Mains Engine Heater

[peter.vw]

With all this cold weather we are having I am considering fitting a mains engine heater, not that I have problems starting but has most of my journeys are short and it would help the engine operating temperature.
I think VW make a heater for vehicles running in colder countries like Germany and Norway but does any one know if its available in the UK, the part number and were on the engine its fitted.
Kenlow make a unit that is fitted into the car heater line and heats the block, like the idea of getting into a warm car in the mornings no ice on the windscreen heater works from the word go.

[ashley1407]

Not heard of anything like this before.

I am curious though why you went for the diesel if you mostly do short journeys. :S

[matsa71]

Very common here in Sweden.
The two main brands here are Defa and Calix, http://www.defa.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.calix.se" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Can't find a reseller in the UK though, but maybe they are shipping.
I've fitted these to basically every car I've owned, very nice to have even though I live in the south of Sweden and the temperature rarely drops below freezing.
Just great to get out to a warm car in the morning and in the Scirocco case, have never had the problem of windows freezing shut.
Don't think VW makes one, at least not the electric ones. Perhaps a petrol or diesel powered heater in that case, but that would probably cost you both an arm and a leg.

[peter.vw]

Not heard of anything like this before.

I am curious though why you went for the diesel if you mostly do short journeys. :S

Your find the thinking of buying diesel if you only do high mileage is now out of date, with the 170 you have near petrol performance (without having to race the engine as all the power is down low good for urban driving ) but with the economy of diesel, (lower road tax fuel and insurance)

I had to make my choice based on the fact that I am retired and have to watch my out goings, I also wanted something with some get up and go, had the 140 been the only option available being slow (as it was when I placed my order) then it would have been the TSI but the 170 is so quick its has the best of both worlds.
Hope this answers your question.

[peter.vw]

Very common here in Sweden.
The two main brands here are Defa and Calix, http://www.defa.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and http://www.calix.se" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Can't find a reseller in the UK though, but maybe they are shipping.
I've fitted these to basically every car I've owned, very nice to have even though I live in the south of Sweden and the temperature rarely drops below freezing.
Just great to get out to a warm car in the morning and in the Scirocco case, have never had the problem of windows freezing shut.
Don't think VW makes one, at least not the electric ones. Perhaps a petrol or diesel powered heater in that case, but that would probably cost you both an arm and a leg.

Thanks for this, these two systems work differently to the one that Kenlow make in as much that the Kenlow unit sits in the cooling system line feeding the heater, it has a 3 kw element and a circulating pump so water is heated and pumped through the heater core then back in to the block warming the engine to 86c wile the car is parked.
Take it VW having done all the home work on cold starting and don’t see the need of a block heater.