Center dash vent blows cold, only seeps hot

[bunner bob]

When we first bought our 2001 325i (certified pre-owned), rolling the center dash temp control to cold made the vent cold, and rolling it to hot made the vent hot. In both cases the air blew depending on the fan speed.

At some point we had the car in and they "fixed" it. Now when the dial is rolled to hot, warm air only seeps out. It doesn't blow.

According to the dealer, this is a "safety feature" - so warm air won't blow in the driver's face and make them sleepy, apparently. And apparently the original setting was "broken".

Is this b.s or true? Is this vent supposed to blow warm air when dialed to warm (assuming the fan is on)?

- Bob

 

[snowsedan04]

That's BS. Sounds like something is blocking the vent. Is the stream of air the same when you dial it to cold?

 

[bunner bob]

There's plenty of air when set to cold.

We've asked them about it numerous times and every time they say this is the way it's supposed to be - blows air when cold, doesn't blow when warm.

 

[snowsedan04]

I'm not familiar with the top vent plumbing, but your car originally blew hot and cold at the same speed which is the way BMW designed it, so I have to think it's just a blockage and probably caused by the knuckeheads at the dealership. If there was some kind of bizarre safety issue at hand BMW would not selectively make that kind of a change.

Good luck

 

[selavia]

I call BS. Also, this may be a stupid comment but, is the heat directed to the vents when you only feel warm air? I know when I put my heat on and put it only on floor, that vent only seeps; it only blows when I have it on vents.

 

[bunner bob]

Here's the facts from my wife, who drives the 325...

It used to be that when the heat was on "Auto", warm air blew out the center vents (when they were dialed to warm). The individual vent controls were all off - the system was on auto.

One day she was driving along and there was a clacky breaking sort of sound from inside the dash, and the vent stopped blowing warm air. When on auto. It does blow warm air when the center vent button is on/lit. It also blows cold on auto (when dialed to cold).

The dealer told her that sound was it "un-breaking" - that it's not supposed to blow warm air on auto.

So, does your center vent blow warm when the heat is on Auto?

 

[selavia]

No, no, no. Dealer is FOS. (full of ...)

When the heat control system is an auto, all the vents get some air. My e36 still has the old knobs, but my parents 528i has the same sort of thing yours has and when it's on auto some air comes out of the center vents. Actually every car I have ever sat in with electronic climate control (with auto) lets air come out of that vent. Granted the pressue of air that comes out when it is on auto is LESS than what comes out when it's on vents, but it should still come out.