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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to leave my engine running for ten mins at 6.45 each morning (M-F)?

801 replies

ThreeJumpersIsNotEnough · 16/12/2018 17:21

Neighbours have just come to the door with a Christmas card and a polite request to be more quiet in the mornings.

I usually leave at 7am to drop dd at breakfast club and get myself to work at 8am (I work Mon-Fri only - no weekends).

Now it's getting colder, the car is unbearably cold in the mornings so last week I started nipping out 10-15 mins earlier while dd was brushing her teeth so the car would be warm for us getting in and the frost/ice would be mostly melted from the window.

Neighbours have revealed that they are normally woken by me leaving most mornings at 7am but they can put up with it as I leave immediately so they are able to go back to sleep. However, they are not willing to put up with what I've been doing recently as they have found it impossible to go back to sleep having been awake for so long waiting for me to leave with the engine running ... Hmm

They have suggested I park further away from the house.

This is my first winter with these neighbours. They only moved in beginning of the year and we're polite to each other but not any more than 'hello' acquaintances. We live very rurally - just our two houses - in woodland area. Any noise carries and it is mostly silent (why I moved here - now I'm the one being a noise pest, it would appear). No street lights. 5 minute drive down our landlord's private (god awful road) onto the public road where there are other houses.

If I parked further away, that is further for me and DD to walk to the car each morning - in the pitch black - with our bags. Likewise, it is further for us to walk to the house each evening when we get back.

Not sure what the solution is. I told them I wasn't keen to park farther away (due to the above concerns) but they've asked me to give it a try at least for tomorrow. I've agreed to try it.

AIBU to ask for your ideas on what a peaceful resolution to this would be?

OP posts:
DoubleNegativePanda · 17/12/2018 19:35

I'm surprised you lot can even hear a car engine running outside on the street from your bed. I'm not meaning to be rude, I just can't recall ever hearing anything unless it was someone driving like a crazy person.

So looking at that road code, does that stand to mean that if you're sitting at a long traffic light, you'd set the brake and turn the engine off? I can't imagine doing that at every light Shock

bamboolzled · 17/12/2018 19:36

I have a solution for you

you only need 5 minutes, maximum

go outside, turn car on, but turn off all fans, heaters except window elements, and car seats if you have one, use de-icer first, get the window started, but plug in an ceramic car heater into the lighter socket, onto the window, this will heat up the car, keep engine temp warm, and when you do drive off, car will be warmer

other halfs car takes 10 minutes on a really bad day, and thats iced up.

we have 1 neighbour who has a total boy racer exhaust and other half hears it every morning at 6:40, its semi rural but sound carries,

keep it to a minimum and go off in the morning quietly, after all tey are your neighbours

Riotingbananas · 17/12/2018 19:37

When did heating up your car before you go out become a thing? I dont know anyone who does it, we all just de-ice with a scraper and then go. Are people really so unused to being outside that they cant bear to be a bit chilly in a car for a few minutes Shock

LonelyGir1 · 17/12/2018 19:38

I see where you're coming from, but I agree with your neighbours. It's very (unintentionally) selfish and they must be exhausted!

Janedoe5000 · 17/12/2018 19:39

Leaving the engine running for that long is a bit much and I think you might find it warms up after 5 minutes of driving about. The heaters don't really warm up so great when the car's idling, so you're not really achieving much.

As for them being "Not prepared to put up with it", I'm interested to know what they think they can do about it.

maddiemookins16mum · 17/12/2018 19:40

All my windows were frozen this morning. I started my car at 0746. Scraped the ice off the side ones, by the time i got to the front it was half melted, so helped it along with more scraping. I drove off at 0753. 7 minutes in total. My car is a 14 year old Micra.
I have been told on numerous occasions not to put warm/hot water on the windscreen by DP so I don’t. It’s not so much the outside I have issues with, it’s the inside, I have to run it to clear it otherwise it’s dangerous for me to drive.
I can only assume from many of the posters here that they all have cars that automatically defrost and heat up at the touch of a button and they can drive away immediately, I certainly cannot.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 17/12/2018 19:41

So looking at that road code, does that stand to mean that if you're sitting at a long traffic light, you'd set the brake and turn the engine off? I can't imagine doing that at every light shock

Many cars have a setting that turns the engine off it automatically. You have to apply the handbrake anyway.

dcthatsme · 17/12/2018 19:42

Causes a lot of environmental pollution to leave a car idling and I think it's not fair on neighbours tbh.

Verbena37 · 17/12/2018 19:43

Buy a decent ice scraper and instead of running your engine, wrap up warm and spend 5 minutes de-icing by hand. If you’re worried about your dd being cold for a few minutes inside car whilst it’s warming up, pop a blanket on a radiator when you come down each morning, ready for her to pop over her legs once in the car.

It’s a bit strange though...your neighbours expecting you get into an icy car and not desist the screen/windows. You’d usually need to keep the engine for 2 or 3 mins for that so you don’t drive off all steamed up.

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 17/12/2018 19:44

Magnetic windscreen cover. 15 quid job done

ivykaty44 · 17/12/2018 19:44

Op you took a driving test and know that this is in the highwaycode and you are breaking the rules of the road. 2 minutes is the acceptable amount of time. Why break the rules?

Temporaryanonymity · 17/12/2018 19:47

Blimey where do you live? My windscreen hasn't iced over this year.

You are definitely being unreasonable.

Badbadbunny · 17/12/2018 19:53

Jug of warm water over the windows. Takes a minute or two at most. Then start engine and drive off. No idling at all. The warm water not only removes the ice from the outside, it warms the window so there'll be no condensation on the inside when you start off. I've done it that way for best part of 20 years.

Badbadbunny · 17/12/2018 19:57

Blimey where do you live? My windscreen hasn't iced over this year.

Sounds like the OP is doing it to warm the inside for their comfort rather than to remove ice from the windows. As you say, been very few frosty mornings so far this winter, unless the OP is in the Scottish Highlands!

MountIronSolo01 · 17/12/2018 19:58

Really, are we still going with this! It was pretty much done and dusted on the first page 😴

PersianCatLady · 17/12/2018 20:01

Why can't you use de-icer on your windscreen to melt the ice?

funnelfanjo · 17/12/2018 20:09

Don’t those of you with aircon use it to demist? It sounds counterintuitive but aircon dries air so it’s worth keeping on all year round.

I have a heated windscreen in my car, and I’d never have a car without it again. The screen is clear by the time I’ve scraped the side windows and lights.

BoebePhuffay · 17/12/2018 20:09

Op you took a driving test and know that this is in the highwaycode and you are breaking the rules of the road.

Nope. She isn’t.

The legislation covers all vehicles on public roads including buses, taxis and private cars. It does NOT apply to vehicles moving slowly due to road works or congestion; vehicles stopped at traffic lights; vehicles under test or repair; or defrosting a windscreen

And even if it did apply to defrosting a windscreen, it only applies to public roads. OP is on a private road.

Deidre21 · 17/12/2018 20:11

YABU unfair to them and to the environment
We all end get into cold cars at this time of the year and after a few minutes you do warm up
It must be very annoying to be woken and then having to wait to go back to sleep
Just because you have to get up dies not mean that they have to

traceyclapson70 · 17/12/2018 20:11

Yes, you most certainly are. I'm also up most days at that time, but I wouldn't want to be disturbed that early.

There's no need for it and I think they have every right to complain, it's 100% selfish

Tutlefru · 17/12/2018 20:16

I always shove warm water over mine if it’s taking ages. —probably shouldn’t—

Tutlefru · 17/12/2018 20:16

Strikeout fail

Supermum29 · 17/12/2018 20:19

Aside from the comments re it being a must not in the Highway Code and an offence... from an insurance perspective you’re also not covered in the event of theft!

Just put up with the cold for 5-10 minutes!

Janedoe5000 · 17/12/2018 20:19

Nobody's windscreen has ever broken from putting warm water on it and those who say it has are liars.

nannykatherine · 17/12/2018 20:22

yes you are being unreasonable
leaving an idling engine fir ten mins is killing the planet fir one thing
second it’s dusturbing
i’m woken cinstantly by cars idling engines outside my house and its terribly disturbing just lying there waiting fir them to leave . plus the fact we have signs up put up by the borough saying
no idling engines
they seem to think it doesn’t apply to them !!!!!!!!