How to turn on the air conditioning internal and external circulation for BMW X3?
3 Answers
To turn on the air conditioning internal and external circulation for BMW X3, press the AM button in the air conditioning control area. 'A' stands for automatic switching between internal and external circulation, meaning the vehicle automatically detects and controls the circulation mode. 'M' stands for forced internal circulation, while external circulation is activated when the light is off. Internal circulation refers to the air blown by the blower circulating inside the vehicle, while external circulation means the blower draws air from outside the vehicle and blows it inside. The BMW X3 is positioned as a mid-size SUV, with dimensions of 4648mm in length, 1881mm in width, and 1661mm in height, and a wheelbase of 2810mm. The vehicle is equipped with a 2.0T inline 4-cylinder turbocharged engine across all variants, available in high, medium, and low power calibrations, all paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
I remember when I first drove the BMW X3, I was a bit confused about finding the air recirculation function. On the center console to the right of the steering wheel, there's a small button with an arrow. Press it once, and it lights up green, indicating that the recirculation mode is on—this means the air inside the car circulates to prevent external dust from entering. Press it again, and the light turns off, switching to fresh air mode, which draws in outside air. You can also adjust this on the central screen: open the main menu, select the climate control icon, scroll to find the recirculation option, and toggle it as needed. I find recirculation particularly useful in traffic jams or on smoggy days, but don’t use it for too long—fresh air helps prevent fatigue. In automatic mode, the AC manages the recirculation itself. To adjust the temperature, just use the AUTO button and the dial next to it to set your comfort range.
Having driven the BMW X3 for five years, I'm very familiar with switching between the recirculation and fresh air modes. Just press the recirculation button on the climate control panel to activate the recirculation mode, which is ideal for preventing smoke or exhaust fumes from entering the cabin, especially in congested urban areas. To switch back to fresh air mode, simply press the button again or let the system adjust automatically. In automatic mode, the system optimizes air circulation based on temperature, such as prioritizing fresh air mode for faster heating when warming up. I've found that using recirculation mode with MAX A/C provides quicker cooling efficiency, but don't forget to switch to fresh air mode when defogging the windows. Regularly checking the cabin air filter is crucial—if the air circulation isn't working properly, the filter might be clogged and need replacement.
