[E90Fleet]

I see many people say they drive with their rear windows open " for fresh air"

Why would you want to get poluted air through your rear windows when the AC system filters the air, makes it the temp you want and distrubutes it around the car ???

Or dont people think the filtered air is as good as non-filtered air

[lux.sh]

I do it alot of times. I usually keep the front windows open and the sunroof tilted though.
I only open rear windows when I open all the other ones to vent.

1. Air isn't really all that bad here in Oregon(Tree state baby!)

2. Nothing can replace the fresh feeling of the outside air(Even though it might not be as clean as the AC filtered air). And human beings are stupid. What they feel is all that matters.

Fleet, I think this is like your first time ever asking something.

[3some]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

I see many people say they drive with their rear windows open " for fresh air"

Why would you want to get poluted air through your rear windows when the AC system filters the air, makes it the temp you want and distrubutes it around the car ???

Or dont people think the filtered air is as good as non-filtered air

Fleet, I just think that they want to hear that amazing engine sound
IMO.

[txusa03]

maybe there was a human gas leak (if you know what I mean)...

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

I see many people say they drive with their rear windows open " for fresh air"

Why would you want to get poluted air through your rear windows when the AC system filters the air, makes it the temp you want and distrubutes it around the car ???

Or dont people think the filtered air is as good as non-filtered air

I agree with you a million times over. This past weekend I was driving with the A/C on and loving the non-polluted air and coolness directed perfectly (thanks iDrive!) and my sister asks me if we can drive with the windows down so she can get some fresh air, and then I went into my rant about how the outside air is a hell of lot less fresh than what the A/C blows out and she did not get it, leave it to my sis to be an idiot!
Needless to say I do not get it, especially here in NY and now with all the pollen blowing around, my car looks green from it, I do not want to breathe that crap in if I can help it!!

[jhbodle]

Originally Posted by 3some

Fleet, I just think that they want to hear that amazing engine sound
IMO.

That's why i do it.

[mds82]

I love driving with all the windows open. In my last car i didnt really have AC so i never got to use it and got so used to the windows down. In CT the air is not that bad, well maybe i'm just used to it also. I love the feel of air blowing around in the cabin. With all the windows open and the sunroof, there isnt all that much disturbance from the air. With just the back windows open though, i get some weird sounds from the air disturbances, kinda sounds like banging, but its just the air pressure building up . No AC for me just yet, I'll save on my MPG

[stressdoc]

There are times when the wind in one's hair is a good feeling. I like being 'connected' with the outside -- smell of freshly mown hay, hint of mushrooms on a damp morning, etc. -- but I live in the country, and my air conditioner is a bit stale. I despise the diminished gas mileage and loss of power with AC. That said, I never drive on the highway at speed with the windows down.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

I agree with you a million times over. This past weekend I was driving with the A/C on and loving the non-polluted air and coolness directed perfectly (thanks iDrive!) and my sister asks me if we can drive with the windows down so she can get some fresh air, and then I went into my rant about how the outside air is a hell of lot less fresh than what the A/C blows out and she did not get it, leave it to my sis to be an idiot!
:

Have had that before aswell

For some reason lots of people cannot get the idea that fresh air is being sucked into the car by the system.

Its the same type of people who think that a aeroplane is sealed and gets no fresh air into the cabin, so must land so people can breath

[nostrum09]

Originally Posted by mds82

I love driving with all the windows open. In my last car i didnt really have AC so i never got to use it and got so used to the windows down. In CT the air is not that bad, well maybe i'm just used to it also. I love the feel of air blowing around in the cabin. With all the windows open and the sunroof, there isnt all that much disturbance from the air. With just the back windows open though, i get some weird sounds from the air disturbances, kinda sounds like banging, but its just the air pressure building up . No AC for me just yet, I'll save on my MPG

I found this article online this morning talking about how there's really very little difference in economy between windows down versus windows up with the AC running.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bizwk/060426/pi20060426284375.html

[ward]

if they leave their back windows open, then they won't get to complain about their seatbelts flapping in the wind!

you've got a good point here fleet!

[ihavedrivenanm1]

Why...?

A few reasons:

[1] That 'wind-in-the-hair' feeling can be nice every now and again.

[2] With the sunroof or drivers window down, having the other windows down can reduce the pressure differential and cut down on interior wind noise etc.

[3] While there might not be much difference in efficiency [gas mileage] with the A/C on there certainly is a big performance hit.

When driving up-and-down through the canyons on a nice day I want every possible bit of hp available to me for acceleration and having the A/C on drags down performance significantly. Opening the windows on such occasions makes for a much nicer experience.

[ward]

you notice the power drain from the AC, but can't tell the difference in drag from having the windows open?

when mythbusters did the windows open vs AC test (in ford expeditions)
the breakeven speed was about 50 mph or so, faster was better mpg with AC slower was better with windows open.
not sure how that'd correlate with a more slippery car like an E90 though

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by txusa03

maybe there was a human gas leak (if you know what I mean)...

That's awesome. I just had my windows tinted last week, being able to not roll down the windows is a killer. Full blast air, face level and sunroof full open doesn't clear the air from this type of gas leak as fast as opening all the windows.

[RPM90]

That problem in my E46 is that using the AC just for fresh air, then means I have to deal with the NASTY musty odor the AC system produces due to the lack of proper engineering in the HVAC unit.

So, for me I have to use the windows and central vents for
"fresh air". BTW, I like the REAL air coming in from the windows as opposed to the "filtered" air.
During the spring, like now, running AC doesn't feel fresh and it wastes gas (disputed) and engine power. So, in an E46 325i, I need all th power I can get.

[TENCHI]

I do it. the reason why? If you have ever noticed, when you have the drivers window down, there is more wind pressure on you blowing your hair around and sometimes the wind dries out your eyes.


However, when you open up the rear window along with the front window, there is less wind pressure on you. Try it out and you will see what I am talking about.

[Gitta]

I have a friend who has to have a window or two cracked open in order to not feel closterfobic (sp?).

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by TENCHI

I do it. the reason why? If you have ever noticed, when you have the drivers window down, there is more wind pressure on you blowing your hair around and sometimes the wind dries out your eyes.


However, when you open up the rear window along with the front window, there is less wind pressure on you. Try it out and you will see what I am talking about.

Yes, it is true. In coupes this doesn't happen as much as the window is larger thus it allows the pressure to equalize better.
In a sedan, the smaller window creates a lot of pressure in the rear cabin creating a vibration of air pressure waves.
Open the rear window to match the front window opening and the pressure balances nicely.
I do this too, it works great.

[TENCHI]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention.....u gotta have both the front and rear windows open. Otherwise, with just the rear windows open you will have an annoying "whup whup whup" noise like one coming from a Bell Huey Helicopter

[kal-el]

Originally Posted by TENCHI

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention.....u gotta have both the front and rear windows open. Otherwise, with just the rear windows open you will have an annoying "whup whup whup" noise like one coming from a Bell Huey Helicopter

dude you've been missing from the DGF

[Nikki]

I always have my front windows down for a nice breeze. The rear ones are only down when someone in the backseat puts it down.

[KL2DC]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

I see many people say they drive with their rear windows open " for fresh air"

The reason is obvious...they want the open air feeling (as others mentioned) but they simply don't want to mess up the 'do

*sigh* BMW drivers...