listerone

Started my Bluetec this AM after it sat all night...outdoors.Temp 40 degrees at startup.To my surprise my vents were spitting out quite warm (almost hot) air less that a minute after starting up (the temp setting was on "Hi").I know my BMW diesel featured some sort of electric powered auxiliary heater because,it was said,diesels tend to take time to warm up.I don't recall it having warmed up quickly but then I didn't really pay close attention.

Anyone have any thoughts on the subject? Can anyone confirm that our Bluetecs have some sort of auxiliary heater? Thanks!

mtrevelino

I also believe that the diesel E320's have this same feature. It should be noted somewhere in your owner's manual. For the next five months, my car will be sitting outside all the time.
Mike T.

ImInPA

You are exactly correct. Most modern diesels have some sort of auxilary heat. Diesels are so thermally effecient, they do not produce heat the way a gas engine does.

Carsy

In my opinion the heater is plumbed in such a way that it receives the hot water from the engine in very quick time, before the rest of the engine warms up. My 2007 C Class diesel has warm air from the vents in less that half a KM. A very good system.

listerone

You certainly could be correct...partially correct or even entirely correct.However,I know that my BMW diesel (a 2009) featured some kind of auxiliary heater that was,I believe,entirely seperate from the engine's cooling system...perhaps electrically powered.I know this because their literature stated as much.If,by chance,we're both entirely correct about diesels with which *we* have experience it's probably because we have winters in my neck of the woods (it's supposed to *snow* here today...snow in October,yuk!) and you folks Down Under can't even *spell* the word "winter". This could well result in substantially different designs.

(But you can sure spell the word "summer"...I've been to Broken Hill in February)

DubVBenz

I believe it's an electrically powered ceramic heating element.

Carsy

I would be interested to know where the element is located ?.

dougiebear

Seems to be correct but further to that Canadian specific content ML's the heat still flows for a significant time after the engine is shut off. perhaps northern US ML's are the same

OM617

Mercedes uses a 1000w heater.
#720 in the second picture.

Carsy

Unbelievable.

I hope they have not put it in my 204 C Class. I don't think so.

Thanks for the info .

listerone

Very interesting.This winter will be my first with the Bluetec.I'll have to pay attention to how quickly the windshield defrosts...assuming that the warm air that this heater creates can be directed to the windshield.One would think that it could.

DubVBenz

It is almost instantaneous compared to my 126 SD...

Snipe656

Does Mercedes have that type of heater setup in all E classes or just the Blutecs? I know with BMW that in the 3 series only the diesels have a ceramic "pre heater" that allows for hot air almost immediately. Even gas cars tend to take a little bit to warm up if just idling out in the cold air. I wish my truck had something like this but in Ford's infinite wisdom they instead did a high speed idle on really cold days and it only engages if sitting there out of gear and still takes forever for the thing to warm up.

ImInPA

It is likely only in the diesels. Diesels are much more thermally efficient than gas engines. It would take a long time for a diesel to produce heat. This was one of the original detractors of diesels.

Snipe656

Interesting. My gas cars end up with hot air quicker, if driving, but it is no large difference in time. Now sitting there idling the diesels, except the BMW, do take forever but not everyone lives somewhere that they can safely leave a car idling to warm up so never really thought about that being a design concern.

lkchris

See http://www.beru.com/products/electro...in-heaters-ptc

While a gasoline engine always runs with a stoichiometric (~15/1) air/fuel ratio, a diesel engine changes speed by changing this ratio. At idle, a diesel could be at 150 parts air to one part fuel, which isn't much to create much heat and in fact a diesel returning to idle can actually cool down. Systems are often in place to prevent overcooling.

MFBENZ

I'm so impressed with the heater that is built in to the dash. My 2009 r320 bluetec heats up before I can get out of the driveway. I wish this heater was on all of my cars. My vw diesel has glow plugs in the cooling system to combat this but it still heats up sooooo slow.

NoFoolyn

After seeing Listerone's note, I tried my 2007 Bluetec in 18F temp. Yes, happy to see the warm air starts coming out vents within 10 seconds.

With most auto mfgrs offering "winter package", makes one wonder why this EXCELLENT idea of electric air heater isn't used by more.

The seats in E320 Bluetec also heat up a lot faster than any "winter package" car I have had.

Nice surprises.

socarco

While most of the posts on this thread have been regarding sedans,etc., I cant help adding information regarding an after market heater.
I have one on my 2002 ML 400 CDI. It is made by WEBASTO and you can check it out at www.webasto.co.uk
The heater is an independent unit and can be remotely turned on up to 600 meters from the vehicle, it uses only a small amount of fuel and can be programmed for periods of 10 min to 60 min.
It has been a great help this year in Europe. The company is international.

Cruzingmax

This is my first snow storm with the ML Bluetec. I started the engine and turned on the defogger(max). I started brushing off the side windows first and when it was time for the windshield, you can tell the snow melted slightly and was sliding off. I'd say with in 3-5 minutes. Best winter feature ever!

pinebaron

I often wondered why mine heated up so quickly; now I know. I had to drive my car yesterday (my Expedition is in the shop for a new engine) when it started snowing as I left the bowling alley and the windshield cleared very fast. I virtually never drive this car on rainy days, let alone if it's snowing . Besides, I always forget it has heated seats; perhaps used them twice ever, both times when my wife as a passenger on a cold day, asked if it had heated seats; her's does.