Possible A/C Problem
07-18-2006, 10:32 AM
#1
Members
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Hey Guys,
I just got back from some work in NY. It was a toasty 104 F outside, probably 130+ F in the car, who knows. I turned the A/C on MAX and it seems to me like the passenger side vents were blowing noticably cooler air than the drivers side vents. I moved my hand between the middle vents back and forth the entire way home (~45 min drive) and it felt the same each time. In addition even when the A/C is not on MAX, so I set the same temperature on both driver and passener sides, the passenger side still feels cooler. I'm going to check that daily now but it seems I might have another thing on the to-do list for the dealer.
Two weeks ago or so a friend and I took a trip down to Atlantic City on a hot day (not as hot as today, but probably 85-90 F) and on the way down he said to me that the A/C did not seem as cool as it should be We had both driver and passenger sides cranked down to the minimum temperatures. So I put it on MAX and it still did not seem as cool overall. I didn't pay attention to the vent differences then though.
Anyone else experience this?
I just got back from some work in NY. It was a toasty 104 F outside, probably 130+ F in the car, who knows. I turned the A/C on MAX and it seems to me like the passenger side vents were blowing noticably cooler air than the drivers side vents. I moved my hand between the middle vents back and forth the entire way home (~45 min drive) and it felt the same each time. In addition even when the A/C is not on MAX, so I set the same temperature on both driver and passener sides, the passenger side still feels cooler. I'm going to check that daily now but it seems I might have another thing on the to-do list for the dealer.
Two weeks ago or so a friend and I took a trip down to Atlantic City on a hot day (not as hot as today, but probably 85-90 F) and on the way down he said to me that the A/C did not seem as cool as it should be We had both driver and passenger sides cranked down to the minimum temperatures. So I put it on MAX and it still did not seem as cool overall. I didn't pay attention to the vent differences then though.
Anyone else experience this?
07-18-2006, 10:40 AM
#2
Contributors
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 7,363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 E63 AMG | Obsidian Black | Schwarzes Nappa | Black BirdEye Maple | Premium II Package | Electronic Trunk Closer | Parktronic
Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
Engine: Custom AFE CAI, Superchips ECU remap, Sprint Booster, RDSport Dual Exhaust Conversion with Quad Pipes and X-pipe, 3 resonators deleted, 90mm tips!
Exterior: M-Tech Aero kit | M5 Mirrors | M5 Rear Bumper | Trunk Lid Finisher | Vorsteiner decklid spoiler | 50% Formula One Pinnacle Tint
Suspension and Brakes: Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, JBT BBK: 16" cross-drilled rotors, 8 piston and 15" cross-drilled rotors, 4 piston
Wheels: VIP Modular VR 02 20x9F, 20x10R | Toyo T1R 245/30/20F, 285/25/20R
Lights: PIAA 4150K Xtreme White Plus fog lights, AIB v3
MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
I had this problem last year. This is what someone told the problem was:
Another solution I read here was to blow regular air or even heat for about 10 minutes. Then turn on the A/C.
If it's very humid, moisture condenses on the coils and can freeze, which prevents air from flowing over them properly and ruins the ability of the AC to actually cool anything.
If that happens, you just need to wait until the ice melts before your AC will work again. I'd bet that is what happened that day.
If that happens, you just need to wait until the ice melts before your AC will work again. I'd bet that is what happened that day.
07-18-2006, 10:44 AM
#3
Members
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Well that's funny! On the trip down to A/C that day I also got a flat tire. After pulling over and confirming a slow leak we got back in the car and little pieces of ice/snow came out of vents when I first turned on the car.. it was like christmas in the summer for a few seconds.. LOL.
But that wouldn't explain today's issue..
But that wouldn't explain today's issue..
