When I have the AC off, air from the vents is always warm except when the engine is cold. It's not hot, just warm, even when it's 50 degrees outside. I can't remember this happening with the old 528i E60, but it's definitely going on with the 550i. When I turn the AC on, it's definitely cold air, but I need the AC on most of the time because I can't vent cool air from outside. I have played with all the vent settings. They're blue.

 

My 535i does the same thing, never thought it is an issue...

 

I noticed the same thing. iDrive complexity is nothing compared to getting the automatic climate control to function the way you want.

At one point, I thought I got it working by leaving the vent setting in the middle (the color turns white). Doesn't seem to work now though.

And is it me, or is the footwell vent weak at pushing air down there? I cranked the footwell blower to max and my feet can barely feel any air.

 

I can get plenty of air, but it just isn't cool outside air. Maybe it's warmed up by the time it gets inside? Every non-BMW I've owned works great on the vent setting, but not this car. Like I said, I don't remember how the 528i was, so I can't speak to it.

 

the air is most likely traveling through the grills and pass the engine, collecting the heat prior to hitting us.

 

I know it's an old thread, but I have the same problem. Did anyone come up with a solution?

It seems to me there are two possible faults which will cause the air to come through warm when the cold setting is selected:

1) The electronic valve which shuts off water flow to the heater matrix defaults in the open position. This results in hot water circulating through the matrix if the valve is not working.

2) The control flap in the airbox may not be closing the hot airflow off properley.

 

i also had an issue with this... even with the ac on max cool i was still gettin semi cooled air... all bars on idrive were blue but still hot air coming from defrost vent and floor vent... i did finally fix this by turning the temp knob till i found the temperature that that blew cold air through all vents... it doesn't take long to figure out what temp will blow cold regardless of the degree on the know... i figured that the hvac flaps servos motors that control hot and cold air are failing..... give it a try

 

Not the same prob as mine. I should have posted an update.

The valve was working OK, because I could actually hear it pulsing when cold temp was selected.

I had the air conditioning recharged, and lo and behold it worked perfectly!