Remote Start?

[MysticBlue]

Wow. I've read it six times and it still makes no sense. It creates more questions than answers. Is it remote starting? If it is, why don't they just call it that? Is it a poor English translation from German? For instance... "During the startup phase the engine is protected and fuel consumption reduced by the preheated cooling circuit. " Huh? That just makes no sense. And I still don't know what the "Auxiliary Heating" option means. I really, really hope this is smart phone accessible remote starting. I hope someone with first hand experience with this can explain it to us soon. There must be a dealer out there that knows something about this.

[x5pilot]

I understand it to be both smartphone and pre set timer activated.
My dealer said the only time it wouldn't work is when the fuel level in the car was below low level warning.
Its certainly on my list to order.
I think the image screenshot says a lot.

[gorun]

The ones in Europe use fuel to warm up the engine and interior ( if I remember correctly about 0.2l for a 20 minute cycle). They are either timer or remote control activated( it is a special remote that uses radio waves and has a really long range). I am pretty sure that with connected drive you will have the option to activate it with a smart phone. It does not start engine but a small heater that runs on fuel...hope this helps

[likecarz]

Remember the European's laugh at the US when it comes to idling cars (wasting fuel) for warm up. Hence, very few if any European brands offer US style remote start. The feature referenced in the above is available on most current BMWs....just go into settings and you will find the ability to schedule warm up ...it's simply an ambient draw on the battery to warm up the cabin...not sure how much it warms it...I've used it once...seems you have to schedule each day.

[BMWMN1971]

That option has been available for a long time but I never used. Not sure where the system would get warm air from after the car is parked at -10F for an entire day.

Originally Posted by likecarz

Remember the European's laugh at the US when it comes to idling cars (wasting fuel) for warm up. Hence, very few if any European brands offer US style remote start. The feature referenced in the above is available on most current BMWs....just go into settings and you will find the ability to schedule warm up ...it's simply an ambient draw on the battery to warm up the cabin...not sure how much it warms it...I've used it once...seems you have to schedule each day.

[MysticBlue]

So, based on what I'm hearing so far; it's NOT a remote start function. It's either...
a) some kind of gasoline based space heater?
and/or
b) some kind of battery powered heater.
Neither of which sounds like a particularly good idea.

[gorun]

You are mixing up the rest function (that every BMW has) with the aux heater. The latter is an expensive option.

[TheBigRock]

The aux heater is a stand alone diesel or gasoline burner with an effect of approximately 4kW that uses a small fuel consumption and battery power to heat up the water inside the cooling system at the same time as the fans in the dashboard blow the warm air into the cabin. It usually runs for 30 minutes and after that time you have a warm cabin as well as engine. You can control it by a remote or by an app in your smart phone.
Remote start of the engine? That sounds like stone age to me.
I have a hard time remembering how I managed without an aux heater in my cars.
It is usually a 2k USD cost for aftermarket install.
More info at www.webasto.com (BMW uses this in their E70).

[Eu001939]

In Europe it's a 1600 Euro option with code 536 and it needs to be ordered with the car (factory installed)

[tiburonh]

Reading this (confusing) thread makes me so happy I live in California now instead of Minnesota, Chicago, New York, and all the other cold, wintry places I've lived where some form, any form of this feature would be helpful if only one could figure out whether or not BMW actually offers it.

[Baunton]

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

Any idea how this works? Does it need to be installed by the dealer? Price?

Hi.
Back in Blighty its showing on the .co.uk site as an option you can opt for @ £1,130
It's strange but true but it's NOT included as part of the Cold Weather Package which is just heated seats and steering wheels @ £775.
I'm fed up with scraping ice/snow off so will add it to my options.

PS it's controlled via an App

[x5pilot]

Ive just ordered it!
Hope its still cold in March!

[originalgoods13]

The Active Ventilation is Available in Canada even if you do not buy the ConnectedDrive APPS ARTII Package

You can set it manually through your settings and you can set the time up on when you want it to start and finish. It gives you two time slots for On and Off scheduled time.

[NoPII]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

Wow. I've read it six times and it still makes no sense. It creates more questions than answers. Is it remote starting? If it is, why don't they just call it that? Is it a poor English translation from German? For instance... "During the startup phase the engine is protected and fuel consumption reduced by the preheated cooling circuit. " Huh? That just makes no sense. And I still don't know what the "Auxiliary Heating" option means. I really, really hope this is smart phone accessible remote starting. I hope someone with first hand experience with this can explain it to us soon. There must be a dealer out there that knows something about this.

