BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)
 





 

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      04-04-2013, 02:05 PM   #1
Kayven128i
Private
28
Rep
53
Posts

Drives: 2011 Alpine White 128i
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PA

iTrader: (0)

Heater doesn't blow hot air??

My car only has 7,000 miles on it, I can't imagine there being something wrong really, but I've noticed that the only way I get hot air is by turning the knob and making it 84 degrees. If I make it 82 degrees, it will blow cold air it seems. Not super cold but not hot really at all.

Why does it only blow hot air at 84 degrees (all the way up)?
Appreciate 0
      04-04-2013, 02:21 PM   #2
Mach1er
Lieutenant
Mach1er's Avatar
86
Rep
524
Posts

Drives: '13 128i
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Your cabin temp sensor might be bad or dirty. I'm not sure where it's located, but that sensor tends to get gummed up with particles from the air which insulate it and make it less sensitive on most cars with automatic climate control. If you figure out where it is a lot of times you might be able to fix it with some compressed air for cleaning.
Appreciate 0
      04-04-2013, 02:41 PM   #3
Kayven128i
Private
28
Rep
53
Posts

Drives: 2011 Alpine White 128i
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PA

iTrader: (0)

Could it be because I rarely drive the car? (Once a week) I've only put 7,000 miles on it in almost 3 years.
Appreciate 0
      04-04-2013, 02:43 PM   #4
Dackelone
European Editor
Dackelone's Avatar
Germany
10512
Rep
22,992
Posts

Drives: N54 e82
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bayern, Germany

iTrader: (1)

Could also be your water pump going. This is the first symptom - no or intermittent heat. Time to check for codes.
Appreciate 0
      04-04-2013, 02:51 PM   #5
Kayven128i
Private
28
Rep
53
Posts

Drives: 2011 Alpine White 128i
Join Date: May 2010
Location: PA

iTrader: (0)

Can water pumps go that fast? In 2011 vehicle with 7,000 miles lol? That would be pathetic.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dackelone View Post
Could also be your water pump going. This is the first symptom - no or intermittent heat. Time to check for codes.
Appreciate 0
      04-04-2013, 03:09 PM   #6
Dackelone
European Editor
Dackelone's Avatar
Germany
10512
Rep
22,992
Posts

Drives: N54 e82
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bayern, Germany

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kayven128i View Post
Can water pumps go that fast? In 2011 vehicle with 7,000 miles lol? That would be pathetic.
So far only two 1Addicts have had water pump failures on 2011 cars...

e8x electric waterpump failure poll...
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=798195



When you find out what the cause of your heat problem... be sure to vote in my survey. You can only vote once though!

You could just have a problem with the blend (HVAC) box. COuld be something simple, you never know until you have an expert look at your car.
Appreciate 0
      04-04-2013, 04:50 PM   #7
the1andonly
Lieutenant
80
Rep
539
Posts

Drives: black on black 128i manual
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: midwest

iTrader: (0)

Mine has the EXACT same problem! Its a 2012 128i with 16000 miles...At 72-75 degrees it actually blows cold air until i turn it all the way up...
Appreciate 0
      04-05-2013, 01:24 PM   #8
Experimental
Second Lieutenant
Experimental's Avatar
United_States
30
Rep
297
Posts

Drives: '14 328d M-sport Wagon
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Canton, GA

iTrader: (0)

Same thing on my '09 135i. I noticed that as I change the temperature knob, it changes the air temp coming out of the vents on the windshield and possibly at the floor. But not the main air vents pointing at the occupants.

I have to literally crank the heat to max (84 degrees) to get truly warm air from the main vents. It's been like this since I picked up the car at 3,300 miles, and I'm just over 31K miles now, so I doubt that it means my water pump is going out.
__________________
Appreciate 0
      04-05-2013, 01:34 PM   #9
Sleeps
Private
Sleeps's Avatar
United_States
4
Rep
89
Posts

Drives: 2013 135is LBM 6MT
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Long Island, NY

