Air Con

[SoapSuds70]

...or rather the lack of it in the last few weeks!

My air con has been playing up during this hot weather. It's not blowing anywhere near as cool as I think it should be. I tend to run the temp down on 16c in this weather, but seriously it's blowing hot air at me. If the car has been in the shade or its cooler outside, I get a bit more cool blowing through.

In comparison, SWMBO's Megane is blowing nice ice cold air, even after being in the sun.

Time for a re-gas? Or something more expensive (hopefully not)? Or, as its my first summer with an X5, is this normal and it just takes 10 miles to cool the interior down!

[Gaff]

I think first start with a re=gas. Why not take down to a garage and they can test, ensure system running, and then recommend.

[fenj66]

you wont really know if there is a leak or serious fault untill you get a regas to the correct leve, then take it from there. shop around, some places do it for about £50 or less.

ive been lucky with mine, had it 4.5 years and still get temp down to 0' C 

[SoapSuds70]

I've got it booked in tomorrow for a re-gas. £39.95 all in. Hopefully that solves it.

What makes me think its a leak is its only started playing up in the last couple of weeks.

If its functioning correctly, I assume I'd get air con cold straight away out of the vents after starting the system?

[Denis O]

Do you normally run it contnuously, all year round. If not, the seals will dry out and leak gas.

Once on a machine it will identify any leaks and what you'll need to do to fix it.

[SoapSuds70]

[quote="Denis O"]
Do you normally run it contnuously, all year round. If not, the seals will dry out and leak gas.

Once on a machine it will identify any leaks and what you'll need to do to fix it.
[/quote]

I run the air con at all times, both summer and winter. However, I've only owned the car since February. It's run well enough for me up until this heatwave.

[X5Sport]

BMW told me the system loses up to 15% of it's gas annually just through normal losses.  My old 2005 E53 needed regassing after about 6 years when I had it checked as it was estimated it had lost about half its volume.  Cost £50 all in.

I also run mine all the time.

Richard

[dobbor1]

Does running the air con all the time not affect fuel consumption or is it ok?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 2

[X5Sport]

TBH I think it makes such a small difference that IMHO it's not worth worrying about.  Let's face it these cars don't do 60mpg......

Even in our Mini it's always running.  Whether there is a bigger difference on petrol cars I don't know, but personally I keep it running as that's probably cheaper than a new compressor!

Richard

[Steve Blackdog]

[quote="X5Sport"]
TBH I think it makes such a small difference that IMHO it's not worth worrying about.  Let's face it these cars don't do 60mpg......

Even in our Mini it's always running.  Whether there is a bigger difference on petrol cars I don't know, but personally I keep it running as that's probably cheaper than a new compressor!

Richard
[/quote]
+1

I thought I was doing the fuel saving thing by switching off the air con in the cooler months.  I ended up having to get a new compressor - which I recall was about £500 from an independent.  I don't know if the two things were linked, but the tech reckoned they can seize (like any other old motor) can seize up when left unused.

[SoapSuds70]

Well, one re-gas later and all things are cool again. The car is 6 years old so probably due.  No leaks, no problems.

The garage agreed that running it regularly keeps things good. Lets face it, who switches their fridge on and off I suppose?!?

Also, the current temps are on the extreme side, so I should expect things not to cool down quite as quick as I'd like...

Plus, I'm getting 31.3mpg with the air con on permanently. I'd rather be cooler than get another 1-2mpg to be honest.

[gchristofi]

It would be nice to worry about the difference a/c makes. Almost seems irrelevant with the v8s though.

[Denis O]

[quote="SoapSuds70"]
. Lets face it, who switches their fridge on and off I suppose?!?


[/quote]

Actually, me. And guess what. At 5 years old it's just had a new motor having lost all it's gas.

In my defence, it is located at our holiday home and gets turned off when we're not in residence. Not anymore though.

[CondorX5]

The aircon in the V8 is absolutely wonderful........I run mine all year round, always have done, and have not had to refill yet - my 4.8is is a 2005.

[SoapSuds70]

[quote="CondorX5"]
The aircon in the V8 is absolutely wonderful........I run mine all year round, always have done, and have not had to refill yet - my 4.8is is a 2005.
[/quote]

Even if the car has been left out in 31c in the sun all day? That's where mine has been having a bit of difficulty.