This does actually make sense, and it's remarkably well written - although missing a couple of commas. My guess is that it should read:

"During the startup phase the engine is protected, and fuel consumption reduced, by the preheated cooling circuit."

Assuming that the cabin heater is as BMW describes "Auxiliary Heat" (i.e. a small add-on unit) it would work by heating the cooling fluid from the engine - the fluid that is, in turn, used to heat the cabin.

Once this fluid is warm it helps protect the engine from cold start damage ("engine is protected") and reduce fuel consumption as the engine is essentially already warmed up ("fuel consumption reduced").

Bear in mind that this system is *not* "Remote Start", but timed/remote cabin heating - which is often achieved by remote engine starting, but does not necessarily require it.

[coconut780]

^^ originalgoods13, Was this a dealer option or factory? How much was it?

[originalgoods13]

Originally Posted by coconut780

^^ originalgoods13, Was this a dealer option or factory? How much was it?

Hi coconut, it comes Standard in Canada along with heated steering wheel and front seats.

I have just the Premium Package and 3rd Row Package

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by tiburonh

Reading this (confusing) thread makes me so happy I live in California now instead of Minnesota, Chicago, New York, and all the other cold, wintry places I've lived where some form, any form of this feature would be helpful if only one could figure out whether or not BMW actually offers it.

You couldn't pay me enough to live in California again, or any other large metro area for that matter. Occasional winter weather doesn't bother me, but that doesn't mean I don't want to try to mitigate any of the downside issues of living in cold weather.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by alistairg

This does actually make sense, and it's remarkably well written - although missing a couple of commas. My guess is that it should read:

"During the startup phase the engine is protected, and fuel consumption reduced, by the preheated cooling circuit."

Assuming that the cabin heater is as BMW describes "Auxiliary Heat" (i.e. a small add-on unit) it would work by heating the cooling fluid from the engine - the fluid that is, in turn, used to heat the cabin.

Once this fluid is warm it helps protect the engine from cold start damage ("engine is protected") and reduce fuel consumption as the engine is essentially already warmed up ("fuel consumption reduced").

Bear in mind that this system is *not* "Remote Start", but timed/remote cabin heating - which is often achieved by remote engine starting, but does not necessarily require it.

Yes, now that I know it's not referring to remote start, which is what this thread was supposedly about, it makes more sense. It didn't make sense to me because, a. I thought this was about remote start. and b. I hadn't ever heard of anything like an auxiliary heater and didn't know anything like that existed. Now I know. Which is what these forums are for. Learning has occurred.

[barcelona]

Originally Posted by originalgoods13

Hi coconut, it comes Standard in Canada along with heated steering wheel, and heated front seats.

But I do have the Premium Package which includes On-Board Navigation, which you will need to set the Settings

Or comes standard with 50i (in Canada)

Parked-car ventilation/heating
http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=910364
page 166, via settings or remote control ( another one)

Energy source: battery and gas

Note
Parked-car heating in enclosed areas
Do not operate the parked-car heating in
enclosed areas, as breathing of the harmful exhaust
fumes may lead to loss of consciousness
and death. The exhaust gases contain carbon
monoxide, an odorless and colorless but highly
toxic gas. Switch off the parked-car heating
when refueling.

Edit: Jan 3, 2014, this post refers to auxiliary ventilation only.
Auxiliary heating, is an option as discussed by others in their posts.

[patrobX5]

Originally Posted by barcelona

Or comes standard with 50i (in Canada)

Parked-car ventilation/heating
http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=910364
page 166, via settings or remote control ( another one)

Energy source: battery and gas

Note
Parked-car heating in enclosed areas
Do not operate the parked-car heating in
enclosed areas, as breathing of the harmful exhaust
fumes may lead to loss of consciousness
and death. The exhaust gases contain carbon
monoxide, an odorless and colorless but highly
toxic gas. Switch off the parked-car heating
when refueling.

So have you actually used it? Do you get a separate remote or can you activate it with your mobile phone?

[barcelona]

Originally Posted by patrob

So have you actually used it? Do you get a separate remote or can you activate it with your mobile phone?

No, it requires the car to be outside. I assume the remote can be ordered, if so another FOB to carry around.

[originalgoods13]

You can activate the Active Comfort Ventilation before you get out of your vehicle and set the in-cabin temperature to your liking (when running quick errands, etc...)

I am trying to set my ConnectedDrive and it is taking quite some time with BMW Assist to configure and Activate my Account on their end.

I am hoping I can use the iPhone App BMW Remote to control Active Comfort Ventilation even if I do not have the ConnectedDrive ARTII Package