BristolFlyer From United Kingdom, joined May 2004, 2143 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1305 times:
A few years ago I remember a big deal being made about BMW's new heater system that retains heat for a number of hrs for quicker cabin warm-up in cold climes. IIRC it had some sort of ceramic insulation material that was ultra effective at holding the heat for a long time.
Does anybody have any experience with this? Is it any good? Has it been used on other vehicles?
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3295 posts, RR: 7 Reply 1, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 1275 times:
The system uses residual heat from the engine compartment, and blows it into the cabin compartment.
LOT767-300ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1264 times:
Quoting Flight152 (Reply 1): The system uses residual heat from the engine compartment, and blows it into the cabin compartment.
Is the BMW system as stupid as the VW one? Where you have a water pump that heats the heater core for a period of I want to say 30-60 minutes after car has been turned off?
Flight152 From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 3295 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1258 times:
Not really sure how well it works to be honest. My parents have it on their 530xi, but I don't think it has ever been used.
N1120A From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 25869 posts, RR: 79 Reply 4, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 1171 times:
Quoting Flight152 (Reply 1): The system uses residual heat from the engine compartment, and blows it into the cabin compartment.
I think most car heaters do that, don't they?
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
MCOflyer From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 8556 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1140 times:
Quoting LOT767-300ER (Reply 2):
Just get a remote start and be over with it.
I could not agree more. It also warms up the engine and you loose the risk of your car stalling.
Avt007 From Canada, joined Jul 2000, 2131 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1129 times:
I like cars, and technology, but sometimes it gets out of hand. Just use a plain old heater core, so it doesn't cost $2,000 for a replacement. Gimmicks like that strike me as a fine idea until it fails, and now you've got an expensive, complex system to repair instead of a plain one.
I don't know about really cold climates, but in most conditions the whole letting the car warm up thing is BS.
In modern cars, you are correct. In older cars, not so much. The issue, however, is that people need their cars to be warm before driving in really cold weather.
Quoting Avt007 (Reply 7): Gimmicks like that strike me as a fine idea until it fails, and now you've got an expensive, complex system to repair instead of a plain one.
I have never seen a BMW with a major HVAC problem.
Mangeons les French fries, mais surtout pratiquons avec fierte le French kiss
PlaneWasted From Sweden, joined Jan 2008, 442 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1113 times:
I use anti-ecodriving when starting the car cold. That means, I use the first and second gear all the time until the car is warm and nice. To low gear = lots of friction heat into the engine cooling water. Takes maximum 2 minutes until I have lots of nice heat from my 65 hp engine.
ScrubbsYWG From Canada, joined Mar 2007, 1488 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1086 times:
about 'not letting cars warm up', well, that is fine and dandy when it is warm but when you start the car and the temp gauge says -32C when you get in in the morning, i think its best to let it run for a few minutes.
LOT767-300ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1067 times:
Quoting PlaneWasted (Reply 10): I use anti-ecodriving when starting the car cold. That means, I use the first and second gear all the time until the car is warm and nice. To low gear = lots of friction heat into the engine cooling water. Takes maximum 2 minutes until I have lots of nice heat from my 65 hp engine.
Quoting BR715-A1-30 (Reply 12): I could SMOKE you on the drag strip.. LOL I only got 130hp too...
Luv2cattlecall From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 1648 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (5 years 3 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1042 times:
For quite some time, BMWs have had a "REST" button = residual heat, where it just blows air over the heater core dumping...residual heat...into your car. It may seem like a gimmick feature, but if you're just running into the mall for an hour or something, it's great. Keep in mind that most BMWs have a gigantic battery (in the trunk, opposite side of the driver, to counteract his/her weight since most of the time, it's only the driver in a car), so draining it isn't really an issue.
The newer ones have a "normal" heater core style heater, but some (mine is an '07 7 series, not sure about the rest) have a regular electric heater as well. Since the 7 has a V8 engine, it takes some time to warm up, so it's great having hot air right away. I think most portable heaters may be referred to as "ceramic heaters..." not sure on that though, but seeing as how the system is basically a portable heater stuffed into your HVAC system, that'd be what you're talking about.
When you have to breaststroke to your connecting flight...it's a crash!
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 3350 posts, RR: 30 Reply 15, posted (5 years 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 23 hours ago) and read 1026 times:
Is this a special feature for colder regions? I do not think I have seen such a system in Germany for BMWs. The BMW of my parents has heated seats, thoug, thats cool as well...
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I only got 130hp too...
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