Heaters on or off?

simples · 01-18-2010, 09:07 AM

with the cold spell at the moment, is it ok to switch on the incar heating (min\max setting) as soon as you drive off or would you wait a wait for the engine to warmup. i know this was the case with older cars so just wanted a heads up on whats advisable with these newer cars? is it too much of a strain on the battery straight away??

xenon · 01-18-2010, 09:37 AM

How on earth does the heater temperature setting have any effect on the battery? Do you mean the fan speed on full causes too much drain? If that's what you meant then it doesn't cause any issue.

craig2859 · 01-18-2010, 09:56 AM

I am sure BMW's work on a safety loop kind of thing anyway, so if your battery was drained, it would sense it and cut off non essential things like the Fans, Radio etc leaving the battery power for the important circuits until it was fully charged again, so I think its fine in all honesty.

Em135eye · 01-18-2010, 10:03 AM

After a surf (like just now) my heaters go on full blast IMMEDIATELY!!

creepy coupe · 01-18-2010, 10:13 AM

If the draw on the battery increases, then the alternator allows more charge to it.

doughboy · 01-18-2010, 11:03 AM

Nowt to do with battery IMO.

But heaters on full blast just means the engine takes longer to warm up.

As with auto aircon, the blowers don't wind up until there's a bit of heat in the engine.

F104 · 01-18-2010, 11:39 AM

i guess what the OP meant is we have all electrical grid heaters which kick in when coolant temp is too low. Don't know what Watt rating it has, but a fair sized cable runs up to it. On the other side you have a 150 to 180 amp alternator, so at 12V it could produce some 2 kW.

foxy-367 · 01-19-2010, 12:00 PM

Whilst were on about heating, how the feck does the auto recirculation button work, from what I've read (in the manual) and been told it kicks in when the outside air has contaminants in it. Having sat behind a dirty old bus the other day belching out plumes of the black stuff (public transport good for the environment!) I had to change it to recirc myself! Whats the craic or is it just a swizz?

Teutonicdriver · 01-19-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxy-367

Whilst were on about heating, how the feck does the auto recirculation button work, from what I've read (in the manual) and been told it kicks in when the outside air has contaminants in it. Having sat behind a dirty old bus the other day belching out plumes of the black stuff (public transport good for the environment!) I had to change it to recirc myself! Whats the craic or is it just a swizz?

It is either off, on, or on automatic when it will kick in as stated. You still need to switch it on to auto though.

beemerbird · 01-19-2010, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simples

with the cold spell at the moment, is it ok to switch on the incar heating (min\max setting) as soon as you drive off or would you wait a wait for the engine to warmup. i know this was the case with older cars so just wanted a heads up on whats advisable with these newer cars? is it too much of a strain on the battery straight away??

ALL modern cars are designed to operate their fans and heaters within safety parameters of the battery - simple as, so I wouldn't even give it a second thought. That's the beauty of electronics and sensors (whilst their working ok - joke!). Don't be one of these I see driving daily with steamed up windows, mind you think most of those are totally clueless when it comes to opening the vents and actually using the correct fan speed or heater settings.

For the best and quickest heat in the cabin this shitty cold weather........Volvo......bloody amazing!!

Walesy · 01-19-2010, 04:52 PM

I thought they had a police sensors so that the heater wouldnt blow at full wack (if the temp setpoint is up high) when the engine coolant was too low but then kicks in when the temp increases in the engine/coolant.

Or am I talking shite?

shane55 · 01-19-2010, 05:08 PM

Auto and 20.0 degC...all year around rarely change it!

foxy-367 · 01-20-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teutonicdriver

It is either off, on, or on automatic when it will kick in as stated. You still need to switch it on to auto though.

I always have it on auto just doesn't seem to make any difference!

NFS · 01-20-2010, 02:09 AM

Why would anyone sit in the car in freezing weather with the heater off?

simples · 01-20-2010, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NFS

Why would anyone sit in the car in freezing weather with the heater off?

your're damm right. wack those heaters on full blast i say, bring on the cold!!!!!

fuzzer123456 · 01-20-2010, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shane55

Auto and 20.0 degC...all year around rarely change it!

i leave mine auto and 22 deg

mmmmQuattro · 01-22-2010, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 335diesel

After a surf (like just now) my heaters go on full blast IMMEDIATELY!!

