2016 z4 condensation

[Pondrew]

Pondrew, It never ceases to honestly amaze me how much you know about so many things

Not sure whether you are taking the p*ss, mate. If you are it's fine; non taken.

If not then I know a little bit about a lot of things but not much about most of them. Just very opinionated.
On this subject, however, I happen to know a bit more as I am a qualified refrigeration and a/c engineer having worked in the industry for 38 years. For a few years a long time ago, I worked solely on car a/c. Not an expert by any means, though.

[Pondrew]

It’s maybe not the most fuel effective way

It was always quoted in the 'old days' that a car used around 10% more fuel with the a/c compressor running. As refrigerant has become a LOT more efficient over the years the compressors have got smaller, needing less energy to drive them. Electronics now control them a lot more efficiently too. Cars in general produce a lot more power, so the percentage of engine power is very very low.
I would be surprised if fuel efficiency drops by more than a couple of percent with the a/c on these days TBH. I heard that opening the window is worse for fuel efficiency!

If you look at the back of your modern domestic fridge, running on R600a (butane!! ), the compressors are absolutely tiny these days. Yes folks you have highly combustible butane under massive pressure in your kitchens. Scary, huh?

[MikeyH]

Pondrew, It never ceases to honestly amaze me how much you know about so many things

Not sure whether you are taking the p*ss, mate. If you are it's fine; non taken.

If not then I know a little bit about a lot of things but not much about most of them. Just very opinionated.
On this subject, however, I happen to know a bit more as I am a qualified refrigeration and a/c engineer having worked in the industry for 38 years. For a few years a long time ago, I worked solely on car a/c. Not an expert by any means, though.

Please don't take offence Pondrew I'm not taking the p*ss, its not just you, there are so many on this forum that know lots about everything that it never ceases to amaze me.

[MikeyH]

It’s maybe not the most fuel effective way

It was always quoted in the 'old days' that a car used around 10% more fuel with the a/c compressor running. As refrigerant has become a LOT more efficient over the years the compressors have got smaller, needing less energy to drive them. Electronics now control them a lot more efficiently too. Cars in general produce a lot more power, so the percentage of engine power is very very low.
I would be surprised if fuel efficiency drops by more than a couple of percent with the a/c on these days TBH. I heard that opening the window is worse for fuel efficiency!

If you look at the back of your modern domestic fridge, running on R600a (butane!! ), the compressors are absolutely tiny these days. Yes folks you have highly combustible butane under massive pressure in your kitchens. Scary, huh?

I wonder how much fuel is wasted driving around with the roof down all the time

[ronk]

I heard that on a saloon car, driving with windows down costs more than aircon!

[Pondrew]

I wonder how much fuel is wasted driving around with the roof down all the time

Dunno but I guarantee you won't get condensation!
I wouldn't worry about it Mikey. Your E85 is not exactly at the cutting edge of fuel efficiency anyway....Do you still have to put lead substitute in the tank when you fill up?

[Silverstar]

It's cheaper for manufacturers to use the centre console too as the complexity of the wiring is reduced, less risk of mechanical damage (no flexing at the hinge) and no left/right hand drive options for the different markets... Still we haven't got degrees in marketing, we're just enthusiasts who like to tinker with our cars

BMW and Mercedes always used to put the window switches on the centre console which made more sense and differentiated them from other car brands. This changed with time and for reasons only they know and they moved the switches to the doors. My E46 had all the switches on the centre console. I believe BMW moved them to the doors starting with the E90, so somewhere around 2006.

[MikeyH]

I wonder how much fuel is wasted driving around with the roof down all the time

Dunno but I guarantee you won't get condensation!
I wouldn't worry about it Mikey. Your E85 is not exactly at the cutting edge of fuel efficiency anyway....Do you still have to put lead substitute in the tank when you fill up?

TBH judging by some of today's car offerings I'm glad that it's not cutting edge.

[MikeyH]

It's cheaper for manufacturers to use the centre console too as the complexity of the wiring is reduced, less risk of mechanical damage (no flexing at the hinge) and no left/right hand drive options for the different markets... Still we haven't got degrees in marketing, we're just enthusiasts who like to tinker with our cars

BMW and Mercedes always used to put the window switches on the centre console which made more sense and differentiated them from other car brands. This changed with time and for reasons only they know and they moved the switches to the doors. My E46 had all the switches on the centre console. I believe BMW moved them to the doors starting with the E90, so somewhere around 2006.

Mine are in the doors, E85 2004

[Busterboo]

I put some damp traps in the car over winter.

One in the cabin, one in the boot.

What's a damp trap, please?

[N4LLY]

I put some damp traps in the car over winter.

One in the cabin, one in the boot.

What's a damp trap, please?

I've used these in the past..... amazing how much moisture they capture.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-a ... 70096.html

[Busterboo]

Thank you. If they work for you, then ...

[obewan]

I put some damp traps in the car over winter.

One in the cabin, one in the boot.

What's a damp trap, please?

I've used these in the past..... amazing how much moisture they capture.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/car-a ... 70096.html

Aldi were selling a similar product a few weeks ago. IIRC about a fiver

[ronk]

Dry the cabin as air by whatever means you want - but open a door and in an instant it all goes back to whatever the ambient humidity of the surroundings is.

[ekimj10]

Not a Z$ but mine has suffered with this problem, finally diagnosed that the HVAC recirc. flap motor was open circuit. Can't get it fixed till New Year but it has failed in the CLOSED position the recirc. on off lights still worked though. We tested by having fan on maximum and sqirting air freshener into the intake. Smell did not get into the interior.