E36 3 Series heating
Discussion
Sorry for not RTFM (its too cold outside), but does anyone know the quickest way to get heat out of the climate control system in the morning?
Do you turn the AC on, whack the heat up etc?
Or is there something I'm missing in so far as that it takes twice as long as the Golf in order to get face burning heat out of the heater?
Do you turn the AC on, whack the heat up etc?
Or is there something I'm missing in so far as that it takes twice as long as the Golf in order to get face burning heat out of the heater?
the only way you gonna get it to get hotter quicker is by driving the crap out of the car cos the heat comes from the engine so when the engine is on running temperature then the heater will be 2 but then you will also shorten the life of your engine cos the engine doesn’t like it when you drive it to hard when it is cold
I have the same controls - digital climate, I just leave it on 25 air con off and wait , face vent set to 3 red dots.
I think the car's heating is crap too, my old manual heating in the compact would blast out, but the digital setup just doesn't have the face blasting ability
I think the car's heating is crap too, my old manual heating in the compact would blast out, but the digital setup just doesn't have the face blasting ability
Edited by dtmpower on Thursday 2nd November 14:45
I have the same problem. My old golf used to blast out hot air really quickly but my e36 seems to take ages. No matter what setting I use there's only ever a little dribble of hot air coming out of the centre vent (even when set to 3 red dots) - I suspect this is by design (drivers getting sleepy and all).
The engine gets hot enough quick enough (it's a sizeable lump after all) but real sauna conditions are simply not possible. I have digital climate control by the way.
The engine gets hot enough quick enough (it's a sizeable lump after all) but real sauna conditions are simply not possible. I have digital climate control by the way.
"the only way you gonna get it to get hotter quicker is by driving the crap out of the car cos the heat comes from the engine so when the engine is on running temperature then the heater will be 2 but then you will also shorten the life of your engine cos the engine doesn’t like it when you drive it to hard when it is cold ".....Genius...Don't think I'll be buying your old saxo!
This sounds like a thermostat issue to me, the m52 2.8 engine is quick to warm up and put heat into the cabin, the climate is a bit more subtle than a normal heater. The needle should rise to the middle of the gauge within 1-2 miles any less and the stat is stuck open, I had this on my 5 series.
neil_cardiff said:
Sorry for not RTFM (its too cold outside), but does anyone know the quickest way to get heat out of the climate control system in the morning?
Do you turn the AC on, whack the heat up etc?
Or is there something I'm missing in so far as that it takes twice as long as the Golf in order to get face burning heat out of the heater?
Do you turn the AC on, whack the heat up etc?
Or is there something I'm missing in so far as that it takes twice as long as the Golf in order to get face burning heat out of the heater?
If you have a CC panel like this:
...then pressing the three buttons ABOVE the "Auto" button will improve the rapidity of warming.
Well, it does on my E39 528i.
9one1 said:
the only way you gonna get it to get hotter quicker is by driving the crap out of the car cos the heat comes from the engine so when the engine is on running temperature then the heater will be 2 but then you will also shorten the life of your engine cos the engine doesn’t like it when you drive it to hard when it is cold
No. Shit. Sherlock.
CommanderJameson said:
neil_cardiff said:
Sorry for not RTFM (its too cold outside), but does anyone know the quickest way to get heat out of the climate control system in the morning?
Do you turn the AC on, whack the heat up etc?
Or is there something I'm missing in so far as that it takes twice as long as the Golf in order to get face burning heat out of the heater?
Do you turn the AC on, whack the heat up etc?
Or is there something I'm missing in so far as that it takes twice as long as the Golf in order to get face burning heat out of the heater?
If you have a CC panel like this:
...then pressing the three buttons ABOVE the "Auto" button will improve the rapidity of warming.
Well, it does on my E39 528i.
Thanks chaps - I'm not so sure about the thermostat - the temp gauge is warm at about the same point on my commute as my Golf, so it must be about right.
However, I will try pressing all three buttons - I didn't know that you could do that - that was the sort of answer I was looking for, a sort of 'lost manual' if you will
Edited to Add: Wish I had the two buttons in you panel either side for the seats
Edited by neil_cardiff on Friday 3rd November 09:04
Neil,
I do think the climate is a bit more subtle without the fierce intense heat you get from a normal heater set up but the car should warm up fast enough just not that "beard incinerating" in the face heat you get on a manual set up. I'd recommend doing a complete coolant system overhaul as it seems to be a weak spot on bm's, I had the plastic thermostat housing develop a hairline crack (very common) on my 528 due to age and engine bay heat... this caused the car to overheat. I ended up changing the stat, housing and pump for about £70. I've come to realise that coolant system faults are one of the main ways to kill an older car , cheap insurance to stay one step ahead of it and not boil your cylinder head as I did (fortunately no long term damage). Unless you adopt the maintenance strategy of 9one1 and drive_it_like_u_stole_it til it pops!
I do think the climate is a bit more subtle without the fierce intense heat you get from a normal heater set up but the car should warm up fast enough just not that "beard incinerating" in the face heat you get on a manual set up. I'd recommend doing a complete coolant system overhaul as it seems to be a weak spot on bm's, I had the plastic thermostat housing develop a hairline crack (very common) on my 528 due to age and engine bay heat... this caused the car to overheat. I ended up changing the stat, housing and pump for about £70. I've come to realise that coolant system faults are one of the main ways to kill an older car , cheap insurance to stay one step ahead of it and not boil your cylinder head as I did (fortunately no long term damage). Unless you adopt the maintenance strategy of 9one1 and drive_it_like_u_stole_it til it pops!
Been fiddling around with this myself in this weather. My tactic is this, Leave the car on Auto at about 25 degs until the engine is warm then press the button to direct air at your face (think its 2 above auto) then turn the fan up a bit and you get a nice blast of warm air like you would with a manual system. I'm blessed with heated seats though while I'm waiting for the engine to come up to temp which helps a bit.
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