Fitting a preheater to a (new) Defender

[foliedouce]

Has anyone fitted a pre heater to a Defender and can the make any recommendations please?

As far as I see via Google there are only 2 options, Webasto and Kenlowe. Webasto looks more professional but I'm judging that just from the website.

http://www.webasto.com/gb/markets-products/car/ret...

http://www.kenlowe.co.uk/pre-heaters/cars/index.ht...

Any first hand experience on either or others?

Thanks

[MaverickV12]

It looks a good idea and I've heard of them before......

What sort of costs are they looking at for a SUV .....?

[camel_landy]

Eberspacher & Webasto are the main ones... Webasto is what's fitted to Range Rovers, Discos, etc.

I've got one in my RRS and have one fitted in my Freelander. They're awesome!!

I've not see one fitted to a TDCi but the trick is to find somewhere close to the cooling system, where you can run the exhaust pipe and not melt any of the wiring!!!

M

[MaverickV12]

...... but how much? .... What sort of costs ?

[camel_landy]

New, you're looking at circa £1.8k for the heater (Webasto Thermo Top), then another £500 depending on the controller & accessories.

Then you need to fit it.

M

Edited by camel_landy on Sunday 2nd February 14:36

[MaverickV12]

Thanks for that ..... I'd love one, but circa £3k is a bit tasty when all I need to do is start the engine 10 minutes before I need it ......

[S2AVANT]

They are a good concept, however the reality can be a car enveloped in diesel smoke at every junction /set of lights.
Google webasto heater faults for examples.
I'm in the process of removing one from our Touran as the Mrs has stated she has had enough of the cloaking device.

[camel_landy]

S2AVANT said:

They are a good concept, however the reality can be a car enveloped in diesel smoke at every junction /set of lights.
Google webasto heater faults for examples.
I'm in the process of removing one from our Touran as the Mrs has stated she has had enough of the cloaking device.

Google ANYTHING and you'll find examples of it on the internet!!! I've never heard of any problems with Webasto heaters, sure they can go faulty like anything else out there but I've found them to be very reliable.

BTW - Removing it sounds a little overkill, why don't you just disconnect the power to it??

M

[MaverickV12]

budrover said:

I just fitted a Defa unit to my defender

Any photos of your installation budrover?

[budrover]

Preheater [£85] fits into radiator to block cooling pipe ...chop out 50mm and slide & clip into place




You purchase mini-cable and supply cable [£40] ...it plugs into waterproof connection on preheater and cable needs to be earthed to body and socket mounted for supply cable to plug in. [I used front panel - so if forget and reverse away it will pull out]

Above will heat the engine and needs to be on a timer for a couple of hours.


I fitted full kit, controller / interior fan and battery charger-relay.


Interior heater

Controller

Battery charger / relay hidden under wing.


It all worked quite well last week inside Arctic Circle

[C Lee Farquar]

budrover said:

I just fitted a Defa unit to my defender.

I just bought some gloves

[MaverickV12]

budrover said:

It all worked quite well last week inside Arctic Circle

..... to hell with the heater...... OMG tell us what you were doing in the Arctic Circle ......? It looks stunningly brilliant ......

....... tell us more ........

[budrover]

Not wanting to hijack the OP heater post.

I went on a little 'walkabout' in Scandinavia ...thought it would be good fun to drive up to the North Cape at top of Norway in winter to avoid the masses who go in the summer.
Took freight vessel Immingham to Gothenburg ...drove up through Sweden then Finland into Norway. [You cross the arctic circle line around Swedish - Finnish border]

This is a typical type of main road your driving on.


In Finland it is more remote ...I drove about 300 miles and lucky if saw 100 cars all day ....when you have been driving through the forest for 30 mins and not seen another vehicle you realise its a little quiet around these parts !! [temp can get as low as minus 40 C]


Except for suicidal reindeer and moose wandering around the roads and forest.


Despite what you read about on the internet, you can drive to Nordkapp during the winter they run a convoy at 11.00 + 12.00hrs.


Scenery was lovely in Norway ...but in early Feb they still only getting 6 hours daylight.

I was by myself and managed to do 3500 miles in 7 days ....once I returned into Sweden it was raining and around Karlstad the roads where clear and snow had turned into slush ...I had planned to watch Rally of Sweden but I can watch WRC in North Wales in the rain ...so I returned home ...9 days door to door.

Next year road trip...assuming good snow fall ...watch Rally Sweden and then drive up to top of Sweden via E45 and make way through Finland and down into Baltic states and return via Poland and Germany.

[MaverickV12]

budrover said:

Not wanting to hijack the OP heater post.

I'll PM you..