Results 1 to 22 of 22

Thread: Help Rear vents blowing cold while heats on?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Johnstown,CO
    Posts
    114
    My Cars
    2000 328ci,1997 528i,1987 325e

    Help Rear vents blowing cold while heats on?

    Like the title states my rear vents are blowing cold air when I have my heater on up fron how do I get the rear to blow hot? Its freezing my kids out. Anyone.....

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Los Angeles, San Francisco
    Posts
    2,826
    My Cars
    2000 528i (01/2000 mfg. date)
    First things first, is the dial on your rear vent set to hot or cold?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Johnstown,CO
    Posts
    114
    My Cars
    2000 328ci,1997 528i,1987 325e
    the dial in front is set on heat but there isnt a dial in back? Just an open close dial?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    CA
    Posts
    6,477
    My Cars
    E34 M5
    Not sure how it's set on the E39, but on the E34's, the rear vents are merely a fresh air vent. No heat, no A/C, just fresh air.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Posts
    11,860
    My Cars
    4 BMWs.
    Quote Originally Posted by PorscheH6 View Post
    Not sure how it's set on the E39, but on the E34's, the rear vents are merely a fresh air vent. No heat, no A/C, just fresh air.
    +1 it's like that on 97 and 98 e39's I believe 99's are the first one to have a temp regulator in the rear.
    2001 Z3 3.0i -Oxford Green/Sandbeige
    2016 428xi -Estoril Blue II/Black
    2018 430iC- Estoril Blue II/Black
    2018 330it - Melbourne Red/Venetian Beige/Black

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Rochester Hills, MI - Montenegro!
    Posts
    954
    My Cars
    BMW 528iA
    Quote Originally Posted by PorscheH6 View Post
    Not sure how it's set on the E39, but on the E34's, the rear vents are merely a fresh air vent. No heat, no A/C, just fresh air.


    True. Fresh air + AC when I turn on AC.

    BMW 528i Automatic - Premium and Winter Package - Avital Remote Starter - XM Satellite Radio - e60 wheels - LPG

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    618
    My Cars
    99 BMW 528iT
    my front vents blow cold when the heat is on. heat only comes from the floor. i havent even checked the rear. any solutions?

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    (northeast) Indiana
    Posts
    19,321
    My Cars
    15 650ix GC & 14 X5 50i
    If your model DOES NOT have a temp control dial on the right side of the rear center vent...and if you don't want COLD air blowing on the rear passenger...the solution is to TURN THE VENT OFF by using the dial on the left.

    The dial on the left closes the air flow off which comes out of that vent. Like it has been mentioned...that vent is for the rear passengers...it gives them the ability to control the air temp environment for them without asking the driver to adjust the heat. They mainly receive their heated/warmed air thru the floor vents that are located below the front seats (if your car does NOT have the temp dial as seen in the image below).

    BMWs have had this stratified air distribution system for decades...and this question comes up EVERY year. BMW started putting in a temperature control dial in some models (I believe the e39 540i/iT models do) that gives the rear passengers an oppportunity to temper the air from that center vent. But if you don't have a temp dial...then close the vent.

    If your rear vent looks like the one below (from my 99 540iT)...then the rear passengers can choose warmer or cooler air (just like the front center dash). If your E39 does NOT have the dial on the right...then move the dial on the left to the 0 position which will close the vent. Use the FLOOR air distribution button on the HVAC control panel to help warm up the rear seat passengers.



    Below is the air distribution diagram for the cars that DON'T have the temp dial on the vent at the rear of the center console. In these models, only fresh air or cooled air from the AC blow thru that vent. In the WINTER...be prepared to close this vent if you have rear passengers. If they get too hot from sitting on the side of the car that the sun is shining on, or if they get too hot from winter clothing etc...then they can open the vent to allow cooler fresh air in without having to bother the driver to turn down the heat:

    Last edited by Qsilver7; 11-08-2008 at 11:33 AM.
    Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.

    2015 650ix GC (Moonstone/Cohiba Brown) <<~>> 2014 X5 50i (Space Gray/Mocha)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Johnstown,CO
    Posts
    114
    My Cars
    2000 328ci,1997 528i,1987 325e
    thanks guys

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Westerville Ohio
    Posts
    119
    My Cars
    97 528i, 93 525i, 00 Kawasaki ZX9R
    Quote Originally Posted by macbookproaudio View Post
    my front vents blow cold when the heat is on. heat only comes from the floor. i havent even checked the rear. any solutions?
    Turn the knob on the dash between the vents towards the red dots. If you turn it towards the red dots, it warms the air, if you turn it towards the blue dots, it comes out cooler.
    Birds love my car.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    burnaby, bc, canada
    Posts
    812
    My Cars
    bmw 528i,
    I have the same set up on my 98 528i as shown by Qsilver, and I thought all e39s came with the same set up. Perhaps those imported in the south may be a little different from those in the north. But then I am thinking how much of a difference does it make price wise to BMW, neglegible.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    618
    My Cars
    99 BMW 528iT
    i thought the blue was the heated/cooled air and the red was fresh air (someone descirbed it that way a while ago) but i guess now as i look at that diagram i am wrong (although that is an e34...)

