I've noticed that the air out of my A/C, when the car isn't moving (idling, stop & go traffic, etc), gets warmer and doesn't cool down again until the car is moving.

Does everyone's do this?

In my M3 the air stays cool no matter what you're doing. The same for my Honda Prelude and Toyota 4Runner.

What's the deal?

I know that the A/C isn't as efficient when at a standstill, but it's a pretty severe change in temp.

Any ideas?

 

Yes, this is normal for it to do that in the MINI. Even my Dodge Neon's ice cold AC does that when stopped.

Basically it's a law of physics that you have to have moving air over the heat exchanger part of the AC unit.

 

Get out of your idling car on a hot day and listen to the deafining howl of fans working to cool your condenser. It's like nothing I've ever heard before. You'll swear you're on the deck of an aircraft carrier.

Anyway, one of my big pet peeves is when people start the car and then just sit there in the parking lot waiting for the AC or heat to work before hitting the road. Maybe the wind from my hand will cool you down as I slap you and then we can get going already!

So on to your question, as hard as the MINI is trying (and boy is it trying), it unfortunately cannot maintain much coolness on fans alone. I have found that auto AC is colder in auto mode, and is colder still when set to "Lo" if that's any help.

 

>>Get out of your idling car on a hot day and listen to the deafining howl of fans working to cool your condenser. It's like nothing I've ever heard before. You'll swear you're on the deck of an aircraft carrier.


I'll tell you I've been noticing this from inside my car. It sounds like a damn turbine as I'm accelerating. It's a pretty cool sound. It takes my mind off the fact that the acceleration really blows (pun intended) with the AC on.

 

It's so damn loud I can't hear the other problems on my car.



Just kidding.....in case something is rattling, you know.



Peter