[blingman]

Feels like my car is working so hard and barely blowing cool air. Put my hand in front of the vent and I'm going to guess 70 degrees. I read that it should be 40-50? It should be cold enough where I would want to remove my hand but its not. Do you suggest I do a drain and refill? Or is our car destined to this sucky AC lol. The temp here in Texas are now reaching 100 degree days so I want to do whatever I can to get it ice cold.

[mightbaal]

Might just need to be recharged. If so it wouldn't cost all that much. I even believe you can fill it up with compressed bottles they sell at Wal-Mart. Something like this may work....
http://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-Pro-Pro...erant/20461354
I think it is R134a that these cars use. Might want to look up how to do it as I have never done it before. I think you can even hook the bottle up to check the pressure to see if it is low.

[blingman]

Thanks! I was going to get one of those but for AC I rather have a pro do it since they have the high/low gauge to do it correctly. They will empty the unit completed then refill back.

I wasn't sure if our cars were capable of blowing 40-50 degree air. This is my 3rd bmw and they all suck(compared to honda/acura/lexus that I've owned). If your car does it, then I will have it done.

[avocet]

I have an 07 328i since 2009, and the AC blows pretty cold... but I am here is Vancouver BC... nothing like Texas!!! but my 1994 Buick beater blows waaaay cooler air. But then again I just had the ac serviced.

I do think if you are used to the ac systems in American cars you will be a little let down with ac systems in imports. Maybe not so much anymore with cars like Camry's(the buick of today!) but in general there seems to be less priority given to things like ac capacity.

[Squark]

How cold it blows depends on the situation. If you've been parked in the sun all day with the windows up and it's 100 degrees, it will take a while to cool off. I usually park in the shade, and even if it's 100 degrees the air will blow pretty cold. My wife's C-class blows significantly colder, though. Even if it's been baking in the sun all day it'll freeze you in a couple of minutes.

I had the dealer evacuate and recharge my system a couple of years ago, and it was a little low. It wasn't that expensive and seemed to help. I prefer that over adding refrigerant myself since a shop can measure precisely the right amount to put in.

[BMSE92_Harry]

Make sure the switch under the center vent is placed on BLUE side instead of RED side, sometimes it gets moved to RED from cleaning the car. Make sure the "snow flake" symbol is on as the button turns on the compressor. And button for air is not on "A" but on recirculation. If the air is still blowing "NOT COOL", then you should take it in..
Most common problem on E9X platform is the evaporater going bad, when your car is turned on, the first couple seconds you turn on the AC, if you hear a hissing noise, your evaporter is leaking.

[ThatRWD]

Had the exact same feeling today, 90F w/ 93% humidity. Going to advanced auto to rent one of those high/low gauges.