan everything. Parts of the A/C Heat system are controlled by other modules, (like the footwell module.)

If your E70 has all available climate control options, it's a diabolically complicated system; and very tough for mechanics when it goes bad. Frankly, I love the flexibility, but some folks find this system difficult to understand. My wife is just getting it figured out, (it's mostly my car) after two years. But she refuses to read instructions on anything. I read the owners manual on the flight to go collect the car to take it home, so it was easy for me.

X2 on that. This valve is located just above the driver's side frame rail. I would think that this will throw a code if it's bad; mine did. But the for some reason this code will be within the footwell module, so don't just scan the A/C system.

Also, a way to confirm a bad valve is to switch the heater hoses on the backside of the valve; your hot air problem will switch to the other side of the car. Unfortunately, this is an expensive little bugger...$279.00 or so.

Awesome! I too have this issue and I do have that setting. I've stumbled into it before not sure what the point of it was! I just went out to check (yes, I was that excited) and now BOOM my driver vents blow a lot more cold air. What was funny is I noticed my feet would get cold when I was wearing flip flops--I had the setting to feet and windshield with hardly any in the face vents. I assumed any setting went away when I hit the auto button but certainly not! Thanks!!

Yes, the settings will change when you hit the AUTO button. I never use that feature, as I rarely ever want the fan on full blast. It will also change if you hit the individual settings button more than once. If there's one car that begs for you to read the owner's manual from cover to cover, it's an E70. Print out your options sheet, (there are web sites where you can put in your VIN and get a full list) and have that on hand as you read. When I was shopping for my used X5, I found that the majority of owners, (including dealers,) did not have any idea exactly what features the car had. For a convenient copy of the owners manual, you can download one in .pdf format from the BMW NA web site.

I wish I had gotten a notification you had posted this....I am subscribed to this thread. Oh well. It was indeed the red/white blue bars. I had played around with the vent settings, but somehow never wound up on those bars. Adjusted them on my test drive after replacing the filters, and imagine that, it worked.

I am glad I replaced the filters though, they were nasty.

It could be that mixing valve referenced in the thread or your car has a freon leak and is low.

I had the same issue and filled mine today with a kit from Autozone. $40 and mine is working great.

Might consider putting it on max cold to eliminate any user settings etc.

Who are you referring to?

My issue was resolved in the post right above yours. It was just a setting change.