A/C not cool? Texas heat or issue with the car?
#11
Senior Members
I have read some posts on this but, I want owners from Texas to chime in. Especially owners who leave their car outside during Texas heat. Is it normal for the A/C to take 10-15 mins to cool? Or should it just start blowing cold air? Another thing is that it cools well enough when driving on the highway but when I get to an idle position(stop light) the air then blows warm/weird odor air. It also cools pretty well at night but again when I get to an idle position it blows warm/weird odor air. What does this mean? I am going to a independent German car shop, but I would like to know what I can expect.
Check your cooling settings.
If all ok Check your refidgerant levels....go to auto store and pick up a large can of 134A with the gauge, should be no more than $30
There's a 32oz like this...you probably won't need it all but I'm sure eventually you'll need it sometime in your life.
http://shop.advancea...7CGRP2004A_____
Should be filled while car has someone in it revving it up between 2500-3000 rpms. I usually keep mine at about 38psi.
These e60's seem to take a minute or two or driving before they blow cold and it takes another 5 minutes or so to get to maximum cooling from my experience.
One thing I noticed that was once I changed my belts last season, the A/C started to blow colder faster. Doesn't make too much sense to me unless I had slippage and wasn't aware. Worth a try either way.
You take it to a shop and they'll juice you especially when you're desperate. It's the American way.
#12
Check your cooling settings.
If all ok Check your refidgerant levels....go to auto store and pick up a large can of 134A with the gauge, should be no more than $30
There's a 32oz like this...you probably won't need it all but I'm sure eventually you'll need it sometime in your life.
http://shop.advancea...7CGRP2004A_____
Should be filled while car has someone in it revving it up between 2500-3000 rpms. I usually keep mine at about 38psi.
You take it to a shop and they'll juice you especially when you're desperate. It's the American way.
I generally do not endorse recharging your own system for many reasons that I don't want to go into right now, that is unless you have access to the correct equipment (a low side pressure gauge is not enough) and training. Any reputible independant shop can evacuate your system, measure how much refrigerant was in it, and leak test your system for pretty cheap.
Another thing you can do is get a black light and look at your A/C system under the black light. Often there is a UV dye put in the refrigerant oil that glows greenish under the black light. If you see any green glow around your condensor, compressor, or the lineset and joints, then putting more regrigerant in there is just going to leak back out again.
I'm a mechanical engineer, and I've been turning wrenches on many, many different kinds of cars now for a long time, and the A/C system is something that, other than diagnosis, I generally won't touch. There are too many expensive consequences if you get it wrong. I could go on for pages and pages of my own tales of woah and wasted time and money and hard knocks and skinned knuckles, but I won't. Just my honest opinion of course.
#13
Senior Members
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: UpState SC
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2008 535i LCI with sports/premium package, Sports trans with paddle shifters, CF emblems, JB4 Software, Dinan Exhaust, Navigation, M5Tech body kit, Carbon wrap interrior trim and CIC Controller.
I had a similar problem here in SC. It would take a good 15 minutes to blow cold. I started using a windshield heat deflector and I am very impressed. Now the cold air starts blowing within 1-2 minutes max. My windows are not tented but I'm thinking I might do this too. So I'm thinking the sun heating up the dash must have a lot to do with the AC not cooling quickly or at least part of the problem...
#14
Members
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: RICHMOND/HOUSTON TX
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i have the same problem with my 04 e60. In houston it gets hot and it takes the ac 10 minutes at times, and other times it just blows warm air im actually taking it to the dealership tomorrow to see what they say.
#17
Members
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 07 550i Titanium Silver, Black Dakota Leather, Steptronic, Sport, Premium, Nav, Sat. Radio, Logic 7, Comfort Access, Rear Sunshade.
After a minute or two, your A/C should be blowing noticeably cooler air even at idle. If it's not blowing cold, then I would get it checked. I have experienced on occasion when my A/C did not blow cold because the compressor would not engage. To remedy this I turned the A/C off and on until the compressor engaged.
I've found that the fastest way to cool off the interior of your car is to drive it with all the windows down for several minutes and be sure to tint your windows and use a sunshade.
I've found that the fastest way to cool off the interior of your car is to drive it with all the windows down for several minutes and be sure to tint your windows and use a sunshade.
#18
Members
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 550I M Sport, Premium pkg, Logic 7, Sport Automatic Trans, Paddle Shifters, Nav, Comfort Access, Rear Shades, Satellite, PDC
Had mine at dealer yesterday and they stated it's normal in that car to not blow cold air right away. That sucks that BMW cannot make an air conditioner that works when it's hot. Two minutes of hot air is pathetic and a poor answer on an expensive car. My F150 does not have that problem for 1/4th the price.
#19
Senior Members
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DFW, TX
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '04 545i, sport pkg, premium sound, sprint booster,
I had a similar problem here in SC. It would take a good 15 minutes to blow cold. I started using a windshield heat deflector and I am very impressed. Now the cold air starts blowing within 1-2 minutes max. My windows are not tented but I'm thinking I might do this too. So I'm thinking the sun heating up the dash must have a lot to do with the AC not cooling quickly or at least part of the problem...
Once I get going down the road with the a/c on, I'll close all the windows. When I close the sunroof I then open it vertically to let the rest of the hot air vent out. When I feel the cabin cooling down enough I close the sunroof, now I'm chillin.
#20
Members
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 07 550i Titanium Silver, Black Dakota Leather, Steptronic, Sport, Premium, Nav, Sat. Radio, Logic 7, Comfort Access, Rear Sunshade.
Had mine at dealer yesterday and they stated it's normal in that car to not blow cold air right away. That sucks that BMW cannot make an air conditioner that works when it's hot. Two minutes of hot air is pathetic and a poor answer on an expensive car. My F150 does not have that problem for 1/4th the price.