Pic 1 - standard AC control
Pic 2 - Advance AC control

Your pic 2 looks like my controls. In some ways, the pic 1 controls look less cluttered. I don't have a strong preference for one pic over the other. The main issue to me would be does the pic 1 system work well enough for you. If not then, having the pic 2 system installed or getting a new car will, of couse, be your only options. And, also, you could decide not to car about what your MB friend says. Personally, what he says would be "who cares" to me?

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The Advanced unit does look better, but "set it, forget it" is what I do

 

Ok, my mistake

 

I believe all the E60 & E61 sold in Portugal actually have the advanced AC, even in the basic setup. The knobs here sure look like it.

 

Maybe, according to extensive Teutonic ergonomic and safety research, those flat knobs are easier to grab onto with your LEFT hand....

tee hee.

Ray Hull

 

Having had both systems I have to say the basic heater in my last E60 looked like BMW had taken it from an old Fiat Panda and grafted it in. The advanced system looks slightly better but still way behind compared to other manufacturers that give you LED readouts. Why did BMW think nobody wanted the fantastic E39 system any more?

That said the advanced systems extra features are worth having such as the quick max cold button, windscreen quick clear mode, dual zone temp, rest function.

I would have though it would be very expensive to retrofit the advanced system unless of course its all through the I drive. Perhaps you could just install the control panel from advanced if its a cosmetics thing and do without the extra features if hardware is required.

 

I cannot tell you if retrofit is possible but would assume that price would be "typicall BMW".
As far as I know,in Spain only 520D has got the "standard AC",all other versions have the davanced one

 

Thanks for the input about the advance system extra features. I saw an advance control panel for sell in ebay. I was just wondering if it is possiable just swap it over. I will try to place a bid for it and give it a go.

 

Thanks for the input about the advance system extra features. I saw an advance control panel for sell in ebay. I was just wondering if it is possiable just swap it over. I will try to place a bid for it and give it a go.
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It is not just the panel.

The extended AC has a lot of sensors that measure e.g. the windscreen moist and sun shine.
It also makes it possible to adjust the temperature individually to driver and co-driver.
In the iDrive there also is a great varity of adjustments.

And I think that Ray Hull has it right - the standard AC system is easier to use,
and as said earlier, it works just fine.

 

In Canada we only have the "advanced' air conditioning system. The basic set-up is not even offerred. It looks like the basic system is like what you have on economy cars, while the advanced one is what we call "automatic" air control, where all you do is set the temperature you want and the car does the rest, whether it is air conditioning or heating. Correct me if I am wrong.

BMW has a luxury reputation here, they wouldn't think of selling this option, otherwise it may damage their brand image.

By the way, Mercedes is considered a luxury marquee, but its brand image is taking a hit here with the new B-class and its merger with Chrysler. It seems to me that with the exception of the CLS and SL, there cars aren't that special any more.

I remember when I went to the Netherlands as a child, it was a surprise to see a Mercedes taxi. In Canada, taxis are beat-up american cars. When I was young, Mercedes was the car of the wealthy. Now it seems like it is BMW and Lexus.