3 new X5s, 3 close friends, 3 A/C complaints

[deutsch100]

Three of my very close friends have all taken delivery, very recently, of new X5s. All are 35i, two are S Drive and one is an X Drive. The X Drive has rear climate, S Drives do not.

All 3 of my friends have reached out to me, independently, complaining about poor A/C performance. They have all basically said the same thing.....unless they use MAX AC, the AUTO climate will not cool the car. Even with adjusting the blower intensity to the highest and setting the temp as low as 65F, blower just dribbles. They are complaining that it can be 100F or hotter outside, and probably like 140F inside the car....and AUTO climate control never, ever pumps strong air.

This is f'ing insane of BMW! I wonder if 2019 X5 will get new climate, or if BMW will use the existing :-O ?

Our neighbor around the corner turned in her 2014 X5 50i and took delivery of a new X6M. For 3 years she has been complaining to me, her husband & our local BMW dealer about poor AC. Her new X6...she says has fantastic AUTO climate. Strange! The X5 and X6 are essentially the same car!

[menelaos]

I think it's a known flaw. Mine seems to be working OK, but I don't think it should be laboring like that.

[P1]

I have a 2015 and it freezes me out. I rarely put it below 70F, even in the middle of the Texas summer.

[Jlu88]

You guys probably already know this, but I'm going to post it anyway because at the time I never knew I had these dials lol.

This was back last year during the first summer I had the car, I noticed there was no cold air coming out of the central vent and I couldn't figure out why. I spent a couple of days being extra sweaty and then realized those dials were switched to the heat position, I dialed them back to cold and voila! I had cold AC again.



Just wanted to share just in case anyone overlooked it like I did lol

[fosterelli]

Originally Posted by Jlu88

You guys probably already know this, but I'm going to post it anyway because at the time I never knew I had these dials lol.

Good point for those who haven't had these before.

And I'm in P1et's boat, we're in Texas and so far haven't had any cooling issues...where my MB I keep on LO 24/7/365, the BMW I have closer to 71 all the time...I think ours is operating normally for now.

[xweb10]

Just a fact: The A/C is poor in this vehicle comparable to other cars. It didn't stop me from getting a second one, but you have to set expectations.

[fosterelli]

Maybe it's y'alls California cars...some kind of emission crap. Two Cali owners say it's bad, two Texas owners say it's good.

When in doubt, trust the Republic of Texas. Our only climate change is from deadly hot to almost deadly hot with 1000% humidity. Then again, Al Gore has been banned for life.

WARNING: This message contains statements known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

[boosted43]

I had an issue with my AC as well, I didn't really have an issue with the performance of it but it made a sound that sounded like bubble wrap popping. They ended up replacing the evaporator and total came out to well over 5k for that and a few other small things.

[Stev_chu]

Originally Posted by Jlu88

You guys probably already know this, but I'm going to post it anyway because at the time I never knew I had these dials lol.

This was back last year during the first summer I had the car, I noticed there was no cold air coming out of the central vent and I couldn't figure out why. I spent a couple of days being extra sweaty and then realized those dials were switched to the heat position, I dialed them back to cold and voila! I had cold AC again.



Just wanted to share just in case anyone overlooked it like I did lol

Yup..took for a day to figured that out

[r33_RGSport]

Also check the dials on the rear vents.
It can cause it too.
My '14 was suddenly not cold, and after some checking, my kids were playing around with the dials and put it to full hot on the rear.

[menelaos]

I thought climate control should operate seamlessly: you set temp and system will operate to meet it. If you close the vent, it will not blow, but you should not have to turn the dial to red or blue for it to operate properly. I personally have not touched those.

[Stev_chu]

Also does the vent on the rear side doors push out any heat? During this winter I had the heat on in the car but for some reason I'm feeling cool air coming from the rare vents near the doors

[deutsch100]

LOL....Of course all of these dials are set to BLUE, front and rear Thanks though!

Originally Posted by Jlu88

You guys probably already know this, but I'm going to post it anyway because at the time I never knew I had these dials lol.

This was back last year during the first summer I had the car, I noticed there was no cold air coming out of the central vent and I couldn't figure out why. I spent a couple of days being extra sweaty and then realized those dials were switched to the heat position, I dialed them back to cold and voila! I had cold AC again.



Just wanted to share just in case anyone overlooked it like I did lol

[deutsch100]

Yes, rear set to BLUE. One of the first things we all checked. Thanks.

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Also check the dials on the rear vents.
It can cause it too.
My '14 was suddenly not cold, and after some checking, my kids were playing around with the dials and put it to full hot on the rear.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by menelaos

I thought climate control should operate seamlessly: you set temp and system will operate to meet it. If you close the vent, it will not blow, but you should not have to turn the dial to red or blue for it to operate properly. I personally have not touched those.

True, but that is the beauty on some German cars.
70°F Hot and 70°F Cold have different feeling on your skin and body.
When you put the dial to full Blue, it will be freezing cold like wind chill cold. If the dial at Red, it will be like you are under the sun during 70°F weather.

Originally Posted by Stev_chu

Also does the vent on the rear side doors push out any heat? During this winter I had the heat on in the car but for some reason I'm feeling cool air coming from the rare vents near the doors

If you have vents by the side pillars, then you have 4 zone climate.
It will follow the rear adjustment.
I believe you can disable the rear control from your iDrive so the rear settings will follow the front.
It should blow hot air too, just check the settings.

What a first world problem we have,

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

Yes, rear set to BLUE. One of the first things we all checked. Thanks.

Hmm, that case, have dealership to check them.
My '14 F15 and other BMW's never had problem with all year long summer of So.Cal.
Even after baked under the sun, it will take few minutes to cool me down under normal setting, unlike my '16 Cayenne.

