AC Stays in Econ Mode

DesertDoug · 08-26-2015, 06:05 PM

Regardless of driving modes Comfort/Sport, the AC acts as if it is in Econ Mode all the time. When is stop & go traffic, sitting at lights the AC reduces output and eventually only warm air recirculates. Once I get car up to a reasonable speed AC returns to normal operation. I even unchecked AC on Drive setting for Econ and has no effect i.e. either modes. That option is not available for Comfort/Sport. Any suggestions?

nike001 · 08-26-2015, 06:09 PM

When the car is off it's not running the A/C. When the car senses that the A/C ran out is when the car starts again.

If you don't like it you can shut the Auto Start/Stop function off above the engine Start/Stop button. Otherwise, that's just how it is.

DesertDoug · 08-26-2015, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nike001

When the car is off it's not running the A/C. When the car senses that the A/C ran out is when the car starts again.

If you don't like it you can shut the Auto Start/Stop function off above the engine Start/Stop button. Otherwise, that's just how it is.

I never have auto start/stop turned on. Of course the AC doesn't run

sstarrx3 · 08-27-2015, 07:27 AM

Don't run the AC in AUTO. Set the temperature and fan speed and it will blow its tail off regardless of the interior temperature.

Cyberdemon · 08-27-2015, 08:02 AM

Looking into this further and based on your SoCal location (which I see has a high of 110f today) this may have less to do with the "mode" the AC is and the simple reality that you live in a rather extreme climate and the AC compressor runs off the coolant system which is working much harder at idle to keep the engine cool, and is prone to heat soak since there is no moving air.

That combined with extreme high temps (the temperature on the asphalt can be 20 degrees above ambient, which means your car is literally baking on a 130 degree piece of rock) means that you are noticing what is probably a normal occurrence, just at the extremes of the design.

Based on what you've described, this doesn't sound like anything out of normal, it's just the AC can't keep up when the compressor isn't running at full power.

jtzako · 08-27-2015, 11:07 AM

Mine stays on and works fine when stopped, so long as the stop/start isnt enabled. My only complaint about the AC is that it doesnt also adjust fan speed when the temp difference is high (just starting a hot car etc).

Zooks527 · 08-27-2015, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtzako

My only complaint about the AC is that it doesnt also adjust fan speed when the temp difference is high (just starting a hot car etc).

Really? Mine does, but it waits a bit until the system is actually delivering cold air before ramping up the fan. FWIW, mine is set in Auto mode with the maximum allowed fan speed setting all the way to the top.

jtzako · 08-27-2015, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooks527

Really? Mine does, but it waits a bit until the system is actually delivering cold air before ramping up the fan. FWIW, mine is set in Auto mode with the maximum allowed fan speed setting all the way to the top.

In mine at least it does this:

If my fan speed is set to 3 the max fan speed will be 3 and the minimum is around 1 or 2.

If my fan speed is set to 5 (max I think) it will go up that high, but the minimum is higher, like 2 or 3.

In either case, the displayed fan speed is never changed even though it feels like it is blowing different speeds.

It doesnt seem to fully go from 1 to 5 regardless of the temperature setting or fan speed setting. The problem with this is that once the right temperature is reached, it is still blowing cold air constantly rather than only as needed to maintain temperature.

Zooks527 · 08-27-2015, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtzako

In mine at least it does this:
In either case, the displayed fan speed is never changed even though it feels like it is blowing different speeds.

The display won't change. It's showing you how far it is allowed to go on Auto.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtzako

It doesnt seem to fully go from 1 to 5 regardless of the temperature setting or fan speed setting. The problem with this is that once the right temperature is reached, it is still blowing cold air constantly rather than only as needed to maintain temperature.

Huh. Mine continues with a light flow of "just right" air after the car comes down to temperature, unless it's really sunny and I'm not moving much. How does setting the dash discharge control (the red/blue wheel in the center) effect you?

jtzako · 08-27-2015, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zooks527

The display won't change. It's showing you how far it is allowed to go on Auto.

