BMW making themselves look good

The Jaguar XK has something called a "bark cone" which is a conical tube going from the engine compartment into the cabin, designed to let you hear the engine noise. It was introduced because owners had complained about the soundproofing being so good that you couldn't hear the engine....

 

Did you hit birds? My mate keeps running over pigeons in the road. I thought he was exaggerating til I heard same from another friend.

 

That's completely different. That's a software update that has required further development and requires a download of the new features. It's buying something new.

This heated seat thing is simply a block on a feature that is already installed.

It's the total waste of resources that is the most alarming. We're all recycling, insulating our homes, making choices based on global warming and waste. Meanwhile BMW are burning up energy to manufacture and install components, many of which are plastic, and switching those features off. I can't think of a more ridiculous, wasteful manufacturing model.

 

I worked for Jaguar for 20-odd years and was quite involved in just in time parts delivery. All the parts are ordered from the suppliers at the time the order is submitted to manufacturing - the time can vary but is normally weeks out from the vehicle being built. Seats are a complex item with varieties of materials, colours and electronics. There is little chance of the seats being changed as the car is being built. Besides which order amendments are not accepted once the the vehicle is sequenced for build. This sort of process is much the same for all car manufacturers.

 

Probably didn’t word it well, how it read was that a dealer bought a car and previous owner had cancelled a subscription and to sell the car with a working Sat nav they had to pay for it.

 

Have they done the same with the indicators not many BMWs use them

 

I can’t believe there’s anyone defending it.

 

Have they done the same with the indicators not many BMWs use them

 

This tells me we are one step closer to someone being able to hack my car while I'm driving it.

 

Heated seats, steering wheel and rear heated window are powered from 12v battery, not drive battery.

It is much cheaper to drive with these on rather than use the cabin heater. The majority of electric cars are the same principle.

Therefore upgrading seats and steering wheel is worth it - can’t beat heated steering wheel in winter! The idea being that you use the seats and wheel as much as possible before using cabin heater.

 

The principle of using direct heat, heated seat, as opposed to cabin heating is, as you say, far more efficient in an electric car.

Unlike an internal combustion engine where heat is a by product of the engine an electric vehicle utilises power to create the heat. Applying the direct heating source, heated seats are far more energy efficient than heating up the whole cabin.

 

What keeps the 12v battery charged in an electric car ?

 

I don’t think my car has a separate battery, just that there is a 12v system for certain accessories. (This is definitely not my area of expertise so stand corrected on this!) There is one energy source and using cabin heat depletes range, heated seats are just a more efficient way of warming you up without depleting range quite so much.

 

Critically, EVs still use 12v electrics - as they far cheaper and other than HGVs, not much other voltages are available.

The 12v battery is charged by the main drive battery but only under certain conditions - usually overnight, when on charge. But only when needed. And, it has minimal impact on charging. Might add on 10mins to an overnight charge. It can charge whilst on a journey if it needs to - and would use a mixture of regen power as well as battery if req.

The reason for a 12v battery is for safety. Lights, heated windows, and control systems etc should not be affected by range anxiety, hence why they are not linked. Other some plonkers would drive around with no lights on to save range!

If you have a electric heated windscreen, rear window, heated mirrors and heated seats and steering wheel, it makes a massive difference in winter to range. Just wrap up warmer!