[bcl0328]

About a week ago I noticed that when I put the air on auto and have the temperature on anywhere from 72-82 it will be slightly warm. This is when the temp is about 30 outside. If I put it on 72 it will actually feel like cold air is blowing out or the heat isn't working at that setting. Once I turn it to 84 which is max then it gets really HOT. So anything below 84 is only slightly warm. I can't remember if it's always been this way or not. I want to take it to my dealer if there is an issue, but I'm not sure if this is right.

It might be doing its job by keeping the cabin at whatever temp I set it at, but the top vents definitely blow colder air. I thought it should get warmer and warmer as I turn it up. It seems it does, just barely. And like I said 84 is max and that is very hot.

[jmaak]

Check the position of the red blue roller wheel under the two front vents. That will alter the temp of the air.

[ft1330]

Originally Posted by jmaak

Check the position of the red blue roller wheel under the two front vents. That will alter the temp of the air.

Isn't it weird that they would provide an additional control on top of the digital temps? Seems to defeat the purpose to me. So should we keep it centered in the middle between the blue and the red for a neutral "non altered" temperature?

[bcl0328]

Originally Posted by jmaak

Check the position of the red blue roller wheel under the two front vents. That will alter the temp of the air.

Well, I am going to sit in a corner and reevaluate my life. I cannot believe I missed this. It was all the way on the blue side. Thank you.

Originally Posted by ft1330

Isn't it weird that they would provide an additional control on top of the digital temps? Seems to defeat the purpose to me. So should we keep it centered in the middle between the blue and the red for a neutral "non altered" temperature?

Yes, it's dumb. From what I could tell, my feet were getting all the warm air while the top was colder air. I don't see the point.

[jmaak]

Originally Posted by ft1330

Isn't it weird that they would provide an additional control on top of the digital temps? Seems to defeat the purpose to me. So should we keep it centered in the middle between the blue and the red for a neutral "non altered" temperature?

Honestly I'm not sure. I leave it there and it works for me.

I agree its totally redundant, and makes no sense.

[S4NoMore]

Originally Posted by bcl0328

Yes, it's dumb. From what I could tell, my feet were getting all the warm air while the top was colder air. I don't see the point.

On a long drive or a situation where you start to feel overheated, you might want to be immediately refreshed with some cool air to the face/upper body. If there was no slider there, you'd have to adjust the thermostat and change the temperature of the whole cabin. The point is to avoid this and maintain the normal overall temperature while freshening up the feeling... or something like that.

I have found it useful on long drives. If I start to get too warm I can nudge the vent adjustment, and it works great without having to change both zone temps from my preferred 68F (in winter) temperature. I like leaving the automatic alone while still having the ability to quickly adjust what I feel coming at me from the vents.

[skw]

Back when I had my e39, the explanation had something to do w/ the temperature of the air blowing on your face. So when the system is blowing full blast hot or cold air out of the other vents, you can moderate what was actually blowing in your face.

[cinetic]

I *love* that temperature dial for the driver vent! And have no qualms with the F30 HVAC. I think the auto recirc does a phenomenal job, especially compared to my E90. I almost never smell diesel exhaust.

[tturedraider]

Every car I have ever owned has delivered cooler air to the dash vents when the air is split between those vents and the floor vents. The red/blue wheel allows some personalized refinement of the air delivered from that particular set of vents.