X5 2004 3.0D Aux Heater activation
 

I have been reading a bit about the 3.0D-version of the X5 should have the heater already mounted in the car, but only the Aux Ventilation activated. Some say its possible to enable the Aux Heater with a software update.. Is this possible, and if so, how?

Yes, it can be coded. So dealer or someone with BMW coding tools can do it. BMW X5 heater usually comes without water pump so X5 electrical water pump has to be coded to work with the heater.

Are we talking about the webasto heater here?:)

Yeah. In E53 it is usually Webasto Thermotop Z.

It has been very useful during last few weeks here in Finland. Just this morning heated the engine and cabin from -27 deg C before starting up :thumbup:.

I hardly use mine but I understand how very useful it is for you there with -27 degrees:)
If a 3.0D is equipped with this as standard,it will already be coded and activated and can simply be turned it can be turned on/programmed on the sat-nav or by supplied the remote control.

I agree, that's probably the case for standard setup. There is one issue though; in normal setup water circulates only through cabin heater and leaves engine almost cold. This is controlled by a water valve which needs to be programmed to open a route to the engine when using Webasto. In the picture (Independ.heating water valves IHKA BMW X5 E53, X5 3.0d (M57N)) the valve is #12. Water comes from water pump through hose #10 and valve either directs flow to the engine (hose #11) or straight back to the Webasto (hose #16) skipping the engine. My X5 needed this coding and it came as standard like this.

With program you mean change the valve, or is it a mechanical programming switch on the valve? How much stress it it to do everything of this myself (getting a cable for the computer and upgrade it myself), if ever possible. Kinda sounds like a waste of money paying a BMW dealer $200 a hour to do this (if they want to do it)

It is one of the modules (I think it is IHKA) controlling the valve operation. So you would need some programming tool to modify the parameters in car SW. I'm not that familiar with programming (had it done by an expert) but you might get some tips from this thread: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...aptop-gt1.html. I'm not sure if dealer is willing to do the programming since this is not the "standard way" of using the Webasto...

Yeah, all BMW dealers around refuse to activate this. They say I have to add all tubes in the car, and its not possible to do it any other way. Of course this is $2000 to do. Any suggestions how to convince the shops to do this the cheap way?

Well if you have the piping similar to a diagram I linked earlier, you should be fine, just coding needed.

I heard that BMW dealers over here doesn't want make that kind of coding either. Luckily we have quite active BMW enthuastics community here in Finland and individuals with coding capability are quite easy to find. You might want to check from some of your local BMW car forums.