Heater doesn't blow hot air??

[RedRanger]

Anyone take their car into the shop for this yet?

[chris82]

I have this issue. Turns out my heater core was clogged (previous owner put the wrong coolant in I guess. Because of this I got no heat at all! So the shop unclogged it, put new coolant in, and my heat is somewhat back to normal as you will read.

Here are the issues I'm dealing with:

When I select just the lower and middle vents. I only get heat when set to 84. Anything else and it's barely warm. Regardless of temp, the left and right are a few degrees off.

For the upper windshielf vents, I get perfect heat. 60 all the way to 84 is consistent temp changes per degree and it works as it should. Left and right vents are exact same temp as well.

Here's where it gets tricky. If I have the upper vents on and any of the other vents switched on, temp goes whack. Upper vents don't blow proper temps and the middle or lower don't either. It only works on 84. Left and right vents are off a few degrees as well.

So in conclusion, it appears that my heat definitely works and there are no more issues getting heat as I had before. However, something is glitchy with the lower and middle vents. It blows my mind. I'm starting to think there is a different thermometer for the upper vents.

*OP, I would select your upper windshield vents and see if you get proper temperatures from those vents like I do.

[chris82]

Is there any update on this OP?

[Mossberg128i]

Just got my car back from the dealer. I got an oil change and new air filters. As I was driving home I noticed this issue. Was not happening until today.

I happened to notice this thread about 2 months ago so when the problem began happening with my car today, I tracked the thread immediately. I will go to the dealer within the next couple weeks and update everyone on what the issue is.

[Silenus]

Again, this is NOT an issue. The automatic climate control blends the air coming out of the center vents so you don't get blasted with hot air. Hot air is coming out of the upper and lower vents. The car cabin still reaches the selected temperature in a normal amount of time.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by Silenus

Again, this is NOT an issue. The automatic climate control blends the air coming out of the center vents so you don't get blasted with hot air. Hot air is coming out of the upper and lower vents. The car cabin still reaches the selected temperature in a normal amount of time.

So my mid vents blow very hot at 84 but one degree down and they blow air thats significantly colder and thats normal? Doubt it. My brother's 335 doesnt do that. Makes no sense.

[Silenus]

Originally Posted by chris82

So my mid vents blow very hot at 84 but one degree down and they blow air thats significantly colder and thats normal? Doubt it. My brother's 335 doesnt do that. Makes no sense.

The 335 has a different climate control system which includes a stratified air wheel. Comparing 1 335i and 1 135i isn't very scientific. Me comparing 100s of 1 series (and having a complete understanding, including a climate control certification from BMW) is.


Edit: My original post was not directed towards your clogged heater core issue. That is obviously a problem.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by Silenus

The 335 has a different climate control system which includes a stratified air wheel. Comparing 1 335i and 1 135i isn't very scientific. Me comparing 100s of 1 series (and having a complete understanding, including a climate control certification from BMW) is.


Edit: My original post was not directed towards your clogged heater core issue. That is obviously a problem.

If you say so. What about my upper windshield vents? They blow air fine (84 feels like 84, 83 feels like 83, 82 feels like 82, etc.) yet my lower and middle vents only blow hot air on 84, and 83 feels more like 60. But that's normal? If you are who you say you are (BMW climate control certified person), then I'll believe it, but I still think it's odd, hence these threads and others.

[mabutler308@yahoo.com]

On cold days I turn my heat up all the way and turn the fan on full, as I always have with every car I have owned. Once it heats up, I turn the heat down and have no issue from that point. I have never thought this odd, since this is how I have always operated the heat in my cars.

When turning the heat up incrementally on cooler days, I have never had any issues with my car heating up appropriately. I have a 2013 135is... it seems to work fine.

[Dansker]

My coolant level is correct. Checked fuses. I just replaced the thermostat and water pump. Still no hot air. Thought it might be the heater control valve, but came to find out this model doesn't have one. I guess this leaves me with a worn out heater core or ? The car has 85,000 miles on it, so is it reasonable to assume the core needs to be replaced?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[MrsDolce]

I have a 2014 BMW that I bought brand new a few months ago, and still only have 1,400 miles on it. Like Chris82 mentioned, I only get heat at 84. I can't imagine BMW making a car to produce 'fresh cold air' mixed in with 84 hot air on the bottom floor vents. That's a lot of wasted energy. I would be shocked to find out that this is the true intention of this. I understand there is vent control to keep pollutants out, but regardless of whether that control was on automatic, manual, or off, I still only get heat with 84 degrees, and 83 is solid cold air. That sounds quirky to me and defies what my interpretation of logic would be. I have sent an e-mail to my Service Manager and will update everyone on what he replies back to me in regards to this question. Also, when my 84 degree heat is on and I do get warm heat from the front vents, the rear vents for the backseat passengers blows cold air. I asked about this as well in my e-mail to the Service Manager.

