lazy boy 211 warm up

[pomm001]

On these cold mornings i would like to start the car up and let it run for a few minutes to warm up and clear the screen, but always nervous that someone may just walk past and nick it.
Is there a way that i can run the car, obvously with keys in and lock the doors without activating the alarm ? had a quick look in the handbook without sucess.
Any ideas that actualy work

many thanks

 

[television]

No sir cant be done,, cant your good lady sit in the car while its warming up

Other than a heater, but they are exspensive

 

[rf065]

Last year, in my area at least, a number of cars were stolen while defrosting on the driveway. Apparently the culprits were seen driving around the area looking for cars with the engine running & no one sitting in them.

Needless to say, they were never caught and the cars were not recovered either. It happened in a large private estate, so they were obviously professionals looking for high end cars, the easy way.

Russ

 

[Quick Silver]

On these cold mornings i would like to start the car up and let it run for a few minutes to warm up and clear the screen, but always nervous that someone may just walk past and nick it.
Is there a way that i can run the car, obvously with keys in and lock the doors without activating the alarm ? had a quick look in the handbook without sucess.
Any ideas that actualy work

many thanks

Don't be a woos, it's antics like this that put insurance costs up and keep the criminal fraternity in comforts they definetly don't deserve.

 

[jberks]

I used to do something similar with my Fords - run with one key and lock with another. can't on the 211 though afaik.
Not sure which 211 you have but I believe the diesels have a pre heater anyway. Mine is pumping out warmish air less than a minute after starting up so I'm pretty sure it isn't coming from the engine. I find mine has melted most of the ice within 1-2 mins or to put it another way, by the time you're back in the house, it should be pretty much clear.

 

[DougCLK320]

Don't forget that if your car is stolen in this way (with your keys) your insurance company won't pay up.
Doug

 

[jubhi]

I used to do something similar with my Fords - run with one key and lock with another. can't on the 211 though afaik.
Not sure which 211 you have but I believe the diesels have a pre heater anyway. Mine is pumping out warmish air less than a minute after starting up so I'm pretty sure it isn't coming from the engine. I find mine has melted most of the ice within 1-2 mins or to put it another way, by the time you're back in the house, it should be pretty much clear.

If I'm not mistaken there is a pump unit that stores the warm air of the car from the previous day and therefore you get almost immediate warm air the next day from the vents. I believe the 5 Series BMWs have this feature also. I remember seeing it on 5th gear I think....

 

[pomm001]

Thanks for your repies
I only leave it running while i defrost the Mrs A class which is parked in front. but still nervous.

I dont think you should worry too much about me putting up your insurance, they wouldnt pay out anyway,its the loads of folks without insurance or all the car floating about on PL plates, ever tried making a claim against them

Yes there is an additional independant heater in the ventalation system which kicks in when cold
thanks

 

[Cnics]

There are several aftermarket remote start units available on the market. However, unlike alot of older vehicles the complicated immobiliser / alarms on these vehicles make it alot more difficult to do. A friend of mine has one fitted to his sprinter. It does require leaving a key under the bonnet in a separate compartment for imob purposes. Bit OTT for me. I just park the van the other way on the road away from the cold and have a 12V heater that i switch on 15 seconds after starting up.

That said, my job is generally lunch time until the early hours, so i don't have to do many early morning starts unless you class 2am at a venue early morning.

 

[jberks]

There are several aftermarket remote start units available on the market. However, unlike alot of older vehicles the complicated immobiliser / alarms on these vehicles make it alot more difficult to do.

A relative has one as standard on his car .. in Canada. Hits a button on the key from the comfort of his house and the engine fires up and the climate automatically switches to demist.
Sadly, they're illegal in the UK. If a copper finds your mates van running unattended they'll book him.

 

[Cnics]

Even on his drive?

 

[Razoo]

On these cold mornings i would like to start the car up and let it run for a few minutes to warm up and clear the screen, but always nervous that someone may just walk past and nick it.
Is there a way that i can run the car, obvously with keys in and lock the doors without activating the alarm ?

My 'other' car, a 2000W Ford Focus, has a neat trick. One icy day during the first winter of ownership, I started the car to warm it up and defrost the windows. I shut the driver's door and went back indoors. When I returned to the car about 5 minutes later, the damn thing had relocked itself with the key in the ignition and the engine still running. Great logic Ford! A frantic search to find the spare key ensued.

A couple of weeks later, and having learned the lesson, I left the driver's door slightly open whilst the car warmed up. As I was scraping the ice, Mrs wife came out and helpfully slammed the door shut, whilst berating, "It won't get very warm if you leave the door open, stupid." The car promptly locked itself even before I had uttered the words "No don't... " This was an interesting demonstration of female memory retention because Mrs wife was party to the expletives that accompanied the first lockout and she was also involved in the frantic search for the spare key

I would add that the car was on a private drive behind a locked 5-bar gate whilst it was warming up - so not easily nickable.

Razoo

 

[DougCLK320]

Even on his drive?

No, not illegal on private property, but the insurance company won't pay if it gets nicked under these circumstances.
Doug

 

[jberks]

Even on his drive?

Good question. I did a bit of digging and I think you are right. On his drive he's ok - the law only relates to public highways.
You learn something new every day

 

[jberks]

No, not illegal on private property, but the insurance company won't pay if it gets nicked under these circumstances.
Doug

true, but using a preheater, there would be no key and the car would be locked.
There are also a lot of electric (mains) preheaters on the market that are much simpler. Basically an electric heater that yo put on a conventional timeswitch (or just turn on with the kettle every morning). This uses no fuel and has the car nice and toasty when you come out, though admittedly, unless it can control the heater, still iced up on the outside, plus you have to disconnect the power lead which could be a pain in the snow.

The other option is to do as I did, buy a house with a double garage. 2 cars sitting at 6 degrees ready to go with no need for de-icer
There are some very good carport designs out now that give the same result though.