[pungo]

I have a 2011 35i with Auto Climate Control with enhanced features. It only has 5 fan speeds. I've seen pictures of a control with 7 speeds, I think LCI may even have more. I know people have retrofit LCI into pre-LCI, but I'm not a fan of the gloss black trim. Our 2001 525i has like 10 speeds...

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by pungo

I have a 2011 35i with Auto Climate Control with enhanced features. It only has 5 fan speeds. I've seen pictures of a control with 7 speeds, I think LCI may even have more. I know people have retrofit LCI into pre-LCI, but I'm not a fan of the gloss black trim. Our 2001 525i has like 10 speeds...

Mine is also a 2011 35i.....here's mine - looks like 7 segments

.

[najnad]

Pungo...what's the build date on your X3?

[pungo]

Originally Posted by najnad

Pungo...what's the build date on your X3?

Build date = 2011-02-10
Maybe they used some earlier parts? It matches the same as the pic in the 2011 X3 brochure. Maybe I'll check the one at the local junk yard which has a X3 with a later build date and see part it has.

[najnad]

Originally Posted by pungo

Build date = 2011-02-10
Maybe they used some earlier parts? It matches the same as the pic in the 2011 X3 brochure. Maybe I'll check the one at the local junk yard which has a X3 with a later build date and see part it has.

My build date is July 2011 and I have the 5 segment fan speeds as well.

[najnad]

I solved it...when in "Auto" there are 5 fan speeds, when "Auto" is not engaged there are 7 fan speeds. Why they did this, who knows.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by najnad

I solved it...when in "Auto" there are 5 fan speeds, when "Auto" is not engaged there are 7 fan speeds. Why they did this, who knows.

Well whaddaya know, I never use auto so never knew the diff. Congrats!

[najnad]

Pungo..interesting that yours has a knob that says "MAX A/C" while the other pictures (and mine) say "MAX (snowflake)"

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by najnad

I solved it...when in "Auto" there are 5 fan speeds, when "Auto" is not engaged there are 7 fan speeds. Why they did this, who knows.

Two different functions and appropriate visual displays.

There are 5 intensity settings (not fan speeds) in Auto mode. The fan speeds out of Auto are variable and use a more detailed display.

[softsign]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Two different functions and appropriate visual displays.

There are 5 intensity settings (not fan speeds) in Auto mode. The fan speeds out of Auto are variable and use a more detailed display.

Thank you for this explanation - have always wondered about the bars in Auto mode!

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by softsign

Thank you for this explanation - have always wondered about the bars in Auto mode!

You are not the first to not fully appreciate the function of the Auto intensity settings.

I assume you understand that each intensity level has a different range of air flows. Fan speed will adjust automatically as demand dictates. Gives the user choices on the 'range' of airflow in the cabin.

[pungo]

Originally Posted by najnad

I solved it...when in "Auto" there are 5 fan speeds, when "Auto" is not engaged there are 7 fan speeds. Why they did this, who knows.

You're right, thanks for finding this out. I haven't driven this vehicle very much since I got it last spring, but usually use it in auto mode, hence thinking there were 5 speeds. The user manual says nothing about 5 in AUTO vs 7 in manual modes.

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Two different functions and appropriate visual displays.

There are 5 intensity settings (not fan speeds) in Auto mode. The fan speeds out of Auto are variable and use a more detailed display.

So what's the difference between intensity settings in AUTO and the fan speeds in manual mode? The owners manual shows intensity(AUTO mode) and air volume(manual mode), it never really speaks of fan speeds. Regardless, whether in AUTO or manual, pressing the appropriate fan button increases or decreases the amount of air coming out of the vents.