[KP]

I was just considering the fact that BMW seems to lack in a/c systems. I'm not sure if it's just my car, but I have a tough time during the summer keeping cool, especially with the black ette. Ive noticed the same on my uncle's old 735i, and with the most loaners I have noticed. Compared with my parent's LX 470, that car is a refrigerator. Am I the only one who feels this way? I haven't tried a manual unit on a BMW:dunno:

 

[KP]

Maybe it's just me , I dread summer weather, the a/c is cool, but not comfortably cool. And the ette doesn't help things either

 

[KP]

I've taken it to the dealer before, but they of course, don't have "knowledge" about it . Well, we have invented another problem !

 

[KP]

Hm, I'm seeing lots of different replies, perhaps the E46 climate control system is inconsistent?:dunno:

 

[KP]

I've never had a problem with it. Especially with the triple black. Although I rarely use the A/C but when I need it I haven't had a problem.

Dammit Tim, you're the one who complains about snow all the time:lmao: , what are you complaining about? Good to see you hear btw

 

[KP]

I think that you mean TiminMN but I'm not very fond of it myself. I have has issues with the heat being too hot a couple of times. I know there is an issue with the fan going crazy at times (Resistor Control Array... something like that) but that wasn't the problem that I was having. Damn heat wouldn't stop even though temp inside of car was quite warm. I had to put the windows down just to cool off the car (on a 10F day):tsk:

no I meant you Tim. MA is cold too.

 

[KP]

Is your automatic outside air refresh on? I've found the AC to work much better with the air refresh off. I set the temp to 62 deg too. Anything much above that doesn't seem to cut it.

Yes, I do notice that it is a little cooler with the auto refresh on, but that thing never switches modes:thumbdwn:

 

[KP]

One of the reasons I went with gray leather is that it's easier to keep the interior cool. The AC in my car doesn't work very hard at all to keep the temp cool.

Black materials make the car like an oven. My first car was a VW golf - black inside 'n out, and NO AC. What a sweat box that thing was.

true, I'm sure this is the factor most people consider, and end up getting gray interior . As for me, I don't have the confidence to keep it clean, and I like black interiors:thumb: . You're right though, esp. with the ette, my car is a rotisserie machine

 

[KP]

It should help losing weight. Maybe I should shut off the A/C, leave the windows and top up. I could stand to lose a few pounds.

We don't want that cranium shrinking now . I can't stand conv. in the summer, it literally burns away my brain cells:eeps:

 

[KP]

Just came back from the service department with a X5 3.0. It has the manual unit, same setup (blk ette inside, jet black outside). The manual unit is a lot colder (I know it's two different units, but I had no problem staying cool in this car). Now if only I could get this kind of coolness in my car

 

[KP]

Keep in mind that the X5's AC is supplied in the US by Denso, and someone else most likely supplies what goes in German-made E46s.

go figures . I also wonder why BMW's don't have the outside air option as well (when the a/c or heat is turned off, yet the outside air does not come in):dunno: . This is the only car I've seen this in... is the air that bad in Germany?

 

[KP]

My last car (mitsubishi) didn't do this either. I think most modern car cabins are too well sealed to allow any 'flow through' ventilation.

Sometimes I'll just run the fan with the AC turned off, but it gets too stuffy too quickly unless a window is cracked open.

I really liked this feature on my last car (gs300). I hardly turned on the heat during winter. Summers couldn't be done that way, but I don't like turning on a/c too much (don't like a/c air and robbing power). Well, it's better than suffocating:dunno:

 

[KP]

I have a friend with an Integra who NEVER runs the AC, even in the summer, and it really drives me nuts. :thumbdwn:

I called the AC in my old car the 'anti-turbo' but I've yet to notice a mileage or power loss in my bimmer.

That's odd... I always noticed a little power drop during the summers with the a/c on...:dunno: . Mileage is negligible.

 

[KP]

Re: Bimmer A/C is Cold-Cold Cold

The A/C in my 330ci is very cold when set on 74. I leave it there and adjust center wheel for tempering inlet air. To-day it was 72 F and raining, got almost too cold. Over 88 F I tap recirc. button twice which gives 100% recirc. air. The heat is from sun infiltration through the glass of side windows and windshield. I would rather roast in my Bimmer than be comfortable in whatever else is out there. GM does have a windshield that seems to cut out some of the heat. For us folks in a hot climatic condition, we need help. The '02 330ci A/C is as good as any car I have ever owned. It's the sun what makes us hot.:angel: :thumb:

Interesting that you talk about the inlet air option on the steering wheel. I received a 02 X5 for a loaner, and I noticed this button on the steering wheel as well. I guess it's a standard feature for all BMW's for 02? :dunno:

 

[KP]

Re: Re: Re: Bimmer A/C is Cold-Cold Cold

No -- its not on the steering wheel -- he's referring to the "wheel" dial between the 2 center vents that you can use to adjust how much the relative warmth/outside air...

ic... the x5 has the four spoke wheel, and I don't recall what button was there previously, but this is the first time I've seen the recirculating air button on them. I didn't think it would be on the sport steering wheels though:eeps: