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Originally Posted by mgruber
Personally if it happened to me I'd take it to the dealer and call BMW customer service about it to pay for the repair. How am I to know whether the burn hasn't damaged the airbag sensor in the seat which is most definitely a safety concern that can't just be turned off.
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If it is under warranty, then I agree completely. For a car that is up to 8 years old, I just don't see why BMW would be responsible. I am not saying that I would be happy as an owner with the heating pad failing, but let's be real here. They are used cars, and things break. That is why regular posters often advise people to get extended warranties, and that is why many of us trade these vehicles off at 4 years, so we don't have to deal with these issues.
If the suggestion is that a failed seat heater can result in an airbag not working, then I suppose the question would be as to how a hot spot on a driver's seat can impact the air bag. There is an airbag sensor on the passenger's seat to check if there is a passenger there. I think the air bag system assumes there is always a driver there, and doesn't check. I could be wrong on that, but I don't see an airbag sensor in the parts book. I did just check my year and model (2003 X5).
Essentially, these pads have been failing for years. It is a nuisance, and repairs are expensive. It tends to happen on the driver's seat bolster, where you sit, and where you slide in. Heavier drivers may make the problem worse, I am not sure. If the vehicle could have a fire, or the off switch doesn't work, then it is definitely a safety issue and should be fixed. Other than that, don't use it, fix it yourself, or get it fixed. It is a convenience feature, and not exactly essential for operation of the vehicle.
I just get a little frustrated with the entitlement attitude. When a part breaks on a vehicle that is several years out of warranty, and the assumption is that the manufacturer is responsible, it essentially means that I have to pay more for my new car because the same manufacturer is spending money on fixing old cars for people who want to sue them.
Just my $0.02