E300 W210 - cabin pre-heater - Exellent!

[AANDYY]

Having had my first Merc. now for about 3 weeks now, I must say I'm very pleased so far.
I'll be even chufffter when I start running on waste cooking oil

What I have noticed recently on the chilly mornings is the cabin pre-heater, very good.
In about 1 min theres tepid air coming out and at only about 3 Min's it's toasty warm air ,nice, and of course a good safety reason.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Having had my first Merc. now for about 3 weeks now, I must say I'm very pleased so far.
I'll be even chufffter when I start running on waste cooking oil

What I have noticed recently on the chilly mornings is the cabin pre-heater, very good.
In about 1 min theres tepid air coming out and at only about 3 Min's it's toasty warm air ,nice, and of course a good safety reason.

An E300? That must be E300 Diesel or E300 turbodiesel? But in this case the instant heat comes from the aux fuel heater. This gives warm air faster than the engine but the new CDIs with electric heaters are even faster (although the fuel heater is more powerful).

But I would suggest not using the aux heater for short trips, means not using it in auto mode. The fuel heater clogged easily if it does not get every time the car is started.

 

[AANDYY]

But I would suggest not using the aux heater for short trips, means not using it in auto mode. The fuel heater clogged easily if it does not get every time it is started.

TA for the reply.
I don't really get you last bit though, how do I turn off the auto mode?
I'm confused with your last sentence as well.

 

[Diesel Benz]

TA for the reply.
I don't really get you last bit though, how do I turn off the auto mode?
I'm confused with your last sentence as well.

I did not understand my last sentence either. I mean the heater should be set not to start automatically when the car is started (in my opinion).

I thought this works on a W210 if the A/C economy button is on, that is A/C is off but I may be wrong, this turned the electric heater off on the face lift model.

On my W221 the fuel heater was set to start automatically at cold weather (the car has both the electric and the fuel heater). The fuel heater was still automatic even if A/C was switched off. I had the car version coded to have the fuel heater come on "manually" only (from the remote control key, from the timer or from the specific button at the car).

Your car may have different options but at least you could first consider how you would want the fuel heater behave and then try to figure out if there is an option to make it work like you prefer (there likely is).

 

[AANDYY]

Oh, are you sure my car has this fuel pre-heater for the engine?
Do you mean like the Webasto?

I just thought my car's interior warmed up quick because there was a special tap off point on the head for the cabin heater, which warmed up quicker than the normal engine coolant.

 

[Diesel Benz]

Oh, are you sure my car has this fuel pre-heater for the engine?
Do you mean like the Webasto?

I just thought my car's interior warmed up quick because there was a special tap off point on the head for the cabin heater, which warmed up quicker than the normal engine coolant.

Actually UK cars probably don't have any webasto, unless it was ordered as an option. Also this isn't a CDI, those are poor in warming up because of the good efficiency. I also believe the control button for the electric heater or the webasto was at the ashtray (not the AC button).

I guess your title "cabin pre-heater" made me assume you would have the fuel heater.

 

[AANDYY]

Being a proper nerd!

Today I thought I would be a proper nerdy bordering on anoraky.

I measured the heat output from my car heater after initial start up.

Here we find the results ( thinks of 1970's open university lectures)

Digital temp probe was inserted into face level duct, controls was set to face level and max. heat, fan speed 2.


Ambient temp - 11C

After 1min-14C
2min-20C
3min-25C
4min-29C
5min-32C
6min-35C

I suppose in the winter (say 0C) the temp rise in 2 mins. wouldn't be 9C, would be nice if it was so.