Driver side heated seat getting too hot

I have a 2000 Z3 with a 2.5 and heated seats. A small spot just in front of my crotch on the driver seat is getting so hot it has "melted" the leather and would probably burn right through it if I left it on. Anybody have any idea what is causing this? I really don't care if it has heated seats or not so if it will mean disassembling the seat to repair it I'd rather just disable the heating element. Can I simply pull a fuse or unplug the element under the seat? If I don't fix it I just want to be sure that it can't be turned on anymore.

Very likely a fuse?

Based on other bimmers I've had, the fuse panel is under or in the glove box.

There is typically also a white card which pulls out to give a mapping of fuses to function.

What setting do you use? I find that I can't stand anything more than "1 light" (low?) on both my Z4 M and my wife's 335is. But then it doesn't get that cold here.

Did you ever wonder why BMW chose to have it cycle from high to medium to low rather than the other way around? Most fan rheostats work that way. We only ever use low but have to push the button three times each time to get to the setting we want. It just seems more logical to me to go from low to high, not to mention for safety's sake you'd want someone to press it more if they want it hotter.

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

What setting do you use? I find that I can't stand anything more than "1 light" (low?) on both my Z4 M and my wife's 335is. But then it doesn't get that cold here.

Did you ever wonder why BMW chose to have it cycle from high to medium to low rather than the other way around? Most fan rheostats work that way. We only ever use low but have to push the button three times each time to get to the setting we want. It just seems more logical to me to go from low to high, not to mention for safety's sake you'd want someone to press it more if they want it hotter.

Yeah, that is the way it is on my E92.

Always wondered why. Seems like it would be 'off', then 'low' etc.

Thanks for the replies but this is a malfunction of the heating element. One day it worked fine, the next is tries to burn a hole through a small spot on the seat. I'm pretty sure the fix will require removal of the seat cover to get to the element but it seems like an odd problem to have. Maybe the element is hitting a ground right there? Would that cause a hot spot?

It is literally getting hot enough that if I left it on it would either blow a fuse or burn right through the seat.

Originally Posted by Goofaroo

Thanks for the replies but this is a malfunction of the heating element. One day it worked fine, the next is tries to burn a hole through a small spot on the seat. I'm pretty sure the fix will require removal of the seat cover to get to the element but it seems like an odd problem to have. Maybe the element is hitting a ground right there? Would that cause a hot spot?

It is literally getting hot enough that if I left it on it would either blow a fuse or burn right through the seat.

Bummer. These are our first cars with heated seats so I'm afraid I don't have anything to add. I'd worry more about my testicles than the seat though!

Bummer. These are our first cars with heated seats so I'm afraid I don't have anything to add. I'd worry more about my testicles than the seat though!

That is certainly of concern.

I figured this would be a common problem but apparently not. When I get a chance I'll just see if I can pull a fuse and disable the driver seat. I'm hoping the seats are fused individually.