what is this dial above center A/C vent?

[ultraviolet353]

'94 318is--there is a dial above center A/C vent one side is a blue dot, the other side is a red dot--what is this? I don't think it is temperature because there is a thermostat dial undraneath that.

[eboy1978]

it controls the flow of air from the vent in the middle of the dash in conjunction with the thermostat. if you turn it to all blue dots, lots of cold air will come out of that vent as long as you have selected cold air on the 'stat. If you turn it all the way to red, only hot air will come out.

[docrobot]

[jllphan]

That's not exactly right. It doesn't work in conjunction with the climate control. It works completely independent of the CC.

So let's say it's muggy and raining. You get in your car and the front windshield fogs. You can turn on the defrost (with warm air) but moving the slide underneath the center vent will allow you to cool yourself with cool air. Kinda cool.

[eboy1978]

really? that is kinda cool.... i guess i haven't had the chance to try that out yet since it's always fooking freezing cold in this DAMN COUNTRY!

[docrobot]

On the Climate controls on my '92 325i, why does my airconditioning always come on when I hit the Recirculation Button; even with the dual temp controls turned up?

used

[BeachBunny]

Are you sure the air's on and it's not just the air recirculating back atcha? If it's the air cond... maybe it's cooling off the recir. air?... Are you saying you've got the temp up to 80 and the air cond. button on?