E89 Facelift - AC Compressor

[Gwest44]

I've recently been looking at late production (2015) facelift cars and noticed the 18i variant has a different AC system to the other models.
In the brochure it's listed as having automatic AC with single-zone control as opposed two-zone control in the other models.
In my previous E89's they have all had the two-zone option but 2 of them had to have the AC compressor replaced because it had failed.
I was wondering if anyone had experienced both systems and had an ability to comment on whether there were any disadvantages of the single-zone system shown in the first photo below - the second photo is the two-zone system.

 

[Silverstar]

Sorry I can't speak about the difference in reliability between one system or the other but the difference isn't just single zone or dual zone.

In the more basic version as fitted to the 18i it is single zone manual air con. You can see that by the AUTO label on the one with dual zone whereas it just says A/C on the single zone version. The dual zone version is climate control whereby it constantly monitors the interior temperature and makes sure it is at the temperature set by the user.

 

[Gwest44]

In the more basic version as fitted to the 18i it is single zone manual air con.

See what you're saying but then the brochure definitely refers to automatic - see picture.

 

[Silverstar]

Must be a misprint in the brochure I think. For the other cars like the 1, 3 series etc. they always offered a base manual air con and as an option or included in certain trim levels automatic climate control.

 

[Pondrew]

18i has manual a/c, 20i and up have dual zone 'climate control.' Only differences are the controls, more air flaps and more sensors with the climate control version. The blurb must be a misprint.
As far as compressors and the mechanical a/c system is concerned, there is no difference. One is not more likely to fail than the other TBH.