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Originally Posted by JCL
The auxiliary heating option uses a Webasto oil-fired burner, with a heat exchanger and circulating pump. It has a remote and a timer (sometimes optionally). While Webasto makes both diesel and gasoline versions, BMW has only ever offered the diesel version. Lots of details are available on the Webasto site. I haven't used them for awhile, so a caution that they may be offering different versions now than in years past. Webasto heaters are common on diesel powered heavy equipment, trucks, and generator sets, particularly in places where you get those sorts of temperatures. Lots of buses used them as well. Having lived in -40, we used quite a few.
The BMW option does use the battery, but only for the circulating pump and control power, not for heating. I imagine that there is a cutoff so that you don't kill your battery completely.
It will be interesting to see what the effects of very cold ambients are on BMW diesels when they arrive. Perhaps some of our Nordic members could comment. In Canada, #2 diesel gells at about -10 C. It literally turns into a semi-solid that you can form into slush balls. It does not go through fuel pumps. It is commonly thinned out with #1 (stove oil) to handle lower temperatures. #1 is not as oily as #2. The issue with high-tech injectors is that some designs have experienced problems with the winter fuel due to the lower lubricity of the fuel. This results in stuck injectors. I don't know if this has happened with BMW diesels, but I am sure we will find out.
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JCL,
My last (and only) diesel powered vehicle was a 2004 Dodge Ram 3/4 ton with a Cummins 5.9L turbo diesel. I pulled a 2 horse trailer with living quarters (35' total). In the winter, while hauling, the engine came up to temperature in about 7 minutes, even if it was - 25C and the cabin got very hot. When I wasn't hauling, it was a different story. I remember one winter it was -35 during the day for a week (I live on the prairies) and the engine temp needle didn't move off the "C" for the whole week. The result was luke warm air from the heater and a very uncomfortable drive. Using a winter cover didn't help much.
I too would be interested to hear from our Nordic friends who have experience with BMW diesels. It is one thing to have a pre heater system, but if you are at a movie and the car is at the end of the parking lot, if you are out of range for the remote control, you could have a very cold ride home unless BMW has a system to get heat to the cabin until the engine warms up. In addition, the engine needs to be able to stay warm while driving and especially while idling. Diesels will actually cool down while at idle.
I canvassed this issue with Mercedes Benz. I think the salesman told me the Bluetec vehicles have an electric heater that works until the engine is up to temperature. While this is bound to affect fuel economy, it may be the simplest system for getting quick heat on demand.