A/C and heat = POS in 318ti?

[1998greenmachine]

is it just my ti that has horrible heat and air? it works...but in the wintertime it takes 20 min to even get warm and in the summer it takes like 15 min to get cold....the ppl at BMW said its fine lol

[DustenT]

is it just my ti that has horrible heat and air? it works...but in the wintertime it takes 20 min to even get warm and in the summer it takes like 15 min to get cold....the ppl at BMW said its fine lol

Check your collant and your thermostat. The thermostats are junk. You should feel heat after 5 minutes at idle, or 2 minutes of driving.

[1998greenmachine]

the BMW ppl said that stuff was fine

[DustenT]

the BMW ppl said that stuff was fine

I doubt they checked the thermostat.

[1996 328ti]

If you had a stuck open t-stat you would probably see the gauge below center if it's cold out.

Today I noticed cool air was blowing at idle. Once I started driving it was warm. Then at idle it remained warm. Weird.

[cali-ti]

If you had a stuck open t-stat you would probably see the gauge below center if it's cold out.

Today I noticed cool air was blowing at idle. Once I started driving it was warm. Then at idle it remained warm. Weird.
i agree with Dusten, these thermostats suck! sounds like yours may be sticking steven.

greenmachine, where does your temp needle normally sit? if it's below center, more than likely your t-stat is bad (and while replacing it, you might as well flush and fill the coolant). how long has it been since you flushed/filled the coolant? should be done at least every two years.

[1998greenmachine]

never lol

[cali-ti]

never lol
hehe ... yeah, i'd get that done asap. your cooling system could be getting eaten away. check this out: http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/techarticles/E36-Coolant_Flush/E36-Coolant-Flush.htm

[1998greenmachine]

ty...ill do it for christmas lol

[1996 328ti]

i agree with Dusten, these thermostats suck! sounds like yours may be sticking steven.I had it replaced less than 12 months ago. Then the needle never got to the center will driving. I'm guessing a stuck bybass valve. AGAIN.

[cali-ti]

my car is getting a bunch of christmas gifts too :) hopefully you're in a warm part of the country so you don't free your goolies off doing it :)

[cali-ti]

I had it replaced less than 12 months ago. Then the needle never got to the center will driving. I'm guessing a stuck bybass valve. AGAIN.
you mean t-stat or the heater control valve?

[1996 328ti]

my car is getting a bunch of christmas gifts too
Not me. I got my wife some checkerboard mirror covers for her MINI.
All I got was a stinkin calendar.:rolleyes:

[1998greenmachine]

haha

[1996 328ti]

you mean t-stat or the heater control valve?
The T-stat was changed late last winter. The bypass valve was probably changed around 2001.

[cali-ti]

The T-stat was changed late last winter. The bypass valve was probably changed around 2001.
i think my t-stat is sticking a bit. i had the heater control valve (which i guess you're calling the bypass valve) replaced when i had all the coolant hoses, radiator, etc replaced before i moved to denver earlier this year. hopefully all that will be good for another 200k :)

[96cali]

clogged micro filters can reduce cabin airflow too.

[J!m]

Maybe you all have checked this already, but just in case...

You have to 'burp' the system. It will blow cold air at idle for (what seems like) forever if the system has some trapped air.

A simple 'burp' will 9 out of 10 times make the heat work great!

My heat was always excellent in my car, both with the 1.9 and with the 3.2. It warms up within a couple minutes at idle (depending on ambient temperature) and at it's hottest setting it will set your feet on fire!

[Mendi3]

clogged micro filters can reduce cabin airflow too.

Mine were so bad that I was not getting much air in the cabin. After I replaced the two filters, it was a day and night difference.