MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2017 - AUG2

screen. And when they go back to the normal panel
screen, there's no obvious indication of this trim,
and yet it remains in vehicle memory unless it's
changed.

right side of the screen shows, there are separate
settings for the upper body HVAC registers for both
driver and passengers (Figure 4).

BMW Trim Settings

Paul Weissler

BMW is one user of this arrangement, and we went
through the trim procedure on a new 5-Series. The
connected-drive display screen doesn't say much
(Figure 1), but press the tiny menu button at the
bottom of the horizontal line of climate control but-

Paul Weissler

Figures 4: We picked the driver's upper body adjustment and set the number
of temperature bars desired. This setting will remain in memory for the particular key fob. It can lower temperatures to increase face cooling or as shown,
increase the temperature to reduce the cooling for the driver who feels the air
hitting his face is too cold.

The seat heating setting is automatic below 50°F
(Figure 5), but here again, the level of heating can

Figures 1: "Home Page" of a BMW 5-Series notes "Connected Drive," provides fuel economy number, but not much more.

Paul Weissler

tons (Figure 2) and the display tells you there are
trim settings for automatic air recirculation, upper

Paul Weissler

Figures 5: Seat heating also may be adjusted on this screen.

be preset and if it's inadequate for the driver (or one of
the drivers), the issue could be with the preset trim level.
So, when you have an inexplicable performance
problem, and before you tear physically into the
control panel, sit down with an owner 's manual
(the full manual, not just the "quick guide" that
most owners keep handy). It may be over a thousand pages and take 10-15 minutes to go through
the applicable section, but it could save you hours
of unnecessary work. Or if you have a relationship
with the car dealer, see if you can get a few minutes
of talk time about the problem.

Figures 2: Press the menu button at the bottom of the display panel. It's in the
middle of a horizontal line of Climate Control buttons for those who want to
start with the tactile feel.

body (upper HVAC registers) temperature adjustments, comfort ventilation (when the A/C and heat
are off) and operational controls for the seat heating/cooling, and the steering wheel heating (Figure
3). Select temp. adjustment, upper body, and as the

GM Trim Settings

Paul Weissler

Industry veterans might remember that some
General Motors automatic systems (and possibly
others) of years ago had trim adjustments in the
control panels (Figure 6). They weren't externally
adjustable, so unless the changes in settings were
made by a technician, they remained the same for
the life of the car. However, when a customer complained about the level of cooling and the technician couldn't find anything wrong, he might just
turn the trim adjuster to increase or decrease it.

Figures 3: When you press the menu button the choice of Climate Control settings comes up on the display.

August 2017

MACS Service Reports

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of MACS Monthly Newsletter - 2017