When I was buying my 330i, the dealer told me that BMW doesn't make block heaters for our cars. Why don't our cars use them? Every other car in Canada comes standard with a block heater...

Maybe most of their customer base do not live in areas where there are extreme temperatures? Or maybe they dont see their customers doing losts of winter driving?

 

Maybe most of their customer base do not live in areas where there are extreme temperatures? Or maybe they dont see their customers doing losts of winter driving?

Not to be rude.... but pretty much anywhere in Canada (-Vancover) will see extreme temeratures during the winter. I'm not to sure if my e46 had a block heater as I never really had a need for it (heated Garage)... But I can guarantee you that my e36 had a block heater.

 

When I was buying my 330i, the dealer told me that BMW doesn't make block heaters for our cars. Why don't our cars use them? Every other car in Canada comes standard with a block heater...

:werd:

Been here done that! This is the first car I've had without a block heater.

After the January we had here I will looking for one as well. They are available, but definitely aftermarket freeze plug style. Canadian Tire? Or a jobber? This is on the list of jobs to be done in the spring.

I find it interesting that BMW does not offer one, not even on it's "cold weather" package!

 

excuse my southern cali ignorance, but what exactly does a block heater do?

 

excuse my southern cali ignorance, but what exactly does a block heater do?

It heats the block

 

It heats the block

:lmao:

what does an apple peeler do?

 

excuse my southern cali ignorance, but what exactly does a block heater do?

Give the guy a break, so he doesn't know what a block heater is, so what.

Chosen1, basically a block heater is a heater that keeps the engine block warm. I believe you can plug the heater into a regular electrical socket. Its usually for cars that operate in extreme cold temperatures (i.e. -20 deg F. and colder. That way you aren't trying to start up a "block of ice".

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but my guess is that it doesn't need one. Synthetic oil unlike dino oil retains it's proper viscosity over a much wider range than dino oil and my research woudl lead me to beleive that it eliminates the need for a block heater.

Thanks,
Adam

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here, but my guess is that it doesn't need one. Synthetic oil unlike dino oil retains it's proper viscosity over a much wider range than dino oil and my research woudl lead me to beleive that it eliminates the need for a block heater.

Thanks,
Adam

This is true, but a block heater is installed in the coolant jacket. It gets the coolant warmed up and therefore gets the heater up to temperature quicker. It is really only necessary in temperatures of -10C or colder - the car definitely turns over easier too.

A block heater doesn't do a lot for the oil since it is in the pan. There are dipstick inserts, but a typical block heater goes in the block.

This is a typical one - pop out a freeze plug and in it goes. The last one I installed was 600 watts.

 

Block Heater

I asked the salesman to show me the block heater plug-in cord when I was taking delivery on my 325 last month. I got the same response - "BMW doesn't use block heaters". I said that I would be calling him if the car doesn't start when I am in Northern Alberta and it's -40.

That said, my previous VW Golf TDI didn't have a block heater either which is very unusual for this part of the world. It had a dealer installed heater which was epoxied onto the underside of the oil pan (outside).

Matt

 

Another Type of Heater

One of the best engine heaters (next to the hibachi under the oil pan- but that is another thread) is the inline style which is installed in the lower rad hose (spliced in). These work great and convection to heat things up. I've seen these warm the coolant up enough to register on the temp gauge. I believe that they are about 1500 watts- maybe more.

Matt

 

It had a dealer installed heater which was epoxied onto the underside of the oil pan (outside).

Matt

Dealer installed and epoxied? Really? I thought my buddie's Golf had it freeze plug installed.

Every one I've seen has be the clamp type in a freeze plug. Except for a 1998 Civic - it was from Cdn Tire and threaded into a plug on the block. It was nice because it was a positive torqued unit, instaed of "guessing" on the clamp types.

Only bad thing I've heard about the in-hose type is they put a lot of heat wear on that part of the hose. Since the fluids have to circulate on their own, it is usually very very warm around where the element is. Never used one, this is just what I heard.

 

:lmao:

what does an apple peeler do?

It peels apple??? I dunno.... :neener:

Anyway, I've lived in Calgary and never installed an block heater into my 323...it always started with no problems (even in -35C, parked outside overnight).....always keep the battery fully charged and use the proper engine oil then your set....

And props to the seat heaters too...