AC Auto feature

mhaghighi · 07-07-2011, 08:36 PM

Every BMW I have owned when auto is pressed for AC it alway takes the fan speed to highest it can for that temp and then drops the speed down to low as it gets cool. But on my brand new E93 is always on one bar with temp set at 60. I dont get it and no matter how long I keep it that way it will not change. what am I doing wrong?

kscarrol · 07-07-2011, 08:40 PM

If you need to cool down quickly, use the Max button. That cranks the fan to high for maximum cooling. As for the fan speed, my car remembers the last level used. I leave it on three bars unless I need the Max option...

But my car functions the same. My prior E60's used to ratchet up the fan speed as needed. M3 doesn't...

ThunderMoose · 07-07-2011, 08:43 PM

post a picture

mhaghighi · 07-07-2011, 09:09 PM

so the Auto means what exactly?

Radiation Joe · 07-07-2011, 10:09 PM

Auto means the AC decides what fan speed to use. Just because there is one bar up doesn't mean the speed is slow. My AC cranks the fan up to high when I first start up on hot days but the indicator still shows only one bar.

FStop7 · 07-07-2011, 10:11 PM

The digital thermostat on the M3 is so much better than the 6 series, which uses dials.

JCtx · 07-08-2011, 12:09 AM

On my '08, the number of bars always correspond to actual fan speed, auto or not. Maybe that also changed on newer models

, just like the 'rest' feature. What this car needs is a freaking 'off' button.

lve2xlr8 · 07-08-2011, 12:25 AM

There are several auto modes, the lowest one means your auto speed is set to lowest, turn it up. This changed when they put in the "all" button and moved the seat heater buttons up.

1VOM · 07-08-2011, 01:17 AM

there should be 3 modes for auto. press it multiple times and it should switch among the 3.

spyderco10 · 07-08-2011, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1VOM

there should be 3 modes for auto. press it multiple times and it should switch among the 3.

and what 3 modes are these?

-=Hot|Ice=- · 07-08-2011, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyderco10

and what 3 modes are these?

Soft, Medium, Intensive

brava09 · 07-08-2011, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

What this car needs is a freaking 'off' button.

+1

Pretty lame not having an off button. Try to switch it off while driving...you need your eyes on the buttons to switch it off.

-=Hot|Ice=- · 07-08-2011, 02:45 AM

Agree with the off button.

serranot · 07-08-2011, 05:16 AM

On this car, the "auto" function does not automatically control the "intensity" (fan speed?). The manual says that you push the fan button higher or lower to vary the "intensity," even in "auto." I agree that most cars control the fan speed automatically.

I see benefits to this approach. Sometimes I want more volume of air moving even though I don't necessarily want it warmer or cooler, e.g., the sun is on me and I want more air on me. With an automatically controlled fan speed, you can't vary that aspect.

On the other hand, most cars with "auto" do pretty well at figuring out how much air to blow. I think my other cars with "auto" do a better job than my M3 at maintaining a constant temp. I've found the M3 to be marginally acceptable.

spyderco10 · 07-08-2011, 02:03 PM

don't know about you guys, but on my '08 i only have one auto setting, which automatically controls everything including air flow. if i make the fan speed lower or higher, it turns off the auto function.

and my auto button doesn't have 3 speeds, i tried pressing it several times and no change in air flow.

I Wanna go Fast! · 07-08-2011, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

On my '08, the number of bars always correspond to actual fan speed, auto or not. Maybe that also changed on newer models

, just like the 'rest' feature. What this car needs is a freaking 'off' button.

+1

Mine seems to work as it should.

What this car needs is a freaking 'off' button.

lve2xlr8 · 07-08-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1VOM

there should be 3 modes for auto. press it multiple times and it should switch among the 3.

This is before they updated the hvac controls. It now has 5 or 6, and you use the fan speed switch to change it, not by pressing the auto button anymore.

As stated above.

JCtx · 07-08-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyderco10

don't know about you guys, but on my '08 i only have one auto setting

Maybe the difference is in iDrive. I also have just one auto mode, but have the 3 different ventilation settings (soft, medium, intense) in iDrive. This just increases/decreases the fan speed (and NOISE

) with the same temperature setting.

spyderco10 · 07-09-2011, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elp_jc

Maybe the difference is in iDrive. I also have just one auto mode, but have the 3 different ventilation settings (soft, medium, intense) in iDrive. This just increases/decreases the fan speed (and NOISE

) with the same temperature setting.

ah, that must be it, no idrive here.

