Heater conversion on E34 (coolant to electrical based)

[ktteoh]

the standard heater on e34 is such a pain in the ass to repair once broken (valves, heater core buried in dashboard with coolant pipings).

has anyone done a conversion to electrical based heater either via using an assembly of off the shelf parts from other cars or is there a ready made kit available from some vendor?

[E34-520iSE]

Is this like an oil-filled core with an electric heater? I never knew cars were fitted with such a system! Tell me more Ktteoh......

Cheers,

Shaun

[High Compression II]

Were you thinking of using electrical power as the source of the heat, as in electric elements???

The amount of power drain on the electrical system of a vehicle would probably be as much as the starter-motor,--You wouldnt run the starter for more than a miniute and expect the battery to hold up would you!!!--The current an adequate fan-heater would probably be around the same, Say 1Kw,--Maybe more...........

A coolant block heater as made by Kemowe and powered from the domestic electricity supply would keep the coolant warm, and Ebispacher made a diesel fuelled heater to do the same and used on some Mercedes W123 as an extra.

Cheaper and easier to fix the original heater system...................

[632 Regal]

stick a space heater in the front seat, unplug it before you leave and it should stay warm til you get to work...as long as it isnt too far. Bring gloves and a parka for the drive home.

[uscharalph]

the standard heater on e34 is such a pain in the ass to repair once broken (valves, heater core buried in dashboard with coolant pipings).

has anyone done a conversion to electrical based heater either via using an assembly of off the shelf parts from other cars or is there a ready made kit available from some vendor?

My heater core is currently bypassed. Good for me I don't need a heater much in Southern California. I would still like to get it fixed.

[ktteoh]

ralph, how do you bypass the heater core - can you list down the steps ?

My heater core is currently bypassed. Good for me I don't need a heater much in Southern California. I would still like to get it fixed.

[uscharalph]

ralph, how do you bypass the heater core - can you list down the steps ?

This is how I did it:

[uscharalph]

This is how I did it:

Sorry, that didn't give the whole instructions. Disconnect all three of these hoses. Use a tee joint (Pipe) and connect #2 & #3 to the straight through parts of the tee and #1 to the third connecting part of the tee. Hope that makes sense. You might also want to do a search on this topic.

[grave77]

use old spark Plugs to plug the water ... I did the same thing to mine ... its hot here all the year .. no need for some hot water flowing under the dash to increase heat :P ... just remove the hoses and plug them. some ppl use a T two inputs and the return ar linked with it. but u dont need the water to flow here anyway. so I just plugged the pipes.

[ktteoh]

ralph, thanks for the pictures and guide. could you give me some perspective where to locate the 3 hoses in the engine bay - could not see that from your picture.

This is how I did it: