Hello,
I recently bought a 2016 Z4 sDrive28i from a dealer in Germany and noticed a small button in the storage compartment that replaces the ashtray (see pic). It lights up green if pressed, but I don't know what it does. I think I heard a different whine of the AC fans, but I am not sure. I scoured the manuals and the web, but couldn't find anything, so I suppose this button is not something factory fitted (although the car was part of the "BMW Premium Selection" program, so I wasn't expecting any "artisanal" changes to it).
Does anyone have any idea what it could be and how I could check? Preferably without having to tear the car apart
Definitely after market. Kill switch? Does the car start with it on? Maybe just a fake alarm light?
I got some info about it, the dealer that sold me the car was able to contact the previous owner and told me it's a "parking heater" (translated from German, so the exact term could vary), which I need to unlock first (again translated from German by the dealer, whose English is not very good). I wasn't able to extract any more information about the "unlocking" that needs to be done first (do I need to code something, connect some wire, or just press the button?) or the manufacturer of the heater, nothing.
Now the difference in fan whine that I heard makes sense. I tried to start the car (cold engine) and see what I can get with the button light on and off, but the results were inconclusive; maybe the outside temperature was not low enough (it was around +6°C). Will try again in a couple days, when it gets colder.
Does anyone know who could be the manufacturer of such a heater, where it could be located, or what this "unlocking" could mean?
Engine block heater? Take a look around. Being from Florida I have no knowledge of this cold craziness
He may mean to turn the switch off. If it is a block heater, before running engine.
As weather warmed up and I found some time to examine the engine compartment, I found the heater, it's a Webasto Thermo Top Evo 5 kW. Now what I don't understand is how to control it, as the one button I have inside does not seem to be enough since this heater can work in multiple model (parking-auxilliary), and my results have varied, but I don't know depending on what. When I started it once, the windshield has been heated and defrosted, but the next time it was freezing (actually snowed) and I tried that - the windshield stayed frozen and the fan was blowing lukewarm air inside the car. The manuals I have been able to find on the internet are of no help. Does anyone have any experience with retrofitted Webasto heaters?
Bookmarks