It gets expensive if you run the heater overnight on electricity. I usually go out and plug it in an hour or two before wanting a good start.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I have one on my I4 gas truck. Don't get to use it though-apartment life :/

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$60 OM617 Blank Exhaust Flanges
$110 OM606 Blank Exhaust Flanges
No merc at the moment

I've actually never used the block heater on my 300D (never got the cord). The coldest I ever had to start it was -7F ... started up instantly, just sounded very unhappy for a few seconds. That was pretty long ago and I wouldn't have had any place to plug it in. Now that I have a place to plug it in, I have the garage ... even though it's not heated it stayed in the mid 30s inside yesterday when it was 15 out. I also drive the 300 in the winter less.
My Jeep is currently stuck outside due to my poor spacial planning in the garage (left the non-running 240D in front of one door), and I've been thinking of plugging it in. I noticed a cord in the engine compartment last time I was working on it ... could just plug an extension cord in. Might make for better starts.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Nope.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I use a block heater because number five glow plug is causing the relay to shut off too soon. It is less money and effort to just plug it in for an hour. Plus, the heater works sooner!

I put the hood all the way up so I remember to unplug before leaving.

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Current fleet:

1985 Mercedes-Benz 280TE - Waiting for heart surgery.

1985 Mercedes-Benz 300TDT - Rear ended 23 September 2016 and now looking for a new home.

1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD - Parted out.

1964 Volkswgen Beetle - Vater's since September 1968 and undergoing a restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Sunroof Squareback with F.I. - in need of full restoration.

1971 Volkswagen Squareback automatic with F.I. - Vacationing with her caretaker until he is in better health.

How does it do that? I haven't heard of that happening before.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

How did you come to that conclusion? I would have thought only a fault with #1 GP could cause that behaviour.

If you do that, just be careful. There is a lot of surface area on the hood, and a strong gust of wind can snap the hood back. Your windshield won't like it.

As an apprentice at my buddy's shop found out, one windshield later, when he left my 240d with the hood up in the parking lot on a windy day.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Yeah, obviously how much engine heat you need to have before you feel warm air from the vents will depend on how cold the air you're trying to heat is. At 40F the engine doesn't have to be much past 40C (104F) before the heat from the vents starts to feel warm...obviously at 20F the heater has a bit more of a chore ahead of it.

When I lived in MI I sometimes thought about mounting an electric space heater *inside* the car for cabin pre-heating and window ice melting, but I never had a convenient plugin. When I had a VW bus with a gasoline-fueled combustion heater, that thing would melt the ice off the windows in no time. It would produce enough heat to make you sweat if you let it run long enough.

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1981 Mercedes 300TD, 1994 Honda Civic Del Sol
http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/67195.pnghttp://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-us/103885.png

Before using a block heater be certain it is in good condition: Block Heater Fire

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"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength" - Eric Hoffer

Of course, at temps that are only moderately cold, I don't really care about quick cabin heat. So it's looking more and more like a block heater won't be much of a help to me in terms of comfort.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

So then I tried running the block heater for ten hours. 12F ambient when I started the car. Cabin air not cold but neither was it warm at all. But heat did seem to come on a bit quicker than it would have otherwise.

I guess, having played with it a bit, the only time I would use the block heater is if it's SO cold that I might have difficulty starting....but hard to imagine that kind of cold in RI.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 159k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 179k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver on Tan, 145k mi, wastegate conversion, ALDA delete

19 Honda CR-V EX 77k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife