"The most annoying switch of BMW cars..."

[Brashland]

Your blue vs red selector when your car already has automatic climate control.

[Critter7r]

It's a dial, not a switch.

Annoying article is annoying.


It could easily be called the greatest dial in the history of cars because it allows to override the complicated settings on your fancy automatic climate temporarily, or in the case of the way that I personally use it: I have the climate control set to 70 degrees. When it's cold outside, I get in and flick the dial to hot. Then after the vehicle gets warmed up, I dial it down a little. Keep in mind that its intent is to be able to blow cool air in your face while still maintaining that 73 or 74 temp setting in the cabin by means of the automatic climate control.

[BimmerBreaker]

I love those switches, I wished my Z3 had one. In my E36 there was always a little air blowing through the system all the time and with the system off the dials wouldn't control the temperature of the air flowing through, but this little dial would. Its actually quite a nice feature.

Some people say it brings in ambient exterior air but I'm not sure about that...

People complain about the stupidest stuff sometimes...

[SpeedsterBek]

That article is written by an imbecile who doesn't understand the function and purpose of that dial.

That dial allows to independently control the temperature coming out of center vents. This is one of those features that sets the brand apart, since once you get used to it, you always look for it in other cars.

For example, in winter, I want hot air blowing from foot vents while the cooler air directed toward my face. By directing cooler air towards the head, it is shown to reduce driver fatigue and dried out eyes.

[BimmerBreaker]

Next week: "The most annoying feature in the world: Manual transmissions, N/A I6 engines and RWD cars"

[323i E30]

[nikatkimber]

Well, you learn something every day! I did not know that it allowed independent control of center vent temp.

[natesestates]

Your blue vs red selector when your car already has automatic climate control.

On my e36 it is in fact a great feature and easy to use right there on the dash. On my girls e60 you have to go through I-drive to control it and it is so complicated she hasn't figured it out still and has owned the car for three years. On my e70 you still have to go through the I drive, or you can push the vent selection button to access it. Luckily BMW decided to put it back on the dash for 2014 cars so it is easy and convenient to use again. But for about a decade there it was if fact a royal pain to use

[Critter7r]

On my e36 it is in fact a great feature and easy to use right there on the dash. On my girls e60 you have to go through I-drive to control it and it is so complicated she hasn't figured it out still and has owned the car for three years. On my e70 you still have to go through the I drive, or you can push the vent selection button to access it. Luckily BMW decided to put it back on the dash for 2014 cars so it is easy and convenient to use again. But for about a decade there it was if fact a royal pain to use

But for the time when it was a PITA to use, it wasn't a dial on the dash!

[downeaster1]

Fun Fact: It's called a "stratification wheel", and it's very handy and useful when you know how to use it.

[justinca540i]

I've actually been using mine so much now after this thread started. Quite useful!

[pizzaman09]

I just switch mine vs the seasons. In the heat season it is full red, in air condition season it is set to full blue. When the ventilation system is off I do use it to control the temperature of the air that faintly blows in. I do the same thing with the normal heater control on my older American car with the blower off.

I personally would be a lot happier with the good old fashioned knob setup for temperature and fan speed, whom ever at BMW decided a button to select 16 fan speed settings was a good idea was clearly misinformed.

[Luftwaffe1O1]

I just switch mine vs the seasons. In the heat season it is full red, in air condition season it is set to full blue. When the ventilation system is off I do use it to control the temperature of the air that faintly blows in. I do the same thing with the normal heater control on my older American car with the blower off.

I personally would be a lot happier with the good old fashioned knob setup for temperature and fan speed, whom ever at BMW decided a button to select 16 fan speed settings was a good idea was clearly misinformed.

That's why also there is auto climate control. .. personally I dislike just using knobs... set the temp and hit auto...