AC goes to lowest setting

[jsanchezhotbimmer]

I have a 97 528i and the AC started going to the lowest setting and almost not blowing any air when the AC is on for a while. I will have the AC on 3/4 or higher setting and it starts blowing less and less until almost no air comes out. I can try to put it on high and nothing happens. I will turn it off then back on and same issue, very little air comes out.

If I leave the AC off for 10 minutes it will start working just fine again. Any ideas what this could be? Sounds as if something is heating up and then shuts down.

 

[Montana]

if it's like a home ac, you are probably low on "freon" which ultimately causes your condenser coils to frost over. As more and more frost builds it eventually covers the entire coil area and blocks air flow. After it rests, the frost/ice melts and you're clear again. Have the freon level checked and topped off. You might have a leak which is a problem to watch.

Edit -- if on Auto, since the airflow is being progressively restricted, the ac doesn't cool as much so it does the normal thing which is turn down the temperature and/or up the fan speed. More evidence of the same problem above.