07-18-2006, 10:48 AM
#4
Contributors
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 7,363
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2007 E63 AMG | Obsidian Black | Schwarzes Nappa | Black BirdEye Maple | Premium II Package | Electronic Trunk Closer | Parktronic
Engine: RPi/Powerchips custom ECU tune, RPi Ram Air Kit (BMC filter, scoops), RennTech Sport exhaust, secondary cats, charcoal and resonator delete, custom AAA x-pipe
Exterior: 50% side windows / 35% rear window Formula One Pinnacle Series | Flat AMG hood emblem
Suspension: Renntech Lowering Module
Wheels/Tires: Radenergie R10, Falken FK452 245/30/20, Yokohama ADVAN Sport 285/25/20
-----------------------------------------
2005 545i Sport SMG | Ti Grau | Schwarzes Dakota | Anthracite Maple | Logic 7 | Nav
Engine: Custom AFE CAI, Superchips ECU remap, Sprint Booster, RDSport Dual Exhaust Conversion with Quad Pipes and X-pipe, 3 resonators deleted, 90mm tips!
Exterior: M-Tech Aero kit | M5 Mirrors | M5 Rear Bumper | Trunk Lid Finisher | Vorsteiner decklid spoiler | 50% Formula One Pinnacle Tint
Suspension and Brakes: Bilstein PSS9 coilovers, JBT BBK: 16" cross-drilled rotors, 8 piston and 15" cross-drilled rotors, 4 piston
Wheels: VIP Modular VR 02 20x9F, 20x10R | Toyo T1R 245/30/20F, 285/25/20R
Lights: PIAA 4150K Xtreme White Plus fog lights, AIB v3
MOST IMPORTANT: Hardwired V1; =)
ED Date: 4/7/05, Re-delivery date: 5/21/05
Okay, you had a two part question. I think I answered your second question about when you went to Atlantic City and how it started to snow in the car. Your first question, I dunno.
07-19-2006, 06:56 AM
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CANADA
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2011 F10 535i -Brilliant Graphite/Oyster
2006 E5004matic- I must have been on drugs when I got this car
2004 545i Black Sapphire/Truffle Brown interior
Originally Posted by Lomag' post='312235' date='Jul 18 2006, 02:32 PM
Hey Guys,
I just got back from some work in NY. It was a toasty 104 F outside, probably 130+ F in the car, who knows. I turned the A/C on MAX and it seems to me like the passenger side vents were blowing noticably cooler air than the drivers side vents. I moved my hand between the middle vents back and forth the entire way home (~45 min drive) and it felt the same each time. In addition even when the A/C is not on MAX, so I set the same temperature on both driver and passener sides, the passenger side still feels cooler. I'm going to check that daily now but it seems I might have another thing on the to-do list for the dealer.
Two weeks ago or so a friend and I took a trip down to Atlantic City on a hot day (not as hot as today, but probably 85-90 F) and on the way down he said to me that the A/C did not seem as cool as it should be We had both driver and passenger sides cranked down to the minimum temperatures. So I put it on MAX and it still did not seem as cool overall. I didn't pay attention to the vent differences then though.
Anyone else experience this?
I just got back from some work in NY. It was a toasty 104 F outside, probably 130+ F in the car, who knows. I turned the A/C on MAX and it seems to me like the passenger side vents were blowing noticably cooler air than the drivers side vents. I moved my hand between the middle vents back and forth the entire way home (~45 min drive) and it felt the same each time. In addition even when the A/C is not on MAX, so I set the same temperature on both driver and passener sides, the passenger side still feels cooler. I'm going to check that daily now but it seems I might have another thing on the to-do list for the dealer.
Two weeks ago or so a friend and I took a trip down to Atlantic City on a hot day (not as hot as today, but probably 85-90 F) and on the way down he said to me that the A/C did not seem as cool as it should be We had both driver and passenger sides cranked down to the minimum temperatures. So I put it on MAX and it still did not seem as cool overall. I didn't pay attention to the vent differences then though.
Anyone else experience this?
You may want to first check your climate control settings in I-Drive. There is a right and left setting, it is possible that your driver side setting is set warmer than your passenger side setting, if memory serves me correctly the warmer setting is orange and the colder setting is blue.
