Parked car heater
 

Hey guys, I have a question for you.

There is that silly box inside my engine compartment, at the driver's side. From what I've read, it is supposed to be a parked car heater.

Any idea how it works? I've never seen or noticed it working.

i mean, I know that in Greece, temps very seldom go under freezing point, so I am not crazy about it, and how it works, but I want to know, not nice having something in the car and not knowing how it works.

If it's the thing with a Webasto sticker - it preheats the intake air. It's triggered by unlocking the doors and by temperature. Given where you are, it indeed wouldn't need to work very much (compared to where I live).

since you have a diesel could it be a block heater or does BMW not use those?

No, there are glow plugs for the engine to heat up when cold. I am leaning towards being an air intake heater, since I've never noticed it working. I do not even know what to look for to know if it is working or not. LoRL

BMW (and most diesel engines for 40+ years) have glow plugs. On our X5, you will see the DDE light on your dash when you turn the key (but not starting). You wait until the yellow light goes out, which means the glow plugs have heated up, and then you start the car.

BMW (and other car mfrs) have favored intake air heaters on the diesel cars for additional starting and warm up. Block heaters DO exist, Defa and Calix are the prevalent ones in the Nordic countries. This is a good, supplemental item in extreme cold conditions.

Your air intake heater is set only to work below specific intake and engine temperatures. It likely does not run very frequently in Greece :)

Good to know it's next to useless for me! LoRL :) :)

All that space it uses, I could think of lots of things to add there!

Thanks Gregory!