X5 - Aux Diesel Heater

[celticpilgrim]

Can anybody tell me.....

How the Aux Diesel heater works, does it only operate via the timer, or the optional remote control?

[blackspider]

Via a remote control,its quite a large remote that you will have if you have had aux heating retro fitted,this allows you to heat the vehicle interior up 30 mins before getting in.Although you have the unit under the bonnet,you still have to have it retro fitted.

you can set the time up on board but i'll check tomorrow to see how to set it up as i cant remeber off hand.

Cant tell you how much the retro is,you will need to phone your nearest dealer.It takes about 1.5 hours for the retrofit to be caried out(wiring/aerial for the remote)

[_deano]

Wouldn't running the heater drain the battery?

[blackspider]

_deano said:

Wouldn't running the heater drain the battery?

It is a webasto diesel burner so it doesnt use much power,has its own control unit,pump etc.

Page 81 of the hand book gives switch on operating functions.

ign position 1,press clock button in multi func display,select heat on,set time.
For on board display(tv),select heating,set time.If you cant do this then it needs retro.

The X5 (diesel only!)comes with the burner fitted but needs to be retro fit to work!daft I know

Edited by blackspider on Thursday 21st December 09:25

[_deano]

you can't get one on a petrol engine car (i have a 530i) then?

Edited by _deano on Thursday 21st December 09:23

[CatherineJ]

Thanks Blackspider.

I wasn't sure if it was also a case that when you had the ignition in position 1 that it operated if the temperature was low enough.

[blackspider]

CatherineJ said:

Thanks Blackspider.

I wasn't sure if it was also a case that when you had the ignition in position 1 that it operated if the temperature was low enough.

outside temp needs to be 16' or below for it to work

[CatherineJ]

Yes I noticed that in the handbook. Am I correct in my assumption that even if the temp is low enough you can ONLY operate it via the Timer or the Remote?

[gwaredd]

I have one of these fitted to my 530D. It's great getting into a warm defrosted car on an icy morning like today, whilst the poor people have to scrape ice from their cars.

[mroad]

deano,
Nope not on petrol engines, as far as I know they are illegal in the UK on petrol engines but I am ready to be stood corrected. Petrol heaters were an option on my E34 M5 but never for the UK market.

[CatherineJ]

I actually managed to switch this on whilst sat in the car waiting for MOH to come out of Sainsburys. It was working for all of a few minutes, so I didn't really see any benefit.

Can someone tell me how long it takes before warm air starts to come through?

[blackspider]

Takes about 5 mins for the heat to come in-after about 30 mins the whole interior is toast.
The idea is to set the time 15-30 mins before you to go get in the vehicle so its nice and warm.

[geordiex5]

Hi I am new to the site and have bought a X5 3.0D sport and I see you have answered a lot of questions on the Aux heater I never got the remote and when I set the timer from inside the car the fan in the car starts up but the heater dosnt so I just get cold air is there anyway of testing this before I go out and buy a remote as my local dealer didnt know much about the heater.

Edited by geordiex5 on Tuesday 2nd January 14:37

[blackspider]

geordiex5 said:

Hi I am new to the site and have bought a X5 3.0D sport and I see you have answered a lot of questions on the Aux heater I never got the remote and when I set the timer from inside the car the fan in the car starts up but the heater dosnt so I just get cold air is there anyway of testing this before I go out and buy a remote as my local dealer didnt know much about the heater.

Edited by geordiex5 on Tuesday 2nd January 14:37

Are you testing it below 8 degree's?it also takes upto five minutes to fire up-if you have never used it you can also expect it to smoke for a little while.The remote is a retrofit item-chances are its not had this fitted before.It takes about 1.5 hours to do(aerial,control module,wiring).

Edited by blackspider on Tuesday 2nd January 15:59

[catherineJ]

geordiex5 said:

Hi I am new to the site and have bought a X5 3.0D sport and I see you have answered a lot of questions on the Aux heater I never got the remote and when I set the timer from inside the car the fan in the car starts up but the heater dosnt so I just get cold air is there anyway of testing this before I go out and buy a remote as my local dealer didnt know much about the heater.

Edited by geordiex5 on Tuesday 2nd January 14:37

Same here Geordie, but as BS has said it does take 5 minutes to really get going and I definately was out of the car within 5 minutes.
MOH was outside the other morning and he said it was definately running although there was no diesel smoke. Im not sure at what point in the 30 minute cycle he was stood by the car.

[Arif110]

_deano said:

Wouldn't running the heater drain the battery?

You generally get two types of auxiliary heating systems. The answer to your question will swing on which type is used.

Air-heaters simply generate hot air (setting myself up here, aren't I?) - and have very little current-draw from the battery - as they only need to power a tiny fuel pump to draw the diesel (the pipe-bore for which is about the same as a Bic Biro refill), and an efficient blower fan to blow (waft, really) the hot air in. You can run these for almost as long as you like, and not worry about battery drainage. Mine (an Eberspacher) often runs for 8 or more hours - but then it does tip into pause mode when hot enough.

Coolant heaters, on the other hand - which is what I would suspect is used in your vehicle - are rigged up to your car's coolant circuit - and actually warm the engine at the same time - so not only do your have heated air coming through your car's vents, your engine is literally warm too, and this is good for engine life. However - this sytem draws quite heavily on current, as on top of drawing diesel like the other type above - it has also to pump your coolant round (very heavy work), and also I imagine your car's heater blower would need to come on-stream, if the car is to be warmed up. I don't know if on your car the blower stays off - and you get in to a cold interior but then you have instant heat when you do turn the blower on - or if the blower comes on as a part of the 'service' - and therefore you get into a warmed vehicle interior. So - there you're running three processes - of which water-pumping is the greatest in terms of battery drainage. The rule-of-thumb with these systems is to ensure that you've driven the car for the around same amount of time as the heater had been running.

Webasto to my knowledge are more known for the latter type of heating system.

Either way - they're brilliant systems - and once you've experienced one - will be reluctant to ever have to do without. They're of more use on diesels anyhoo, as these generally take much longer than petrols to warm up.

Hope that helps!!