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.....
First things first, is the dial on your rear vent set to hot or cold?
the dial in front is set on heat but there isnt a dial in back? Just an open close dial?
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.
my front vents blow cold when the heat is on. heat only comes from the floor. i havent even checked the rear. any solutions?
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.
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thanks guys
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.
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...)
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)
Silly not to have rear heat? bummer for a bimmer....
LOL
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
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!
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.
Show off....
(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)
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
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