Block Heater?

[PeeJay]

Hi,

This is a question to my Canadian friends that live in the colder parts of Canada (i.e. Edmonton, Calgary, Saskatoon, etc.). Do you have a block heater in your 1 series? Is one required for the winter if the temperature goes to -40C?

I asked my dealer in Ontario and they said that a block heater is not offered from BMW and he said that it was not needed even in cold winters. He said that as long as the battery was in good condition, our cars don't need a block heater. Is this true? Can an aftermarket one be installed?

Thanks,
PJ

[Lester]

There is no block heater available. You can get an oil pan heater, which is all you should need. A trickle charger would also help. Another easy one is to place a 100w trouble light in the engine compartment. The old style - with an incandescent bulb (plugged in, of course).

[1HungryMan]

Not needed in Southern Ontario, perhaps Northern.

[PeeJay]

Thanks.

My story is that I may have to relocate to Saskatoon for couple of years and I will bring my 135. Kinda worried about the winter there since it does get quite cold.

[allies_jh]

I'm in Calgary and I don't have one. The car started fine for me all winter. Although, I park the car in a garage over night..but during the day its outside. Hope that helps.

[PeeJay]

Originally Posted by allies_jh

I'm in Calgary and I don't have one. The car started fine for me all winter. Although, I park the car in a garage over night..but during the day its outside. Hope that helps.

Thanks for your feedback. This gives me some confidence that it's not such a big deal as I make it out to be.

[ZIPNBYE]

Do a search...there was a decent thread going this winter about block heaters. A stick-oil type oil-pan heater is all you can do, and is quite simple. Warm oil in a cold engine is always good.

[CrimsonXV]

Reviving a dead thread. Has anybody else tried this? I'm interested in an oil heater not so that my car will start easier in the cold, but so that I can get my engine up to operating temperature faster so that I can drive it a bit harder sooner in my daily commute without harming my engine/turbo.

Is this a plausible idea?

[barnsdale]

Last year in Toronto when it was -30+ for about a week straight, I needed a boost every day to get my car started. The battery was going on 5 years old, so it was on it's way out.

Aside from that, once I get some extra juice with the boost it started and ran like a charm. I don't think it will be a problem for you, goto an indy shop that speciailizes in BMW's and see what they've done for other customers. You may even want to call some shops out west and see what they say.

[NorthernDancer]

Kats make many different engine heaters. They make hot pad heaters designed to be stuck on bottom of oil pan. Cannot remember what our oil pans look like (ie: finned or flat) but this would work well if they can be used since they directly warm the oil vice the coolant.

[RCNBob]

If you get a cold Saskatchewan winter, it can get cold enough that oil becomes nearly solid. Picture that running through your turbo...

If you can't get a block heater, definitely get the oil heater. Better yet, get a winter beater and garage your good car for the winter!

[barnsdale]

+ on the winter beater!

[red914]

Originally Posted by PeeJay

Thanks.

My story is that I may have to relocate to Saskatoon for couple of years and I will bring my 135. Kinda worried about the winter there since it does get quite cold.

I see this is an old thread now. Still got the 135i?

I'm in Saskatoon. Bought my 1er last winter and it never hesitated once, although it never quite got to -40.

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by RCNBob

If you get a cold Saskatchewan winter, it can get cold enough that oil becomes nearly solid. Picture that running through your turbo...

Scary thought.

[Canuck135i]

Synthetic oils = no problem with cold weather.

Be more concerned about your battery.
5 years is about as long as I would go. If I was in Northern On. or out
west in the extreme cold, I'd change my battery every 4 years probably.

[red914]

Originally Posted by RCNBob

If you get a cold Saskatchewan winter, it can get cold enough that oil becomes nearly solid. Picture that running through your turbo...

If you can't get a block heater, definitely get the oil heater. Better yet, get a winter beater and garage your good car for the winter!

That's some exaggeration unless you are using the wrong type of oil. I'm not saying the oil heater is a bad idea but it is not required.

Limiting the rev's to 3000 rpm and under is a good idea until the oil warms up to operating temperature. Key is to not drive too hard until warmed up - oil heater or not.

Parking the 1er for the winter is no fun and not necessary but to each his/her own.

[RCNBob]

Originally Posted by red914

That's some exaggeration unless you are using the wrong type of oil. I'm not saying the oil heater is a bad idea but it is not required.

Limiting the rev's to 3000 rpm and under is a good idea until the oil warms up to operating temperature. Key is to not drive too hard until warmed up - oil heater or not.

Parking the 1er for the winter is no fun and not necessary but to each his/her own.

I used to work pumping gas in Saskatoon when I was right out of high school. At -40, you can turn a 1 liter bottle of 5W30 oil upside down and not have to worry about spilling it for about 30 seconds. The coldest I ever pumped gas in was -46, -58 with the wind chill.

Skip to about 1:10:

[red914]

Originally Posted by RCNBob

I used to work pumping gas in Saskatoon when I was right out of high school. At -40, you can turn a 1 liter bottle of 5W30 oil upside down and not have to worry about spilling it for about 30 seconds. The coldest I ever pumped gas in was -46, -58 with the wind chill.

Skip to about 1:10:

Yes that's interesting except it has never been -52 deg C in Saskatoon. Sorry but your oil is not affected by the wind chill either. It's actually pretty rare to see temperatures below -40. It has probably been years since we've actually hit -40 or lower.

Again, please don't get me wrong. I do agree your oil will get thicker as the temperature drops. I also agree warming your oil is beneficial. What I disagree with is that your engine will be ruined by starting it occasionally in extremely cold conditions.

EDIT: And I feel for you... That job must have sucked!