[username604]

What is the knob next to the AC vents for? There is a red and a blue side. I also see it on the rear vents. What's it for?

[campbelly]

actually? thats kinda like asking what does the red and blue mean on a faucet...heres a test, go to a sink, make sure you put it all the way to the "red" part, wait about 30 seconds until you see this weird haze like vapor rising from the sink..then hold your hands under it..you have now discovered what the red means all by yourself

[Kid Eh]

Originally Posted by campbelly

actually? thats kinda like asking what does the red and blue mean on a faucet...heres a test, go to a sink, make sure you put it all the way to the "red" part, wait about 30 seconds until you see this weird haze like vapor rising from the sink..then hold your hands under it..you have now discovered what the red means all by yourself

Actually he poses a very good question. Not sure exactly what those things do. I read a post one time about it but still didn't understand it.

[Marcumac]

I've always assumed that it made some sort of difference when switching between heat and A/C, whatever it does, I slide it over for both.

[sneaks]

it controls the temperature of the air coming out of the vents.
if your climate control is set to 68 and it is hot outside, it will take longer to get down to that temperature if the knob isn't all the way left to the blue. but blowing that super cold air on your hands isn't super comfortable. so you rotate it a little toward the red and you don't get frostbite. (maybe this is a confusing example)

[scrufy]

Originally Posted by campbelly

actually? thats kinda like asking what does the red and blue mean on a faucet...heres a test, go to a sink, make sure you put it all the way to the "red" part, wait about 30 seconds until you see this weird haze like vapor rising from the sink..then hold your hands under it..you have now discovered what the red means all by yourself

So basically, you dont have a clue... Nice

[username604]

@campbelly: thanks for the rude reply
@sneaks: thanks but i'm still a little confuzed. Is it like the climate control on the idrive? so it changes how soft or intense the air conditiong is?

[EDM92]

If you want heat you turn it to the red side, and if you want cold you turn it to the blue side. Isn't it self explanatory?

[username604]

NOT the AC controls. i'm not stupid. I'm talking about the one located near the DSC. Why is it there if there are already AC controls

[Tag]

It's to adjust to have more or less cool/warm air for your upper body so you're not overheating and sweating or cooling too much and getting brain freeze. It's to fine tune your climate system to your preference.

You can always just leave it in the middle.

[username604]

Here's a pic. I'm talking about the horizontal switch/knob.

[username604]

ok, got it, thanks guys

[m@rco]

It is actually a feature that is used a lot by people who live in colder climates. It allows you to have a warm interior of the car while getting some "fresh" outside air in your face. My experience is that it works great for long distance high way driving (BMW is designed for the autobahn, remember). However, there are other people that prefer a warm car all around them and they keep the button to the right. I can imagine that in warmer climates (Houston?) the button is pretty much always set to cold.

[username604]

Originally Posted by m@rco

BMW is designed for the autobahn, remember)

I'm so jealous of people who live near there and get to drive that daily

[py335]

Originally Posted by davidkneiber

I'm so jealous of people who live near there and get to drive that daily

that makes two of us=(

[Bakeme521]

Originally Posted by campbelly

actually? thats kinda like asking what does the red and blue mean on a faucet...heres a test, go to a sink, make sure you put it all the way to the "red" part, wait about 30 seconds until you see this weird haze like vapor rising from the sink..then hold your hands under it..you have now discovered what the red means all by yourself

fail, no one needs this kind of response

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by m@rco

It is actually a feature that is used a lot by people who live in colder climates. It allows you to have a warm interior of the car while getting some "fresh" outside air in your face. My experience is that it works great for long distance high way driving (BMW is designed for the autobahn, remember). However, there are other people that prefer a warm car all around them and they keep the button to the right. I can imagine that in warmer climates (Houston?) the button is pretty much always set to cold.

In my E46, the blue position would bring in ambient air when heat was being sent to the other vents - useful in the winter.

The manual rather vaguely describes it under "Ventilation".

Tom

[imajnazn23]

Actually no one has got it right so far.. why would there be a separate climate control wheel when you already have settings for that. I don't know where people come up with the things I've read.

That temp wheel is to adjust air circulating inside the center console for the cup holder. If you want your drink to stay cold then leave it on blue. If you have a cup of coffee then you would ideally set it to red to keep it warm.

[J02 335i]

Originally Posted by m@rco

It is actually a feature that is used a lot by people who live in colder climates. It allows you to have a warm interior of the car while getting some "fresh" outside air in your face. My experience is that it works great for long distance high way driving (BMW is designed for the autobahn, remember). However, there are other people that prefer a warm car all around them and they keep the button to the right. I can imagine that in warmer climates (Houston?) the button is pretty much always set to cold.

I think you are talking about the recirculation button, nothing to do with the temp slider. That is the button you use for "fresh air" or "recycled" air, thats the button that BMW thought was important enough to make a steering wheel controlled version of in the E9X

[username604]

Originally Posted by imajnazn23

That temp wheel is to adjust air circulating inside the center console for the cup holder. If you want your drink to stay cold then leave it on blue. If you have a cup of coffee then you would ideally set it to red to keep it warm.

then why is there one on the front dash, and why is there another on the back of the arm rest (the rear passenger's AC vents)

[J02 335i]

Originally Posted by imajnazn23

Actually no one has got it right so far.. why would there be a separate climate control wheel when you already have settings for that. I don't know where people come up with the things I've read.

That temp wheel is to adjust air circulating inside the center console for the cup holder. If you want your drink to stay cold then leave it on blue. If you have a cup of coffee then you would ideally set it to red to keep it warm.

You are referring to the rear seat temp control knob, that is the one that controls the temp of the consule cup holder temp.

[Cygnusx1]

Originally Posted by imajnazn23

Actually no one has got it right so far.. why would there be a separate climate control wheel when you already have settings for that. I don't know where people come up with the things I've read.

That temp wheel is to adjust air circulating inside the center console for the cup holder. If you want your drink to stay cold then leave it on blue. If you have a cup of coffee then you would ideally set it to red to keep it warm.

+1


^That is what I read in the manual of my 06 330xi. There is also a switch in the center console to shut off airflow to the cup holder entirely.