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Originally Posted by mgruber
Don't know how effective, but that is what BMW Canada is selling and evidently making. They call it an engine block heater. The flat side faces the road and the side with all the bumps fits in properly to the block. I've heard that it works pretty good and has an output of something like 300 watts.
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I looked up the E46Fanatics forum, where the picture was posted originally. There are other articles about it as well. I was interested to see that many posters were interested in installing the block heater because of concern over the crankcase ventilation valve. I do think a block heater helps with cold starts (accelerated engine wear) but I don't see how it can impact the crankcase ventilation valve issues.
I haven't installed a block or oil pan heater because I have never been below -30C with my recent BMWs, and so haven't found it necessary. I do know that my last block heaters (Ford Expedition, Ford Explorer, Volvo) were all in the 1000-1500 watt range. This BMW CA part is reportedly $140, which is two to three times the price of an oil pan pad heater, which would warm the oil directly and thus provide more benefit.
Just my $0.02
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