Am i missing something here or is it not working properly .

Maybe, maybe not.

"For years" suggests that you may have had your BMW since new and working correctly. The AC's job isn't to blow hot or cold air, but to maintain the cabin temperature at the set temperature and to dehumidify the cabin air. It is supposed to be used in the default AUTO mode.

It is a hot coolant temperature controlled system with engine coolant through radiator(s) throttled by the Hot-water Control Valve(s) after - downstream of the AC evaporator. The HCV often fail due to internal elastomer seals failing and the loose bits fouling the valve orifice blocking the hot coolant flow.

 

Hello guys
I've been trying to figure out for years how the hell the temp control should work on my 06 x5 ..when I change the temp on the control panel to say 78 deg there's no change in air temp it just stays ice cold.. i dont use the wauto climate control

The only way to get less cold air is turn the center knob on the top center vents towards the red dots ..

Am i missing something here or is it not working properly .

Ditto Doug...I can't tell if there's something wrong with your system...or if it just like you wrote...you don't understand how it operates.

Try starting with a neutral setting for the stratification dial...there should be a white mark on the stratified dial that is half way between the red and blue settings on the dial. Also...make sure there is not a build up of dust/lint on the left grid of the IHKA control panel. The system uses a "forced air" feature that sucks the cabin's air inside the IHKA over a thermistor (sensor) which helps the IHKA control panel maintain the set temperature on the display.

Not using AUTO mode...there are 3 air direction selections (defrost, dash vents, floor vents) that can be selected...as well as the HVAC fan speed being in manual mode. There's also the stratified air selection (which is a BMW decades old design that still seems to confound some owners) which allows you to "temper" the air from the dash vents cooler/warmer than the selected temperature set on the IHKA panel.

If you have the stratified air dial (located in the dash's middle vent) turned into the blue...the the temperature of the air from the dash vents will be cooler than the set temp. If that dial is turned into the red, then the air temp from the dash vents will be warmer than the set temp. This gives the driver the ability to keep the cabin (for the passengers) at a set temperature but blow cool air into their face (like on a long journey) to keep the driver alert. Or if passengers are sitting on the HOT side of the car on a sunny day...or the cool side of car on a cold day...they can use the stratified air dials (front and rear vents) to "temper" the air specificallly to their area of the car.

The illustration below (of the e38 interior) shows how the stratification works to temper the air from the dash vents...but the same applies to the e53: