T7 California Beach with camper parking heater. Where is it in the controls?

[Grizwald]

Hi all,

New T7 California Beach owner here and just trying to work something out.

I specifically went for a stock vehicle that had the options I wanted, and the spec provided before delivery stated it had the “Camper parking heater for continuous operation”.

We did our first overnight trip this weekend and I can’t seem to find any sign of it. I’ve checked the C pillar camper control panel, looked through the menus/manual, and watched a few YouTube videos showing where the auxiliary/camper heater option should appear, but the option doesn’t seem to be there on mine.

I’ve had the van less than a week and only discovered this on the first camp, so before I start querying it I just wanted to sense check whether I’m missing something obvious.

If your T7 Beach has the camper parking heater, where exactly is it accessed from?

Cheers

 

[cangyroo]

Mmmm, you should be able to see an auxiliary heater control on the C Pillar control panel. If it's not showing, you should check if there is actually one installed. If you pop your head underneath ... you can see a small exhaust pipe extending down from the heater... about the diameter of a 50p coin. You can also access the heater control from the 'California App' ..... via the phone or on the the infotainment screen... the latter you have to download from the shop. If you're still not sure, you can enter your VIN into one of the many sites that list all the components with the vehicle.... such as this one: https://www.carvertical.com/gb. .... you will have to pay for the results.... but it's a comprehensive list... if you have the heater it will say this in the report: (see attached image)

 

[Californication69]

 

[Californication69]

Click the button.
Click it again.
Choose heating and ventilation
Choose air auxiliary heater
Choose continuous operation.
Usually leave it on 5 heat.
3 is a bit cold for us.
When it’s -5 outside, 7 is nice and toasty.

The other option is heat immediately, but it’s only good if your frozen after a walk and want fast hot heat.

 

[Californication69]

I had an already built vehicle with the added option of the £1500 ? electric parking heater and fob.
This switches an electric heater on in the engine bay and blasts hot air in the front vents so it clears the front screen fast.
I think it also heats the coolant around engine to warm engine up.

 

[Grizwald]

Thanks for taking the time to reply and paot the images. Mine doesn't have that option I've given up for the night but managed to get into the app.

 

[Californication69]

You haven’t got the option for continuous heat on the rear screen ?

 

[Californication69]

You can only use the rear screen to set it on.
It’s not an option on the app or front screen app.
Weird. Yep !

 

[stoobthealien]

It's

You can only use the rear screen to set it on.
It’s not an option on the app or front screen app.
Weird. Yep !

That's the way it is, no continuous in the app. I've never tried the front screen to be fair, much prefer the c pillar control panel interface

 

[Grizwald]

Thanks for the replies. It is looking like it does have a diesel heater fortunately. It doesn't look like it is accessible from the control panel which is odd. We went camping at the weekend and despite it being June it was a bit chilly first thing.

I ran the heat now function which I think I'd use when camping to warm the cabin up in the mornings. I'll let it cool and try the continuous heating next.

 

[Grizwald]

Was able to confirm that there is a heater exhaust this morning. Just the functionality seems to be burried in apps and options. Ideally it would be accessible via the camper control panel so when you're in bed you can access it if/when needed particularly as you can't active the continuous heating from the app.......

But at least you can access the heat now function from the app to warm the cabin up.

Thanks again.

 

[cangyroo]

I'm curious ... are there any software updates showing? (seen via the infotainment screen)

 

[Grizwald]

I'm curious ... are there any software updates showing? (seen via the infotainment screen)

Yup ran that last night but can't say that I clocked what the update was for

 

[vanfitz]

Hi Grizwald.

Just to double double check on rear screen interface as I find the menu navigation not intuitive.

To get to menu items there are two actions to try from memory:
1. Swipe left right
2. Keep hitting the "square" touch button on bottom to toggle menu items

I think only one of these gets you to heat menu.

J

 

[Californication69]

Hi Grizwald.

Just to double double check on rear screen interface as I find the menu navigation not intuitive.

To get to menu items there are two actions to try from memory:
1. Swipe left right
2. Keep hitting the "square" touch button on bottom to toggle menu items

I think only one of these gets you to heat menu.

J

I was told categorically by the guys at Breeze, a lady at Edinburgh & the guys at Liverpool that unless you specify the option of:
Camper parking heater for continuous operation and parking heater for windscreen de-icing with radio control
£1824
You won’t get the continuous camping heater that we all know and love.

All 3 dealers said I need to order the £1824 option on a beach, otherwise I’ll only have the 120minute heat immediately.

I even emailed VW Head office and they said, don’t need to have the option, as the continuous heater is standard.
But, all 3 dealers were adamant to order the £1825 option to get heating all night / continuous.

Glad I listened to the dealers.

A lot of people have been misadvised by VW customer services / Head office.

 

[Grizwald]

Hi Grizwald.

Just to double double check on rear screen interface as I find the menu navigation not intuitive.

To get to menu items there are two actions to try from memory:
1. Swipe left right
2. Keep hitting the "square" touch button on bottom to toggle menu items

I think only one of these gets you to heat menu.

J

Thanks J, no amount of scrolling did it but tapping the square did!

 

[Californication69]

Thanks J, no amount of scrolling did it but tapping the square did!

View attachment 148526

And !
If you tap heating and ventilation.
Is continuous there ?

 

[Grizwald]

And !
If you tap heating and ventilation.
Is continuous there ?

Yep it's there!

 

[stoobthealien]

I was told categorically by the guys at Breeze, a lady at Edinburgh & the guys at Liverpool that unless you specify the option of:
Camper parking heater for continuous operation and parking heater for windscreen de-icing with radio control
£1824
You won’t get the continuous camping heater that we all know and love.

All 3 dealers said I need to order the £1824 option on a beach, otherwise I’ll only have the 120minute heat immediately.

I even emailed VW Head office and they said, don’t need to have the option, as the continuous heater is standard.
But, all 3 dealers were adamant to order the £1825 option to get heating all night / continuous.

Glad I listened to the dealers.

A lot of people have been misadvised by VW customer services / Head office.

Just for the benefit of others reading this thread and as per the new post above YOU DO NOT NEED TO SPECIFY THE EXTRA HEATING OPTION ON A T7 CALIFORNIA BEACH TO GET CONTINUOUS HEATING. I can 100% guarantee I did not add any options around heating to a 2026 beach and can have continuous heating

 

[Californication69]

Just for the benefit of others reading this thread and as per the new post above YOU DO NOT NEED TO SPECIFY THE EXTRA HEATING OPTION ON A T7 CALIFORNIA BEACH TO GET CONTINUOUS HEATING. I can 100% guarantee I did not add any options around heating to a 2026 beach and can have continuous heating

It’s such an amazing royal left handed screw up.
Never have I had such confusing information from the VW group.
I had 3 main dealers telling me they have had customers receive Beach’s with no continuous heating.
My only conclusion now, after reading @Grizwald encounter is that the users were looking for continuous heating on the app on the phone and the front radio and there was no continuous heat function.
If only the dealers had used a beach and used the rear console, then they would know it’s possible.

So in hindsight VW customer services / head office were correct.
What a shower.

(I only waited 2 months for an already built Beach, and this does have the additional front electric heater which will be cool / hot? when I’m in need of defrosting the motor before driving, early in a morning in the winter)

 

[Californication69]

Yep it's there!

Yes! That’s great news.
Really glad you found it

 

[Grizwald]

Yes! That’s great news.
Really glad you found it

Cheers I'd have been prodding around for a while longer if it weren't for this forum. Confirmed it had the heater exhaust this morning too.

It's really not too obvious so hopefully my post can help others.

 

[cangyroo]