BMW HVAC sucks

[USAM3]

I live in California and travel frequently with the family on 200+ mile round trips in the M3 and my biggest complaint has been with BMW's HVAC system. The cabin temperature never seems to maintain a level of comfort throughout where I can just set it and forget it even in auto climate mode. The temperature between the front and rear of the cabin can vary quite drastically where it ends up being too cold for rear passengers or not cold enough for front passengers or vice versa. There have been many trips where we've arrived home from a long trip and I discover my children are either sweating or freezing when I thought I had set the auto climate temperature to what was comfortable for everyone. The kids are usually asleep so I don't know if it's too hot or too cold for them. Is it too much to ask for auto climate, to be just that, automatic throughout the cabin? The other thing I've noticed is I have this problem only with BMWs. I've never had this complaint with all of my previous Japanese cars. Yes, I know that there are knobs I can adjust to allow cold or hotter air through the vents but I will get the same results even if I set them to full cold or full hot with auto climate control. The cabin temperature is simply not consistent and defeats the purpose, or conveyed purpose, of auto climate settings. My typical routine is having to turn on/off or increase/decrease HVAC every 10 minutes to make get things comfortable until it degrades again and to rinse and repeat the process. Either BMWs need more thermostats placed throughout the car to ensure the temperature is level throughout or the air flow needs to be improved. Anyone else have this complaint?

[USAM3]

My other complaint is no free-flowing fresh air unless the stupid HVAC system is turned on.

[Alvinized52]

Originally Posted by USAM3

My other complaint is no free-flowing fresh air unless the stupid HVAC system is turned on.

Hmmm... That's odd! Mine comes with a couple of buttons on my doors. When i press them, the windows go down... And i get free-flowing fresh air instantly. So Weird!!!

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by USAM3

My other complaint is no free-flowing fresh air unless the stupid HVAC system is turned on.

I would suggest that you read the manual. The HVAC works very well. A/C does not have to be on to get fresh air although the fan needs to be on. Have had 18 BMWs and the HVAC on my M4 is the best ever

[USAM3]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I would suggest that you read the manual. The HVAC works very well. A/C does not have to be on to get fresh air although the fan needs to be on. Have had 18 BMWs and the HVAC on my M4 is the best ever

I know A/C doesn't need to be on to get fresh air and I didn't say anything about A/C. You do need to have the blower turned on though and that is my point. WTF should I have to read a manual to figure out auto climate control? Don't call it auto climate if it's not automatic.

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I would suggest that you read the manual. The HVAC works very well. A/C does not have to be on to get fresh air although the fan needs to be on. Have had 18 BMWs and the HVAC on my M4 is the best ever

Im sorry, but having to turn two separate dials because they removed the "ALL" button makes it this system a joke. Best ever? Come on man.

[dalto]

In an M3 don't the rear seats have separate climate controls?

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by ILSMKU

Im sorry, but having to turn two separate dials because they removed the "ALL" button makes it this system a joke. Best ever? Come on man.

Well, I never had an "All" button, so I don't miss it. And it definitely does not make the system a joke - that's a joke.

[F83]

Originally Posted by USAM3

I know A/C doesn't need to be on to get fresh air and I didn't say anything about A/C. You do need to have the blower turned on though and that is my point. WTF should I have to read a manual to figure out auto climate control? Don't call it auto climate if it's not automatic.

You need the blower on to get fresh air through the HVAC system (and don't want to crack the windows)

Umm. Why is this a problem exactly?

[BIGW0RM]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Well, I never had an "All" button, so I don't miss it. And it definitely does not make the system a joke - that's a joke.

All my BMWs (2011 E92 M3, 2013 E92 M3, 2013 F10 M5) had dual climate with an all button.

When I turn on AC, all temps are the same. Whatever temp I choose on. My temp dial set them all.

If passenger changed his, my " ALL" button would disable. I could press it again and make there's match mine.

Now when I get into my 16 M4, I have to set my temp and the passengers if I want matching air temps coming out of the vents. Why would I want 76 on one dial and 68 on another if I was by myself, hot and turning on my AC?

Why would they remove a useful feature and make us set temps twice?

