remote car starter

[smokedE46]

has anyone sucessfully had a remote start installed in their E46? I know your not supposed to let them idle for any length of time, just want to get a headstart on the warmup, (cool off in the summer). Is there any recommended installers that anyone in the northeast has used that may be able to set it up without butchering (sp.?) my wiring?..is there any way if one is installed, any electronics (seat heaters, rear defrost) that can be switched on with the starter? thanks for any and all info (pro, and cons)

 

[mikev]

there great until an oportunist comes along and takes advantage of the situation!

 

[PuShAkOv]

Never understood the whole "please put stress on me right away when I am cold" thing about the engine. Woudln't that just cause wear since oil did not have enough time to navigate through the engine and talk about the whole thermal affect of an engine that is not broken in... don't understand but will follow.

 

[smokedE46]

ive had remote starters in the past...the doors remain locked until I open them, and if any thing is touched (brake pedal, hood or trunk opening, etc) the car shuts down immediately, and will not restart, even if you have a key, without re-setting the remote start function with the remote. so im not really concerned about theft. I also think that giving your engine a quick warmup will do no harm at all.

 

[frolf]

i looked into them, then i realized i'm poor. in MN it would be nice to have my car start while i'm still in class, and walk out to a nice warm vehicle, and warm engine. and the nice thing is, with a bmw you don't need to have the clutch in to start the car.

 

[mikev]

it doesn't do any harm at all and helps it along a little. however the BMW manual states that you should NEVER let your car get up to operating temperature at idle!

 

[bmwrocks]

the BMW manual states that you should NEVER let your car get up to operating temperature at idle!

I have heard this before from other sources, but never heard why. Does it do some sort of harm?

 

[MrElussive]

Remote car start is a great idea for cooling the car in the summer. As for the cold, I don't know if it's that great. Yeah, you can set your ass-warmer to turn on so you have a nice heated seat when you get in your car. But the engine doesn't really warm up until you start driving it and we all know that a cold engine running means no heat.
As for the clutch issue, I believe that whoever installs the remote starter, disables the sensor that requires you to step on the clutch to turn the car on. But this also means you have to leave the car in neutral all the time (not so great when you're parked on a hill). Of course, autotragic drivers have nothing to worry about in this case.

 

[frolf]

yeah good call about the leaving the car in neutral thing. I have no idea why bmw says we (everyone except ellusive ) are not supposed to let our cars idle to warm. that leaves a lot of gray area to warm it up in. i don't want to ruin this guys thread, so i'll post a new one, cause i have a great question.....

http://www.bmwboard.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4496