So summer has oficially set in and my airconditiong system takes REALLY long to cool down. The 550i we have is cool instantly but my system takes about 8 minutes before it starts cooling. Do I just need to recharge the frion or what?

Or is the system just not that strong?

Thank you

-Krozi

 

That actually happened to me after my car sat at the airport over the weekend. And then it did it the next morning. What I did was turn off the air conditioning, and then turn back on....almost resetting it, that seemed to do the trick

 

real basic, but do you have the vent settings on cool, on the idrive climate screen? it goes neutral, then + and -

 

I had the same problem too. I thought about having it recharged but... My issue was with the vent program settings in the iDrive menu... Make sure it's on max (in iDrive not the "MAX" button on the dash). On min it will blow what feels like warm air!

 

I completley forgot about the iDrive settings! I will try that and post results

 

I had this with 30k on my car and I lived in the desert for all those miles. My cabin/micro filters needed changing. I happened to look at them even though idrive said they were fine and they were completely clogged-It was so clogged it was keeping the cold air and heated air from entering the cabin well so it was not cold air at all even after a long time and the heat also was very poor. I would atleast check your cabin/micro filters-easy and cheap fix if that is the case.

If it is becoming cold eventually however that may be different. Mine never got all that cold or hot which makes sense if no heat or cold air ismaking it through.

 

Because you have an older model I would definitely look into this. Very good advice. Since you mentioned how long it takes to cool down your car, this may be it IF not the iDrive settings.

We have had a record breaking heat wave here in Central Florida this past week -- all the way up to 102 with 100% humidity, and I have to say I was very pleased with the A/C's comfort and cool-down-speed. It's a 2006 530i. Even with that said though it's not as good as in my previous 2002 530i (E39). That was the best A/C I have ever had in any car. I'd actually have to turn the temps up because it would quickly become too cold. Understand, that's unheard of in Central Florida during the summer!

 

For what it's worth, my car is currently in for service to have the following done:
1. AC not cold, it's actually blowing hot air out of the footwell & dashboard vents - they discovered that I had blown fuses that prevented the compressor from turning on.
2. Recall for the airbag
3. iDrive FROZEN! - they have to re-program for $400.00 or possibly replace for $1600 !@#$. This also means that I have to go back to Dinan to have them re-program my Stage 2.
4. Service Engine Light - this is handled as part of my extended warranty/service maintenance contract.

So dunno what your A/C is doing, but if it's blowing hot air, maybe your fuses for the compressor are blown too.

At least they gave me a 335i as a loaner, it's a pretty zippy car.

Goodluck.

 

In my model year, you have to notice the color of the bars (three for example is most)... if blue, it's cooling, if red it's heating... The first summer trip I took last year, I thought the same thing -- this AC sucks.... then discovered I hadn't turned the T down to get into the blue bars.

Cal

 

I am in Orlando right now so I cannot test the AC settings but I know that the bars where blue not red. The microfilters where replaced at 8k. Since it does eventually get cold I don't think it's a blown fuse. At this point I think the Frion needs a recharge.

Is the AC covered under CPO?