vents get hot while sitting

[froderickskulldigger]

Anybody familier with a problem where in hot weather an E36 dashboard/ventilation system gets really hot. My 97 328i did it and so does my 99 M3, it is much worse.

If you drive the car for 15-20 minutes and get out for an hour the whole vent system gets really warm. I have to run the air conditioner for 5 to 10 minutes just to chill it down. The other thing I noticed is that the fan that runs after the engine is turned off hardly ever runs even on 90 plus degree days. The temeprature of the car never runs hot. If I had to guess the engine is heating up the ductwork under the hood and when you turn the car on it blows hot air.

I guess my question is if this is something I have to live with or something I can fix? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Hamfisted]

Make sure you're running the A/C system in Recirculate mode and not trying to pull in hot outside air to cool down. Is your compressor cycling off and on? Might need to check the R134 freon level.






Mike
'97 328i

[Cruzin 323is]

if the fan barely never goes on, then maybe u should get that checked out.. allmost all e36's i know off... even mine, goes on all the time...

[froderickskulldigger]

Actually the airconditioner works fine I just don't want to have to run it when the top is down just to cool the fresh air vents...
I also thought is was the fan but the shop checked it and said it was fine.

[Cruzin 323is]

behind the vents is the firewall... and behind the firewall is the engine.. its probably just heat comming from the engine... if the fan works.. then u shouldn't have anything to worry about... plus.. the dashboard is hot from the sun and the heat... wait till the weather gets cooler.. and see if it is still a problem..

[Furious]

this is a silly question but you dont have the center climate control switch to hot do you? (talking about the one located just below your center vent)........just covering all bases.

[e36surge]

I have the same problem as originally posted. My center climate switch is turned to the cold and I get the same. I think it's just the way the vents are placed as mentionned by cruzin. My 318is had the same problem... issue... my fan works on my 325... curious to know whether newer beamers have the same issue...

just my 0.02$

[victorgallas]

for the center vent heat issue, check your heater core electric valve, this is the valve that opens and closes to regulated the heat on the heater core.
With time, and bad electrical contacts, this valve will malfucntion, therefore allowing water to go to the heather core, and also, when it gets old, it looses its ability to properly seal, and so the hot water passes trough the solenoid and makes it to the heather core. The fix?
Check electrical plugs and wires, tests them to make sure all is ok, and then if needed, replace heather core valve.