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Heater upgrade?
Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:51 pm
by StanleyMinor
Has anyone fitted a Mini heater to a Minor as an upgrade and if so which year approx of Mini would I need a heater from ? Also is it a simple swap? Any help would be appreciated

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:50 am
by salty_monk
Yes, someone did an article on this in the club mag a year or so back I think... It's pretty straight forward.
Doesn't matter what year of mini really, all the heaters are the same (although early ones were only single speed I think).
Make sure you flush it first.
It is more effeicient than the minor heater but I wouldn't say amazingly so...
Dan

Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:04 am
by rayofleamington
My latest Minor has one of these mini heaters. I've not looked too closely (I've only driven the car once!) but it certainly works.
Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:33 am
by bmcecosse
In fact - I have fitted a Minor heater in my Mini!! Not strictly true - I have used the Minor casing with the Mini heat excahanger and fan - because I wanted the Mk I look of the Minor flap-front heater casing. The actual heat exchangers are the same - but the Mini fan is quite a bit larger and more powerful - but still only single speed in my case. later Minis had two speed fans - but (from Mini forums) these are a constant source of trouble. The second speed is in fact a half-speed anyway - the normal speed is just the same as the single speed.
Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:47 pm
by honda90
Have a look in the technical tips area of the website there is an article on fitting a mini heater.
heater upgrade
Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 10:44 pm
by StanleyMinor
Many thanks for all your advice

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:33 pm
by KirstMin
I've got a 2-speed mini heater and it works a treat. Bought it from birmingham morris minor and it comes with an uprated matrix too. The fast speed is a lot faster than the morris minor heater (4000 rpm)and the slow speed a little slower (2000 rpm) so it's good if you need to moderate the heat more effectively. Not had any probs with mine but only had 1 year.
I dont know what BMC's last sentence means - half speed is the same as normal speed - because by it's very nature half speed is just that, ie: the fan blows at 2000 or 4000 rpm. Must be a North of the border thing

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 5:46 pm
by rayofleamington
I dont know what BMC's last sentence means - half speed is the same as normal speed
what he means is that the 2 speed MINI fans do not go 'faster' than a single speed MINI fan when they are on full. I'm not sure how you'd fit a tacho to it under load, but either way it's not a major issue.
As you already stated - the fan is better than a Minor and you get an option to reduce the speed when you need to.
Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:46 pm
by New_Boy_Traveller
Anyone got pictures of ones fitted?
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:44 pm
by bmcecosse
Yes - what i said was that the second speed is half speed. The normal speed is the same as the single speed heater! so you can make it pass less air (and noise) if you want - but not more air. But - the Mini fan is much bigger and does push more air.
Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:58 am
by KirstMin
[Everything becomes clear] Right! It's all so easy to understand now it's explained again!
In my experience the 1/2 speed setting is handy for at least the point that on full pelt - at 4000 rpm - it is damn noisy, hence stressfull

Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 8:55 pm
by jonathon
We have fitted an excellent quiet, 3 speed, thats 3 proper speeds not just a puff and standard speed of the mini derived units. Its capable of 6KW which would probably melt your rear screen. They have modern style eyeball vents instead of the rather poor minor tubes running through the parcel shelf , the screen de misters are also catered for. We intend to re package these heaters to replicate the original minor unit for those who wish to retain the original appearance.
