Perhaps Eberspacher might start sharpening their pencils?

skipper_stu said:
https://www.banggood.com/5KW-12V-Ai...0&sc_uid=oUcwiGWAS0&ID=41715&cur_warehouse=CN
Click to expand...

The market has changed and not before time. I had an old Eberspacher on my Moody which was not working. For less than the repair costs, I bought a Planar which has been superb (although I hate the controller). Now in the process of buying a 21 footer.... a Chinaspacher may be fitted. So 2 potential lost sales to Eberspacher. If only the Chinese could design a waterproof version of the Autohelm 1000, another overpriced bit of kit. Hopefully this financial kick up the backside will encourage the European companies to improve their products.
 
Are these heaters more or less interchangeable in terms of ducting etc with an existing ebersbacher installation?
 
fifer said:
Are these heaters more or less interchangeable in terms of ducting etc with an existing ebersbacher installation?
Click to expand...

My Planar used all the Eberspacher ducting with no problems. Adaptors are available if diameters are different.
 
I'm not sure that the influx of cheap Chinese air heaters is even on Eber's or Webasto's radar. Both are more concerned with supplying units in the hundreds of thousands to car and truck manufacturers to install as OEM vehicle heaters. I doubt that their sales of air heaters for aftermarket installation by campervan or boat owners are of any concern to them, they're probably more trouble than their worth.
 
Steve_N said:
I'm not sure that the influx of cheap Chinese air heaters is even on Eber's or Webasto's radar. Both are more concerned with supplying units in the hundreds of thousands to car and truck manufacturers to install as OEM vehicle heaters. I doubt that their sales of air heaters for aftermarket installation by campervan or boat owners are of any concern to them, they're probably more trouble than their worth.
Click to expand...

Very true possibly, but as soon as one lorry manufacturer jumps ship....
 
mbroom said:
Very true possibly, but as soon as one lorry manufacturer jumps ship....
Click to expand...

Volvo cars sold to Canada and Scandinavia often had their own make Webasto/Eberspacher lookalike fitted at the factory to warm them up before driving in minus 30: now the cars are made in China ......?

A working Eberspacher is a wonderful thing: unfortunately mine has several times cost an awful lot to keep it working. I could buy four of the Chinese jobs for the cost of once fixing one control circuit unit. And not a used ex-BT van job - a new install.
 
You have to wonder how long it will be before boat builders start fitting heating as standard. The cost is relatively low and most buyers would benefit from it being installed. I remember (just) my father buying a car and having to retro fit a heater ; these days all cars come with them fitter even in hot countries.
If nothing else it would stop a lot of (often bad tempered) debate on this forum :)
 
Well at that price I decided to go for it to replace an elderly and senile ebersbacher D3L.

I'll let you know if I have any particular successes/issues.

Thanks for the tip off
 
Steve_N said:
I'm not sure that the influx of cheap Chinese air heaters is even on Eber's or Webasto's radar. Both are more concerned with supplying units in the hundreds of thousands to car and truck manufacturers to install as OEM vehicle heaters. I doubt that their sales of air heaters for aftermarket installation by campervan or boat owners are of any concern to them, they're probably more trouble than their worth.
Click to expand...

I reckon the OEM price to boat builders (Beneteau et al) is also a fraction of the price we pay. However, if the boat builders are any good at cost control they must (or should) be keeping an eye on Planar/Autoterm. Having been in manufacturing industry I would be wary of the ultra low-priced Chinese versions - I think they are just too cheap.

I suspect Eber and the rest are viewing their current offerings as 'cash cows': make money whilst we can. Minimum product development (Raymarine ST1000 anyone?), customer loyalty, high priced spares, established dealer network.

I would also guess that with Eber and Webasto being German, there is a degree of 'not invented here' culture (I worked for a time in Germany in engineering). If I was in their marketing departments, I would be getting hold of these cheaper units and testing them, and then taking them apart to see how they stack-up.
 
Minchsailor said:
If I was in their marketing departments, I would be getting hold of these cheaper units and testing them, and then taking them apart to see how they stack-up.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure that they'd find anything useful really. I've an Airtronic D4 and 3 of the Chinese '5kw' units and they are near exact copies. You can take the fan motor and fans, glowplug, castings, burner unit, gaskets etc.. and swap them from Eber to Chinese and back again. The ECUs, controllers and dosing pumps are different but I prefer the Chinese implementation of the former 2 and the pumps seem to be reliable enough. I presume that the quality of castings and plastic mouldings are less with the Chinese versions but they seem to be up to the job.
 
Minchsailor said:
That is exactly my point.
Click to expand...
I know that when I did an article for PBO on Ebers a few years ago they got quite agressive over it. The guy that was doing the emailing wasnt happy.
I also head anecdotally that they were never happy with units being taken from ex BT vans after they had been sold at auction and moved on through Ebay. Has any one bought ex BT vans lately and found that the units had been removed before they went to auction?
 
wonder which model they fitted to the lunar module.? gets pretty chily round there.

but seriously the Chinese can design and manufacture anything, to whatever standard is necessary.

my 5kw is working beautifully and has been said before if it continues for another year its probably cheaper to replace than repair a premium make.

as a bright and not very shiny assistant in the late 70's i was working at a live tx rugby match.
as was the way then, everyone left the ob vehicle (parked underneath the stand) for lunch elsewhere, but being keen I was first back, only to find the vehicle surrounded by thick smoke, coming from an equipment air vent.
i raised the alarm (no mobile phones for us then) with all the arendant mayhem of fire engines and delayed transmission. of course it was the eber, well known to the experienced crew.
not a popular person for some time.
 
Last edited:
martyn78 said:
I have ordered a Chinese 5Kw heater for £17, Yep £17 Plus £20 shipping from
https://www.dhgate.com/product/5000w-12v-air-diesel-fuel-heater-for-car/435925703.html

I await the with anticipation, but for £37 it's got to be worth a punt.
A VERY long test will be on a bench before I even consider fitting it to my boat!!!

Below is a very informative Facebook group dedicated to the Chinese heaters.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/146837062640024/?ref=bookmarks
Click to expand...
Thanks for the link. I have decided also to take a punt as good for spares for my recent £122 unit currently being installed. Just hope my Credit Card survives !
 
I've not heard of anybody's £17 heater actually turning up yet, btw! Fair bit of discussion about them on the facebook group.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top