07-07-2011, 08:36 PM	#1
mhaghighi Private First Class 27 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Competition package Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (1)	AC Auto feature Every BMW I have owned when auto is pressed for AC it alway takes the fan speed to highest it can for that temp and then drops the speed down to low as it gets cool. But on my brand new E93 is always on one bar with temp set at 60. I dont get it and no matter how long I keep it that way it will not change. what am I doing wrong?
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07-07-2011, 08:40 PM	#2
kscarrol Brigadier General 8908 Rep 4,107 Posts Drives: 2021 X3 M40i, 1974 2002 Tii Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (0)	If you need to cool down quickly, use the Max button. That cranks the fan to high for maximum cooling. As for the fan speed, my car remembers the last level used. I leave it on three bars unless I need the Max option... But my car functions the same. My prior E60's used to ratchet up the fan speed as needed. M3 doesn't... __________________ 2021 X3 M40i 1974 2002tii, Inka, 5 sp manual BMWCCA # 327475 Last edited by kscarrol; 07-07-2011 at 08:49 PM..
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07-07-2011, 08:43 PM	#3
ThunderMoose Lieutenant Colonel 746 Rep 1,848 Posts Drives: PY E46 M3 and SG E46 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: League City, TX iTrader: (0)	post a picture
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07-07-2011, 09:09 PM	#4
mhaghighi Private First Class 27 Rep 165 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 Competition package Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jacksonville, FL iTrader: (1)	so the Auto means what exactly?
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07-07-2011, 10:09 PM	#5
Radiation Joe Veni Vidi Vici 89 Rep 2,750 Posts Drives: '11 JB/BBe-6sp-e90 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Macungie PA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 e90 M3-Sold [8.50] 2003 RS6 - Sold [0.00] 2009 e90 M3 - Gone [0.00] 2003 M3 SOLD [0.00] old 2002 [10.00]	Auto means the AC decides what fan speed to use. Just because there is one bar up doesn't mean the speed is slow. My AC cranks the fan up to high when I first start up on hot days but the indicator still shows only one bar. __________________ Dinan compliment of stuff plus PF rotors and RG63s. Enough for now. Why, yes. I am an abrasive bastard.
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07-07-2011, 10:11 PM	#6
FStop7 I like cars 329 Rep 5,052 Posts Drives: M6 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Newbury Park, CA iTrader: (3)	The digital thermostat on the M3 is so much better than the 6 series, which uses dials. __________________ My photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/racelap/
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07-08-2011, 12:09 AM	#7
JCtx Major General 258 Rep 5,012 Posts Drives: No BMW yet Join Date: May 2008 Location: El Paso TX iTrader: (0)	On my '08, the number of bars always correspond to actual fan speed, auto or not. Maybe that also changed on newer models , just like the 'rest' feature. What this car needs is a freaking 'off' button.
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07-08-2011, 12:25 AM	#8
lve2xlr8 Major 195 Rep 1,186 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (11)	There are several auto modes, the lowest one means your auto speed is set to lowest, turn it up. This changed when they put in the "all" button and moved the seat heater buttons up. __________________ R8 V10 6MT S65 M3 Tesla 3
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07-08-2011, 01:17 AM	#9
1VOM Private 5 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 2011 1M, 2014 R8 V10 Plus Join Date: May 2011 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	there should be 3 modes for auto. press it multiple times and it should switch among the 3.
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07-08-2011, 05:16 AM	#14
serranot Lieutenant 324 Rep 488 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Middletown, MD iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW E90 M3 [10.00]	On this car, the "auto" function does not automatically control the "intensity" (fan speed?). The manual says that you push the fan button higher or lower to vary the "intensity," even in "auto." I agree that most cars control the fan speed automatically. I see benefits to this approach. Sometimes I want more volume of air moving even though I don't necessarily want it warmer or cooler, e.g., the sun is on me and I want more air on me. With an automatically controlled fan speed, you can't vary that aspect. On the other hand, most cars with "auto" do pretty well at figuring out how much air to blow. I think my other cars with "auto" do a better job than my M3 at maintaining a constant temp. I've found the M3 to be marginally acceptable.
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07-08-2011, 02:03 PM	#15
spyderco10 Colonel 63 Rep 2,426 Posts Drives: AW E92 M3 6MT Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Honolulu, HI iTrader: (0)	don't know about you guys, but on my '08 i only have one auto setting, which automatically controls everything including air flow. if i make the fan speed lower or higher, it turns off the auto function. and my auto button doesn't have 3 speeds, i tried pressing it several times and no change in air flow. __________________ “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
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