Heating

[dr_john]

The heating on my 2014 e89 is not performing.

It was fine last winter but in the cold snap last weekend I realised it doesn't deliver hot air even at max setting, only lukewarm. This was on a 100+ mile journey, aircon definitely not on! I this is my third e89, I know how the settings work.

I'm going to check it in for attention under warranty next week but wonder if there is any history on this. I suspect an engine coolant temp thermostat failure?

 

[srhutch]

I think you are correct. It failed on my last zed, and without a gause you would have no idea unless you are calling for some heat.

Luckily I had a temperature gauge, but another reason why it's a bad idea they don't seem to fit these days. :thumbsdown:

 

[ronk]

I think you are correct. It failed on my last zed, and without a gause you would have no idea unless you are calling for some heat.

Luckily I had a temperature gauge, but another reason why it's a bad idea they don't seem to fit these days. :thumbsdown:

The Oil temp would give a good clue tho?

 

[dr_john]

I think you are correct. It failed on my last zed, and without a gause you would have no idea unless you are calling for some heat.

Luckily I had a temperature gauge, but another reason why it's a bad idea they don't seem to fit these days. :thumbsdown:

The Oil temp would give a good clue tho?

Yes one may think so Ron, but I haven't noticed any discernable difference in oil temp.

Anyway it's booked into Sytner Nottingham next Monday.

 

[ronk]

I think you are correct. It failed on my last zed, and without a gause you would have no idea unless you are calling for some heat.

Luckily I had a temperature gauge, but another reason why it's a bad idea they don't seem to fit these days. :thumbsdown:

The Oil temp would give a good clue tho?

Yes one may think so Ron, but I haven't noticed any discernable difference in oil temp.

Anyway it's booked into Sytner Nottingham next Monday.

After thinking about it - I suppose the available heat goes into both OIL and WATER - I would assume the oil cooler flow will be thermostatically controlled ?

 

[ronk]

The heating on my 2014 e89 is not performing.

It was fine last winter but in the cold snap last weekend I realised it doesn't deliver hot air even at max setting, only lukewarm. This was on a 100+ mile journey, aircon definitely not on! I this is my third e89, I know how the settings work.

I'm going to check it in for attention under warranty next week but wonder if there is any history on this. I suspect an engine coolant temp thermostat failure?

Any news of a fix?

 

[Angie4m]

Is this out of every vent or just on he drivers side, just the drivers side is supposed to blow cooler in order to stop the driver potentially falling asleep.

I've noticed its significantly more toasty on the passenger side than the drivers, although the drivers sides not too bad.

I also assume the wheel is set to a hotter centre vent and not cooler?

I know it's your third one but it could be that further changes have been made. Doubt it. And I assume the battery is alright too as a decreased battery results in a lesser output from the vents.

Useful info for others who may have issues too.

 

[ronk]

Surely there is a temperature control for both sides of the car to enable driver and passenger to control their own temp environment - from memory, the book says with a max 6c differential?

 

[Angie4m]

Surely there is a temperature control for both sides of the car to enable driver and passenger to control their own temp environment - from memory, the book says with a max 6c differential?

There is but the drivers side even at max will run cooler because more cooler air is pulled through. Although I have read before that with 'dual climate zones' if you turn the temp down on the passenger side to the lowest and stick it up to the highest on the drivers for a couple of mins and then do the opposit it can help rebalance the temp. Although not specified as being only on the drivers side I would assume it was and that the passenger side ran warmer.

I'm currently looking at a PDF copy of the handbook and it mentions nothing re min/max difference between zones but it may be hidden and under some bizzar wording.

 

[ronk]

I thought that if 25c was selected on both controls then the system would achieve that temp on both sides?
The passenger might select another temperature setting but the driver would still be in his cocoon of 25c?

 

[dr_john]

The heating on my 2014 e89 is not performing.

It was fine last winter but in the cold snap last weekend I realised it doesn't deliver hot air even at max setting, only lukewarm. This was on a 100+ mile journey, aircon definitely not on! I this is my third e89, I know how the settings work.

I'm going to check it in for attention under warranty next week but wonder if there is any history on this. I suspect an engine coolant temp thermostat failure?

Any news of a fix?

Sadly not. Sytners had the car for a day and said they could find nothing wrong! I sat in the car with the tech and we fiddled with the controls, hot air can be achieved wth the controls at max so I took it away to try it out. They say that's just how it is!

I've subsequently found that it's cool air all the way up with a sudden step change in temp at max setting. Just not right.

I'm going to buy a thermometer and do some measurements and plots to try and convince them that there is an issue here.

 

[ronk]

When the system delivers only warm air, what is the cabin temperature ?

If the system sees that only 2c rise is required it will only bleed cabin temp air plus that extra 2c required?

I did the same excersise in a previous car when I thought I had a problem with the aircon. I plotted inside temp / outside temp/ blown air temp.

 

[dr_john]

Well, not finished yet.

The cool air problem is restricted to the central (chest level) vents. For example, I set the dial to 26 with all vents open, I get hot air on the screen, cool on the chest, not sure about the lower vents, need to check tomorrow (need an assistant!). This would explain why I didn't have a problem last winter as I mainly used the screen setting.

In desperation I did a RTFM. Makes no mention of this, in fact it seems to assume that everyone uses the 'auto' climate setting all year round, which as an ecology conscious engineer I find difficult to come to terms with. Also, there's a strange horizontal thumb wheel below the hazard light/central locking buttons which is poorly documented but seems to be something to do with the central vents.

More experimenting tomorrow.

 

[ronk]

Move that to RED and you will get warm air thro the vents!

 

[dr_john]

Well that seems to do it. Never had to adjust that on previous E89's, I guess it was always set to hot.

I feel pretty stupid now , but not as stupid as the technician at Sytner Nottingham who also didn't know about the existence or function of the thumb wheel. One could say that it is his job to know!

 

[ronk]

Mine is set midway when its cool - but as mine is a summer car and the tempature is always set low. I rarely notice its influence.

I'm sure there is something in the book about it - I'm going to look tomorrow !

 

[Angie4m]

Ahem :roll:

I also assume the wheel is set to a hotter centre vent and not cooler?

However I'm surprised this wasn't the first thing the garage looked at and advised. It used to be that the centre vent was controlled in other BMW models via the iDrive system.

My mums E61 is and I've heard a few men (funnily enough) question the 'hear' from their vents only to be asked if they had adjusted the centre vent.

 

[Angie4m]

Mine is set midway when its cool - but as mine is a summer car and the tempature is always set low. I rarely notice its influence.

I'm sure there is something in the book about it - I'm going to look tomorrow !

There is and if your looking for 'summer running' then it's set 'cooler' and if it's 'winter running' it's set 'hotter'

 

[ronk]

Or in the uk generally set hot all year!