HVAC Blows Cold Air in Morning

[dw16025]

2017 F15, beautiful vehicle that I've owned a couple months now. I'm a leave the HVAC settings on "auto" at 68-degrees kind of guy, and every other vehicle I've owned will not blow cold air in the morning until the engine is hot enough to make warm air. I think even my wife's E90 holds off on the blower. On my F15, it was 22-degrees this morning and after about 30 seconds the blower started gently blowing cold air for several minutes until it began to warm.

I've noticed this in the past when it was in the 50s outside and thought it was a fluke, but at sub-zero temperatures it should not be blowing cold air!

Is this normal?

[IvanLZ]

Im also on the same boat. It was -15 celsius the other day and the AC was blowing cold air for atleast 10 minutes before it started to slowly warm up. Its quite annoying especially with passengers dying of cold

[malrash]

I agree the HVAC system in these cars does not make sense. My '17 blows ice cold air from the front vents whilst simultaneously blowing scorching hot air via the foot vents. Outside temp 28 - desired in car temp 65. I am going to take it in to the dealership since it drives me nuts. None of my previous BMWs and otherwise have done this. Anyone else experienced this?

[Chadmatic]

Have you guys adjusted the little temp dials near the center vents?

[malrash]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

Have you guys adjusted the little temp dials near the center vents?

Makes no difference, at least in my case.

[boyce89976]

This is normal. Keep in mind, that the whole system is at ambient temperature when you get in the vehicle. Just like when you turn on the hot water in your kitchen it takes a few seconds for it to get hot.

[Almaretto]

Originally Posted by boyce89976

This is normal. Keep in mind, that the whole system is at ambient temperature when you get in the vehicle. Just like when you turn on the hot water in your kitchen it takes a few seconds for it to get hot.

I wish it took a few seconds. My house was built almost 100 years ago and takes minutes to warm up, even with new tankless heater.

Preconditioning takes care of my vehicle climate.

[dw16025]

Originally Posted by boyce89976

This is normal. Keep in mind, that the whole system is at ambient temperature when you get in the vehicle. Just like when you turn on the hot water in your kitchen it takes a few seconds for it to get hot.

Right. And in virtually every other modern car, the system remains "off" for a few minutes until the car warms up.

[alphaod]

If I set my dial to hot only, it does not blow any air until the engine is warm.

[Chadmatic]

Originally Posted by dw16025

Right. And in virtually every other modern car, the system remains "off" for a few minutes until the car warms up.

Hmm... have owned many different German makes and models and have never noticed this feature, which modern car brand are you referring to and what is the feature called?

[ixlr8]

I have the same complaint, I hate it blowing cold air on me when I first start the car up in the morning. I wish system would at least remember where I have the system set when I shut the car off, rather than defaulting to AUTO on. So I don't have to turn the HVAC system off after I start the car and then after car warms up... turn it back on.

[mnx5er]

I'm in frigid Minnesota and haven't seen this. I keep my vents on warm air and system in auto.

[boyce89976]

Originally Posted by ixlr8

I have the same complaint, I hate it blowing cold air on me when I first start the car up in the morning. I wish system would at least remember where I have the system set when I shut the car off, rather than defaulting to AUTO on. So I don't have to turn the HVAC system off after I start the car and then after car warms up... turn it back on.

You don't have your profiles set up correctly. It remembers AC settings if it's set up right.

[boyce89976]

Originally Posted by mnx5er

I'm in frigid Minnesota and haven't seen this. I keep my vents on warm air and system in auto.

Yeah, me too. I'm not in Minnesota, but mine doesn't blow cold air at start up either, unless I have my vents set to cold. I don't get these complaints at all.

[dw16025]

Originally Posted by Chadmatic

Hmm... have owned many different German makes and models and have never noticed this feature, which modern car brand are you referring to and what is the feature called?

'06 4Runner, '04 Acura TL. I don't think it's explicitly named as a feature, it just keeps the fan off (when in auto) for several minutes and then ramps-up as the engine warms.

Originally Posted by boyce89976

Yeah, me too. I'm not in Minnesota, but mine doesn't blow cold air at start up either, unless I have my vents set to cold. I don't get these complaints at all.

I'll try setting the top vents to hot and see if it makes a difference.

[Almaretto]

There are two separate issues:

• HVAC remembering shutdown setting (ie stays off if 'Off' when turn off car). This can be coded if not already set.
• HVAC blowing cold air before it has time to warm up. One thing to do is use preconditioning (idrive-configured) or BMW Remote App. Other thing is to make sure hot/cold dial around vents it adjusted correctly.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by Almaretto

[*]HVAC blowing cold air before it has time to warm up. One thing to do is use preconditioning (idrive-configured) or BMW Remote App. Other thing is to make sure hot/cold dial around vents it adjusted correctly.[/list]

I really wish BMW would update the preconditioning option on app for those of us that installed the factory remote engine start retrofit. I get on the 40e you can use electricity for heat in the winter and for some cool air in the summer, but on the gas/diesel only model that's obviously not possible without engine heat or the motor running the compressor. I really think the BMW app is a bad when it comes to this.

[EvanRon]

I agree - the AI of the auto-climate system is not perfect in cold weather start-up resulting in the fan being turned on too early and blowing cold air. Conversely, in warm temperature even with the "aggressiveness" set to max the auto -AI climate needs manual override to true maximum cooling.

Since I love my x5 I would say this is the one area I have slight disappointment with. My 1999 4-Runner had smarter auto-climate than my 2016 x5.

[Chadmatic]

Originally Posted by dw16025

'06 4Runner, '04 Acura TL. I don't think it's explicitly named as a feature, it just keeps the fan off (when in auto) for several minutes and then ramps-up as the engine warms.

I'll try setting the top vents to hot and see if it makes a difference.

Ahhh... I missed the part where the climate control unit has to be set to Auto as I never use that feature.

[stewy604]

My 2014, regardless of the blend dial settings, will not blow cold air during cold startups. I find the HVAC near perfect in these vehicles. I set it to auto, 2nd fan speed, and 20-21.5 degrees...always comfortable and it never fogs up.

[peterphan88]

Did you leave the Auto on? if the AUTO light is on, that mean the AC compressor will be running until the Temp sensor detect the current temp and then cold air will stop. That's happen to any new cars these day.

[stewy604]

Update on mine, its happened a few times now, the two center vents (dash) blow cold air, regardless of the temp setting - even at max. The blend control makes no difference in this. A cycle of the ignition seems to solve the problem. Any one else experience this?