Is "auto" climate full auto?
 

When I had 2001 M5 and 2003 330xi, I had to push AC button to get cool air in the summer even when the climate control was in "AUTO". It kind of defeated the meaning of "auto" I thought.

In my 2006 Acura RL, when it is set to "AUTO", it is fully automatic. No need to push anything else to maintain the temperature.

In my 2008 E70 4.8, the manual says, when set to "Auto", it regulates "AC" automatically. But it does not seem the case. Only when I push AC button, I get cool air to maintain the temperature settings (say 72 degree in 80 degree weather).

Does E70 X5 not have "full auto" and requires a push of "AC" button for cool air?

Thanks,

BMWs don't seem to have auto control of the AC.
It is very annoying that other cars do this properly and BMW doesn't.

It seems that all German cars (especially BMW and Mercedes) have 'Auto' climate controls, yet require the "snowflake" or AC button to be activated/illuminated at the same time. American and Japanese cars seems to just use Auto.

It has been my experience with 12+ BMWS and 20+ MBZs, that BMW HVAC is a little behind Mercedes and for sure Lexus and most American cars (surprisingly). BMW always seems a little weak, not as even and not as well performing in terms of HVAC (especially A/C). But, their engines and most of their transmissions make up for it! :)

Before this 08 X5, the next latest bmw I had was 2003 so I was hoping that BMW would've caught up with other manufacturers on auto ac by 2008. Regarding german autos, I seem to recall my 2004 Audi A8 did not need the extra step of pushing "ac" button to get cool air, but I may have been mistaken.

Anyhow, it is strange that in the manual, it does say when it is set to "auto", temp control works without having to push "ac" button. Regardless, from what I hear, I guess I am not missing anything, BMWs still require pushing ac button for ac.

I still do not fully understand the climate control system as it integrates with idrive. I'm a tech guy - this is not only un-intuitive, I actually do not understand it. You would think AUTO would keep the ambient temp at whatever you set the numbers at (raise and lower fan speed)... but if you hit it a few times there's varying levels. Yet those levels cannot be saved according to how you set it in idrive. What's this "individual setting" and why are there 2 separate buttons beside the temp knobs? They light up but don't turn off so they're not even toggles, like buttons with lights usually are.

And then there's the capability of adjusting through idrive... red bars of varying levels for hot, blue for cool... then why is there a temperature knob that could contradict the setting and what overrides what?

It's pretty maddening... I end up adjusting everything manually (fan control and temp knob) throughout the drive.

This is funny. On our Honda, the Auto button turns on the AC automatically which bugs me. When its reasonably cool outside, I do not want the AC on - I just want it to give me fresh cool air from the outside. If I turn the AC off, then "Auto" turns off. This is annoying.

BMW gives you the option of whether you want the AC on or not when you are in Auto mode and allowing it to regulate the temperature.

-- Lee

I agree. I dislike it when "auto" turns on the A/C as I too like "auto" to control fan speed and temp but not turn on a/c when it is cool enough outside. Funny thing is, when I hit auto on my 2010 X5, it DOES turn on the a/c, so I must have it set somehow it that way through iDrive.

Climate control is the one area that I am least satisfied. It seems to require too much fiddling to get it right. For example, you not only need to adjust the temperature using a knob (which is good), but you may need to use another button to call up the iDrive so you can adjust the "temperature" (from blue to red) and air flow on your side of the car. I find the old style manual adjustment wheel easier. I also find myslef manually adjusting fan speed to get it just right.

You mentioned the "temperature (from blue to red)". I just scanned through the manual again but I do not seem to find this information anywhere in the manual. BMWs usually have that turning knob that turns from "blue" to "red" but on X5, I've not been able to locate one, perhaps hidden in idrive setup?

So your x5 does turn on AC with "auto" then? Could anyone else verify?

Thanks,

I am doing this from memory, but there is a button below/near the temperature knob for directing airflow; when you press this button, it calls up the iDrive screen and allows you to change the direction of the airflow (e.g., more/less air toward feet), and as I recall, you can also adjust the heat/cool (red/blue) temperature of the airflow. That latter is adjustment is equivalent to the knob on older BMWs.

Thanks, I will test it later to see if such adjustment exits and has any effect.

I think this additional adjustment just adds insult to "what's is the purpose of AUTO". On the same note, if "AUTO" in your car is working as you mentioned (turning AC on and off), then adjusting this really shouldn't have any impact, I would assume.

I agree with rh71. I would like to think I am fairly technically inclined but temp controls in X5 just doesn't seem to make much sense at all.