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2013 BMW 135is  [10.00]
2006 Mini Cooper S  [10.00]
Same for me.. Got my 135is last September and was wondering what was going on.. If I crank it up to 84 its hot.. If I put it down to 82 its cool. 84 feels like 84 but 82 feels like 70. Anything from 82-72 feels the same, not as drastic as from 84-82.
__________________
/// BMW 135is Coupe #51/586 | Le Mans Blue | MT | BB Leather w/ Blue Stitching | Glacier Aluminum | Premium Package | Heated Seats | HK
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 04:25 PM   #10
bozola
Unloved BMW Addict
bozola's Avatar
United_States
86
Rep
1,185
Posts

Drives: Z3 Coupe, 3 318Ti
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: King County WA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
1999 Z3 Coupe  [10.00]
1998 318Ti  [0.00]
1998 318Ti  [10.00]
2008 128i  [9.00]
That is the way it works.
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 07:39 PM   #11
awns729
Lieutenant
33
Rep
419
Posts

Drives: 2008 BMW 135i Convertible
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: West Nyack, NY

iTrader: (4)

I haven't had an problems. If it's < 45 degrees outside, I set mine to 65 degrees (I guess it adds enough heat that this feels warm). If its in the 50s, I set the temp to 72 degrees otherwise it feels slightly chilly because I guess the car doesn't add quite enough hot air otherwise when the difference in temperature is close. Probalby has to do with the temp sensor precision.
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 08:47 PM   #12
tracer bullet
Brigadier General
tracer bullet's Avatar
United_States
2294
Rep
3,464
Posts

Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Saint Paul, MN

iTrader: (1)

I wonder if you stuck a thermometer in the vent (LOL don't let it drop all the way in, use something for a kitchen instead of for a sick kid), what kind of temp you'd actually read?

I've found that on mine, 84 doesn't really mean 84, what it really means is "oh screw it here's all the heat I can produce for you". BMW may as well have had temps reading all the way to 83 then just wrote "max" for the last one.
Appreciate 0
      04-07-2013, 08:59 PM   #13
631twentyeighteye
Colonel
631twentyeighteye's Avatar
United_States
198
Rep
2,239
Posts

Drives: 08 335i
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Long island

iTrader: (7)

I've given up on trying to understand the heater on mine. I just keep it on 70 and the lowest fan setting solely to keep my windows from fogging up. If i'm cold i just use heated seats to stay warm, they're much better than the actual heating system.
__________________
08 e93 335i MT
Appreciate 1
Gangplank1538.50
      04-07-2013, 09:16 PM   #14
Lucky1
Colonel
Canada
640
Rep
2,045
Posts

Drives: '08 128i Coupe SGM 6MT
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Toronto

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Which vents are you using? This is just the way the dashboard vents work (your floor vents can be blowing hot air but unless the heat is cranked the dash vents are always cold).
Appreciate 0
      11-11-2014, 10:35 PM   #15
strassenbrenner135
Registered
0
Rep
1
Posts

Drives: bmw 135i
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: South Carolina

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 631twentyeighteye View Post
I've given up on trying to understand the heater on mine. I just keep it on 70 and the lowest fan setting solely to keep my windows from fogging up. If i'm cold i just use heated seats to stay warm, they're much better than the actual heating system.

I am totally shocked by reading the posts concerning the 1 series heater situation. Why the hell are we BMW owners satisfied with crappy quality. This reminds me of my Ford, GM, and Chrysler friends back in the day!!? I have never owned a car that has had a heater that does not work. Having to turn your heater to max 84 degrees does not constitute a functioning system working.
Hopefully the dealer can fix this for my 135i since it's under warranty. $35-40K cars should not be this shoddy of quality. It's a heater for Gods sake!!! My crappy '89 Ford Escort in high school had just about everything break on it, but at least the damn heater worked and could be adjusted to multiple degrees of warmth.
Appreciate 0
      11-11-2014, 11:33 PM   #16
3002 tii
Lieutenant General
3002 tii's Avatar
2272
Rep
12,559
Posts

Drives: Z4 M, X5, GX460
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: CT

iTrader: (99)

Garage List
I have same exact problem on my 2013 build. Only time I get hot air is if I crank to 84 or use the auto function with any lower temp. But at 82* with heat pointed at me I get cool air.
__________________
Follow for latest mods
Appreciate 0
      11-11-2014, 11:42 PM   #17
KellyK
Lady Driven
KellyK's Avatar
United_States
50
Rep
279
Posts

