Seat Heater Wire

[Joshdub]

I'm melllllting. Well not yet anyway.

I have noticed that the seat heater is always warmer around my right side, and now it looks like the wire is melting through the leather. Does it look like that to anyone else? Any remedies? Start looking for a good seat? Needless to say I have stopped using the heater but would very much like it functional again by next winter.

[80stech]

That seems to happen a lot! I replaced the pad on mine but as I was doing it I noticed that the problem was probably the fact that the seat covering is held down with metal rods that are held together with metal rings. I think it's the metal rings that eventually rub through and start to short out the heating elements. I used zip ties to put the seat back together with the new aftermarket pad installed but by then realized that I probably didn't need to replace the pad, just cut off the metal hog rings and replace with plastic zip ties.

[80stech]

The problem on mine was on the seat bottom though, not the backrest.

[Joshdub]

So you think that what I am seeing is a metal rod for the upholstery and not a part of the element?

[80stech]

No, the metal rod is shorting a portion of the heater element causing it to get hotter than it should. That was what seemed to be happening with mine anyway. The hot spot was on the edge of the heat pad like I think yours is but on the seat bottom.

[80stech]

The metal rods are in the seams of the seat.

[Joshdub]

Ok thanks. I'll see if I can see anything with the back cover off. Upholstery is not my thing

[kevinkay]

Mine burt a hole right through
short in the heating pad that I believe is fused with the fabric (mine is vinyl).
Mine happened under warrantee and was replaced.

Happens A LOT, Mostly on the bottom cushion. BMW mechanic told me happens often when people kneel on or bend the seat in way that bends/breaks the heating element wire and causes a short.

[Joshdub]

It is interesting that mine is up in the top half of the seat then.

[kevinkay]

Do you have access to error code reader, I am pretty sure it gives you an "open circuit" error code when its about to burn through.