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      12-02-2012, 01:46 PM   #1
midwest 340xi 6sp
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Question for those in cold climates...

Do you keep your AC on the entire winter? In my older BMW's I used to turn it off, now I'm re-thinking that based on how well the AC can remove humidity..

Thoughts?
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      12-02-2012, 02:39 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Midwest X6 View Post
Do you keep your AC on the entire winter? In my older BMW's I used to turn it off, now I'm re-thinking that based on how well the AC can remove humidity..

Thoughts?
I tend to keep mine off, that's because I'm a tight a$$ and think (probably rightly) that I get better consumption with it deactived.

If its really wet and damp I'll switch it on to clear the condensation otherwise its off until those 2/3 days in July when its warm enough to warrant it
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      12-02-2012, 02:42 PM   #3
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in some cars the compressor runs all the time regardless of what u set it at. the defroster activates the air compressor so its basically the same thing, if you turn on defrost it turns on a/c. if the air is on, at least in my humble experience what happens it that the air is routed differently so there is more cold air. up to you but I dont know if you save a lot its not like old cars that a.c visibly affected performance
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      12-02-2012, 04:05 PM   #4
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If temperatures fluctuate around freezing, and humidity changes in your environment, I've found it best if left on, keeps the car dry inside and misting doesn't start to form.

Variable output compressors use very little power when in colder temperatures, so not like summer use for power/fuel consumption.

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      12-02-2012, 05:03 PM   #5
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Keep mine on most of the time, never noticed all that much difference in fuel consumption and it keeps the humidity right and clears condensation during winter.
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      12-02-2012, 05:40 PM   #6
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I never touch the snowflake. It stays on all year long.
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      12-02-2012, 05:58 PM   #7
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+1
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      12-02-2012, 06:32 PM   #8
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better to keep it on if it's below freezing.
too much humidity inside the vehicle may make frost inside your windows on the next morning. as a side note, keeping a lot of snow inside (on the carpets, for example) will give the same problem if it finds a way to melt.
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      12-02-2012, 08:07 PM   #9
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? The A/C takes moisture out of the air. Where would the additional humidity come from?
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      12-03-2012, 10:34 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nahoa View Post
? The A/C takes moisture out of the air. Where would the additional humidity come from?
I know for me, I get snow on my shoes and get into the warm vehicle and the snow melts on the floor mats creating the humidity. I leave the snowflake on because it cuts down the fogging on the inside of the windows.
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      12-03-2012, 09:24 PM   #11
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in previous cars the compressor won't kick in if temps are below 5celsius, not sure about F25.
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      12-03-2012, 09:41 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colson79 View Post
I know for me, I get snow on my shoes and get into the warm vehicle and the snow melts on the floor mats creating the humidity. I leave the snowflake on because it cuts down the fogging on the inside of the windows.
Thanks and apologies. I misread your earlier post and confused myself. Get your suggestion entirely now.
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      12-04-2012, 12:21 PM   #13
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Enabled all year long for me. The only time I turn it off is when I have all of the windows down on a warm/cool day. In Seattle it stays damp all the time and it was like that in North Carolina too in the mornings. Dehumidification is essential.

Think of the AC button as an "enable" function. It allows the AC compressor to be engaged automatically based on demands and control settings. It does not mean it's always engaged.

The AC is pretty smart on BMW's (for years) by using a multi-stage approach for efficiency and demand. Any AC system will not come on when it's really cold--law of physics. However, I believe it can still cycle if you are recirculating the air and it's warm enough in the cabin. If the air is cold enough outside, warming it up is usually more than enough to dry it out. I think front defrost button triggers full fan, full heat, AC, all vents on windshield and full recirculation.
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      12-06-2012, 07:28 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nahoa
? The A/C takes moisture out of the air. Where would the additional humidity come from?
The added humidity comes from the human body.
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      12-06-2012, 08:49 AM   #15
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I keep mine on all the time. I think BMW compressor knows itself when not to run. Ie. Not to run in too cold temperatures.

And I have been told that it is not good to keep ac off all winter, because the compressor might get stuck on lack of lubricant. For example in warm parking houses the compressor runs and gets lubrication even if it is cold outside.
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