X5 A/C issue

[emaratee]

Hi everybody,

So, here in Dubai we had a good feel of global warming over the last week, well we do every year to be honest, but this June felt quite different:

it's 10.30 am, clear sky and the Car's outside temp is pointing 50 degrees Celsius (122 F) ... yes, we here in Dubai we like to be the #1 in everything, tallest bldg, Largest Mall ... and yes you guessed it, the highest temp in the world that day. !!

My issue is,

The car's A/C is running fine ... when the car comes to a traffic light stop .. the A/C for no apparent reason drops the air volume .. once the car is moving the volume goes back to normal !!! why would it do that, the last time I remember cars from the 80s used to do this .. Also, starting the rear climate zones will starve the air volume from the front vents !! I've got a 2015 Range Rover that runs flawlessly in comparison.

Any idea or did you guys face such an issue.

By the way,

This is a 2015 X5 50i
Air circulation is set to manual and no auto a/c settings at all and rear climate is off.

[Taran.J]

Originally Posted by emaratee

Hi everybody,

So, here in Dubai we had a good feel of global worming over the last week, well we do every year to be honest, but this June felt quite different:

it's 10.30 am, clear sky and the Car's outside temp is pointing 50 degrees Celsius ... yes, we here in Dubai we like to be the #1 in everything, tallest bldg, Largest Mall ... and yes you guessed it, the highest temp in the world that day. !!

My issues is,

The car's A/C is running fine ... when the car comes to a traffic light stop .. the A/C for no apparent reason drops the air volume .. once the car is moving the volume goes back to normal !!! why would it do that, the last time I remember cars from the 80s used to do this .. Also, starting the rear climate zones will starve the air volume from the front vents !! I've got a 2015 Range Rover that runs flawlessly in comparison.

Any idea or did you guys face such an issue.

By the way,

This is a 2015 X5 50i
Air circulation is set to manual and no auto a/c settings at all and rear climate is off.

It's for efficiency If I wanted that I'd buy a Tesla Model S

[emaratee]

Originally Posted by Taran.J

It's for efficiency If I wanted that I'd buy a Tesla Model S

Oh no ... don't tell me fuel saving !!!

[MattBianco]

If you are in EcoPro you certainly suffer AC power. But that can be adjusted in the iDrive menu.

if the car is indeed reducing AC when you are at a stop in Comfort or Sport/+, then I bet there is a coding solution for this.

If I lived in Dubai or anywhere hot, I'd consider this: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1132224 The poster is a very well informed user.

[emaratee]

Originally Posted by MattBianco

If you are in EcoPro you certainly suffer AC power. But that can be adjusted in the iDrive menu.

if the car is indeed reducing AC when you are at a stop in Comfort or Sport/+, then I bet there is a coding solution for this.

If I lived in Dubai or anywhere hot, I'd consider this: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1132224 The poster is a very well informed user.

Ture,

I've tinted our X5 sides and back glass with 50% but not the windshield ... From day I noticed the glass is not really insulating enough .. I think I'll have to do that ... It's strange that the RR A/C will preform way much better without tenting the glass with it's large glass areas.

[turboawd]

is your x5 a dark color? that will probably increase the inside temps also.

[emaratee]

Originally Posted by turboawd

is your x5 a dark color? that will probably increase the inside temps also.

Alpine White

It's for sure the Glass, and the A/C behavior to save fuel .. I understand why would BMW apply such techniques in Europe and N.America ... but here in the middle east ... just doesn't make any sense

[wedge000]

Originally Posted by emaratee

Alpine White

It's for sure the Glass, and the A/C behavior to save fuel .. I understand why would BMW apply such techniques in Europe and N.America ... but here in the middle east ... just doesn't make any sense

The A/C is reduced when the car shuts off for the auto stop/start. It then kicks back in full power when the car restarts. Try turning off the stop/start function.

[emaratee]

Originally Posted by wedge000

The A/C is reduced when the car shuts off for the auto stop/start. It then kicks back in full power when the car restarts. Try turning off the stop/start function.

No ... 1st thing I do when starting the car is to shut off the auto stop/start. It's still doing it !!! both in comfort and sport

[HMN]

Honestly the only place where I've noticed AC problems is over here. Most of us (F15 owners) in Dubai mostly suffer from AC problems. I feel it most when i'm cruising at 140km and after a while the AC just stops producing cold air. It just makes a sound with no air, as if something is blocking it from the inside.
AGMC claim that the AC is perfectly fine, so I guess it must be an efficiency thing which is useless here.
Plus, I've noticed that when I switch the AC on normally without the max button it takes a long while to cool and the pressure is minimal.
Definitely a weather problem bro.

