Ventilated Seats Worth the Cost?

All I can say is that I'm dumbfounded that some people say their ventilated seats work fine but on my car it is not even noticeable. The SA said he could feel air blowing but it is ever so faint.

At max speed (3 blue lines) it should barely be perceived. You want this to just keep you cool and dry, not to give you pneumonia!

Have you tried it on for a few minutes? It is very easy to tell they are on because of the leather smell coming from the seats, and if set to 3 bars, you can actually hear the blowers.

Originally Posted by alex_c

At max speed (3 blue lines) it should barely be perceived. You want this to just keep you cool and dry, not to give you pneumonia!

Have you tried it on for a few minutes? It is very easy to tell they are on because of the leather smell coming from the seats, and if set to 3 bars, you can actually hear the blowers.

It's almost imperceptible, but it definitely works. Keep in mind, this is not A/C for your arse. First of all don't think of it like the seat warmers that can literally fry your buttocks crispy like a hashbrown. It's more akin to air and circulation to keep the humidity off of your backside. It's much easier to transfer heat through leather, then any type of cooling. You can't push that much CFM through a seat, because, the leather is only semi permeable, and you can't put any type of a/c through it due to condensation from temperature fluctuations that would trash the leather.
Also, the type of clothing you are wearing has some effect on how much air is passing through the system. I run a lot and I notice that when I am wearing running gear (that's all synthetic material) the fans have a hard time passing through the dense weave of the fabric. When I am wearing normal cotton or wool street clothes, I can definitely feel the air passing through my clothes easier.

My Escalade has air conditioned seats and they are amazing, the seat is literally cool to the touch and it keeps you from sweating at all. My S550 works like you guys say, it is there and it helps, but you need to look for it. I would certainly prefer if it was like the slade...

They have them Alex ..... the Aeron chair !!

Originally Posted by Emilner

My Escalade has air conditioned seats and they are amazing, the seat is literally cool to the touch and it keeps you from sweating at all. My S550 works like you guys say, it is there and it helps, but you need to look for it. I would certainly prefer if it was like the slade...

Great another expensive option BMW is behind the performance on. There GPS is awful in my 08' 650i.

Now I am not sure I will waste the money on it even though I am in Florida.

Originally Posted by nealh

Great another expensive option BMW is behind the performance on. There GPS is awful in my 08' 650i.

Now I am not sure I will waste the money on it even though I am in Florida.

That is one beautiful car, Neal...

Thanks. I love it. It's a 3 yr lease due back Jan 2011. Not sure what I am getting to replace it.

Originally Posted by nealh

Great another expensive option BMW is behind the performance on.

No, the performance is not behind on this option. It works perfectly for its intended purpose. There is finesse in the way it cools you down. Quiet, nice, really nice. I enjoy this every day and I miss it every time I drive a different car while traveling.

I don't want an AC type blower down my back and bottom. I leave that for an Escalade.

Originally Posted by alex_c

No, the performance is not behind on this option. It works perfectly for its intended purpose. Ther is a finesse in the way it cools you down. Quiet, nice, really nice. I enjoy this every day and I miss it every time I drive a different car while traveling.

I don't want an AC type blower down my back and bottom. I leave that for an Escalade.

One unintended consequence is that it spoils you for other cars. When you drive or sit in other cars with no seat ventilation you feel taint sweat. Nobody wants that.

Originally Posted by alex_c

No, the performance is not behind on this option. It works perfectly for its intended purpose. Ther is a finesse in the way it cools you down. Quiet, nice, really nice. I enjoy this every day and I miss it every time I drive a different car while traveling.

I don't want an AC type blower down my back and bottom. I leave that for an Escalade.

Maybe not full blown AC but nice cool air. Air circulation in Florida will be of small benefit

Originally Posted by alex_c

I don't want an AC type blower down my back and bottom. I leave that for an Escalade.

It never gets too cold and you can adjust it by three levels. All manufactures should do it the way Caddy does it.

I also wish I could get heated seats in a BMW or MB like the Escalade. Three levels of adjustment for the bottom and back of the seat independently. Sometimes I just want some heat on my back when it is acting up, I miss that option in my car...

Originally Posted by Emilner

I also wish I could get heated seats in a BMW or MB like the Escalade. Three levels of adjustment for the bottom and back of the seat independently. Sometimes I just want some heat on my back when it is acting up, I miss that option in my car...

The heated seats on the 5 do just what you want, as you can set the distribution between the bottom and back, and driver and passenger seats can be modified separately. Just go into the iDrive to set it.

Originally Posted by jeff650

The heated seats on the 5 do just what you want, as you can set the distribution between the bottom and back, and driver and passenger seats can be modified separately. Just go into the iDrive to set it.

Awesome! I can't wait to get this car. I should order it this week, working on the numbers now...

Originally Posted by jeff650

The heated seats on the 5 do just what you want, as you can set the distribution between the bottom and back, and driver and passenger seats can be modified separately. Just go into the iDrive to set it.

I didn't know that! I did not had a chance to play with the seat heating option with 100+ degree weather in Houston this month...