E60 Discussion Anything and everything to do with the E60 5 Series. All are welcome!

535xi A/C Problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-05-2019, 09:25 PM
  #1  
New Members
Thread Starter
 
Bluesz_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 535i xDrive
Model Year: 2010
Default 535xi A/C Problem

Hello,
I'm having a A/C Issue i'm trying to tackle. When i first turn the car on my A/C will start to blow cold air. (Driver Side Vents & Floor Vents, Passenger Side Vents & Floor Vents and Middle Vents). When the car gets warm my a/c doesn't get cold as when i first start the engine up.. The Drivers side floor vents will start blowing out hot air and the middle dash driver side will also start blowing warm air. The driver side (close to the door) stays cold & the passenger side middle & floor vents and door will stay cold.

What could be the issue?
Old 07-06-2019, 07:59 AM
  #2  
New Members
 
audiophool's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chestermere AB
Posts: 757
Received 13 Likes on 13 Posts
My Ride: 535xi
Model Year: 2008
Default

Could be a number of things. Possibly heater control solenoid valves letting hot coolant through the heater core when they shouldn't (leaking or sticking).

Are you running the AC in automatic mode? And do you have the center vent setting to full cold in the iDrive screen?
Old 07-06-2019, 08:39 AM
  #3  
New Members
Thread Starter
 
Bluesz_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: New York
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 535i xDrive
Model Year: 2010
Default

Originally Posted by audiophool
Could be a number of things. Possibly heater control solenoid valves letting hot coolant through the heater core when they shouldn't (leaking or sticking).

Are you running the AC in automatic mode? And do you have the center vent setting to full cold in the iDrive screen?
Thanks for the reply!
My knobs for both driver side and passenger side are set to the lowest temp. On the iDrive it’s set to max cold as well.

is there anything else that could affect the a/c besides the heater solonoid?

Can inpa, protools detect solonoids malfunctions?
Old 07-06-2019, 02:30 PM
  #4  
New Members
 
audiophool's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Chestermere AB
Posts: 757
Received 13 Likes on 13 Posts
My Ride: 535xi
Model Year: 2008
Default

Have a look here: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=64_1481

Checking temperature on hoses 2 and 3 in this link will tell you if the problem is the heater valves. Check when the engine is hot. Those hoses shouldn't be hot if there is no call for heat as there should be no coolant flow to heat them. I believe the valves are open when unpowered, and are pulsed shut to regulate temperature to the heater core, letting in smaller amounts of hot coolant when the duty cycle is low, larger amounts when the duty cycle is high. If they're leaking or not getting power, you'll get coolant flow (and heat) you don't want.

Other possiblities could be steppers and flaps in the HVAC asssembly itself, or a fault in the control unit. Rule out cheap and easy first. If you have access to scantools, you will find error codes for the IHKA if they exist.
Old 07-06-2019, 03:50 PM
  #5  
New Members
 
BostonJon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
My Ride: BMW 530xiT (E61)
Model Year: 2007
Default

Originally Posted by audiophool
Have a look here: https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=64_1481

Checking temperature on hoses 2 and 3 in this link will tell you if the problem is the heater valves. Check when the engine is hot. Those hoses shouldn't be hot if there is no call for heat as there should be no coolant flow to heat them. I believe the valves are open when unpowered, and are pulsed shut to regulate temperature to the heater core, letting in smaller amounts of hot coolant when the duty cycle is low, larger amounts when the duty cycle is high. If they're leaking or not getting power, you'll get coolant flow (and heat) you don't want.

Other possiblities could be steppers and flaps in the HVAC asssembly itself, or a fault in the control unit. Rule out cheap and easy first. If you have access to scantools, you will find error codes for the IHKA if they exist.
If it turns out to be your heater control valve, let me know by PM. I have a used OEM unit that I sourced from ebay and never needed.

edit: I have an 07 530xiT. Check realOEM to see if the part numbers are the same
Old 07-08-2019, 12:05 AM
  #6  
New Members
 
535xrayindigo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: Portland Or
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 2 Posts
My Ride: 535xi hud night vision
Model Year: 08
Default

Originally Posted by Bluesz_
Hello,
I'm having a A/C Issue i'm trying to tackle. When i first turn the car on my A/C will start to blow cold air. (Driver Side Vents & Floor Vents, Passenger Side Vents & Floor Vents and Middle Vents). When the car gets warm my a/c doesn't get cold as when i first start the engine up.. The Drivers side floor vents will start blowing out hot air and the middle dash driver side will also start blowing warm air. The driver side (close to the door) stays cold & the passenger side middle & floor vents and door will stay cold.

What could be the issue?
I have this this exact same issue. I believe it is a heater control valve issue. Each side is controlled individually by the valve. I replaced it today and will be testing it tomorrow. If I forget to respond shoot me a message.

Easy job. Removed air intake and charge pipe then you can access it. Removed the hose clamps with vice grips then a little bit of wiggling got the hoses off. Just make sure you are prepared to catch the antifreeze and refill the radiator with fresh coolant. You likely need a battery charger to make sure that you can run cycle the water pump with engine off (hold down gas pedal for ~30 seconds and heater and fan cranked To high, you should see coolant pumping into coolant reservoir). $60 part on amazon 1 hour work.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
razor_061
E61 Touring Discussion
6
07-21-2013 03:06 AM
r9ndy
Dealer Purchasing & Service Forum
4
03-16-2009 02:09 PM
JSpira
E60 Discussion
10
05-30-2008 07:13 PM
RD@VA
E60 Discussion
5
01-19-2008 02:31 PM
jochet
E60 Discussion
26
05-30-2006 06:57 PM



Quick Reply: 535xi A/C Problem



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 06:20 AM.