[chris82]

Originally Posted by MrsDolce

I have a 2014 BMW that I bought brand new a few months ago, and still only have 1,400 miles on it. Like Chris82 mentioned, I only get heat at 84. I can't imagine BMW making a car to produce 'fresh cold air' mixed in with 84 hot air on the bottom floor vents. That's a lot of wasted energy. I would be shocked to find out that this is the true intention of this. I understand there is vent control to keep pollutants out, but regardless of whether that control was on automatic, manual, or off, I still only get heat with 84 degrees, and 83 is solid cold air. That sounds quirky to me and defies what my interpretation of logic would be. I have sent an e-mail to my Service Manager and will update everyone on what he replies back to me in regards to this question. Also, when my 84 degree heat is on and I do get warm heat from the front vents, the rear vents for the backseat passengers blows cold air. I asked about this as well in my e-mail to the Service Manager.

If you drive for a few minutes with the right set at 84 and the left set at 82 (or whatever combo you prefer), does the left vent eventually blow warmer/hot air?

When I turn mine down a few degrees, it blows cold air, but after a few minutes when the temp in the car drops a little bit the vent begins to blow warmer air like it should. I thought it was a problem with the heater, but it definitely isn't. The system is trying to bring the inside temp down a few degrees and the quickest way to do that is to blow cold air until the temp is lower and then resume warmer air once it's at the corresponding temperature. Hope that all makes sense.

TLDR: It's completely normal for the climate system to do this!

[SayHack]

since we are all on this topic, i have a question....my car blows warm air, but not hot (set at max heat). even after driving for 30 min, still warm and it takes about 10 minutes of street driving to reach warm air level. in addition, when cruising at freeway speeds at 45F, the warm air slowly gets colder, its only when i downshift or play around with the gas pedal for few seconds is when i get to the warm level, but never hot....any ideas what going on?

[mr.fabulous]

Made an interesting discovery today. Car is new to me, previously with an E36 for 15yrs. I never set my climate control on AUTO, I run all three together (defrost, dash, feet) and set the temp. That worked as expected with my E36. But with this E82, she blows cold unless/until I max the temp at 84. Only THEN does it blow hot. But, ah HA... switch to AUTO and the temp regulates as one might expect. At all three (defrost, dash, feet). All blow warm/hot as needed when AUTO is set. Without AUTO, it only blows hot when set to 84. I guess that's a feature? Honestly I don't like it.

Try that...

[ASAP]

Same exact thing... It's only reallly hot at 84F... Thank God for heated seats The seats are the best way to stay warm in very cold temperatures. The seat warmers work way sooner than the car's heating.

[Mossberg128i]

Originally Posted by Kayven128i

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)?

So the heater in my car has always worked fine. I would keep it a 79 degrees because anything higher is uncomfortably hot. But I took my car to the dealer and had my battery replaced. Upon leaving the dealership I experienced this identical issue. Works fine at 84, but anything lower such as 83 and it blows cold air. I finally brought my car to the dealership and they are replacing the ventilation temperature sensor. They needed to order the part. Hope this helps you.

[Joe_435i]

Originally Posted by MrsDolce

I have a 2014 BMW that I bought brand new a few months ago, and still only have 1,400 miles on it. Like Chris82 mentioned, I only get heat at 84. I can't imagine BMW making a car to produce 'fresh cold air' mixed in with 84 hot air on the bottom floor vents. That's a lot of wasted energy. I would be shocked to find out that this is the true intention of this. I understand there is vent control to keep pollutants out, but regardless of whether that control was on automatic, manual, or off, I still only get heat with 84 degrees, and 83 is solid cold air. That sounds quirky to me and defies what my interpretation of logic would be. I have sent an e-mail to my Service Manager and will update everyone on what he replies back to me in regards to this question. Also, when my 84 degree heat is on and I do get warm heat from the front vents, the rear vents for the backseat passengers blows cold air. I asked about this as well in my e-mail to the Service Manager.

Did you ever hear back from you service manager about this issue? My car is going in for service in a couple days, so i'll be asking too.

[bozola]

It is the way it works in the 1 series....

84 -> Hot vent

83 or lower not hot.

[mr.fabulous]

Originally Posted by bozola

It is the way it works in the 1 series....

84 -> Hot vent

83 or lower not hot.

Not in my car. Set to AUTO, I get warm/hot/cool air equally at all three levels (defrost, dash, feet) as needed. No AUTO, she won't blow HOT until set to 84. Set yours to AUTO and set the temp and everything will work as you expect.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Silenus

Again, this is NOT an issue. The automatic climate control blends the air coming out of the center vents so you don't get blasted with hot air. Hot air is coming out of the upper and lower vents. The car cabin still reaches the selected temperature in a normal amount of time.

THIS!

I took delivery of my car at the WELT. It was explained to me during the delivery that this is a feature of the car, so you have fresh air at face level.

[doublevanosrc]

Just ran into this issue today as the temp here dipped to the 20's. Lots of great info and explanations on this thread.

[desertman123]

Originally Posted by doublevanosrc

Just ran into this issue today as the temp here dipped to the 20's. Lots of great info and explanations on this thread.

I definitely have something wrong then. I've been in two other 128i's and both had great heat, while mine is awful. Thinking it's a clogged heater core since the PO had non-BMW coolant in it.