Air conditioning problems help please!

jc328 · 03-17-2011, 08:07 PM

Hello everyone! i just got a CPO 328i about a month ago so i'm still new to bimmers although i've always wanted one ever since i was a kid. anyway, here is my problem, my AC takes an unusually long time to cool when i turn the car on in the morning or in the afternoon after work. It blows warm air and takes about 10-15 mins before the air starts to cool. it only does this when the car has been parked for a long time but doesn't happen when you drive multiple trips with all the turning on and off of the engine. i already took it to the dealer twice and they said that there is nothing wrong with my AC but it's really noticeable compared to the loaner car that they gave me. is there something i'm missing? or is it really normal for a bmw to take that long to cool up? can anybody suggest what steps i should take to find out how to resolve my problem? any help would be greatly appreciated!

ENINTY · 03-18-2011, 05:30 AM

If the AC has been checked out and it has the proper level of freon in it and is running at the spec pressure then I think your problem my be how you are operating it. Set the system to auto. Then make sure the dash vent temperature blending wheel is set to the blue side (all the way to the right). If you don't know what the blending wheel is, it is the wheel in the center of the dashboard just below the hazard button and the doors lock button. If it is set on warm, it will blend heated air in with the AC and make the system seem like it is not working.

jc328 · 03-18-2011, 08:08 AM

The blending wheel is always set to the blue/cold side so i don't think that is the issue. is it more advisable to just use the auto feature? because i normally set the aircon manually. i feel like im taking care of the compressor by not letting it run at max during cold start. i don't mind waiting for the cabin to cool its just that there is not even a hint of cold air coming from my vents until it decides to cool 10mins later.

thanks for the response btw.

kcornwell · 02-21-2013, 03:51 PM

Did this ever get resolved? If so how?

Thanks,
KC

nate5ks · 02-21-2013, 04:37 PM

If the hi and lo side pressure, condenser fan, blower motor, and environmental controls all check good and there are no binds in the lines or other components it could be that the freon is contaminated with air and moisture and is not cooling as efficiently as it should. Maybe getting it flushed and replacing the receiver/drier would help.

kcornwell · 02-22-2013, 04:52 PM

The air conditioner works perfectly after the engine has warmed up (when the engine radiator coolant temp is 70C or greater) . After the engine is hot, no problems with a/c.

Weird.

Btw, im a HVAC/R guy and understand the refrigeration cycle.

What I need is a complete control circuit diagram and order of operations technical manual.

pedrobmw · 07-16-2013, 09:24 AM

This seems to be the same issue posted on this thread:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853788

Any solutions yet?

F32Fleet · 07-16-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcornwell

The air conditioner works perfectly after the engine has warmed up (when the engine radiator coolant temp is 70C or greater) . After the engine is hot, no problems with a/c.

Weird.

Btw, im a HVAC/R guy and understand the refrigeration cycle.

What I need is a complete control circuit diagram and order of operations technical manual.

How well does it cool while running under MAX? Does the compressor engage?

03-17-2011, 08:07 PM	#1
jc328 New Member 1 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	Air conditioning problems help please! Hello everyone! i just got a CPO 328i about a month ago so i'm still new to bimmers although i've always wanted one ever since i was a kid. anyway, here is my problem, my AC takes an unusually long time to cool when i turn the car on in the morning or in the afternoon after work. It blows warm air and takes about 10-15 mins before the air starts to cool. it only does this when the car has been parked for a long time but doesn't happen when you drive multiple trips with all the turning on and off of the engine. i already took it to the dealer twice and they said that there is nothing wrong with my AC but it's really noticeable compared to the loaner car that they gave me. is there something i'm missing? or is it really normal for a bmw to take that long to cool up? can anybody suggest what steps i should take to find out how to resolve my problem? any help would be greatly appreciated!
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03-18-2011, 05:30 AM	#2
ENINTY Banned 173 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	If the AC has been checked out and it has the proper level of freon in it and is running at the spec pressure then I think your problem my be how you are operating it. Set the system to auto. Then make sure the dash vent temperature blending wheel is set to the blue side (all the way to the right). If you don't know what the blending wheel is, it is the wheel in the center of the dashboard just below the hazard button and the doors lock button. If it is set on warm, it will blend heated air in with the AC and make the system seem like it is not working.
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03-18-2011, 08:08 AM	#3
jc328 New Member 1 Rep 24 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	The blending wheel is always set to the blue/cold side so i don't think that is the issue. is it more advisable to just use the auto feature? because i normally set the aircon manually. i feel like im taking care of the compressor by not letting it run at max during cold start. i don't mind waiting for the cabin to cool its just that there is not even a hint of cold air coming from my vents until it decides to cool 10mins later. thanks for the response btw.
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02-21-2013, 03:51 PM	#4
kcornwell New Member 2 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Destin FL iTrader: (0)	Did this ever get resolved? If so how? Thanks, KC
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02-21-2013, 04:37 PM	#5
nate5ks Captain 33 Rep 648 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330xi Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL iTrader: (0)	If the hi and lo side pressure, condenser fan, blower motor, and environmental controls all check good and there are no binds in the lines or other components it could be that the freon is contaminated with air and moisture and is not cooling as efficiently as it should. Maybe getting it flushed and replacing the receiver/drier would help.
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02-22-2013, 04:52 PM	#6
kcornwell New Member 2 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 330i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Destin FL iTrader: (0)	The air conditioner works perfectly after the engine has warmed up (when the engine radiator coolant temp is 70C or greater) . After the engine is hot, no problems with a/c. Weird. Btw, im a HVAC/R guy and understand the refrigeration cycle. What I need is a complete control circuit diagram and order of operations technical manual.
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07-16-2013, 09:24 AM	#7
pedrobmw New Member 5 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 328xi Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Western MA iTrader: (0)	This seems to be the same issue posted on this thread: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=853788 Any solutions yet?
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