[philliprymar99]

I live in chicago and i have a 335d e90. By the day the temperature gets colder and the 335d is beginning to have some trouble starting due to the temp, are there any precautions i should take for the winter and cold starting my car or should i just hope for the best?

[335dFan]

It might be useful to know what year is your vehicle and how old the battery is. I replaced the battery at the 50,000 mile point and 5.5 years from the production month.

Up until that point I had no trouble starting in cold weather. Admittedly, the following things may have aided in that: (1) I kept my vehicle in an unheated garage most nights and (2) after a couple of years I would regularly keep my car on a battery tender and (3) my driving habits were such that I didn't make a lot of short trips.

From reading the forum the last couple of years, most guys seem to have little problem with cold weather starting, including those in Canada. But surely somebody will chime in about this with a different opinion.

[NickTheStick]

You should be ok. Are you having long crank problems? Weak cranking? I live in Chicago too, and I know the bullshit polar vortex is returning. You might have to wait a couple seconds for the glow plugs to warm up, but other than that should be fine.

I did however use power service winter formula additive (white bottle). Did it make a difference, not sure...but I don't think it hurt.

[335dlci]

Please provide more info on how it's having trouble starting.

[Thecastle]

I've had my 2011 335d in Wyoming in below freezing weather never had an issue starting even when parked outside overnight. At worst you might get a glow plug light illiuminating indicating a delayed start. Never got that even in - weather. Car always fired up but ran rough. Drove off immediately.

Idling never warmed up the car, you had to drive to generate enough heat to warm the engine. The electric cabin heat is nice, but it's not adaquate to really warm a cold interior.

[philliprymar99]

My 335d is 2009, and i currently dont have any issues starting the car, but i was seeing if there is anything i could do to prevent future problems. Thank you for the feedback. Not going to lie it is pretty cool watching the cold start because i have side pipes. LOL

[Owen81]

Is there a way to manually cycle the glow plugs without starting the car?

I've started fine at -25°C and didn't even see the glow plug symbol. I assume it cycles them when you open the door, or plug the key in. Just wondering if there is a way to manually do it.

[TDIwyse]

Originally Posted by philliprymar99

...Not going to lie it is pretty cool watching the cold start because i have side pipes. LOL

Have you posted a pic of the side pipes? I'd like to hear about your setup.

[glitdi]

I am sure you can adjust glow plug values using inpa or rhiengold... I know I bump my idle up a little in the winter usning rheingold.
Tried and true easy method is cycle the key on and off a few times without starting to warm up the air inside the cylinder a little... twice or three times in cold weather will make a difference... if its a slow crank.. check connections at the starter and ground.. clean up etc.. but cold oil is thick... not much you can do about it..

[philliprymar99]

Originally Posted by TDIwyse

Have you posted a pic of the side pipes? I'd like to hear about your setup.

worst decision ever lol. Even thou they look bad ass they are 3 inches above the ground and scrape on everything. i have my car straight piped with a cat delete and some other stuff but it sounds like a jet turbine especially with the turbos. i basically just took it to a muffler shop had them cut out the mufflers and some piping out of the exhaust, then make the side pipes and weld them in. im removing them and having it straight piped out the back because im planning to lower my car soon and add some other mods but it was fun but would recommend it because they are annoying and you have to heat wrap them because the pipes are close to the gas tank that are right in front of the rear wheels. I wouldnt do this again but ill post pictures and videos soon

[Owen81]

Originally Posted by glitdi

I am sure you can adjust glow plug values using inpa or rhiengold... I know I bump my idle up a little in the winter usning rheingold.
Tried and true easy method is cycle the key on and off a few times without starting to warm up the air inside the cylinder a little... twice or three times in cold weather will make a difference... if its a slow crank.. check connections at the starter and ground.. clean up etc.. but cold oil is thick... not much you can do about it..

I see, ya it started fine I was just wondering. Thanks

[nwsnowboarder]

From page 178 of BMW's Diesel Technology instruction manual:

Concealed Heating

Preheating and start standby heating are activated as so-called
concealed heating up to a coolant temperature of 30°C.
Concealed heating is triggered a maximum of 4 times and is then
not enabled again before the engine is restarted.
Concealed heating is triggered by the following signals:
• Driver's seat occupancy
• Driver's seat belt buckle
• Valid key
• Terminal R
• Clutch operated


If preheating is required, the glow plugs are energized before you even try to start the vehicle.

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by 335dFan

...
From reading the forum the last couple of years, most guys seem to have little problem with cold weather starting, including those in Canada. But surely somebody will chime in about this with a different opinion.

+ This. I've started 1st time every time down to about 10F. Others in AK and CA have had no problems down to below 0F.

[JOHNNYBRAVO1]

I always hit the start button and hit it again with all accessories lit and dont start it for about a minute or 2.. let the fuel heater heat up and glow plugs then start and let it warm up for a good 10 min... I do use VP CETANIUM and I'm in NY

[EvanTheBruce]

I'm from Central Indiana and work at a wind turbine park down here. It got down to 0 degrees farenheit today from this polar vortex front moving in. It was also relatively high winds of 11 m/s ground level, the wind really worked the cold into the interior and I'm sure the engine and transmission as well. My car sits outside all day for about 10 hours and I have no issues starting it. I just had a fuel gelling issue recently from the stations around here not switching to winter diesel mixture.


Hard starting (long cranks) sounds like your battery has a high internal resistance built up and is at the end of its service life at first glance. This would restrict the rush current delivered to the starter. You can verify this in INPA, a tool you will also use to reprogram the battery module if you put in a fresh battery.


Your car should start within 1-3 cranks no matter the temperature. I strongly suggest you change your fuel filter for the winter and start running an anti-gel additive. I recommend Howe's Diesel Treatment every tank. I run the power service cetane booster in the summer time and definitely notice a difference in power and fuel economy. The general consensus on the forum seems to be that Midwest diesel fuel quality is relatively low, additive packages depend on the gas station and it's owner.

[Major_90]

Do our cars have electric heat?

[floydarogers]

Originally Posted by Major_90

Do our cars have electric heat?

There is an electric ceramic heater in the HVAC system.

[DieselOG]

I just had a -6°f cold start yesterday after 12hrs outside, started up just fine just a rough idle, glow plug light came on for about 3 seconds. Looking at a high of -7° on Sunday with lows at -30° so interested what a -20°f will be like.

[BB_cuda]

I'm sure you guys shake your head when we Southerners talk about summer temps. You guys are talking about temps colder than my freezer goes down to. We MIGHT get down to 34F on Monday. This would be the ONLY benefit to being about 10 miles from Galveston bay.

[jbenson4]

I bought a electric battery heating blanket for my car, I found it made a big difference for starting in -30°C weather.

[JOHNNYBRAVO1]

I also keep a NOCO G7200 smart battery charger on at night during the winter and summer.. It has a quick disconnect that stays connected to the battery at all times. If you drive off with it connected, it just unplugges it's self. Never had an issue with power or starting.

[lnxguy]

Will probably take a peak and see where I can install a Zerostart coolant heater under the hood. Although haven't had any issues yet with cold starts.