Hi all.

Despite having the winter package (heated screen, heated seats and ffh.(fuel fired heater)), I wanted to have a warm car in these cold winter mornings here in Norway. First I figured I could rebuild the ffh. to a parking heater, but that turned out to be too complicated. Instead I put in an electical block heater and a cabin heater. Not too complicated, but a lot of fiddeling, especially getting the cable from the engine compartement into the cabin. The block heater is not mounted on the block, but rather on one of the hoses from the cooling system.
Result: With -10C outside the car is nice and warm inside, and engine temp a nice +20C upon startup. So far an hours use has been sufficient.

oyster
X-TYPE 2.2 D

 

I was just looking into this, since I too live in the frozen north. Is anyone here familiar with Defa block heaters?

I know that there are three different kinds of block heaters:
1) Ones that heat the engine block itself
2) Ones that heat the coolant fluid and are very common these days
3) Ones that heat the oil and are frankly useless

What I'm trying to find out is whether the Jaguar block heater for the X is better or not than the Defa block heater.

 

Hi.

That depends upon you having a diesel or gasoline powered model. I have a diesel, and the heater is mounted on one of the cooling hoses and works very well. As far as I can see you have a gasoline model, and then the heater is set into the engine block. I have no experience with this heater, but I imagine it should work ok. I agree with you on the oil heaters. They are not very efficient.
You can search on the Defa home page to find your model and fitting instructions.
I also have a cabin heater which I strongly recomend.

 

Hmm, thanks. I'm currently planning on a Defa block heater, the slim Termini 1350W cabin heater, and perhaps some kind of automated timer contraption to turn it on when necessary. Curiously, the Defa site stated that the 2.5 2001 isn't supported, for no obvious reason, but they told me they're checking it with Jaguar.

Where did you put your plug? In the lower grille?

 

Hi.

Placed outside contact in lower part of grille. Cabin heater in left side of passenger footwell.
Managed to get a cable to the cabin through a hole in left wheelwell after removing plastic inner protection.

 

it should be right wheelwell.