1991 E30 Alpinweiß 325iX [SOLD]
2005 E46 Sparkling Graphite Metallic 330Ci ZHP 6spd
Owner's manual / BMW suggests setting at 72°.
2006 330ci ZHP - Silbergrau Metallic / Stoff Laser/Anthrazit / Alu Black Cube trim / Adaptive Xenon headlights / HK hi-fi system / heated front seats
I don't care much for the automatic function either. I feel like it doesn't really get rid of the tinkering as much as it should.
I've been trying to use the central vent adjustment, but that kind of defeats the purpose of an automatic system for me. In the winter before the car heats up enough, I want the vent adjustment at the hottest setting and the fan on low. After the engine heats up, I hit the auto button if I want more heat. Either way at some point I'll have to mess with the vent adjustment.
For manual controls, my general procedure is to wait for the car to warm up slightly. Put the heat adjustment on the hottest and start with the fan on the lowest. Go up with the fan speed when the engine warms up a bit if needed. When it gets too hot, start reducing the fan speed, and the thermostat after that.
If anything the manual approach seems simpler to me, and the auto hvac is a bit useless in my case.
??? The auto HVAC literally does your entire manual warm up procedure...but... automatically...
I absolutely love it in the e46. I leave it set on 68 and it'll start blowing warm air once the engine gets warm enough to share. The only time it needs your input is when the defrost is required - then it dumps all available resources to the windshield to get you going. I have zero complaints about this system.