Remote Start

[domsz4]

you're aware they're totally illegal in this country right?
(unless you're on a drive WITHOUT a dropped kerb.. or other form of private property)

so i did a bit of digging into this as i was interested. its not the system per say that is illegal the law that is being broken is related to the idling of a motor vehicle. It was set into law in ~2002 [Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002] and is primarily set in place to combat inner city pollution from taxi ranks/buses/delivery lorries although all vehicles fall under it. breaking this law will land you with a fixed penalty notice and fine.

from the various places ive read about the conditions of the rules it seems like the official issuing the ticket were advised to tell a user to turn off the engine and fine if their request is not adhered to.

it seems like there is a grey area for defrosting cars and car waiting in queues. where discretion is needed. i.e some one is aboviously defrosting and then will move off.

there was concern that over zealous officers could issue fines to people waiting in certain circumstances i.e at alevel crossing where you can be waiting for 10-15 mins in some cases. technically here you should turn it off and use the residual heat from the engine to warm the car.

from what Ive read remote starting devices are not illegal it the use of them that breaks the idling law. it also seems that so long as your off the highway then your fine so your drive is ok.
it also seems to very from place to place on the value of the fine from £20-120

 

[sk93]

you're aware they're totally illegal in this country right?
(unless you're on a drive WITHOUT a dropped kerb.. or other form of private property)

so i did a bit of digging into this as i was interested. its not the system per say that is illegal the law that is being broken is related to the idling of a motor vehicle. It was set into law in ~2002 [Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002] and is primarily set in place to combat inner city pollution from taxi ranks/buses/delivery lorries although all vehicles fall under it. breaking this law will land you with a fixed penalty notice and fine.

from the various places ive read about the conditions of the rules it seems like the official issuing the ticket were advised to tell a user to turn off the engine and fine if their request is not adhered to.

it seems like there is a grey area for defrosting cars and car waiting in queues. where discretion is needed. i.e some one is aboviously defrosting and then will move off.

there was concern that over zealous officers could issue fines to people waiting in certain circumstances i.e at alevel crossing where you can be waiting for 10-15 mins in some cases. technically here you should turn it off and use the residual heat from the engine to warm the car.

from what Ive read remote starting devices are not illegal it the use of them that breaks the idling law. it also seems that so long as your off the highway then your fine so your drive is ok.
it also seems to very from place to place on the value of the fine from £20-120

It's the unattended running vehicle that is the issue, not the actual hardware.
Same as radar jammers and turbo timers - they're not illegal to own, but are illegal to use.

Here's an example of someone getting busted for it:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-504888/Driver-fined-leaving-engine-running-car-defrosted-outside-home.html



I got fined £60 for leaving my car running on a turbo timer on my drive aobut 6 years back. Took it to court and got landed with £180 bill.
definitely illegal, and is known as "quitting".

 

[Maniac]

I can start my car, get out and lock it as I have keyless.......but remote systems do exist

Thats a better idea!

My uncle left his car running in the snow last year as he went indoors to get some hot water for the windscreen. As he came back out, he saw someone driving off up the road with it. Never got it back

Bad news... and a good example of why you shouldn't do it... but if he'd put the hot water on the windscreen he could have had bad news there too! Never put hot water on frozen cars.

 

[papitosabe]

def possible but illegal in many or all states, but there are instructions on how to by pass the safety on a manual transmission...reason its dangerous is because one may accidentally leave the car in gear... but definitely doable but no shop will do it as they'd be liable if you got hurt....just pay on of the workers to do it on the sly at your house which my buddy did, or do just diy..

and while illegal, thats not something an inspection will be looking for...more than anything, its just illegal to install and I'm speaking of the legalities on installing in a manual....here in the US, its perfectly legal to install in automatic vehicles.... again, even though it may be illegal in your country, I guarantee you won't get busted for it...unless you did something stupid like leave your car in gear w/out your parking brake on

 

[the cueball]

the Clifford system doesn't activate if a manual car is left in gear.

the turbo timers work great too.... I did get questioned by the police once while the car was locked and on cool down, but I just turned it off via the remote, and asked what he was talking about.

the quitting rule is really only for people (buses/trucks/etc) that leave their engines on for ages, doesn't effect people defrosting their car - well, I've never known anyone to get into any trouble for it until this thread

 

[fixit man]

the Clifford system doesn't activate if a manual car is left in gear.

the turbo timers work great too.... I did get questioned by the police once while the car was locked and on cool down, but I just turned it off via the remote, and asked what he was talking about.

Cool move

the quitting rule is really only for people (buses/trucks/etc) that leave their engines on for ages, doesn't effect people defrosting their car - well, I've never known anyone to get into any trouble for it until this thread

 

[sk93]

the quitting rule is really only for people (buses/trucks/etc) that leave their engines on for ages, doesn't effect people defrosting their car - well, I've never known anyone to get into any trouble for it until this thread

Did you not see the link I posted? Guy got busted for exactly that.
Moreover, the police were running an operation called "Operation Cold Start" that was to specifically target people doing exactly that.

 

[domsz4]

there was another way they got you to that i read but it only cropped up a couple of times and i cant find it again something to do with undue care and attention... really cant remember. they have it pretty sown up if your not quitting (Regulation 107(1) of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use)) your polluting. basic gist is dont leave a vehicle running unnecessarily when your not in it...

papitosabe, as both me and sk93 said the physical hardware is not illegal its using it.

 

[the cueball]

Did you not see the link I posted? Guy got busted for exactly that.
Moreover, the police were running an operation called "Operation Cold Start" that was to specifically target people doing exactly that.

I refuse to read anything from the daily fail...especially a 6 year old story - I'm sure "operation cold start" is still running though

maybe I come from a place where there is still real crime and no one cares about you defrosting a car...

 

[oo7ml]

I think all you who are worried about it being against the law are getting a little bit carried away... and i bet you have probably done 65MPH in a 60MPH zone at some stage, which is probably a bigger offence AND you are probably 10 times more likely to get caught speeding than with your remote start

 

[ESP]

The most important thing to me about leaving the car running is that BMW say you should use the engine as soon as possible because idle revs are insufficient to promote good oil circulation in the engine when cold, never mind the emissions argument. My car revs the N54 quite high when starting to get the oil around but idles normally within 20-30 seconds and I'd never let it sit there for a while to warm up knowing insufficient oil circulation could promote wear. So, I do as BMW say, take the ice off the car, get in, start it, put on the heated seats etc etc and drive off. Its cold outside and I'm already wearing a coat, hat and gloves so why wait for the car to warm up and have to shell all that off again.

???? WTF
Nonsense

I'm pretty sure BMW (like all car manufactures) advise 'ideally' the car isn't used until it's up to correct running temperature / outside of the BLUE zone on the gauge, and if it has to be used before this to keep revs LOW. Having worked in the motor trade I can guarantee that running your car to defrost/demist it will in no way cause detrimental harm to the engine or oil. Engine oil works at its best at normal running temperatures (WARM/HOT) and can be as low as 30% effective from cold.

AND may I add to this, it annoys the hell out of me when I see drivers that have not defrost/de-mist their car and drive off with a small letter box of visibility to see through. Common scenes must back allowing a few minutes for Acari to warm up in winter before heading off.

 

[DPG]

Maybe, but for those of us who haven't worked in the motor trade for years might have to consult the owners manual for information.

E.g page 40.

Do not let the engine warm up in idling position. Instead, begin to drive at moderate engine speeds.