I had been on the fence re getting the climate control system - my last couple never really worked for me. Too hot, too cold, too much fan, not hot enough, not cold enough, blah blah blah. Definitely not a fan. But on the CM, it came with one of the packages, so...

Have been very pleased with this system! Inobtrusive, temperature is maintained without too much fan, noise, fluctuation, etc.

Apologize for the description - not sure how to describe something that's supposed to work in the background working well!

Glad I got it, and I would recommend it to those thinking about getting it!

 

We went on several rides with the non-automatic system and, even on a cool, rainy day, we found ourselves frequently tweaking the settings. One ride with the automatic system sold us on that option - no problems and much more comfortable.

 

Living in Arizona I am definitely sold on Automatic AC - - - it is pretty much a requirement here in the desert

 

Auto AC was a must for me, almost lured me into getting the premium pkg, but I just ordered it separate.

 

I have the automatic CC in my '08 Clubman and it's the best auto system I've had. Husband did not really want to order it for his Countryman, as the auto systems he's had always seem to require adjustment. I persuaded him to give it a try in the CM. Glad to hear it works well. Hopefully, we'll get to experience for ourselves very soon.... his CM is now at VDC in Brunswick!

 

Automatic climate control has been great for me too.

 

... unfortunately, I didn't get the auto climate control on mine and find I'm fidgeting with the ac controls a tad too much. Does anyone know if this can be retro installed at the dealership?

 

Hate to thread-jack, but how are you happy folks setting up the auto climate control? I can't seem to get mine to do what I want without messing with it.

Do you just leave the "Auto" button engaged and then adjust the temperature and let the unit take care of the rest? If you get warm and want to cool things off, will the A/C (snowflake) button come on automatically for you if you lower the temperature? I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong.

 

I have also ben very happy with the ACC. I had dual-zone ACC in my 2005 Subaru Legacy, and the system was just abysmal. In auto it would randomly switch to blast cold or hot air in your face whenever it felt like it. I just kept the system on manual all of the time. Then in our X3 the system was fantastic...I just set the temp, hit Auto, and forgot about it.

The CM is the same as the X3...set temp, hit auto, and forget it. Usually I leave it at 70. When I am slightly warm I bump it down to 68, and when slightly too cool I bump it up to 72. Sometimes if the car has been baking in the sun (triple digits here in the mid-atlantic recently) I will go out to the car and let it cool down on Max Cool for a few minutes before I put my son in the car.

 

Whenever I see this topic I get kind of nervous. I have a 2012 CMS on order and I didn't plop down the $500 for the auto AC, just went with the manual...anyone have manual on the CMS??

 

If you can change your order,do it.
I had the AAC on my JCW and didn't order it on my CM.
I truly miss it.If i could write a check for $500 and get it now i would do it in a second.

 

I had the same question about my Clubman, and checked with my dealer - and no, it can not be retrofitted. There are too many things that have to be changed, and there isn't even a list of what all would have to be changed, nor any instructions. I checked RealOEM, and even things like the blower motor don't carry over from one to the other! This is apparently one of those systems that they build the rest of the car around.

I personally just don't like the standard system's thumb wheels for the fan speed and temperature adjustment; the auto a/c has rocker switches for those controls instead. And my next MINI will definitely have auto a/c when I place the order!

 

Very interesting -- I had a 2006 Subaru Outback with the dual-zone ACC. I hated the system. It just never got the temp right in the car. I traded in the Subaru for CMS. I LOVE the ACC in CMS! Like you I generally keep it set at 70 all year-round. it adjust heat or A/C as needed automatically.

 

My only thing with the ACC is that if you cut the fan speed down the auto light goes out. Why not keep it engaged and just take more time to reach the lower temp if the driver doesn't want to listen to the din of the fan?

 

No, it can't be changed....my car is just now at the VDC! Oh well, I've never had Auto AC before so I'll be ok!

 

Yes; Auto ON, adjust temperature. But if you press Auto ON & press A/C OFF, A/C will stay off until you press A/C button again.

 

After my first experience with the MINI Auto CC on our '04 R53 JCW, I was instantly sold! They've improved the system's operation in a number of ways to make it even better at maintaining temperature and have eliminated some of the niggles.

Be aware that for those who wish to squeeze MPGs from your R60, you may not need to engage the A/C (snowflake button) in the cooler seasons unless the humidity is high. My MA said to keep it on all the time since it was an "intelligent" system and would not turn on the compressor-thingy unless the temperature adjustment called for it. Unfortunately, that is not true. We set the snowflake off for winter, on for summer. The Auto CC remembers the last setting, which appears to be stored in the keyfob settings. Nice!

We operate the unit by setting the temperature; we don't play with the fan at all. All else (air distribution and fan speed) follows that. Great system!

 

My Land Rover manual indicates to leave the compressor on at all times as it uses to regulate humidity as well. Keeps the windows from fogging, things dry etc. My sense is - the compressor is always running for that system anyway.

Most window defrosters use heat with the AC compressor to quickly clear the window as well. I do notice differences in millage when I have the AC on so it will definitely cost more in millage to run the auto-A/C

I have manual, never liked the auto on other cars, constantly adjusting the temp, which didn't seem very 'auto' to me.

 

Tip for those with auto climate control--you can change the zone and though it won't say "Auto" on the dial, it will still automatically adjust fan speed based on the temp you set it to. So if you're like me and like cold air blowing on your feet as well as your hands in the summer, you can do that.

 

Whether you have an automatic or manual system, off season when you don't need dehumidification, for several reasons it's a good idea to run the compressor (when the snowflake button is on) for 5 or 10 minutes a couple of times a month. For example, the refrigerant lubricates the seals in your air-conditioning system, and long term will help keep the seals from leaking.

 

I agree and I try to remember to do this in the spring/fall seasons when I leave the A/C button OFF frequently. We have low humidity usually for spring/summer/fall seasons so there is no reason to use the A/C button normally except when uncomfortably hot. In the winter turning on defrosting does the job of running the compressor.

Even in the summer I turn A/C off in the early morning when cool, with windows open. When it gets hot later in the day I also try to turn it off when about 1/4 mile from home, as the system stays cold enough for that distance, saves a bit of fuel, and allows condensation to leave the system while on the road, instead of dripping in the garage.

Overall the Auto AC system works very well, much better than in several other older cars with similar systems that I have owned.

 

It does. When you press the auto button then adjust any of the settings manually, the car keeps control of the remaining settings to try to reach the desired temperature. For example, if you hit auto, then turn the fan down, it will keep the fan at that setting, but still automatically control the vents and temperature until the desired interior temp is reached.

 

Why doesn't the green 'Auto' light stay lit?

 

Because the car doesn't have full control of the ACC, there is no other (simple) way to indicate this. It's all in your owner's manual.

 

It just seems to me if it is still automatically attempting to reach the dialed in temperature, why decide to shut that auto light off, if I simply want a lower fan speed?