[rtgirard]

My wife's 328xi doesn't seem to want to blow hot air in the cabin. Someone suggested to check all the temp settings in iDrive, but there's no iDrive on this car.

After a "spirited" drive of 30 or so miles last night, it still didn't want to blow hot air. That's with both temp knobs turned up to 84 degrees and the dial on the dash turned to red.

I don't think the thermostat is stuck... we've not had any issues with overheating.

I get a bit of warm air out of the passenger side vents both top and in the footwell, but only cool air out of the driver's side. I'm guessing a blend door is stuck or maybe a stepper motor is shot?

Anyone have any ideas before I take a 120mi drive back to the dealer?

[ceb]

Originally Posted by rtgirard

My wife's 328xi doesn't seem to want to blow hot air in the cabin. Someone suggested to check all the temp settings in iDrive, but there's no iDrive on this car.

After a "spirited" drive of 30 or so miles last night, it still didn't want to blow hot air. That's with both temp knobs turned up to 84 degrees and the dial on the dash turned to red.

I don't think the thermostat is stuck... we've not had any issues with overheating.

I get a bit of warm air out of the passenger side vents both top and in the footwell, but only cool air out of the driver's side. I'm guessing a blend door is stuck or maybe a stepper motor is shot?

Anyone have any ideas before I take a 120mi drive back to the dealer?

Move to Florida?

I think you'll need a trip to the dealer. Anything you try yourself may leave you with warranty problems.

[rtgirard]

Originally Posted by ceb

Move to Florida?

Anything but that!

I think you're right about the warranty part, for sure.

[Admir328xiCT]

Originally Posted by rtgirard

Anything but that!

I think you're right about the warranty part, for sure.

It's a 2010 take it in get a loaner and enjoy your day...

[rollinstone157]

Originally Posted by rtgirard

My wife's 328xi doesn't seem to want to blow hot air in the cabin. Someone suggested to check all the temp settings in iDrive, but there's no iDrive on this car.

After a "spirited" drive of 30 or so miles last night, it still didn't want to blow hot air. That's with both temp knobs turned up to 84 degrees and the dial on the dash turned to red.

I don't think the thermostat is stuck... we've not had any issues with overheating.

I get a bit of warm air out of the passenger side vents both top and in the footwell, but only cool air out of the driver's side. I'm guessing a blend door is stuck or maybe a stepper motor is shot?

Anyone have any ideas before I take a 120mi drive back to the dealer?

I thought I had the same problem too, but let's run through some solutions.
1. there's a knob on both the rear of the center console, and on the center of the dash. It's a wheel with a line on it. Turn that all the way to red. That will direct slightly warmer air to come out of the main vents.

2. Make sure the AC is turned off (green frost icon). I know it sound obvious...but I've driven cars where if it's in the auto mode and you turn the AC off, the car reverts to just an air circulation program...

3. Turn off auto climate control, jack up the temperatures, and direct all the hot air to blow out right at your face.

4. Try the defroster and feel for hot air being pushed towards the windshield.

See if any of that works. if none of them work, then a trip to the dealer wouldn't be a bad idea.

[rtgirard]

Originally Posted by rollinstone157

I thought I had the same problem too, but let's run through some solutions.
1. there's a knob on both the rear of the center console, and on the center of the dash. It's a wheel with a line on it. Turn that all the way to red. That will direct slightly warmer air to come out of the main vents.

2. Make sure the AC is turned off (green frost icon). I know it sound obvious...but I've driven cars where if it's in the auto mode and you turn the AC off, the car reverts to just an air circulation program...

3. Turn off auto climate control, jack up the temperatures, and direct all the hot air to blow out right at your face.

4. Try the defroster and feel for hot air being pushed towards the windshield.

See if any of that works. if none of them work, then a trip to the dealer wouldn't be a bad idea.

Yep... did all this. Same result. Heading to dealer next week when schedule permits.

Thanks for the replies!

[Brian_TII]

Probably the air mix motor or something like that. Not a huge deal and should be under warranty

[rtgirard]

Update: Heater core is clogged... dealer is replacing now. I'm glad this is a lease as I don't know what the implications are for the entire cooling system if crud is getting trapped in the core.

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by rtgirard

Update: Heater core is clogged... dealer is replacing now. I'm glad this is a lease as I don't know what the implications are for the entire cooling system if crud is getting trapped in the core.

I suspect this is not a common issue. Did the dealer indicate any possible cause?

Tom

[rtgirard]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I suspect this is not a common issue. Did the dealer indicate any possible cause?

Tom

Not yet... awaiting full postmortem. The new core won't be in until Monday, so they won't pull it apart until then. I have no idea if this is a common issue or not, but, like you, I suspect this is a rare problem. They did not indicate how they came to this conclusion (and I haven't asked yet).

[335i101]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I suspect this is not a common issue. Did the dealer indicate any possible cause?

Tom

Common enough for me to also have this problem. Dealer said 7hrs of labor or something like that...so passengers get no heat, my feet are 200 degrees, and my heat is poor.....

[335i101]

Any news?? Is it fixed??

[stevepoz]

Originally Posted by 335i101

Common enough for me to also have this problem. Dealer said 7hrs of labor or something like that...so passengers get no heat, my feet are 200 degrees, and my heat is poor.....

If you don't mind my asking, what was the cost?

[GMWNashville]

Originally Posted by 335i101

Common enough for me to also have this problem. Dealer said 7hrs of labor or something like that...so passengers get no heat, my feet are 200 degrees, and my heat is poor.....

thats likely NOT a heatercore..a clogged/defective heatercore would cause little to no heat...not heat on your feet and not on top..possibly side to side though due to a split heatercore but i forget if e9x have that or not without one in front of me. The most common issue ive had in e9x with a lack of heat is actually a radiator issue which causes coolant to move too slow through it thus it cools down too much=lack of heat.

[335i101]

Originally Posted by stevepoz

If you don't mind my asking, what was the cost?

1500 or so....don't really remember it was last year.

[rtgirard]

Update: mine is fixed. The replacement heater core did the trick. Obviously covered under warranty, so $0 out of pocket. I will say I'm pleased that there are no squeaks or rattles after they put the dash back in. Everything works as expected now.

[335i101]

Originally Posted by volkswackin

thats likely NOT a heatercore..a clogged/defective heatercore would cause little to no heat...not heat on your feet and not on top..possibly side to side though due to a split heatercore but i forget if e9x have that or not without one in front of me. The most common issue ive had in e9x with a lack of heat is actually a radiator issue which causes coolant to move too slow through it thus it cools down too much=lack of heat.

I have no heat on passenger side....extreme heat at my feet (heater core location). I think a clogged core makes sense but I am not an expert...

(remember there is dual climate control)

[rtgirard]

Originally Posted by 335i101

I think a clogged core

I vote for the core... The parts aren't too bad ordering from Tischer, but labor has got to be a killer on this one. I'm very happy that mine acted up under warranty.

[GMWNashville]

Originally Posted by 335i101

I have no heat on passenger side....extreme heat at my feet (heater core location). I think a clogged core makes sense but I am not an expert...

(remember there is dual climate control)

it would make sense as long as you also have decent heat on every other setting on the drivers side...

[335i101]

Originally Posted by volkswackin

it would make sense as long as you also have decent heat on every other setting on the drivers side...

Ya I do....OP is yur new core still working well for u?!

[rtgirard]

Originally Posted by 335i101

Ya I do....OP is yur new core still working well for u?!

No issues since replacement of the core... all is well.