Song

Dear all,
My c230 does not have a block heater and I went to Weber Mercedes in Edmonton to inquire about installing a block heater. They said it will cost $600(part)+$200(labor). I also asked other shops, they generally charge $250 for everything. I don't know the difference between them. I searched the forum and it seems that others pay less than $800. Where can I order the heater online??

Do you have any recommendation if I should go with the dealer or non-dealer shops ? or do you know a good shop that can do a good job with a competitive price?

Thank you very much in advance for your reply,
Best regards,
Song

PS: the engine picture is attached,

Glyn M Ruck

Easy DIY - someone local will have to tell you where to buy.

jcnash

What model year is your car?

If its an '02 or '03, it definitely has the block heater installed. All you need to do it attach a cord to connect it to the wall socket.

The pic Glyn has put up for you is the cord and all the pieces that attach it to the block heater.

Most SA's at stealerships don't know crap. Theyll tell you there is no block heater coz thye dont know..so youll have to lean on them and insist. The cord costs about $30. The block heater costs about $500. If you go and ask them to do a block heater install, theyre gonna install the $30 cord and charge you $600.

Song

Thank you Glyn,
So this is exactly what goes into the plug on the engine? I'll check local mechanics about where to find this part.

Thank you jcnash,
The car is 2005 Mercedes C230 sport sedan. I'll ask local mechanics if I already have one on the engine.

Best regards,
Song

Glyn M Ruck

Yes - that is the complete kit. Listen to jcnash. I have no idea what is standard fitment in Canada.

Song

went to a MB dealer. The block heater itself costs $62. The exhaust is blocking the freeze plug and it is required the exhaust to be removed before installing the block heater. So the labor cost changes from 1.5 hrs to 5 hrs. It is $135 per hour.. some additional parts are also required for this. Total cost will be about $800.

I'm thinking a pan heater or a magnet heater now, do you recommend these stuffs? Obviously I need something cheaper. Any experience on the pan heater and the magnet heater?
Thanks very much for your suggestion,
Best regards,
Song

Glyn M Ruck

Can't you get an independent shop to fit the genuine one far more cheaply. Sounds like the dealer is full of crap!

jcnash

My advice - Buy the block heater (if your car doesnt have one already installed) and the cord set from the dealer. Then take the parts to a independent mechanic and have it installed. Its a pretty simple job, so its very hard for the indy to botch the job. Its just a matter of being able to access the plug and Im assuming that its going to be easy from under the car. Also, I highly doubt itll take them 5 hours to get to a plug in the engine bay.

No experience with the other heaters....sorry.

Song

Thank you very much jcnash,
Edmonton gets quite cold now (-17'c) and it was -46'c about 3 weeks ago. I feel so bad parking my car outside. I doubt that it will take 5 hrs too. I looked at the freeze plug and it seems that they are going to need a wench extension to unscrew the freeze plug and screw the block heater in..shouldn't take 5 hrs. I think I'll get the part and go somewhere to install it.

I'm also thinking about sticking a polar pad on the freeze plug. May work similarly to the block heater?..

kanbisk

Hi
İ live in Norway (Scandinavia) have already bought the block heater kit and thought to myself just change the thermostat to start with and hey presto - engine gets warm and within 5 minutes of driving. Prior changing thermostat took almost 30 minutes to warm up.
see photo of old thermostat.
LATERS