[emaratee]

Originally Posted by Hamad Nasser

Honestly the only place where I've noticed AC problems is over here. Most of us (F15 owners) in Dubai mostly suffer from AC problems. I feel it most when i'm cruising at 140km and after a while the AC just stops producing cold air. It just makes a sound with no air, as if something is blocking it from the inside.
AGMC claim that the AC is perfectly fine, so I guess it must be an efficiency thing which is useless here.
Plus, I've noticed that when I switch the AC on normally without the max button it takes a long while to cool and the pressure is minimal.
Definitely a weather problem bro.

You right Hamad,

But the Car's AC does not lack any power, when u switch off the rear zones while standing the front vents will push more than adequate air ... the thing that is disturbing is the abnormal behavior where the system just decides to send less air on slow speed & stop n go traffic. ??!!!! .... This is certainly a software logic than anything else ... otherwise, have no issue whatsoever while driving at high speed.

[HMN]

Originally Posted by emaratee

You right Hamad,

But the Car's AC does not lack any power, when u switch off the rear zones while standing the front vents will push more than adequate air ... the thing that is disturbing is the abnormal behavior where the system just decides to send less air on slow speed & stop n go traffic. ??!!!! .... This is certainly a software logic than anything else ... otherwise, have no issue whatsoever while driving at high speed.

You should pay AGMC a visit and give them a run for their money. If they say it's fine, take it to another garage and have the software checked. Please let me know if you do either one.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by emaratee

The car's A/C is running fine ... when the car comes to a traffic light stop .. the A/C for no apparent reason drops the air volume .. once the car is moving the volume goes back to normal !!!

When you say the air volume drops, are you basing that on just hearing it? Does the pitch of the fan drop? The reason I ask is I've noticed a drop in the pitch of the seat ventilation when I come to a stop. It's due to the electrical system dropping voltage a bit when the engine rpm drops to idle. I only noticed it when I had the seat venilation on the highest setting because it was making enough noise that I could hear it. I haven't really used the AC ventilation at higher settings so I wouldn't have noticed the drop in voltage affecting it, but thought that might be what you're noticing.

[MattBianco]

I think a clear tint of the windshield and moonroof with the material skalberti used would go a long way.

[emaratee]

Originally Posted by MattBianco

I think a clear tint of the windshield and moonroof with the material skalberti used would go a long way.

Agree .. still, sharing notes with the community get you better equipped to tackle the dealer.

[emaratee]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

When you say the air volume drops, are you basing that on just hearing it? Does the pitch of the fan drop? The reason I ask is I've noticed a drop in the pitch of the seat ventilation when I come to a stop. It's due to the electrical system dropping voltage a bit when the engine rpm drops to idle. I only noticed it when I had the seat venilation on the highest setting because it was making enough noise that I could hear it. I haven't really used the AC ventilation at higher settings so I wouldn't have noticed the drop in voltage affecting it, but thought that might be what you're noticing.

No, Seat vent. is off .. it's as if you opened the cabin air circulation (allow external air) .. you notice immediate drop in the air volume ... but the air circulation is set to manual (no external air) ... so why would it drop, I own MB, RR, Lexus none of these cars exhibits the same symptoms ...

The funny part ... you start the car, set the AC at Auto + Rear zone Off >> the AC will work as expected .... Now, drive the car, first stop light AC air will drop >> do the same trick, set the AC at Auto + Rear zone off >> still the AC will not push as much air as it did when just starting


Sorry guys to bother you with all of this ... just wanted to know if this is only my X5 or any of you facing the same.

[MattBianco]

Sounds like coding....Reach out to shawnsheridan in Opasha's absence. Few of us can provide meaningful feedback given lack of a 50c test environment. Your car is doing a lot of AC lifting others here don't experience. There are a few KSA members on the board....hopefully they can chime in.

[rlemek]

Originally Posted by emaratee

Oh no ... don't tell me fuel saving !!!

Even Tesla's don't do that! My tesla is freezing cold before i get in. wish the connected drive remote would cool off the inside of my X5.. I had this same thing on my X5 but leave it in sport now

[touchdown83]

This is my first BMW, and I feel like the A/C is not that great.

The noise it puts out when on "Max" A/C doesn't seem to match up with the air output. I expect a lot more blowing out.

[X5FX]

BMW is famous for crappy AC's...I have been complaining since my first E70 in 2007. They just suck. I live in the Southern US, while we never exceed 100, our humidity is always at 100%...so I feel your pain with the AC. The best suggestions are what you have already done. My settings are Auto, rear off...also if I am alone in the vehicle I close the vents on the passenger side. This helps a good bit, but I'm going to try the Llumar air 90 on the windshield and see if that helps.

[addicted2bimmers]

Just turn off the start/stop and it will stay on the volume you like

[lowlevelhell]

Have you considered moving?