Xoutpost.com - Viper Remote start Q

Quote:

Originally Posted by mysweetx5 (Post 790712)

I kinda :iagree: with you *JCL* and this is why I usually run the engine 1st for about: 5 to 8 mtes, so oil can soak up through the cylinder head before I turn my fan heater on. However for the X5, the heater/Air conditioning control system seems en option on BMW's that automatically comes on by itself everytime you start the car. And I always wonder if this is an option designed specific for all BMW's engine system.

Not sure from your comments if you are running your engine at idle for 5 minutes before driving, or you are driving immediately but not turning the heater on for 5 minutes.

The former is bad news; it is best to drive the car immediately when you have oil pressure, usually about 10 seconds. Idling a vehicle just extends the warm up cycle and you will get more wear, since the wear is proportional to the time spent running before the engine is warm.

If you are driving right away, but not using the heater, that sounds dangerous as you may not have good visibility through the windscreen. There is a heater control valve that mixes the coolant, so you don't have to wait before turning the heater on.

The AC comes on automatically because the vehicle is designed to be driven with the AC on all the time. In the summer it cools, and in the winter it dehumidifies the air, clearing the screen faster. You can turn it off for efficiency, but opening a window loses all the efficiency benefits of turning it off. I leave mine on 365 days a year in all my BMWs.