Drives: AW 2011 128i
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County

iTrader: (0)

I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue lol
Appreciate 0
      11-12-2014, 02:35 PM   #18
BigRussia
Captain
BigRussia's Avatar
152
Rep
984
Posts

Drives: 04 M3
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SFL

iTrader: (5)

I see this is an old thread but I've noticed this same thing with my '09 with 56k miles. I've only had the car a month but already realized that I don't get hot air unless I put the temp to the max 84* (Miami had finally gotten cold for just one week lol). At even 82* I still get cool (but not very cold) air coming out... I thought this was unusual and glad to see I'm not the only one.
Appreciate 0
      11-13-2014, 12:58 AM   #19
Mach1er
Lieutenant
Mach1er's Avatar
86
Rep
524
Posts

Drives: '13 128i
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Austin, TX

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigRussia View Post
I see this is an old thread but I've noticed this same thing with my '09 with 56k miles. I've only had the car a month but already realized that I don't get hot air unless I put the temp to the max 84* (Miami had finally gotten cold for just one week lol). At even 82* I still get cool (but not very cold) air coming out... I thought this was unusual and glad to see I'm not the only one.
Verified tonight that at least when it's 39F outside, setting the heater to 73F gives me hot air. It helps a lot to turn the fan speed up. I'd agree that when the temperature discrepancies inside/outside are lower, the air that blows doesn't feel "hot"
__________________
'13 128i | 6MT | SGM | Black Boston | Black Gloss | Lighting | Premium | Tech | HK | Anti-Theft | [CDV-Delete | Clutch Stop | 30% Pinnacle]
Ordered 2.23 | Production Begin 3.7 | Ends 3.15 | Released to carrier 3.18 | At port 3.19 | Departed 3.23 (K-line to Brunswick) | Arrived 4.7 | Truck 4.12 | Dealer 4.19
Appreciate 0
      11-13-2014, 06:09 AM   #20
Dackelone
European Editor
Dackelone's Avatar
Germany
10512
Rep
22,992
Posts

Drives: N54 e82
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Bayern, Germany

iTrader: (1)

The HVAC system in our car's isn't the best. The AC system is marginal(especially in hot climates) and the heater seems only to really work at the end of the temperature knob range(last few clicks).

That all said... you could have a bad FSU(final stage unit or final stage resistor). Its a temp sensor that sits inside the HVAC box up inside the dash. Also... the HVAC system does have a fault memory... so IF you have a OBDII reader you can check it for faults. I think there is even a calibration setting on the BavTech tool for this. I can't remember for sure bc its been so long since I used my BT tool.
Appreciate 0
      11-13-2014, 07:29 AM   #21
MightyMouseTech
Major General
MightyMouseTech's Avatar
4335
Rep
6,196
Posts

Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ottawa, Canada

iTrader: (0)

Ugh. Here we go again!

This is how the vehicle is DESIGNED to work!!!! It is intentional, not a flaw.

The dash vents blow cool air so you are breathing fresh air while the floor and defrost vents do the warming.

If you don't want fresh air, turn off the dash vents.
Appreciate 0
      11-13-2014, 07:37 AM   #22
JimD
Brigadier General
JimD's Avatar
367
Rep
3,547
Posts

Drives: 128i convertible
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Lexington, SC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech View Post
Ugh. Here we go again!

This is how the vehicle is DESIGNED to work!!!! It is intentional, not a flaw.

The dash vents blow cool air so you are breathing fresh air while the floor and defrost vents do the warming.

If you don't want fresh air, turn off the dash vents.
What you say may be true for your car. But on my e88, if I put the top down in cool weather, I get nice warm air out of the vents on the dash. It has a special mode for top down. I haven't really paid that much attention to how it works with the top up since it heats up pretty quickly - a lot quicker than my 2006 Suzuki SUV.

If mine was under warranty and I didn't like the way it was working I'd take it in. We have pretty complex cars and with complexity comes opportunities for issues. My wife is very quick to complain about a lack of heat in the winter, however, and also drives a e88 without complaint. So I think our heaters work pretty well.

I leave my temp about 72 degrees summer and winter. Occasionally I turn it up or down a few degrees to cause the system to blow out different locations or change the temperature a little.
__________________
128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport
Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:53 AM.




1addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST