2014 BMW 328i xDrive Gran Turismo Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

2014 BMW 328i xDrive Gran Turismo Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds notes that the 2014 BMW 328i xDrive Gran Turismo has non-syncing dual-zone climate control, even though many cars have

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cobryson

per a 5-second Googling, press and hold 'Auto' to sync/lock both zones...try that?

vvk

At least F30 has soft switches, on my E60 5er the analog switches physically point to an engraved temperature value, so no way to do it.

desmolicious

Can someone tell me again what is the point of that dial in between the vents? I had that on my 330i even though, like this car, it has auto climate control.

It's the horizontal dial with blue and red on it. It adjusts the temp somewhat but why with auto climate control?

s197gt

"per a 5-second Googling, press and hold 'Auto' to sync/lock both zones...try that?"

if this is true, we've had our (06) 330i since 2009 and didn't know! i don't think it is in the manual and i have never seen the issue raised in the forums. just presumed it was left out. has bothered me many times... gonna try it tonight.

s197gt

desmolicious, apparently some people love the dial: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=271466

zimtheinvader

That just seems silly. I'm often the only one in my car but when I have a passenger in it she likes her side noticeably warmer than mine. On my car it defaults to single control and only goes to dual when the passenger control is moved and is easily turned back to single control. It would seem odd to me to have to adjust the passenger knob as generally if I want it hotter or colder in the car I don't want the other side of the car working against what the drivers side is trying to accomplish. If the drivers side is set for 65 and the passenger for 75 it isn't going to keep the warmer air only on the passenger side.

desmolicious

thanks S197gt. from that thread:

I did a quick test over the weekend. My guess was right -- with the interior of the car warm, the center vents initially provide cold air, regardless of the setting of the fine adjustment wheel. I rotated it all the way to red, but the air coming into the cabin through those vents was still cold.

Just as useless to me now as it was back then!

fordson1

I think the reason people like those dual-zone systems is largely due to the placebo effect. They see the number they have set on their side and feel good about it - there is no way they can really maintain any great differential in temperature between the two seats - it's wide open, for god's sake. And if the preferred differential is only like three degrees...come on - you're really going to notice that?