R50/53 Poor implementation of auto climate control?

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Dec 15, 2006 | 08:53 AM

#26

Eric_Rowland

OVERDRIVE

iTrader: (3)

Joined: May 2003

Posts: 13,382

Likes: 47

From: Santa Cruz, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by mini-mine

I don't know why everyone seems to have so much trouble with the Auto climate control. I didn't even read the manual and figured out both modes, it's not exactly rocket science. I guess you just need some patience initially, and a lot of people aren't willing to 'learn' how to operate something... To each his own.

Some people have a higher expectation of 'automatic' than others.

What? I have to move the lever to 'drive'?:impatient This was supposed to be an automatic!?

(just kidding folks, don't flame me!)

Dec 15, 2006 | 10:21 AM

#27

solberg

2nd Gear

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 143

Likes: 1

From: Southeast USA

I had the auto climate control in my 330i and never used it because it was so bad. I saved my money on the MCS and have no regrets at all. Somtimes simpler is better.

Dec 15, 2006 | 11:10 AM

#28

mini-mine

5th Gear

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 766

Likes: 1

From: Seattle, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by wsalopek

That's exactly what I do...but if the system was designed better, like many other manufacturers, it would be smart enough to do it ALL automatically.

Out Volvo's and Infiniti's automatic systems both worked perfectly.

Oh, ok. Well I see what you are trying to say. I have never had Auto AC before, so I guess you don't notice if you have nothing else to compare it to! At least it is solved by just pressing one button though, I mean it could be a lot worse!

Dec 15, 2006 | 05:18 PM

#29

Pendergast

6th Gear

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 5,300

Likes: 0

From: Madison, Wisconsin

Every vehicle I have engages the air conditioner to augment defrosting. It removes moisture from the air quickly.

As far as the auto-climate control, as I posted before mine works very well (so far anyway) and this is in the North where it better work! So, either the auto isn't implemented the same on all, or our perceptions of what is correct are vastly different. If the former we would have a legitimate gripe with MINIUSA. If it's the latter, it would be impossible to please us all and blaming the car is wrong.

I don't know which is correct.

Dec 15, 2006 | 05:59 PM

#30

AKIndiMini

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Joined: Oct 2006

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Likes: 6

From: Kodiak, AK

I've owned cars in the past with auto climate control: an old '81 MBZ 300D, an '88 Audi 5000CS Quattro, '84 Volvo 760 Turbo Diesel, '93 Jeep Grand Cherokee...and driven/rented others with it as well.

While I like the 'look' of my Mini's auto climate control over the manual controls...this has got to be the most poorly implemented systems next to my old Audi's (now that one was terrible in both looks and operation). And no, it's not because I don't know how to work the Mini's system - I've thoroughly looked over the manual and everything.

Just not fun having it set on 'auto' in the winter, only to have it blow cold air at a rather high fan setting before the engine warms up, and have the fan speed turn DOWN once the engine warms up. So you freeze your butt off, and continue to do so as the interior slowly warms up in 'auto'.

On other systems, the fan starts off either off or very low, and as the engine coolant gets warmer, the fan speed picks up. Once the interior starts to reach the prescribed temperature, the fan slows down so not to deafen you any longer than necessary.

I find myself using manual mode a lot more than auto because of this system's shortcomings in the winter. So what's the point in even having automatic climate control? Unless the system has been improved in the new R56 models, my next Mini will have the manual system if the choice is still available.