210 in the cold Russian winter

[R W]

The cold Russian winter here is showing some design faults on my 210 in my opinion.
First problem is, the 210 heater doesn’t seem to transfer enough hot air to the occupant’s feet,there is only a small duct that directs the air & doesn’t seem adequate as I constantly havecold feet. The heating system in my previous 124 was much better.
Second problem is the wiper, when the wiper parks, the blade is curved around the screen & in the cold temperatures here the blade freezes in the curved position, so when you need the wiper it cannot wipe the screen properly as the blade is curved. This may be cured if there is a more suitable wiper blade for cold climates, I don’t know I have not enquired about it yet.
A friend has a Mitsubishi Delica, This a very good design, it has small heating elements built into the screen where the wiper parks & he doesn’t have the frozen wiper problem.
These are very minor issues & people may disagree with me about the heater,as I dont hear anyone else complaining of cold feet, in general I like the 210 though.

 

[television]

The cold Russian winter here is showing some design faults on my 210 in my opinion.
First problem is, the 210 heater doesn’t seem to transfer enough hot air to the occupant’s feet,there is only a small duct that directs the air & doesn’t seem adequate as I constantly havecold feet. The heating system in my previous 124 was much better.
Second problem is the wiper, when the wiper parks, the blade is curved around the screen & in the cold temperatures here the blade freezes in the curved position, so when you need the wiper it cannot wipe the screen properly as the blade is curved. This may be cured if there is a more suitable wiper blade for cold climates, I don’t know I have not enquired about it yet.
A friend has a Mitsubishi Delica, This a very good design, it has small heating elements built into the screen where the wiper parks & he doesn’t have the frozen wiper problem.
These are very minor issues & people may disagree with me about the heater,as I dont hear anyone else complaining of cold feet, in general I like the 210 though.

When I was in Sweden at -40c the locals had rad blinds on their 123's.
I found my 124 much too cold so I blanked off ½ the rad with some cardboard (lower ½) I even came to england in the spring with the cardboard still there with never a problem.
A lot of my engine training was with RR and I was taught to keep the engine as near 100c as possible

 

[Vlad]

Re windscreen wiper....just lift it off the screen when you leave the car and click it back down when you next use it....seems a common thing to do in cold climates

 

[J-Scho]

Or maybe one of those 'floppy' wiper blades cars have these days would be better?

 

[mark.t]

he heater to the feet ...common problem ie they all do it ..... 2 pair of socks as for the wiper lift off screen

 

[R W]

Malcolm.
Being a diesel it is slow to warm up,but I have fitted a new thermostat 85deg as recomended & have most of the rad blanked off.
The friend with the Delica has an alarm system that will start the engine at a programed time,or remotely. I may have one fitted so the engine can start maybe 45mins before I go to work.Maybe it will warm enough to de-ice the windows & doors.Last winter I had my 124 that had the Wabasto aux heater,that was brilliant.
Re Valad, Lifting the wiper at nights. It would probably help but the car stands outside in the street,I am sure some mindless moron would try to modify the wiper. The wiper also seems to freeze in the curved position while traveling. The floppy type or a different material may cure it.
2 pairs of socks too will help with the cold feet.
Thanks for you replies.
R W

 

[Diesel Benz]

I would install an auxiliary heater instead of idling the car at cold even for a few minutes. Also if your really mean a remote starter, that would not be equally simple to install on a W210 as it is on a W124 (in practice impossible).

 

[Parrot of Doom]

A block heater may be an option, I'm not sure if your engine has one installed by default.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=58745

As for not getting enough heat to your feet, it sounds silly but try opening the window a tad and putting the heater on full temperature, that will fool the system into providing more heat.

 

[television]

A block heater may be an option, I'm not sure if your engine has one installed by default.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=58745

As for not getting enough heat to your feet, it sounds silly but try opening the window a tad and putting the heater on full temperature, that will fool the system into providing more heat.

I had one installed in Sweden for my 123 and 124.

On the 123 I had the socket on the side of the bumper, and I carried a standard lead to plug in at the parking lots

 

[grober]

HERES THE MANUFACTURER MB USE AS OEM. http://www.eberspaecher.com/servlet/PB/menu/1004065_l2/index.html

 

[Diesel Benz]

One more question to R W, do you have AC at economy mode? The car would have an electric heater booster but it would not turn on if AC is in economy mode.

 

[mark.t]

hi I have friends who live in Alberta Canada ... they plug there car in a night when minus ???? ..... its a jacket type thing that fits in the engine bay I will ask them what it is... keep every thing nice and warm :bannana:

 

[R W]

Thanks for your replies & my answers are here.
Parrot/mark.t.
The block heater would be a good thing but I live in a 5th floor flat & nowhere to plug it in as the car stands in a security park.

grober. The auxilery heaters would definatly solve the early morning warm up problem,as said previously my 124 had the Wabesto system & was excilent, I may have to look into fitting one.

Diesel Benz. To be honest I have not tried the car with A/c on,I have it on economy. I am not sure if this car has the electric heater booster but I will try it & have a look tomorrow.the car is a 1997 2.9. I know my 320cdi in Uk has this with the switch beside the ash tray but no switch on this car. I am also not too happy about the car idling for 30mins every morning but not sure how harmfull this will be to the engine.If harmfull at all.
The manifacturers of the alarm system say they can fit it to a 210,but i need go visit the dealer to make sure. My friends Delica with the alarm system can be started & stopped at pre-set times,or remotely,has a run on timer to run engine to alow the turbo to cool & many more functions.
I will check maybe Friday about fitting to the 210.
Thanks fo the replies & your opinions.
R W

 

[Subyland]

I have auxiliary heaters fitted to both the A Class and the 124 and they work a treat. I don't like remote starter as it is not good for engine to run idle, you use a substantial amount of fuel and pollution level is high as well when compared to a Eberspacher or Webasto heater. All of the possibilities you mention for your friend Delica's are available with a additionnal heater.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Defa is one example manufacturer of engine block heaters.

http://wup.defa.com/en/wup_products_preheaters.html

 

[Diesel Benz]

Diesel Benz. To be honest I have not tried the car with A/c on,I have it on economy. I am not sure if this car has the electric heater booster but I will try it & have a look tomorrow.the car is a 1997 2.9. I know my 320cdi in Uk has this with the switch beside the ash tray but no switch on this car.

The electric heater booster came at with the W210 face lift (not sure if it was 100% synced but at that time). The 2.9l engine would have a diesel auxiliary heater or none.

 

[R W]

Diesel Benz.
You were right,they cannot fit the engine starting system to my 210. My car has the electronic key & they cannot be started without the key inserted. They said MBs with the older style keys wouldnt be a problem.I tried the car this morning with A/C on & dont think it made any differance & cannot see any type of booster heater in the system.
As others have said an auxilery heater is the answer to my problems. I really miss the Wabesto system my 124 had.I think once you get used to having auxilery heating it is hard to go back to not having it.I think if ever I ordered a new car it would be on my option list.
Thank you all for your opinions.
R W

 

[R W]

Diesel Benz.
You were also right about my car having a heater booster or some sort of auxilery heater.The past few months its -30C here & there is some heating device behind the front bumper. I can hear the pump for it pulsing & there is exhaust vapour from behind the front bumper at temps below freezing only when the engine is running though.Its too cold to be having a look at what is behind the bumper but would be interesting to know what is fitted.
Regards
R W