A/C Warm on drivers side
 

I have a 08 X5 3.0si and the a/c blows nice and cold if I do not use the auto feature and just keep the fan on about 3 bars and the temperature inside on heater control is set at least 10 degrees lower than the outside temperature. I read a lot of post where the passenger side gets warm and the drivers side stays cool and that it is usually a problem with the freon. Was wondering if anyone else has had this happen and what it might be. Thanks.

It is not a problem of freon! It is smart AC which makes colder driver side when freon is running out!

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I've posted before about this when I 1st got my E70. Now it's doing it again occasionaly. I go through my settings and I have mine just exactly where I want my side, and the passenger side, to be-as cold as possible! Now, it started doing it again! Is this indicative of my freon running low? While we're talking about freon, can someone please chime in on freon and how it behaves over time under heavy usage [summer time] and it's long term characteristics in these E70's? Looking for preventative maintenance tips... And what about the button on both the driver's and passenger's side with the 3 lines on it? What exactly does it do?
TIA!

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it does sound like freon levels could be low. it also could be a compressor that is getting weak. higher air flow with a weak compressor means the evap core cannot stay cold. best thing to do is throw some air con gauges on it and see whats going on.


e39
freon does not really lose cooling ability over time. what does typically happen is a small leak develops and you leak it out of the system. as far as PM tips for the a/c system there really isnt any. its just kinda...chasing the failure unfortunately.

Go to an AC shop, have them evac the system; measure the freon load; check for leaks.... The reload freon; top off to 1,53 lbs (as I recall). Add uv leak dye.

Don't refill using only gauges.

Heater Control valve? Common failure item

Do they use a split heater core system? I though it was one heater core one evap core 2 blend doors and 2 mode doors. A heater control valve wouldn't account for one side if my thought process is correct (i am exhausted so it very well could be wrong)

Replacing the HCV when my pass side center vent was blowing warm fixed the issue. When I pulled the HCV apart, it was plain to see that the seals had deteriorated and were letting hot coolant to the pass side. No reason to believe that the driver's side could be bad as well.

Some people have replaced the hcv to fix this symptom

Some people have discovered a low freon charge and fixed their symptom that way. Lots actually

Why do people seem to think it has to be one thing????? And why do some feel there is a competition that their suggestion is 'the right one'?

It would be great if there was a differential diagnosis for these issues.....

Maybe 'does your cars AC work as well as it used to, on a super hot day?'...I dunno.

Replace a hcv...or pay $99 for an AC service?

Pick your poison

Does anyone know if/when BMW stopped using R-22 in US cars since come January it will no longer be sold in the US? My E70 was built in 2011, and I can't find anything that states what kind of coolant it uses. Maybe it makes sense to but a couple of refill kits now, worst case is you'll probably make a profit in 2022.