Heating

[AJ132]

Hi guys,

The two air vents just above the radio in my E53 X5 ('01) dont work. They've never worked since ive had the car, but im finding it cold now and want to fix them.

Any idea where to start and how difficult this would be?

Thanks, Ant

[upallnight]

There's a thumbwheel with dots on it at the center of the vents, turn the wheel to the red dots and you will get heat.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Going to assume you have common sense and already turned the wheel in the "Hot" zone... try checking your coolant level first. If your coolant level is fine, turn that center wheel to the hot zone and turn on your "ac" but only if ambient temps are over 50*F. Then feel if the center vents are blowing warmer air than the side vents. Then turn the wheel to the "Cold" position. Does it respond? If not, the cable the wheel is attached to may be binding or not attached. If it does, you may have a problem with the blending doors within the dash.

[tmv]

In addition to all of the above, do you feel the fan running at all? If not, your FSU is done and need to be replaced.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by TwinTurboGTR

Going to assume you have common sense and already turned the wheel in the "Hot" zone... try checking your coolant level first. If your coolant level is fine, turn that center wheel to the hot zone and turn on your "ac" but only if ambient temps are over 50*F. Then feel if the center vents are blowing warmer air than the side vents. Then turn the wheel to the "Cold" position. Does it respond? If not, the cable the wheel is attached to may be binding or not attached. If it does, you may have a problem with the blending doors within the dash.

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 1


I always assume the opposite with noobs.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by AJ132

Hi guys,

The two air vents just above the radio in my E53 X5 ('01) dont work. They've never worked since ive had the car....

Only because you didn't rule it out...it makes us make suggestions that you may have already tried...like the ones above as to if you adjusted the stratified air dial.

But since you say the vents "don't work"...I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that air doesn't blow threw those vents at all...thus it doesn't matter about the stratification air dial.

But it does put this question on the table...do you have the vents opened or closed? Again, I only ask because your description didn't rule out that this is not the case...and to make assumption that lead to a more serious issue would be a waste of time if the simple things aren't marked off the list first.

If the far left & far right dials (#1 in the pic from the owners manual below) is turned to the "|" position...then the vents are open. But if they are in the "0" position...they're closed (some get the meaning of symbols confused):

[upallnight]

I guess one of the suggestions must have worked. Another worthless thread because the original poster never posted a reply.

[Qsilver7]

Any idea where to start and how difficult this would be?

Thanks, Ant

...any resolution...more questions...anything?

we give suggestion...you give no reply...why you not like us?

[upallnight]

[CrazyOneToo]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

...any resolution...more questions...anything?

we give suggestion...you give no reply...why you not like us?

I have a question. This is the first cold weather I have seen since buying my X5. On my temp gauge it shows about one quarter across. My E46 always runs about straight up in the middle. The X5s heater didn't seem to get very warm either. My ET I believe is going to need replacing but don't have a thermostat yet. I saw coolant around the top of my ET and when I checked the level it showed over filled. Yay for me.

Question is....do X5s heaters work well normally? I mean it is a roomy vehicle and would take a pretty good heater to heat the whole truck.