DIY heated front seats

I have been searching the forum and have not found a difinitive answer to this. Do the sport seats in the 07/08 E90 have heating element built in? Is the car pre-wired for them (it seems to be pre-wired for almost everything else)? If so, can the panel be bought for the center console ansd the seats simply hooked up?

Please post when you find some answers. I have a '08 E92 that needs heat as well. You might check into this site.

http://www.heatedseatkits.com/


Good Luck!

It's possible, I did the rear fog light mod in 7 minutes for $70 with the factory european switch.

Well, I read in another thread that the sport seats actually have the heating elements in them as there is no difference in part number between a heated and non-heated sport seat. I have been looking into the button console that is below the radio (mine currently has no buttons). There is a wiring kit I saw as well for the heated seats. I need to look under the seat to see if there is a place to plug in a wire harness, or un-used pins in the current harness. I forget what other buttons are possible in the center console (two heated seat buttons, PDC, hill descent, etc..), but your needs will depend on what your car has.

Originally Posted by chemgeek

Well, I read in another thread that the sport seats actually have the heating elements in them as there is no difference in part number between a heated and non-heated sport seat. I have been looking into the button console that is below the radio (mine currently has no buttons). There is a wiring kit I saw as well for the heated seats. I need to look under the seat to see if there is a place to plug in a wire harness, or un-used pins in the current harness. I forget what other buttons are possible in the center console (two heated seat buttons, PDC, hill descent, etc..), but your needs will depend on what your car has.

Are you sure they are the same part?? I swear there was a segment in that Discovery Ultimate Factory tour that showed the plant that made the seats for the roadster and it was clear that the seats were custom made depending on color, power v manual and heated (i think they even showed the metal heating elements being inlayed). I would think the process would be pretty similar for all models, no??

Then again, its probably about $1 worth of additional parts into the actual seats, so it may just be more cost effective to give all of them the pre-wiring rather than have the manufacturer potentially make assembly line changes for each order.

Originally Posted by chemgeek

Well, I read in another thread that the sport seats actually have the heating elements in them as there is no difference in part number between a heated and non-heated sport seat. I have been looking into the button console that is below the radio (mine currently has no buttons). There is a wiring kit I saw as well for the heated seats. I need to look under the seat to see if there is a place to plug in a wire harness, or un-used pins in the current harness. I forget what other buttons are possible in the center console (two heated seat buttons, PDC, hill descent, etc..), but your needs will depend on what your car has.

If this is the case, then it would seem to be a pretty straight forward install. I asked the service advisor at my dealership to do a 'dealer install' on the seat heaters. He told me they weren't comfortable doing that install on '07 or '08 3 series. It would be nice to have the OEM switches on the dash as well. Did you talk to a SA at your dealership?

Here's a great do it yourself 2 stage solution:

http://www.sportsimportsltd.com/caborvbase12.html

That's just for one. If you wan't butt and back, just double the price and add some duct tape. For the deluxe install, subsitute Velcro for duct tape

Cost:
Single: $39.95 + tax & shipping
Dual: $75.00 + tax & shipping & duct tape and/or Velcro.

Best part is, each level has dual stage temperatures that you can customize w/o iDrive :P

I kind of want to know whether or not the elements are in the seats or not. That is really the main thing. I am sure you can order the console part as they have to offer it in case someone needs a replacement.

This is a thumbnail some guy posted for a 2000 323i

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/att...6&d=1066258142

Originally Posted by chemgeek

I kind of want to know whether or not the elements are in the seats or not. That is really the main thing. I am sure you can order the console part as they have to offer it in case someone needs a replacement.

I'd like to know as well. I'm a little surprised that my dealership wasn't interested in helping out with an install, especially if the elements are all in place. I've sent an email to to http://www.heatedseatkits.com/ to see what all is involved in the process and get some pricing with installation. Tomorrow, I'll call some of the other BMW service shops to see what they can offer.

Does anyone know the answer to this? Are the sport seats already set up for heat? I'm really looking at an 06 325i that has everything I want except the heated seats...which I love on my Z3 and is also oddly the ONLY requirement/opinion my girl had on me getting a new car. Figures...lol.

Thanks for the help guys.

Here is a portable option and it will keep your whole body warm.

[IMG]http://www*****world.com.au/images/productLarge_7220.jpg[/IMG]

http://www*****world.com.au/product_i...527f551bd194aa

fart...with the added bonus of "air freshener"

If the heating elements aren't already there and I doubt they are, any good auto upholstery shop should be able to add the elements and switches. My local shop gets about $270.00 for this.

Thanks, Mike.

Mike:
Yeah, I was told around that price also for aftermarket. I was wanting to have the OEM switches though...ideas?

Slant:
Lol...umm, I'll let more girl know your advice, don't think it will go well. Besides, the car isn't a vert so...

Any updates on this?

Originally Posted by chemgeek

I have been searching the forum and have not found a difinitive answer to this. Do the sport seats in the 07/08 E90 have heating element built in? Is the car pre-wired for them (it seems to be pre-wired for almost everything else)? If so, can the panel be bought for the center console ansd the seats simply hooked up?

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