Why does my air turn on everytime I turn on the car?
 

When I turned off the car, the air was off. But everytime I turn the car back on, my air is turn on to the last previous setting? I've flipped through the manual, searched the forum, and can't find an answer. Is there an answer? Please help! (its kind of annoying, but I still love my car)

It is designed to be always on. BMW design engineers intended it that way. They likely can't imagine that anyone would not have the AC on. Personally, I have never turned mine off except to test if the button works.

It bothers me as well. Doesn't it drain the battery on start? Or is that an old wives tale?

No, it has no effect on the battery.

I don't think the air is always on upon startup........ Mine isn't...... I thinks it's a setting on your key........yet I haven't read the manual recently to recall

I disagree. The air is always on when I start my car also and it's got nothing to do with a setting on my key.

i had a complete reset done when i got the car and it still comes on

This "issue" has been discussed over & over. If you turn the car off, and it sits for a while (I think It's 30 + mins), upon start up...the HVAC blower will be active at a low setting.

BMW engineers did this on the X5 ONLY for some reason. They feel the car needs ventilation. It drove me nuts on my 2007 & 2008 E70. I had several dealers try to erase this function. It cannot be done. It is very permanent :dunno:

With my 2011, I just ALWAYS keep my HVAC on AUTO (usually set to 68 or 70). Since I do not ever try and turn my system off, upon startup my car is always on AUTO setting (the car remembers AUTO).

Wives' tale.
Back in the day you switched control A/C compressor clutches. If A/C was on, clutch engaged and would engage if left on at start. Even back then it wasn't much of a draw due to turning a A/C compressor doesn't take all that much.
In present time the clutch is operated or controlled by the computer which will delay the engagement at start up and release after the engine is started.

Well that is pretty annoying. I personally don't have the air on most of the time so everytime I get in the car, I have to turn it off.