Automatic heater timer queries, E63 M6/E60/1 M5

[smokey145]

Guys,

is there anyway to set your auto timer to turn on after being off overnight so it blows out hot air rather than cool? and can i set the heated seats to come on as well? ive been messing about with the autotimer whilst sitting in my M6, after say turning the engine off for 5 mins and auto setting it to come back on, the air being blown out is still cool, even though the engine is up to temp.

any suggestions?

thanks in advance.

[ecain63]

Nope, no idea mate. New one on me.

Eddie

[smokey145]

ecain63 said:

Nope, no idea mate. New one on me.

Eddie

if you dont know i havent got much of a chance with this one then, lol

[robsa]

Hi there

I don't know about your model specifically, but BMW diesels on the continent are fitted with webasto pre-heaters, and they were also fitted to some other models too I think. Unfortunately, due to UK law they are not allowed in the UK (although some people have had cars with a pre-heater fitted - X5s and E39s I have heard about)
This probably explains why the timer only allows cool setting not hot (as my E65 did).

I contacted Webasto directly to see if I could activate this feature but the answer back was 'sorry, no'. I suppose you could perhaps go to Sweden and get it installed if you are rich and desperate?!

[ecain63]

Im sure somebody will come to your rescue mate. I cant help because its not something ive used much on my car, im quite a fan of the cold. Have you approached the owners manual for guidance? Normally, if the owners manual doesnt tell you how to do something it generally cannot be done. Good luck and if you do suss it out please do post it up for me to absorb.

Eddie

[ecain63]

robsa said:

Hi there

I don't know about your model specifically, but BMW diesels on the continent are fitted with webasto pre-heaters, and they were also fitted to some other models too I think. Unfortunately, due to UK law they are not allowed in the UK (although some people have had cars with a pre-heater fitted - X5s and E39s I have heard about)
This probably explains why the timer only allows cool setting not hot (as my E65 did).

I contacted Webasto directly to see if I could activate this feature but the answer back was 'sorry, no'. I suppose you could perhaps go to Sweden and get it installed if you are rich and desperate?!

Webasto heaters are not needed in the UK as our winter temps dont drop low enough to freeze coolant or damage oil (which is what its for). The theory behind the heaters is that:

With the engine off, it warms and pumps coolant around the engine to bring the engine temp up to a point where ignition will not damage the gaskets and coolant viens. We used detatchable Webastos on our BV206 vehicles in Norway and they are very good at what they do. Not designed as a comfort tool, more of a mechanical symapthy tool. They also should never be run when the engine is running ( i dont think you can manually anyway) as the coolant is pumped in reverse to get it to the most important areas first, hence you dont want the two pumps running against each other.

Eddie

[smokey145]

thanks so far guys.

[fen7on]

I'm not going into the garage to have a look at m6 now (sorry!), but it was an optional extra I had on my 4.8is X5, you set it within 'satnav' unit, would think there'd be something in the idrive menu if possible.

I remember the great thing was setting it to come on in the morning, watching my neighbours de-icing their cars, me walking out the house to a seemingly frosted car, getting in & driving off. Another option was a heated steering wheel (didn't have that).

[LockMonster]

I have been leaving my timer on also, only cold air, but I wonder if that might be enough to defrost the glass, will see!