I had the same problem and after my tech fiddled around with the A/c for over 1 hour, he realized that the setting was on winter setting, all he did was turn it down to the blue setting and presto A/C was perfect.
Let me know how you make out
Gabman
07-19-2006, 08:17 AM
#6
Members
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Yes I thought about that however in my iDrive there's only one setting, I assume it applies it both sides. The passenger side can only adjust the middle and bottom vent air flow rate while the driver side can adjust top, middle, and bottom vent air flow along with that red/blue bar setting. I have that set on one blue bar with the flow rates the same on both sides and all the vents open fully physically. I believe also when you hit MAX it overrides all the iDrive settings. I'm stumped. 
07-19-2006, 10:33 AM
#7
Members
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 07 530i|Silver Gray/Black| Premium|Sport|NAV|Auto|PDC|Sunshade|
Originally Posted by Lomag' post='312655' date='Jul 19 2006, 11:17 AM
Yes I thought about that however in my iDrive there's only one setting, I assume it applies it both sides. The passenger side can only adjust the middle and bottom vent air flow rate while the driver side can adjust top, middle, and bottom vent air flow along with that red/blue bar setting. I have that set on one blue bar with the flow rates the same on both sides and all the vents open fully physically. I believe also when you hit MAX it overrides all the iDrive settings. I'm stumped.
07-19-2006, 11:13 AM
#8
Contributors
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CANADA
Posts: 413
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2011 F10 535i -Brilliant Graphite/Oyster
2006 E5004matic- I must have been on drugs when I got this car
2004 545i Black Sapphire/Truffle Brown interior
Originally Posted by Lomag' post='312655' date='Jul 19 2006, 12:17 PM
Yes I thought about that however in my iDrive there's only one setting, I assume it applies it both sides. The passenger side can only adjust the middle and bottom vent air flow rate while the driver side can adjust top, middle, and bottom vent air flow along with that red/blue bar setting. I have that set on one blue bar with the flow rates the same on both sides and all the vents open fully physically. I believe also when you hit MAX it overrides all the iDrive settings. I'm stumped.
To the right of the bar settings is a pictogram of a head, body and feet, make sure while you are increasing the blue bars that the body portion to the right is blue.
I do not think that MAX overrides I drive setting , with regards to the temperature settings, I beleive it is only for the amount of air flow. Try setting to 4 blue bars and see if any better
07-19-2006, 11:36 AM
#9
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: East Coast
Posts: 883
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 530i 6 speed
Funny. My car did a similar thing yesterday.
It then stopped cooling alltogether after ~ 25 min of driving.
I went to the supermarket, came back, and it suddenly worked again.
We are pretty close in location and it was also hot and VERY humid here yesterday.
It then stopped cooling alltogether after ~ 25 min of driving.
I went to the supermarket, came back, and it suddenly worked again.
We are pretty close in location and it was also hot and VERY humid here yesterday.
07-20-2006, 06:44 AM
#10
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Indiana
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: On order: 2007 550i, silver gray, black leather, anth. maple trim, active cruise, heated steering wheel, sport, night vision, vent seats, heat rears, active steering, rear air bags, folding seats, comfort access, navigation , HUD, black head liner, steptronic, premium sound, sirius and HD radio.
The same thing happened to me in my 07 550i. The outside temp was about 97 and the humidity was very high. I pulled off the interstate and drove to a dealership. They took a look at the car and found a service bulletin on this issue. It appears the software is set to reduce the cooling effect when the evaporator reaches 34.2 - 34.8 degrees. It is intended to prevent ice from forming. The solution is to change the setting but the only way to do it is through a complete CIP upgrade. The bulletin states that stopping the car and shutting it down for 15 minutes will resolve the problem. It also says this is most common on long trips with high humidity and high temps. I found that you can also shut down the compressor by manually tuning of the AC. This will raise the evaporator temp very quickly and fix the issue temporarily.