Heated Steering Wheel Problem

Hey everyone,

I finally bought myself a 2009 328i after saving for years. It's pretty much the car of my dreams but I have just one small issue that I was hoping to get some insight on.

From time to time, when I turn on my Heated Steering Wheel it will just turn off all on it's own before it even heats up. Other times it works perfectly. Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks!
-Taylor

Originally Posted by tshold

I finally bought myself a 2009 328i after saving for years. It's pretty much the car of my dreams but I have just one small issue that I was hoping to get some insight on.

From time to time, when I turn on my Heated Steering Wheel it will just turn off all on it's own before it even heats up. Other times it works perfectly. Has anyone else had this issue?

You can search far and you can search wide....in fact, you can search this subforum, for "Heated Steering Wheel"....many hits....

I have not experienced this particular problem but have heard of it (which may be why I never run into it...keep reading ). Does this happen most often (or only) when you turn on the steering wheel heater immediately after starting the car? In that situation, the total electrical load can be very high (wheel heat, seat heater(s), HVAC blowing high to warm the interior, maybe headlights on, etc., etc.). As a result the steering wheel heat cuts out--whether this is designed into the system or just a quirk, I don't recall.

The official recommended "fix" per BMW is to wait a few seconds (10-15) after driving off before activating the steering wheel heat. That's enough time for the electrical load to stabilize/diminish, avoiding the problem. I have almost always done this and have yet to experience the wheel heater cutting out.

There have been some reports of this in the past. The no-cost solution that seems to work most often is to wait for 10 - 20 seconds after starting the car before activating the heated steering wheel or the heated seats.


FWIW,
George


Edit: Ah, Zeichen and I post at functionally the same time, and his sneaks in first!

Thanks guys. That completely makes sense. It always happens when I try turning it on right as I start the car. I'll give your advice a try tomorrow.

There is a service bulletin for the problem. It is SIB 32-01-09

I believe they change the heated steering wheel switch. I also need to get this done on my car it has the same thing happening. It will be under warranty if your 09 still has some left.

Here is a link:
http://www.edmunds.com/car-maintenan...12345&type=tsb

Vehicle: 2009 BMW 3 Series

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nature of Defect:
STEERING:WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR

Bulletin Number:
SIB-32-01-09

Bulletin Date:
Nov 2010

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary:
BMW: IMMEDIATELY AFTER A COLD START IF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ARE TURNED ON SUCH AS HEATED SEATS IT MAY SWITCH OFF AFTER 5-10 SECONDS BECAUSE OF A VOLTAGE LEVEL DIP. ( NHTSA ITEM NUMBER - 10037537 )

I'm glad I don't have the NEED for a heated steering wheel. If it was that cold, I'd be wearing some gloves!

Ah gloves would just ruin the experience! I think the heated steering wheel is just one of the best things EVER! Well, maybe ever since heated seats came along

Originally Posted by Braumin

Ah gloves would just ruin the experience! I think the heated steering wheel is just one of the best things EVER! Well, maybe ever since heated seats came along

If I was buying a new car, I probably never would've thought to check this box. I mean, who really needs a heated steering wheel. But, my CPO I recently purchased has the heated steering wheel and now I'm hooked!!! It's literally one of my favorite features of the car and I from now on, it will be a must have option for me.

Well, it finally dipped into the 40's here in So Cal (at night). I got into my car the other night after work and was actually cold to me (with my light windbreaker on). I started the car and grabbed the cold steering wheel and thought, "it would feel good to have a heated steering wheel..." and this is not even the cold weather you all are living with! But I'm not sure we get too many models with that option out here unless ordered.

Originally Posted by sptt144

Well, it finally dipped into the 40's here in So Cal (at night). I got into my car the other night after work and was actually cold to me (with my light windbreaker on). I started the car and grabbed the cold steering wheel and thought, "it would feel good to have a heated steering wheel..." and this is not even the cold weather you all are living with! But I'm not sure we get too many models with that option out here unless ordered.

One of life's little pleasures, my motorcycle grips are heated too.

Don't be without!

Sent about 1/2 hour today chipping my car out of a shell of ice (gotta love Wisconsin winters). Finally got in, started it; turned heated seat on high and steering wheel on... and then the steering wheel heat kept turning off ! (tried it about 5 times while driving). When I got home, I turned the car off and started it again, and the heated steering wheel button light stayed on and it worked fine. When I bought the car I rolled my eyes at the heated steering wheel, but then realized its awesomeness.

I have had good luck replacing fuse 75 at the start of winter. Seems to last a season then starts failing. Fuse checks out fine, but after replacing it I haven't had a recurrence for the rest of the winter.

Two of my favorite features of my E92 are the REST button and the heated wheel. Sadly, one is non-existent on new 3-series, and the other can't co-exist with sport seats.

Another reason to keep maintaining my current one.