Hi folks,
winter is coming and I started to use my Independent heating for last two days. But I'm wondering - is the everyday usage, of this must have feature, drain the battery or makes it's live shorter? I'm not familiar with consumption during the heating period, yet I believe it's a 30min process that might seriously drain the power of the battery. I don't know, so I'd like to ask some1 who has been using this feature continuously. Anybody knows what's the consumption in WATTS?

Thanks in advance!

Oh, one more thing - does this independent mode heat just the "small circuit" or it's warming the engine as well?

Looking forward!

Hi.
Dunno the watts, but the heater, auxilary water pump and the cabin fan centainly takes lots of power. Here on Finland the winter is very long, atleast from November to April people use heaters alot.
Normally, when you use the heater daily base, you should drive the car double the time you use the heater. Otherwise you will soon have problems with the battery. And when the problems start, there will be A LOT of electric cremlings in you car.
If the heater in your car is a "original teile" it only heats the cabin, not the engine.

Winter is coming, I changed winter tyres yesteday!

If the battery starts to get too low to enable starting the heater will cut out, electronics detect it so you do not end up with a flat battery.

Independent heating? Is this feature available on US cars?

Yes. In my car, it's called "Residual Heat Mode", and the control is labeled "REST".

HTH,
Jim / crewzer

Oh, thanks, I forgot. That only works after you've driven the car for a while and need to make a quick stop somewhere, is that correct?

That's pretty useless option.. When you stop the engine it gives warm air for like half a minute..
I mean the REST thingy..

I have to respectfully disagree. I've used residual heat several times in the past winters and while it doesn't keep the cabin warm and toasty it does a good job keeping it comfortable when you hop out to grab a quick lunch or running a quick errand. Same goes for the warm-weather feature (Parked Car Ventilation) to set the cabin fan to run to bring down temps when you park the car. That said, I'm in a moderate climate - value will vary if you're in the Artic or the Dessert.

Both require your battery to be in good health though I'm told both features will shut down if your battery voltage drops to the danger point.