[deutsch100]

In every other car I have owned with Automatic Climate Control, (from a $25,000 car to a $500,000 Phantom) this is the case. WHY does BMW have micro adjustments with blower, red and blue dials?! Auto should just be Auto. Also, if it is really hot outside and even hotter inside the car...the blower should blow at Maximum and then kick down as the car is cooled. Just like E V E R Y other car with Automatic Climate Control. I LOVE my X5, but the Climate Control is so bad, that if the next model X5 does not have proper A/C, my current 7th X5 will be my last!!

Originally Posted by menelaos

I thought climate control should operate seamlessly: you set temp and system will operate to meet it. If you close the vent, it will not blow, but you should not have to turn the dial to red or blue for it to operate properly. I personally have not touched those.

[fosterelli]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

In every other car I have owned with Automatic Climate Control, (from a $25,000 car to a $500,000 Phantom) this is the case. WHY does BMW have micro adjustments with blower, red and blue dials?! Auto should just be Auto. Also, if it is really hot outside and even hotter inside the car...the blower should blow at Maximum and then kick down as the car is cooled. Just like E V E R Y other car with Automatic Climate Control. I LOVE my X5, but the Climate Control is so bad, that if the next model X5 does not have proper A/C, my current 7th X5 will be my last!!

I don't mind the red/blue fine tuning (that's how I use it, for fine tuning). It's simple for me. I keep my auto temp set (like say 71°F), then when I want a tad warmer or cooler blowing on me, I just move the dial a bit, don't even have to look at it. Wife does the same on her side if we're together.

But yes, many of our other vehicles have/had better systems...but I have no real complaints with the X5 (yet).

[RED_Y_]

Mine is ok,it also shows "the hot climate version" on the VIN decoder but these red/blue dials are really confusing. BMW is the first car I ever own which makes me pay so much attention to the climate control settings. On my Infiniti i would just choose the right temperature,and that was it. With 4-zone climate control in my X5 things are definitely way more complicated.

[deutsch100]

My VIN shows that I have "hot climate" AND "cold climate". This is possible? LOL Mine has both. My VIN also shows UV/thermal glass glazing, but let me tell you I have NEVER had a car besides my '17 40e and now '17 35d where the glass gets hotter and retains more heat! I think VIN decoder lies

Before my two '17 X5s...my last cars were a 2016 MBZ G550, 2016 Porsche 911S, 2014 Supercharged Range Rover and then a slew of Bentleys and RRs. Climate control consisted of Automatic, selecting a temp (or in the case of Rolls....blue or red slide dials) and the A/C pumped hard when it was hot, and softer when the cabin was cooled down. No fussing. I know I keep saying this, but as much as I am totally in love with my 35d, I do not know if I will survive another So.Cal summer with this anemic and pathetic A/C

Originally Posted by RED_Y_

Mine is ok,it also shows "the hot climate version" on the VIN decoder but these red/blue dials are really confusing. BMW is the first car I ever own which makes me pay so much attention to the climate control settings. On my Infiniti i would just choose the right temperature,and that was it. With 4-zone climate control in my X5 things are definitely way more complicated.

[fosterelli]

Originally Posted by deutsch100

2014 Supercharged Range Rover

Ugh. My wife is on me to get another RR Supercharged. I really think we're going to end up with me driving the 7 passenger LX 570, her with a new RR LWB (she's addicted to the superchargers), give this F15 to my daughter, and dump the Audi and MB. At least there will be more room in the motor court!

BTW did they improve the RR ventilated seats on your 2014? Ours was an '07 (before we had so many kids) and of course the satnav sucked and the reverse camera was a joke, but the ventilated seats were my enemy. I loved that V8 with the S/C whining at me (when the wife let me drive it).

Imagine her anger going from that to the Yukon XL Denali and Escalade ESVs! BORING, fit and finish problems, life at the service bay for sure!

I think she drives the F15 more than I do, because she's tired of the GM tank wagon kid hauler. But my daughter has it best, she alternates between the Audi and the MB...must be nice to be 16 and have a couple of cars at your disposal. My '66 Rambler and '76 Nova were both a good time.

[deutsch100]

I have had 4 Range Rovers (2006 Supercharged Sport, 2008 Full Size HSE, 2011 Full Size Supercharged and 2014 Full Size Supercharged).

2014 had a phenomenal (and much improved) back up camera. Ventilated Seats are incredible. My 2011 and 2014 Rangies....the ventilated seats actually blew COLD air. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc...they are just ventilated/fans. Range Rover actually cools. Amazing!

Besides Ford, my 4 Range Rovers and 2016 LR4 had the BEST HVAC I have ever experienced. The Range Rovers would cool a small apartment!

Downsides of Range Rover...Very expensive, only leased through US Bank (they are beyond miserable and nasty to deal with) and Rover leases are never "good". They have incredible resale value, but they are expensive to lease or purchase.

Originally Posted by fosterelli

Ugh. My wife is on me to get another RR Supercharged. I really think we're going to end up with me driving the 7 passenger LX 570, her with a new RR LWB (she's addicted to the superchargers), give this F15 to my daughter, and dump the Audi and MB. At least there will be more room in the motor court!

BTW did they improve the RR ventilated seats on your 2014? Ours was an '07 (before we had so many kids) and of course the satnav sucked and the reverse camera was a joke, but the ventilated seats were my enemy. I loved that V8 with the S/C whining at me (when the wife let me drive it).

Imagine her anger going from that to the Yukon XL Denali and Escalade ESVs! BORING, fit and finish problems, life at the service bay for sure!

I think she drives the F15 more than I do, because she's tired of the GM tank wagon kid hauler. But my daughter has it best, she alternates between the Audi and the MB...must be nice to be 16 and have a couple of cars at your disposal. My '66 Rambler and '76 Nova were both a good time.