535dMAN

I went in to the idrive climate menu in to the independent mode and entered a swtich on time of 7.30am - at 7.45am I got in to my car and it was just blowing out cold air

I left the climate control temperature at 26?c but it was still blowing out cold air - I thought this function lets you heat the car before you get in to it

I can only go in to the independent mode menu and NOT the direct operation menu - I'm i missing somthing here?

dlevi67

There's two settings for independent mode. Not both are available/enabled on all cars.

The ventilation mode (which is what you have) only switches on the fan, and is basically useful in hot weather to get the interior temperature down a little.

As an option (and not in all markets, for example not in the UK), there is a fuel-burning heater that can warm the car up.

aybeesea

There is a third feature (in UK markets) which, after the vehicle has been stationary for a short time, residual heat from the engine can be fed into the cabin.

"Useful" when parked up waiting for a loved one at a train station on a cold evening...

Train delays permitting...

ABC

Rudy

That third mode (residual heat or 'REST') is in all markets but clearly as dlevi67 explained, the automatic ventilation setting is just to ventilate the car and attempt to cool it down by running the fan...

BetterMakeWay

Correct!
Although i found that this independent mode almost doesn't do anything noticeable in those sunny hot summer days.
REST function is nice but only for 5 minutes or so.

535dMAN

Cheers guys - so it seems the independent ventilation function is a total waste of time! On a hot day a fan aint gonna do anything to really cool the car down and on a cold day it'll just make it colder

Unless one of you have found it useful

ronald_adi

I have a remote control for this system which i can use to switch on the ventilation of the car from 100meters away. I havent used it yet since i was waiting till winter - to use it to warm the car up in the mornings.

So are you telling me that it is practically useless? i thought the system had a seperate heater in the engine that could warm up the car and even warm up the water temperature in the engine?

Rudy

In your case, you might have the feature that does, in fact, pre-heat the car. It's not available here in the US so I don't know much more about it. I know Iceman has it -- take a look at the following threads and if there are additional questions, I'm sure Iceman will reply to them here...

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=2673
http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=5028

skaffa

Intependent mode is basicly for the cars which have Intependent heater option (536) in their cars. It's combustion (petrol/diesel) heater (Webasto is the brand BMW uses). In cold weather (+15 C and under) it will turn heater on, car ventilation on and circulation pump on to heat up the car 30 min at the time. Can switched on from iDrive, by timer (two) or by remote.

When temp is above +15 C heater do not start neither start circulation pump. Only ventilation will turn on for 30min. This seem also work in cars which does not have heater option. Like Yours.

Skaffa

big_ipaq

I concur with skaffa. Mine also have stationary heating and ventilation with separate remote. Very nice feature in winter, when everything is warm when I get in the car.