Air conditioning useless

[john970]

I have an 08 135 and the air conditioning blows hot air, and then warm air after about 10 minutes when it is hot out (say 80+ degrees). After maybe 30 minutes if I am moving fast enough it starts to catch up but by this time I'm usually where I have to go. I have a black car, so it is more or less undriveable when parked in the sun here in denver.

Is this something others have experienced? Also, does anyone know the BTU of the A/C?

It blows HOTTER THAN AMBIENT air for several minutes. Sounds like a bad design.

[Lester]

When I get into the car after parking in the sun for awhile (Jet Black, black interior) - I press the MAX button on the climate control - and I get tons of instant cold air. After a couple of minutes then I press the 'AUTO' button with the climate control set to 18 Deg C, or 65 Dec F.

If it is blowing hot air when the a/c button is on then I would take it back to the dealer.

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by Lester

When I get into the car after parking in the sun for awhile (Jet Black, black interior) - I press the MAX button on the climate control - and I get tons of instant cold air. After a couple of minutes then I press the 'AUTO' button with the climate control set to 18 Deg C, or 65 Dec F.

If it is blowing hot air when the a/c button is on then I would take it back to the dealer.

+1 on this method. We get 100+ degrees Fahrenheit days down here in Sydney during summer, and I don't have too many problems with the A/C. True, it's not as strong as some of the systems I've experienced in our Australian built cars but it still blows cold air on the MAX setting.

Maybe your system needs a re-gas? In any case you should take it into your dealer if it can't handle 80 degree temps.

[MarkR171]

Mine never blows warm/hot air. Something is wrong with your system, probably just needing a refill. I'm in Hawaii, and rarely ever need to use any more than Auto with 3 bars set to 68*. After a few minutes, I often drop it down to Auto with 1 bar as it's enough to maintain the 68.

[bmrfam]

Agreed, something sounds wrong with the AC. We average around 100F with 50%+ humidity for most of the summer and although I get a short blast of hot, humid air about 15 seconds after start, it is cool to cold within 60 seconds or less. I always leave it on Auto with about 1 bar and set at 70. Never seem to have an issue and my windows are not even tinted yet (getting that fixed Tuesday). In a place as dry as Denver (which I assume is where you are), you should not have any issues.

I do have Le Mans Blue with Terra interior so that could give some difference between us. Just get it checked. It is free to do so assuming you are still in the coverage. Good luck.

[michifan]

I have zero issues with my air conditioning and unless it's raining outside, it's been 90-100 every day since May (plus humidity). Trust me, if the air conditioner didn't work on my car, it'd be gone.

[GotM]

I would have your system looked at. I have not even put mine on MAX yet here in AZ. Car cools down really quick, even on the 115+ days. My car sits in the sun all day.

[Sylon]

When was the last time you recharged your AC system??? It might be a simple fix.

[JimD]

It could be a simpler issue. I have noticed that when I set my bimmer at 70 degrees F it stays about as cool as my SUV set at 75 degrees. I do not know if it is as purposeful as the silly speedometer but it seems like BMW has decided that we set our AC too cold so they will adjust things for us.

Anyway, you might try just setting the temperature lower than you normally would. I've also noticed in my SUV that when the outside air is in the 70s where I want the temperature to be, if I set the temperature there I get hot - due I think to the humidity. So I turn the temp down so it continues to blow cool air instead of taking in fairly cool but very humid air. Ususally moving the temperature up or down a little will get my systems to do what I want.

Jim

[ErvGotti]

Get your AC system checked. It shouldn't take 30 minuts to cool. If your low on R134 then that means you have a leak somewhere and it should be fix before the recharge or you'll just leak R134 again.

[BlackjackMulligan]

I too notice that my A/C takes a while to become effective on very hot days. My car is Jet Black so it gets pretty hot and it seems to take a good 10 mins before cooling off to a comfortable level.

[NewYearsBoy]

HAHAHHA... This topic has come up a ton of times... YES the air conditioning SUCKS in this car... Especially in FLORIDA....

[michifan]

Originally Posted by Stoutnj89

HAHAHHA... This topic has come up a ton of times... YES the air conditioning SUCKS in this car... Especially in FLORIDA....

Compared to what? I think the air conditioner is fine and you aren't in a hotter area of Florida than I am.

People throw around extreme statements that are just too much. I drive a SGM with Black Leather. I do have a tint, but so do 70% of the population down here.

Sucks is just too strong of a word for the A/C.

[Hairy]

We've been hot and humid all summer. My AC has worked just fine... My car was in for a regular service last week and they gave me a 328 loaner, the system in my car seemed to be much better than the 328. Go figure.

[NewYearsBoy]

Originally Posted by michifan

Compared to what? I think the air conditioner is fine and you aren't in a hotter area of Florida than I am.

People throw around extreme statements that are just too much. I drive a SGM with Black Leather. I do have a tint, but so do 70% of the population down here.

Sucks is just too strong of a word for the A/C.

I came from a Lexus IS and you can park them side by side and you would know that the A/C in the BMW sucks... I can put the Lexus on dash and feet A/C and the BMW just on the dash.... You can tell that the BMW A/C is just underpowered....

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by Lester

When I get into the car after parking in the sun for awhile (Jet Black, black interior) - I press the MAX button on the climate control - and I get tons of instant cold air. After a couple of minutes then I press the 'AUTO' button with the climate control set to 18 Deg C, or 65 Dec F.
If it is blowing hot air when the a/c button is on then I would take it back to the dealer.

I agree. We've gotten a number of 115ºF heat index days here due to 100º and high dew point (>72º), my 2010 135i BSM/Black leather cools fine although I find the secret is to roll down the windows with the key fob before getting into the car, run the a/c on Max a few minutes with the windows down when you start off driving. Then I use Auto set at 72ºF/22ºC and it cools fine; the sooner the car starts moving, the sooner the a/c really kicks in, just idling from a cold start won't be as effective. It may not be a big a/c unit, but then the inside area is pretty small. And I can't stand to be hot.

Take it back to the dealer.

pge

[perral1]

For the months of July and August, we expect the majority of days to be >100F outside, and I've never had an issue with the AC not keeping up. My AC starts blowing cold air in under a minute, even when it's been sitting in the sun for a while.

[wolfe]

Mine does fine in FL. Window tint and a well-fitting windshield sunshade when parked are a must though.

[Pavetron]

SW Florida here and it gets plenty cold.

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by wolfe

Mine does fine in FL. Window tint and a well-fitting windshield sunshade when parked are a must though.

I should add, the BMW sunscreens are installed in the rear windows and I use their windshield sunshade when parking outside, religiously. It's a must in these climates.

pge

[michifan]

Originally Posted by Stoutnj89

I came from a Lexus IS and you can park them side by side and you would know that the A/C in the BMW sucks... I can put the Lexus on dash and feet A/C and the BMW just on the dash.... You can tell that the BMW A/C is just underpowered....

Could it be possible that the Lexus is just BETTER than the BMW regarding AC? I haven't been in a IS since I moved down here, so I cannot compare - but I've been in plenty of cars down here and the BMW isn't materially worse than anything I've been in. There has to be something that the Lexus is better than the BMW - because it sure isn't driving.

[Raine]

The AC is okay, it does its job, but compared to other cars it sort of sucks.