Let me get this straight, there are actually people that surf (this is at the beach with waves, right) in the UK?
And in winter?

01-18-2010, 09:07 AM	#1
simples Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 274 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: london iTrader: (0)	Heaters on or off? with the cold spell at the moment, is it ok to switch on the incar heating (min\max setting) as soon as you drive off or would you wait a wait for the engine to warmup. i know this was the case with older cars so just wanted a heads up on whats advisable with these newer cars? is it too much of a strain on the battery straight away??
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01-18-2010, 09:37 AM	#2
xenon Major General 1397 Rep 8,083 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	How on earth does the heater temperature setting have any effect on the battery? Do you mean the fan speed on full causes too much drain? If that's what you meant then it doesn't cause any issue. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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01-18-2010, 09:56 AM	#3
craig2859 Black .... all the way !! 56 Rep 601 Posts Drives: [Previous]2006 330d M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: UK-Dorset iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 E90 330d M-Sport [0.00]	I am sure BMW's work on a safety loop kind of thing anyway, so if your battery was drained, it would sense it and cut off non essential things like the Fans, Radio etc leaving the battery power for the important circuits until it was fully charged again, so I think its fine in all honesty.
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01-18-2010, 10:03 AM	#4
Em135eye Banned 175 Rep 4,302 Posts Drives: M135i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South West iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 BMW M135i 5 door [0.00]	After a surf (like just now) my heaters go on full blast IMMEDIATELY!!
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01-18-2010, 10:13 AM	#5
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	If the draw on the battery increases, then the alternator allows more charge to it.
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01-18-2010, 11:03 AM	#6
doughboy Major General 1545 Rep 8,970 Posts Drives: 2018 M2 Comp 6MT Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK iTrader: (2)	Nowt to do with battery IMO. But heaters on full blast just means the engine takes longer to warm up. As with auto aircon, the blowers don't wind up until there's a bit of heat in the engine.
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01-18-2010, 11:39 AM	#7
F104 Captain 19 Rep 732 Posts Drives: E92 320D M-sport Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: belgium iTrader: (0)	i guess what the OP meant is we have all electrical grid heaters which kick in when coolant temp is too low. Don't know what Watt rating it has, but a fair sized cable runs up to it. On the other side you have a 150 to 180 amp alternator, so at 12V it could produce some 2 kW.
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01-19-2010, 12:00 PM	#8
foxy-367 Lieutenant 5 Rep 448 Posts Drives: 320d M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North West iTrader: (0)	Whilst were on about heating, how the feck does the auto recirculation button work, from what I've read (in the manual) and been told it kicks in when the outside air has contaminants in it. Having sat behind a dirty old bus the other day belching out plumes of the black stuff (public transport good for the environment!) I had to change it to recirc myself! Whats the craic or is it just a swizz? __________________ Now - E90 320d M Sport, Le Mans Blue, sun protection glass, Auto lights and wipers, 193M, a big grin Previous - Seat Leon FR, Golf Gttdi (x2), Mk3 Fiesta SI, E30 318i Peugeot 205 Roland Garros, Mk2 Fiesta Ghia (it had a rev counter!!!!)
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01-19-2010, 04:52 PM	#11
Walesy 24 cans in a case, 24 hours in a day Hmmmmmm 79 Rep 1,152 Posts Drives: BMW G30 MSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (1)	I thought they had a police sensors so that the heater wouldnt blow at full wack (if the temp setpoint is up high) when the engine coolant was too low but then kicks in when the temp increases in the engine/coolant. Or am I talking shite? __________________ Present: G30 530D XD MSport E84 X1 20D LUX
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01-19-2010, 05:08 PM	#12
shane55 First Lieutenant 32 Rep 336 Posts Drives: BMW 330d M-Sport Auto Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: IRL iTrader: (0)	Auto and 20.0 degC...all year around rarely change it! __________________ Sapphire Black* Darklines* Black Dakota Leather* Heated Seats* Professional Navigation* Xenons* High Beam Assist* Hi-Fi* USB Audio* DAB* BMW Assist* Sun Protection Glass
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01-20-2010, 02:09 AM	#14
NFS Major General 275 Rep 9,218 Posts Drives: M340i Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Why would anyone sit in the car in freezing weather with the heater off?
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