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    (northeast) Indiana
    Posts
    19,321
    My Cars
    15 650ix GC & 14 X5 50i
    Quote Originally Posted by macbookproaudio View Post
    i thought the blue was the heated/cooled air and the red was fresh air ... but i guess now as i look at that diagram i am wrong (although that is an e34...)
    Do you mean the diagram below? How do you know that it's not an e12, e21, e24, e28, e30, e32, e34, or early e39? Okay, it can't be an early e39 because it has a T gearshift handle.

    Last edited by Qsilver7; 11-08-2008 at 03:49 PM.
    Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.

    2015 650ix GC (Moonstone/Cohiba Brown) <<~>> 2014 X5 50i (Space Gray/Mocha)

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    420
    My Cars
    Got BIG wheels!
    Silly not to have rear heat? bummer for a bimmer....

    LOL

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Frederick, MD
    Posts
    9,693
    My Cars
    e39 540i/6, e36 318i
    well, there IS rear heat; it just doesn't come from the rear console.
    1985 325 - 5 speed - LSD - M50NV - MS2/extra - AEM UEGO - TiAL MV-R - 750cc injectors - HX35 - Blunttech Manifold - 3" exhaust
    1991 318i - 5 speed - M50NV - e36 rack - Smileys

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    IL
    Posts
    813
    My Cars
    99 Dinan 540
    Ive got hot/cold controls in the back of my 98 528i.....is it a RARE BREED? lol
    1999 540i | Dinan 5 | SuperSprint Exhaust | Sports Package

  17. #17
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    BX, NY
    Posts
    1,165
    My Cars
    E39 & E46
    Have to ^BUMP^ this thread....

    I have the hot/cold controls in the back vent too, but it only shoots out cold air.
    My kid screamed for heat last night. I felt bad that only cold air came out.

    What's the purpose of the knob then!

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Edmonton, AB, Canada
    Posts
    1,870
    My Cars
    2014 RAM 1500 Sport CC
    Mine blows warm air when I switch it.
    Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front of the car and oversteer is when you hit the wall with the rear of the car.
    Horsepower is how fast you hit the wall, torque is how far you take the wall with you.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    May 2003
    Location
    BX, NY
    Posts
    1,165
    My Cars
    E39 & E46
    Show off....

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    (northeast) Indiana
    Posts
    19,321
    My Cars
    15 650ix GC & 14 X5 50i
    Quote Originally Posted by EndangeredBeatz View Post
    My kid screamed for heat last night. I felt bad that only cold air came out.

    What's the purpose of the knob then!
    (this isn't any help for the real issue of why heat isn't coming from your rear vents...but until you resolve the issue...it may help keep from freezing your kids)

    If you have the FRONT stratified air dial turned to somewhere in the red...and you turn the rear vent's stratified air dial in the red area...and you're still only getting cold air from the rear console's vent...CLOSE IT.

    Then select the FLOOR air direction button on the IHKA control panel (the one above the AUTO button). This will send heated air to the floor vents that are BELOW the front seats (make sure they are not blocked). This should keep your children warm.

    FYI: | = open...0 = closed :

    Last edited by Qsilver7; 10-16-2009 at 04:23 PM.
    Become a BMW CCA member! Click HERE to join and feel free to use my BMW CCA member #191509 as a referral.

    2015 650ix GC (Moonstone/Cohiba Brown) <<~>> 2014 X5 50i (Space Gray/Mocha)

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Manila, Philippines; Hayward, CA
    Posts
    231
    My Cars
    E39 525i, E34 525i
    Quote Originally Posted by EndangeredBeatz View Post
    My kid screamed for heat last night. I felt bad that only cold air came out.
    Call 911! Do as Q instructed! Otherwise you'd have to have the actuators for the A/C flaps checked.

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Milwaukee, WI
    Posts
    1,333
    My Cars
    '01 525i, 93 MX-5 autox
    from my understanding and reading the manual ( very informative ) when you have full auto ( at least on the 99+'s I believe ) after a few minutes ( when the center 3 red dot 3 blue dot white line dial ) when you have the blend dial set to neutral, the white line, it will blow cooler fresh air ( outside air mostly ) so as not to fatigue the driver and keep him/her alert while driving. this holds true ( I think ) for the rear area as well, it mimics the dash vent operation.

    Push the auto button, then push the vent button w/o manually changing thefan speed, and you should get the warm air you want fromt he vents and rear seats
    KEVIN
    BMW CCA # 416146

    Current 2001 525i-5 / 225,000 Miles
    ///M Weighted Shift knob.
    CD43 with AUX retrofit + Bluebus
    Auto Dimming Mirror upgrade
    H&R Sport / Koni STR.T
    OEM Xenon HID Retrofit


    The Ex- 2000 540i-6 / 82,xxx miles to 186,xxx miles
    CDV Free, 545i Shifter and ///M Weighted Shift knob.
    Member of DSC Module Failure Club $$

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •