Does my AirCon come on automatically with Climate?

[Rocco9999]

So, I have my temp set to 20 degrees and the Climate set to AUTO, but when its hot the air coming out is luke-warm not chilled and the AC light never came on.

If I press auto again, the AC light comes on and the air gets chilly but the AC light never goes out, when when I crank it up to 25 degrees on a cold day?

Does anyone know what's going on?

What does the AC light actually mean? is the AC on continously?

Doesnt seem very automatic to me if I have to press auto again to get AC...

[3rdpillar]

Iam guessing here , BUT shouldnt the auto engage the air con whe it deems it necesssary? Switching it off when it believes it's no longer required.

Maybe light just stays on?

Clarification would be nice.

[Rocco9999]

That's what I thought, maybe the light is there jsut to say aircon is avaialable and that if you press the AC button again you are effectively turning it to "Economy" mode (i.e. no AC).

Still, I think it should really put the light on and off to show you its working.

I also seem to recall this is called auto-AC not Climate?
Does anyone know what this system doesnt have? Does it have a "SunShine-O-Meter"? Does it control the blend of the air going to your face/legs?

[SteveBrass]

I've got climate control I am not overly impressed with it.

As others have noticed, with the air con button in there seems to be little, if any, temperature control.

With the air con set to off, there is some response to cabin temp but it's all a but hit and miss.

The set up in the wife's fiat stilo seems much better.

[Root Ginger]

On the first gen. The a/c light means the a/c is on. This is regardless of temperature. The a/c will be on even if the air coming out is hot. This is because a/c also drys the air. With the light off it's off.

[LizzyG]

I have c/c in my car, and when it is in auto, the air-con is on continuously. It is the same in my husband's car too. The c/c doesn't switch the air-con on and off of its own accord, it just adjusts how much warm it mixes with it, if you see what i mean.

[SteveBrass]

Quote: Originally Posted by LizzyG (original)

I have c/c in my car, and when it is in auto, the air-con is on continuously. It is the same in my husband's car too. The c/c doesn't switch the air-con on and off of its own accord, it just adjusts how much warm it mixes with it, if you see what i mean.

Yes, I've just twiddles with mine on the way home (if you take my meaning).

As you say air con on permanently, with the temp moderated by mixing in warm air.

Don't think the temp gauge is very accurate though.

20c is chilly - 18c is cold - has to be at 22c to be comfortable.

[Rocco9999]

Thanks for the replies everyone you have confirmed what I thought - the mini climate is crap!
To be honest I dont think it gives any advantages over a simple analogue temperature dial control found on the most basic of cars. As Lizzy has said the temp is just how warm the air is mixed to - it has no control over the AC

****

The main reason I paid for the upgrade was so I didnt keep having to press the AC button on and off. I could just set it to a temp and forget. I appreciate that Mini havent branded it full Climate but they even have the cheek to call it "Auto Air Con" which it clearly isnt if it wont turn the AC on and Off automatically.

I feel a letter coming on

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by Rocco9999 (original)

Thanks for the replies everyone you have confirmed what I thought - the mini climate is crap!
To be honest I dont think it gives any advantages over a simple analogue temperature dial control found on the most basic of cars. As Lizzy has said the temp is just how warm the air is mixed to - it has no control over the AC

****

The main reason I paid for the upgrade was so I didnt keep having to press the AC button on and off. I could just set it to a temp and forget. I appreciate that Mini havent branded it full Climate but they even have the cheek to call it "Auto Air Con" which it clearly isnt if it wont turn the AC on and Off automatically.

I feel a letter coming on

All the cars I've driven with climate control operate in the exact same way. The A/C should be on when the air is being heated with a climate control system. It's not a fault, it's how they work. Controlling the climate in your car also includes the amount of moisture in the air. Without the a/c on this can't be controlled.

If the compressor kept cutting in and out it could actually be dangerous. The compressor requires a lot of power to turn so can you imagine what would happen if you tried to pull out of a junction and the compressor kicked in?

[Rocco9999]

I can see what you are saying and i think you could well be right.
However, I have one simple question:
How the hell is this AUTO Air Con??

Its no more "AUTO" than the simplest of systems where you just leave AC switched on all the time!

I can appreciate that it does control the temperature but then BMW should call it "Auto Temperature Control" since the Air-Con element is certainly NOT automatic ...

So, who agrees with me?

Quote: Originally Posted by Root Ginger (original)

All the cars I've driven with climate control operate in the exact same way. The A/C should be on when the air is being heated with a climate control system. It's not a fault, it's how they work. Controlling the climate in your car also includes the amount of moisture in the air. Without the a/c on this can't be controlled.

If the compressor kept cutting in and out it could actually be dangerous. The compressor requires a lot of power to turn so can you imagine what would happen if you tried to pull out of a junction and the compressor kicked in?

[Martin F]

The aircon is auto because it is automatically mixing in cooled air to give the selected temperature. It varies the mix automatically whereas a manual system requires constant adjustment as the outside temperature varies.

If you called it auto temp control, what additional functionality would you expect to make it auto a/c?

[FergusM]

Well my last car had "dual zone climate control" and if you hit the "Auto" button it switched on the air con and never switched it off. So sounds exactly the same as the mini setup.... and to be honest that was all I was expecting.

And pretty sure my BMW 330Ci worked the same way.

I always just hit "auto" and set to 21C and leave alone, only ever switch off air con if windows are open, otherwise run all the time so probably suits me.

[ALD0]

You need a degree to operate the climate control properly!

You can have it on Auto without the air con going, hence the air coming out luke warm, if you press the Aircon button this will override and should get chilled air coming through.

[Root Ginger]

Quote: Originally Posted by ALD0 (original)

You need a degree to operate the climate control properly!

You can have it on Auto without the air con going, hence the air coming out luke warm, if you press the Aircon button this will override and should get chilled air coming through.

I find it simple and self explainatory. It's just the same as manual and it has the Auto option too.

[ThatsMe]

Climate control in most cars ive driven, you set a temp and the fan speed is automatically controled, the air con pump does stay on but the fan speed is controlled.

Cheers