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Heat pumps · UK

Buderus WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E

Buderus WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E
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The Buderus WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E is an air-to-water heat pump with a SCOP of 5.4 (35 °C) and a sound power level of 45 dB(A). Under permitted development the limit is 37 dB(A) measured 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window. Free-standing, the indicative minimum distance is 1.0 m; against a wall 1.4 m.1

Last updated: Technical specificationsRules in the UK⇄ Compare this model
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SCOP (35 °C)
5.41

Seasonal efficiency: how much heat you get per kWh of electricity across a heating season.

Heating capacity (A7/W35)
4.64kW1
Official source
Outdoor unit sound power
45dB(A)1
Official source
Refrigerant
R2901
Official source
Type (source)
Air-to-water1
Official source
UK

Rules in the UK

Minimum distance to your neighbour

MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025)2 · 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window

Permitted development (MCS 020(a))≤ 37 dB(A) · LAeq,5min
Free-standing1 m
Against wall1.4 m
In corner2 m

Indicative calculation (hemispherical, no barriers). Not a substitute for an MCS 020 assessment.

Boiler Upgrade Scheme

Check conditions

£7,500 – £9,0003Fixed grant (England & Wales)

Fixed grant in England and Wales, deducted from your installer’s quote. £9,000 when replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid (until March 2027). Scotland: Home Energy Scotland grant instead.4,5

  • Must be MCS-certified (product and installer). Check the Ofgem product eligibility list.
  • Rated output 11 kW; the scheme covers systems up to 45 kW.
  • SCOP at 55 °C: 4.12. The installed system needs a SCOP of at least 2.8 (MCS calculation).
Heat pump grants in the UK explained →

Technical specifications

General
Type (source)Air-to-water1
Performance
Heating capacity (A7/W35)4.64 kW1
Rated output 35 °C11 kW1
Rated output 55 °C11 kW1
Min. outdoor temperature-22 °C1
Efficiency
SCOP (35 °C)5.41
SCOP (55 °C)4.121
Seasonal efficiency ηs 35 °C213 %1
Seasonal efficiency ηs 55 °C162 %1
Energy label 35 °CA+++1
Energy label 55 °CA+++1
COP A7/W355.351
Noise
Outdoor unit sound power45 dB(A)1
Indoor unit sound power31 dB(A)1
Refrigerant
RefrigerantR2901
Refrigerant GWP31
Refrigerant charge1.7 kg1

How it ranks

SCOP (35 °C): better than 95% of comparable models in our database (Heat pumps · Air-to-water · 10–14 kW; n = 308).

Rank 13 of 309

Compared with every model on VersusIndex in the same group with a known value; equal values do not count as better. This says nothing about price, installation or reliability.

Variants

This model is registered in 4 combinations (for example with a different indoor unit or cylinder) with exactly the same performance. All figures on this page apply to each of these types. The part of the type number that differs is in bold; small differences (e.g. cylinder volume or anode) are listed after it:

  • WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E
  • WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E W
  • WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR TP70 — Indoor unit sound power: 39 dB(A)
  • WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR TP70 W — Indoor unit sound power: 39 dB(A)

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Frequently asked questions

Can I install the Buderus WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E without planning permission?

Under MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025) the unit must not exceed 37 dB(A) 1 m in front of the centre of a neighbour’s habitable-room door or window. With a sound power of 45 dB(A) that indicatively means 1.0 m free-standing, 1.4 m against a wall or 2.0 m in a corner. Your MCS installer must confirm this.1

How much Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant can you get for the Buderus WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E?

£7,500 in England and Wales, provided the product and installer are MCS-certified (£9,000 when replacing oil or LPG off the gas grid, until March 2027). The installer applies and deducts the grant from your quote.1

Which refrigerant does the Buderus WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E use?

The Buderus WLW186i-11 MBE+ AR E uses R290.1

Sources

  1. Heat Pump Keymark certificates — EHPA / DIN CERTCO (Heat Pump KEYMARK) · accessed 29 Sept 2026
  2. MCS 020(a) (England, permitted development since 29 May 2025)
  3. Boiler Upgrade Scheme: what you can get — GOV.UK · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  4. Boiler Upgrade Scheme: guidance for installers (V5) — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026
  5. Boiler Upgrade Scheme product eligibility — Ofgem · accessed 27 Sept 2026