[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Did you do the windshield? I think I'm going to next spring. I did all the others but the windshield is still letting in a ton of heat.

I used 25% ceramic on all the windows but obviously I'd do the Air 80 on the windshield.

Todd, can you please post a picture of your 25% from a side view? Tint is the only thing I haven't done, but am considering it and I am thinking 25%. 35% is the law here and it is almost not worth it. My hunt is purely cosmetic, heat not so much.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Todd, can you please post a picture of your 25% from a side view? Tint is the only thing I haven't done, but am considering it and I am thinking 25%. 35% is the law here and it is almost not worth it. My hunt is purely cosmetic, heat not so much.

Here are two. One when I picked it up from the tint shop, and one after a wash and with the window chrome deleted.

It's a hard thing to judge from pictures. The picture taken in the driveway makes it look darker than it is.

I didn't want to go too dark, but I was and still am very happy they nudged me in the direction of the 25% and not the 35%.

Laws are the same here, but I haven't had any issues.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by NGT2

Here are two. One when I picked it up from the tint shop, and one after a wash and with the window chrome deleted.

It's a hard thing to judge from pictures. The picture taken in the driveway makes it look darker than it is.

I didn't want to go too dark, but I was and still am very happy they nudged me in the direction of the 25% and not the 35%.

Laws are the same here, but I haven't had any issues.

Thanks, I am going to go for 25%. Looks great on your car and what a big difference the chrome delete made.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Thanks, I am going to go for 25%. Looks great on your car and what a big difference the chrome delete made.

I agree! You will be happy with it.

[New5Series]

Originally Posted by AP

https://g30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...1395349&page=9

This is the long thread!

Hopefully it's nothing hardware related. It might just need a rehash anyway. I'm getting my 2017 a/c service this week as it happens. My dealer said they recommend doing that every 2 years anyway.

Push for an istep update if you can . They might not be keen as it takes about 2 hours or so to do. But as I say this amends the logic so the noticeable difference for me was that on a hot day the a/c was more keen to cool the car down where's previously you would start the car and it would appear to wait a bit before starting to cool.

Have a read through the thread though

I know it has been a while, but are you still servicing your a/c at the dealer regularly? What does this service entail and how much did it cost?

I’ve been having sluggish/inadequate a/c performance since I got the car and am looking for anything to help improve it.

Cheers

[Lg11]

Originally Posted by 540i_DFW

Check the cabin air filters. Lazy mechanics have been known to install the dual filters in the wrong direction. The air flow arrows on the filters should be pointing toward the rear of the car or pointing toward you. If they are installed in reverse the air flow could be restricted.

Can someone please post a picture of the service manual that show which way these filters go? Every video or post I watch has them going a different direction! I have swapped direction on them twice now! I had it right at some point 😂😂

For example the post I quoted say towards the cabin and this video says toward the engine

[New5Series]

Originally Posted by Lg11

Can someone please post a picture of the service manual that show which way these filters go? Every video or post I watch has them going a different direction! I have swapped direction on them twice now! I had it right at some point ����

For example the post I quoted say towards the cabin and this video says toward the engine

While checking my cabin air filters (also called microfilter) a few months ago prior to bringing the car in for service, I noticed the Airflow arrow was pointing towards the cabin and away from the engine. This car was purchased CPO and according to the service records the filters were changed just prior to sale in May 2024. I wanted to see which way the filters were installed and also wanted to write the date on the filters so that I can check if the dealership actually replaces them when I take it in for service.

Below is a photo of how the cabin air filters looked when I was checking them earlier this year (March 2025).


Note how there was dirt and debris on the backside of the filter, the side closest towards the cabin and away from the engine. To me this looks like it was installed incorrectly, as you would expect the debris to appear on the side of the filter closest to the flat end of the Airflow arrow and not closest to the point of the Airflow arrow.


Now this week I just had my car in for service and had every filter changed, including the cabin air filters (microfilter). To ensure that the filters were indeed changed, I took a look at them yesterday, and saw new filters installed. Also, they installed the filters with the Airflow arrows pointing towards the engine and away from the cabin.

Below is a photo of how the cabin air filters looked when I was checking them yesterday (May 2025) after having them changed by the dealer.


Note how since this is a new filter, there is no dirt or debris, but I suspect in the future over time, it will accumulate on the side that is closest to the cabin and furthest from the engine.

Key Takeaway
All this above leads me to believe the correct way to install the cabin air filters (microfilter) is with the Airflow arrow pointing towards the engine and away from the cabin.

[Lg11]

If the dealer can’t get it right I don’t feel bad.

This is pretty definitive and luckily the way I have them installed now. Arrow towards the front of the car

[New5Series]

Originally Posted by Lg11

If the dealer can’t get it right I don’t feel bad.

This is pretty definitive and luckily the way I have them installed now. Arrow towards the front of the car

For the record, the purchasing dealership that installed the cabin air filters (microfilter) incorrectly was BMW Freeport.

The dealership where I had it recently serviced and cabin air filters (microfilter) were installed correctly was Rallye BMW.

Cheers

[Advancer]

For weak AC you may want to check the ventilation temperature settings:

Adjusting the ventilation
temperature
1. "CAR"
2. "Settings"
3. "Climate comfort"
4. "Temperature adjustment"
5. Set the desired temperature.
The temperature is adjusted on an individual ba
sis, for example towards the blue for colder and
towards the red for warmer.

This helped on my 2022 540 along with changing the cabin air filters