So based on that, my opinion is, our hvac system sucks.

[USAM3]

Originally Posted by F83

You need the blower on to get fresh air through the HVAC system (and don't want to crack the windows)

Umm. Why is this a problem exactly?

With other car brands you get free flowing fresh air in the cabin when the car is at speed without having to turn on the HVAC system. You can shut out the air flow altogether by engaging the air recirculating button. Simple and intuitive.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by ILSMKU

All my BMWs (2011 E92 M3, 2013 E92 M3, 2013 F10 M5) had dual climate with an all button.

When I turn on AC, all temps are the same. Whatever temp I choose on. My temp dial set them all.

If passenger changed his, my " ALL" button would disable. I could press it again and make there's match mine.

Now when I get into my 16 M4, I have to set my temp and the passengers if I want matching air temps coming out of the vents. Why would I want 76 on one dial and 68 on another if I was by myself, hot and turning on my AC?

Why would they remove a useful feature and make us set temps twice?

So based on that, my opinion is, our hvac system sucks.

...why would you and a passenger have temperatures that were off each other by 8 degrees?


Anyway, have had lots of cars with an 'all' button. Don't miss it (or even think about it) on the M3.

As for OP's complaints, i dont really understand them - certainly havent experienced them on any 400 km + trips with a car with 4 people in it.

Anyway, saying the HVAC sucks is probably more than a little bit of overstatement given the nature of the complaints here and now....

[RickFLM4]

I live in South Florida and find the a/c works fine. I drove Audi and Lexus since 1994 before I got this M4 in July. When I first got the car I thought the a/c sucked until I moved a thumbwheel from red to blue. I don't understand the point of / need for that thumbwheel but once I moved it to blue I just left it there and everything is fine.

[USAM3]

Originally Posted by dalto

In an M3 don't the rear seats have separate climate controls?

Yes there are but when you're driving it's kind of difficult adjusting those controls for kids in car seats so that it's comfortable for them. That's why I think the auto climate control sucks in these cars.

[JAGOOD]

So I have noticed that on my e46 m3 that you have to have the Ac on to keep the cabin from fogging up. I have never had this issue with my other vehicles. I live in the northwest where it is raining most of the time but I shouldn't have to use Ac to get moister out of the air. I would have to agree not the best system.

[ASBSECU E93]

I hear San Diego has an even climate....possibly relocate to that area so the need to change climate settings are minimal...?

[Arcades]

Guess it is about time someone whines about something in a car.

[USAM3]

Anyway, saying the HVAC sucks is probably more than a little bit of overstatement given the nature of the complaints here and now....

Nope, not an overstatement. It's a serious enough problem that I am thinking of going with another brand for sake of my family's comfort. All of my previous newer gen BMWs exhibited the same HVAC problem. The way I see it, BMW has made the HVAC system fancier with very little improvement in performance. I actually think they've taken steps backwards.

[USAM3]

Originally Posted by Arcades

Guess it is about time someone whines about something in a car.

LOL epitome of a fanboi response.

[ASBSECU E93]

Originally Posted by USAM3

Nope, not an overstatement. It's a serious enough problem that I am thinking of going with another brand for sake of my family's comfort. All of my previous newer gen BMWs exhibited the same HVAC problem. The way I see it, BMW has made the HVAC system fancier with very little improvement in performance. I actually think they've taken steps backwards.

I mean - if it's life and death and all...

[Arcades]

Originally Posted by USAM3

LOL epitome of a fanboi response.

lol and the typical response. Don't be so naive to believe everyone gives a shit about A/C when half of us drives w/ windows down.

Honestly, if you're that annoyed about reaching into the back then either tell them to adjust or they can't read what Red or Blue means apparently. What is it too hard for them to adjust or do you don't trust them in doing so? It's an A/C, how much harder do you think adjusting it would be?

What the fuck do you think an F80 was suppose to be? A family car? It might have 4 doors but it wasn't built do be the perfect family sedan in mind. If you wanted one, maybe you should have looked for a C63 instead ya?

[Vectors2final]

Originally Posted by USAM3

Nope, not an overstatement. It's a serious enough problem that I am thinking of going with another brand for sake of my family's comfort.