Huh. Mine continues with a light flow of "just right" air after the car comes down to temperature, unless it's really sunny and I'm not moving much. How does setting the dash discharge control (the red/blue wheel in the center) effect you?

I've never actually used the wheel, I keep it centered all the time.

Zooks527 · 08-27-2015, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtzako

I've never actually used the wheel, I keep it centered all the time.

Roll it to red and the dash level air is warmed somewhat, roll it to blue and it's cooled a bit, while the bulk air going high/low is unaffected. It lets you fine tune what's hitting you in the face and hands.

sstarrx3 · 08-27-2015, 02:43 PM

I leave mine on auto all the time. When first getting into the car on hot days I hit the max AC button as soon as I start it. This cools the car down in a very quick amount of time. It amazes me how fast it cools the car down. Its quicker than any car I have ever owned. Yes, this car has the smallest cabin of any car I have ever owned...minus the MGB. Still, it blows pretty cold air within a matter of seconds. It does not take long before I have to hit the Max AC button again to cut it off and back to auto to ward off frost bite! A little stretch there...but it is a good system.

08-26-2015, 06:05 PM	#1
DesertDoug New Member 9 Rep 21 Posts Drives: M235i ordere Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: La Quinta, CA iTrader: (0)	AC Stays in Econ Mode Regardless of driving modes Comfort/Sport, the AC acts as if it is in Econ Mode all the time. When is stop & go traffic, sitting at lights the AC reduces output and eventually only warm air recirculates. Once I get car up to a reasonable speed AC returns to normal operation. I even unchecked AC on Drive setting for Econ and has no effect i.e. either modes. That option is not available for Comfort/Sport. Any suggestions?
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08-26-2015, 06:09 PM	#2
nike001 Captain 312 Rep 818 Posts Drives: 2018 718 Cayman Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: US iTrader: (2)	When the car is off it's not running the A/C. When the car senses that the A/C ran out is when the car starts again. If you don't like it you can shut the Auto Start/Stop function off above the engine Start/Stop button. Otherwise, that's just how it is.
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08-27-2015, 07:27 AM	#4
sstarrx3 Captain 106 Rep 855 Posts Drives: 2014 228i Mineral White/Terra Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Concord, NC iTrader: (0)	Don't run the AC in AUTO. Set the temperature and fan speed and it will blow its tail off regardless of the interior temperature.
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08-27-2015, 08:02 AM	#5
Cyberdemon Brigadier General 1538 Rep 3,331 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (3)	Looking into this further and based on your SoCal location (which I see has a high of 110f today) this may have less to do with the "mode" the AC is and the simple reality that you live in a rather extreme climate and the AC compressor runs off the coolant system which is working much harder at idle to keep the engine cool, and is prone to heat soak since there is no moving air. That combined with extreme high temps (the temperature on the asphalt can be 20 degrees above ambient, which means your car is literally baking on a 130 degree piece of rock) means that you are noticing what is probably a normal occurrence, just at the extremes of the design. Based on what you've described, this doesn't sound like anything out of normal, it's just the AC can't keep up when the compressor isn't running at full power. __________________ Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette Last edited by Cyberdemon; 08-27-2015 at 11:38 AM..
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08-27-2015, 11:07 AM	#6
jtzako Private First Class 7 Rep 115 Posts Drives: 228i M-Sport Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	Mine stays on and works fine when stopped, so long as the stop/start isnt enabled. My only complaint about the AC is that it doesnt also adjust fan speed when the temp difference is high (just starting a hot car etc).
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08-27-2015, 02:43 PM	#12
sstarrx3 Captain 106 Rep 855 Posts Drives: 2014 228i Mineral White/Terra Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Concord, NC iTrader: (0)	I leave mine on auto all the time. When first getting into the car on hot days I hit the max AC button as soon as I start it. This cools the car down in a very quick amount of time. It amazes me how fast it cools the car down. Its quicker than any car I have ever owned. Yes, this car has the smallest cabin of any car I have ever owned...minus the MGB. Still, it blows pretty cold air within a matter of seconds. It does not take long before I have to hit the Max AC button again to cut it off and back to auto to ward off frost bite! A little stretch there...but it is a good system.
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