diesel don,

The trucker probably has a "Webasto" supplemental heater. This is a factory option for all MB's in Germany, and involves a small Diesel fuel or gasoline (depending on the automobile engine type) burning heater, with a small pump that is integrated with the heating system in the car, truck or boat. I have this system on my 1986 190E 2.3-16, and had it installed in a few 1980's vintage W123 230E's I imported. I get it serviced at a local boat yard, and believe you could have one installed at either a truck service or boat service station that carries the Webasto equipment. They are pretty costly for a back fit though. The system has two programmed times (I used it before going to work and then before coming home as I do not have a garage). They will run for 60 minutes or until the battery charge is less than some value the computer considers necessary to successfully start the vehicle.

The system used to scare the hair off my dog. He would be lying near the cars in the morning before we had to contain him, and when this thing would light off it sounded like a small jet engine. The dog would flip out and start barking at the car like it was alive and had not been granted rights to live inside his territory.

Hope this helps, Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)