[Keweenawbee]

How long before using the car, sitting in the sun, do we activate the ventilate function from our phone app, to benefit the most from it?

[RocketRomeo]

Originally Posted by Keweenawbee

How long before using the car, sitting in the sun, do we activate the ventilate function from our phone app, to benefit the most from it?

It doesn’t make a difference for me ,,, just blows warm air around a warm cabin

[Keweenawbee]

Originally Posted by RocketRomeo

It doesn’t make a difference for me ,,, just blows warm air around a warm cabin

Hmmmm, maybe press and hold the button (on fob) that opens everything (windows and sunroof hatch) when just beginning the walk to the car (if safe).

[RocketRomeo]

Originally Posted by Keweenawbee

Hmmmm, may press and hold the button that opens everything (windows and sunroof hatch) when just beginning the walk to the car (if safe).

Exactly... that’s what I do.

I hope the ventilate option may be more useful in the winter?

[bmtespar]

The system will only run for upto 30 minutes in the comfort ventilation. You can program the system to cut on at a certain time to start cooling the vehicle but again it will only do so for 30 minutes. It does help to move air through the car but it isn’t remarkable. I did have an i3 and you could actually turn on the ac or heat remotely which was great.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by RocketRomeo

It doesn’t make a difference for me ,,, just blows warm air around a warm cabin

Makes a huge difference to me. I have a black X3, and live in Texas and park outside during the day.

I ventilate 20-30 minutes before I plan to get in the car. Works well. The newest app updates doesn't fail as often as it used to.

[Pray for Mojo]

Anyone with the display key know how to set a time or even get the system to go? Mine was greyed out and didn't function when I tried to use it last.

[Sea-Tac]

Originally Posted by Keweenawbee

How long before using the car, sitting in the sun, do we activate the ventilate function from our phone app, to benefit the most from it?

The ventilate function on my BMW's is wimpy. It doesn't cool your car down at all. It gently blows ambient temperature air around the cabin for however long you set it. I think its was designed so that when you get in the car that's been sitting outside the air inside the car isn't stale.

[Keweenawbee]

Originally Posted by Sea-Tac

The ventilate function on my BMW's is wimpy. It doesn't cool your car down at all. It gently blows ambient temperature air around the cabin for however long you set it. I think its was designed so that when you get in the car that's been sitting outside the air inside the car isn't stale.

I tried to today in 90 degree F weather, activating it remotely about 20 minutes early and it was still running inside until I hit the start button. Actually pretty impressed with it in comparison to what I am used to.

It must be “ventilating”as it’s function title suggests.

[jjl]

Originally Posted by Keweenawbee

Hmmmm, may press and hold the button (on fob) that opens everything (windows and sunroof hatch) when just beginning the walk to the car (if safe).

I don't have any such button on my fob that i'm aware of, do M40i fobs have this feature?

[mjdth]

Originally Posted by jjl

I don't have any such button on my fob that i'm aware of, do M40i fobs have this feature?

For all other BMWs I've had just holding the unlock button on the FOB would roll down all the windows and open the sunroof. I assume it's the same for this car (haven't tried it yet).

[TroyMcClure]

Guys, this cant work really. I have had a broken AC twice in my cars. If the air is simply blown in with the fans, it is first moving through very hot parts at the front of the car. This makes it more of a heater than a ventilation.

Ventilation on a standing car works - but only with the new electric AC compressors, such as in the 330e! Or, wherever it is legal (not in the EU unfortunately), with the remote engine start.

[darrylo]

Originally Posted by mjdth

For all other BMWs I've had just holding the unlock button on the FOB would roll down all the windows and open the sunroof. I assume it's the same for this car (haven't tried it yet).

It does.

[Rising_Wave]

5 year old post about to reignited because I just picked up a 2014 x3 M, and only just learned about this function. Couldn’t figure it out until I realized it wasn’t a timer… although according to you guys, apparently it is. So, I set mine for 1pm, and waited. 1:01pm came and it activated on its own. I didn’t stick around to ensure that it turned off after 30 minutes.. but I’m assuming that’s what it’ll do?

[TXGrey]

Originally Posted by Rising_Wave

5 year old post about to reignited because I just picked up a 2014 x3 M, and only just learned about this function. Couldn’t figure it out until I realized it wasn’t a timer… although according to you guys, apparently it is. So, I set mine for 1pm, and waited. 1:01pm came and it activated on its own. I didn’t stick around to ensure that it turned off after 30 minutes.. but I’m assuming that’s what it’ll do?

yes... it should technically time out ( and turn off)... I haven't decided if it really does much or not. I'm in DFW; 105 today... But most days, I'm in a parking garage. This week, I've had to do a few outside lots... so when I remember to, I try this function. I think it helps A LITTLE, not a ton. I keep my rear windows cracked about an inch... a CoverCraft Window shade (and my front window is tinted)... It's still incredibly &%@#ing hot when I get in the car... BUT, it does seem to be a tad better using the ventilation option... maybe because I also have some windows cracked that allow for some "pushed" air to escape...? Who knows...

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Rising_Wave

5 year old post about to reignited because I just picked up a 2014 x3 M, and only just learned about this function. Couldn’t figure it out until I realized it wasn’t a timer… although according to you guys, apparently it is. So, I set mine for 1pm, and waited. 1:01pm came and it activated on its own. I didn’t stick around to ensure that it turned off after 30 minutes.. but I’m assuming that’s what it’ll do?

You have two options...you can set a timed event to occur...or you can select it to vent "now"...like if you are running errands on a hot day...when you press the START button to turn the ignition off...you can go to the CLIMATE settings in idrive and select the box to ventilate now. Then proceed to turn the car completely off (or open the door if you have things set to shut down that way). The system will run for up to 30 minutes (if you're battery capacity starts to drop, then it will shut down earlier.

I have the 2nd programmable button set to take me directly to this CLIMATE setting so that anytime I need to use this feature...it is one button press away. I also use it when it is extremely hot/humid and I'm parking in an enclosed or dark parking location with low ventilation. A dark low ventilation location is prime for the growth of bacteria & mold...which can end up becoming AC funk if you find yourself parking in a dark low ventilated location a lot.

You can see a screen shot below of the CLIMATE setting screen where you can program up to TWO timed ventilation events...or you can select the activate now (again, this can only be done when the engine has been turned off but the car is still powered...instructions are in your owners manual if you can't figure it out...plus there's an owners manual built into iDrive which you can read right there in the car while trying to use the feature).

[GDEvans]

I'm not sure about hybrid X3's, but the electric iX3 runs the full climate control using whatever temperature it was set to when you turned it off. Only ten mins leaves a lovely cold car. Plus the bonus is the seats cool down when nobody is in the car, so you sit down on nice cool leather!

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by Sea-Tac

The ventilate function on my BMW's is wimpy. It doesn't cool your car down at all. It gently blows ambient temperature air around the cabin for however long you set it. I think its was designed so that when you get in the car that's been sitting outside the air inside the car isn't stale.

This is 100% correct.
The feature is literally called "ventilation", not "cooling" ... its just to get fresher air into the cabin, whatever the air temp is outside is the air it's going to freshen the cabin with.
it may help marginally but is not AC obviously.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Rising_Wave

5 year old post about to reignited because I just picked up a 2014 x3 M, and only just learned about this function. Couldn’t figure it out until I realized it wasn’t a timer… although according to you guys, apparently it is. So, I set mine for 1pm, and waited. 1:01pm came and it activated on its own. I didn’t stick around to ensure that it turned off after 30 minutes.. but I’m assuming that’s what it’ll do?

A 2014 X3M doesn't exist...

[TXGrey]

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

This is 100% correct.
The feature is literally called "ventilation", not "cooling" ... its just to get fresher air into the cabin, whatever the air temp is outside is the air it's going to freshen the cabin with.

Sorry - yes. I should have added that to my entry above… there is ZERO A/C done with this option/item… it is simply pushing (as mentioned above - ambient) air through the vents. The catch is… if you have some windows cracked for “venting” and you use this function, in theory, it will help “push” some really HOT air from inside the car to the outside… at least a little. If your windows are all closed, I can’t see it helping even the least little bit. Just my 2 cents…

[avi66]

Originally Posted by TXGrey

Sorry - yes. I should have added that to my entry above… there is ZERO A/C done with this option/item… it is simply pushing (as mentioned above - ambient) air through the vents. The catch is… if you have some windows cracked for “venting” and you use this function, in theory, it will help “push” some really HOT air from inside the car to the outside… at least a little. If your windows are all closed, I can’t see it helping even the least little bit. Just my 2 cents…

It does seem to cool it down even with the windows closed. We use it after a day at the beach. Just use the MyBMW app to ventilate whilst walking back from the beach. That said the typical temp range is 25-35D c, so not as hot as in some places.

As said, don't expect aircon cool, but it feels less hot compared to not using it.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by TXGrey

… if you have some windows cracked for “venting” and you use this function, in theory, it will help “push” some really HOT air from inside the car to the outside… at least a little. If your windows are all closed, I can’t see it helping even the least little bit. Just my 2 cents…

Ditto post above. Even if the windows are NOT cracked...it will still bring in ambient temp air. There are vents in the trunk/cargo area behind the finished paneling that vents air to the exterior of the car.

pic below shows one of the "flow through" vents (in the trunk of my old e38's battery compartment) that allows air to escape from the interior to reduce cabin pressure as doors open/close and when the HVAC blower is running:

These vents are there to prevent air pressure build up inside the cabin. If these vents weren't there...your doors would be very hard to close because the air pressure built up in the cabin would bounce the doors back open.

Same occurs when the HVAC blower is running...if there weren't any vents to the exterior...the air pressure in the cabin would build up.

So when your car is sitting in the hot sun all day...if it is 80° F...after a few hours it could easily rise to approx 120° F:

How hot do cars get in the summer?

The fastest rise in temperature occurs as soon as you turn off the AC. If the car is parked in the sun, the mercury can rise by more than one degree per minute for the first 30 minutes. This means if you spend half an hour in the store on a 90-degree day, the inside of your car could be around 120 degrees when you return.

After an hour, the average in-car temperature is 43 degrees higher than the outdoor temperature. After 90 minutes, this rises to 48 degrees higher. Therefore, when it’s 90 degrees outside, it could reach an incredible 138 degrees in your parked car.

Using the Ventilation feature (for non-hybrids)...turning on the HVAC blower may not COOL the interior down as if the AC was running...but bringing in ambient temp air can still help reduce the temp inside the interior if it has been sitting in the sun all day.