Hay guys, il be moving to Alaska pretty soon and I am wondering what to do for a block heater for the MINI 09 Cooper s. Or if there is anything like it. Or if there is a good remote start for it. my car is also a stick. any help is good help.

Matt

 

I'd be inclined to sell it and buy a 4 wheel drive vehicle that came with a block heater, the mini doesn't have one.

 

I think a block heater would be an excellent idea, surely someone makes an aftermarket unit you could adapt?

However, glangford's idea has a lot of merit too, given they have what - 10 months of winter a year up there!?!?

Where will you be in Ak? I think there's an Alaskan MINI owners club too, check with them - they'll know how to keep your car alive in those conditions. I'd think a good set of snow tires and maybe even a set of cable chains would be a prudent investment too....

 

Nonsense.....

http://www.minifini.com/Gallery.aspx

 

Ummm 10 months out of the year??? Now we just love folks that believe stuff like that...

I won't say a Countryman all4 would be out of the question for the winter months (which is about 4-5), but I drive my mini year round with snow tires and no block heater, it handles just fine. When the temp gets down in the single digits for a week or two the mini doesn't like it too much, but I have a garage at home and the wife has the 4x4 if it's that bad of weather.

I have thought about a Viper remote start for my car (yes they can install it for a manual, you just have to park it with the ebrake and not in gear for it to work) I just haven't found it that cold that I needed it.

Give this link a buzz when you arrive here or here AK Mini Club. We have about 40-50 mini members and are always looking for more.

 

I didn't say it wasn't possible. The question of desirable is something to think about.

 

What, NOBODY saw the big green smiley at the end of my sentence?

One year when I was in Ankorage I saw termination dust over Labor Day weekend, so my comment wasn't TOO far off... 8 months instead of 10 maybe.....

I think I'd like a block heater for these cold Kansas mornings - it would be nice to go out to a nice warm car instead of it taking 3 miles and some highway driving before I feel any real heat out of the heater. And since my Clubby has to live outside so the Jag can have the pampered life in the garage, it would make it easier on the MINI too....

I'd think a block heater would be a better investment than a remote starter, as long as you have a place to plug it into. My understanding is that in really cold environments, like there in Alaska or Canada, you want to plug it in while the car's still warm so it only has to maintain the temp, not try to bring it up from dead cold.

 

Alaska!?!? I'm jealous.

I wish there was 10 months of winter!

3rd winter with a MINI... no problems with the cold (sometimes minus 15 or so) besides the stupid window problem.

 

Heck there are places in Eastern Washington state that can snow from October to June........ Let alone the rest of the lower 48.........

 

Wisconsin reporting in. My fiance lived in Cordova Alaska growing up. Moving to Wisconsin was a rude surprise as she found it to be colder in Wi than her part of AK. It depends where you live in Alaska.

Tomorrow we're expecting morning chill factors in the -20 degrees F range. I've had no problems starting my 2011 MINI.

Heated seats warm you much faster than the heater although once it gets going it blows plenty of heat. And my MINI is a vert.

A good down coat, a good set of gloves, proper winter shoes, a scarf, and a warm hat will get you by until the heat builds up. Put your money into a good set of winter tires like Blizzaks and carry a foldup shovel and a space blanket in case you get stuck.

I actually look forward to driving in the winter.

 

If you do a search using my username it will take you to a post I did regarding an oil pan heater I installed. Works well. Photos in my gallery.

 

Alaska cannot be too bad.... the army sends their troops from alaska to new york for cold weather training.