Fuzzo

I am not sure that this is possible to do with the C but has anyone installed an remote starter in their cars. Winter is here and I just wanted to be able to warm the car up before stepping in it

thanks in advance

TimmyC230boy

That is deffinatly something i am intrested in!
Tim

Flashman

I bet it's only available in Europe and its called "starttronic"... :p

vadim

Very unlikely - they use heated seats and engine heaters instead which is more economical (given high gas prices there), easier on the engine and environment-fiendly.

young

there is a system - but not sure what the exact cost is... its called send-someone-down-tronic basically, you pay someone to... well, you figure it out

seriously though, don't you have to crank the engine for manual cars? i think it would be theoretically possible w/ autos but doubt that such a system exists for the C-class.

VoyagerDude

What is an "engine heater"?

Fuzzo

i do know that remote-starters are available for manual tranny cars but I am wondering how it would handle not having the key in the ignition (ie the laser or what ever is in the key that will start the car)...or maybe i have no idea what i'm talking about

vadim

Here are a few links:
http://cartalk.cars.com/Columns/Arch...vember/18.html

Engine pre-heater

Vehicle Heating

vadim

Here's one more, right on the target. It's an ad, when you click on it, scroll down and check the "Options" section:

Mercedes-Benz C-230K SPORTS COUPÉ 3 door

madryan

i think auto start might be available for your car (especially if auto)...
there might be an override for the key??...
i know 6-speed owners like me will have to worry about an added problem... the clutch

ryan

Flashman

I used to have AutoStart on my 5-Speed Manual 1993 Toyota Corolla in Massachusetts, a must have when those cold winter months. It worked, fine, just had to leave car in neutral. Leaving it in a gear would, obviously, cause rather negative consequences.

Most autostarts work on manual without modification, but the installers (for liability purposes) prefer not to do it. Less the owner leave it in a gear. Though I remember from back then a couple alarm companies had come out with MANUAL modules which detected if the car was in gear or not.

The issue with the MB would really be one of access to the starter and activating the computer without the key. That's for someone above my pay grade to answer...

Rick

RedC230K

Bypassing the smart key? Not bloody likely! The only way I can think of that would make this work would be if you left a smart key in the ignition.
Or, we could just have ol' Cooter hotwire the dang thing with some bailing wire from Uncle Jessie's pickup!

Fuzzo

i may be wrong but doesn't the S-classes come with some form of remote starting mechanism? maybe i should ask in that disc. group eh :p

RLNTHEC

My girlfriend's dad purchase a 2002 S600 (Silver) about 3 months ago and it has Startronic...It is a must! They just give you a black card (the size of a credit card) and all you need to do is have it in your pocket...touch the handle and the door unlocks....then get in the car, step on the brake and press a button on top of the shifter and it starts right up. It's only a $300 option for the S...but when your spending $150,000 for the car...it's chump change!

mbtech208

That's Keyless Go, not "Starttronic" (I don't know where you guys come up with these names). It's not the same as remote-starting, because you have to physically be in the car to start it. I have never seen a newer Benz equipped with remote start, and I don't think it would work because of the EIS (electronic ignition switch). Sorry guys, looks like you'll just have to crank your seat heaters up in the wintertime.

vadim

I wonder if the Engine Pre-heater mentioned in the Options section of this Danish ad is an MB part? If it is offered in Europe, chances are that it can be ordered from a European dealer...

Lynn

The engine pre-heater can probably be ordered by a US dealer. Certainly by a Canadian dealer. Are MB parts counter people like those at other dealers? I usually have to teach them to read the parts manuals.

DtS

I'm pretty sure it is an MB-part. In my edtion (Swedish) of the instructions-manual there is a chapter covering this pre-heating device (with a picture of a black remote control adorned with the MB-star )

vadim

There we have it! This is the proper answer to the initial thread inquiry!

Thanks, DtS!

However: why is the engine pre-heater not offered in the US and Canada? Do they think that snow in Canada is not just as cold as in Northern Europe? I'm pretty sure if they made it an option here, they would sell like hot cakes.

Flashman

I made it up in the third post of this thread as a JOKE. Hence the ":p" that was posted next to it. Inspired by all those crazy names MB comes up for their computerized add-ons, I was taking a guess at what MB might call it if they did offer this feature.

Rick

SoCal240/6

hey flash, you should trademark the startronic name!

When mb comes out with autostart, you can trade the name for an SL600 or something.

RLNTHEC

Soorrrryy.....Keyless Go is a great option...not the so-called start-tronic.