Originally Posted by SCardamon' post='940903' date='Jul 13 2009, 12:40 PM

This is a setting to promote driver alertness from the documentation I have read.


Cold to wake your lazy @$$ up! Or warm if you are a girl..... (just kidding dont anyone get angry)

Originally Posted by Wpg550' post='940899' date='Jul 13 2009, 01:29 PM

No... pretty sure they weren't joking. This secondary setting replicates what a good 'ol manual dial did on my E39 and still does on my X3, it adjusts the relative temp of the air coming from the centre vents (the ones that hit you in the hands/chest).

This weekend while driving along the highway in the prairie heat for a long-ish period, the A/C from the centre vents was uncomfortably cold on my hands/chest, so I adjusted this setting to only a couple of blue bars instead of the max setting. The air from these vents moderated to a comfortable setting, but the car continued to cool through the other vents to the set temperatures on the dials (for driver/passenger). While I haven't driven my 550 through our harsh winter yet, I'm betting I'll have to do the opposite in the winter to avoid being blasted in the chest with hot air while the poor car attempts to heat up from -40. I am sure of one thing however... I'm going to miss my heated steering wheel this winter (or have to pony up for the 2009 heated m-sport wheel!).

Originally Posted by pininfarina' post='941008' date='Jul 13 2009, 02:54 PM

Ah ha! This makes some sense. Now, if I understand you correctly, the car will continue to cool (or heat) the average cabin temperature set by the dial, and the bars affect torso vent temperature only? Thanks, I think I got it now.

(although it still seems odd that if taken to the extreme example and I had four red bars and the dial set to say 62 degrees, warm/hot air would blow through the torso vents and very cold air through the rest. But I'll stop now . . . ) Thanks again.

T.

Originally Posted by Turboe' post='941018' date='Jul 13 2009, 02:04 PM

By the way that reminds me I see that the Weather band feature that I used to see on the radio of all older BMW's is no longer on the e60. I noticed that a few months ago, but never posted on here.

Originally Posted by txag_530i' post='941023' date='Jul 13 2009, 03:08 PM

It is one mine, just after the AM radio stations.

Originally Posted by txag_530i' post='941023' date='Jul 13 2009, 03:08 PM

It is one mine, just after the AM radio stations.

Originally Posted by pininfarina' post='941041

Please dont EVER, EVER do that!!! This setting could cause a small tornado to develop in your lap and cause irreparable damage to not only your interior but also your sensitive region.