1. Home
  2. BMW Cars and SUVs
  3. air con blows warm in foot well

air con blows warm in foot well

Hi all

Currently own 2001 530i sport previously owned 1998 323i SE

I've noticed that the air con, when on auto, blows nice cold air around the cabin but seems to blow warm air into the drivers foot well. This happened on my previous car also (323i). Obviously, if I press the button to blow air only from in front, then no air comes through the foot well. I have the dial set to 3 blue dots (as cold as can be I assume), the temperature set to 16C (as low as it goes) with the 'snow' button on (air con). Daytime temps range up to 28C here in the UK at the moment.

Is this supposed to happen? Seems odd that I've had exactly the same thing on both cars.

Weirdly, during a nice cool evening when I still have the air con on, the cabin gets cold quite quickly and I don't appear to have warm air coming from the foot well ..... or maybe I'm being paranoid

Hope someone can enlighten me

Reply to
Jon Manley
Loading thread data ...

I have only had 7's, and yes normally the air supplied to the footwell is [supposed to be] warmer than that to the vents.

More likely is that the cooling capacity of the AC is low and it can't cool all the air. I suggest that you run the fan a little slower, top up the AC coolant and briefly recirculate when setting off (older 7's used to do this automatically).

Reply to
R. Mark Clayton

I use recirculate almost all the time. It's much more efficient than cooling hot air all the time. Recirc also keeps more of the pollution outside, and often reduces wind noise.

Reply to
Rex B

"Rex B" wrote

Just curious, how does it reduce wind noise?

Pete

Reply to
Pete

By using external air, you are pressurizing the cabin. That air has to go somewhere, and there is no "outlet vent", so it finds it's way out past window seals etc. It is more noticeable on some cars than others, and almost always on a convertible. It's pretty obvious on my Z3.

Reply to
Rex B

Not a good idea to recirculate for long periods. I set recirculation when passing a sewage treatment plant near the start of a long trip and forgot to switch it off. A hundred miles later I was nodding off, but fortunately I noticed the green light. A minute or two of fresh air and I was alert again.

Reply to
R. Mark Clayton

thx all

I shall take on board what you all say and try recirculating the air and see what difference it makes

Will send new post when I have any conclusions

Reply to
Jon Manley

No need for a tedious work-around - this is a BMW. IIRC there is a car memory setting for this that you are free to change at will.

Apparently, the footwell a/c air circulation setting differers for cars specified for tropical or more temperate climates. If you don't like it, $10 and a short trip to the dealer will see it permanently corrected.

I'm actually surprised how many BMW owners have NO idea that there are

50+ car/key/memory settings that they can adjust to suit their personal preferences(!!)
Reply to
Class-1

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.