2001 E53 X5 > Fitting Heated front seats

[shedtastic]

I have to be realistic that my 20 year old, 150k mile X5 is not worth much at all anymore, but it's lack of heated seats has eroded my enthusiasm for it as my winter wheels. The driver's seat has always had damaged leather on the seat base too, ever since I bought the car, which has bugged me. And, even though it was optioned with the "Sport' pack - the seats in this early model we just the basic seats.. But heated Sport (or better yet "premium" 16 way adjustable) E53 seats get listed on eBay for probably 33% of the car's value..

So, having done as much research as I could tolerate on the forum (i.e. if the search function didn't find my exact scenario in two attempts, I gave up) I have bitten the bullet and ordered some heated Sport seats from an E46 sedan from Facebook market place, (sadly without the lumbar support adjustment, but looking like they are in pretty good condition) for $250 plus delivery, and $18 on a center console switch panel from eBay.

I think that the forum advice points to:
1 - Disconnect the battery (to avoid Airbag warnings)
2 - Swap out the console switch panel
3 - Swap out the seats (optional: swap the E46 seat switch surround panel for the E53 one, to better suit the E53 application)
4 - Reconnect battery, cross fingers..

I got a bit confused about whether the relay is in place already for this function, or if I'll have to add it. Or even where the relay is for this function.

If it works, I'll have heated seats for these -20C mornings, for ~ $350
If it doesn't, I'll have at least got rid of the ripped basic driver's seat and will be able to convince myself that the sports seats are better..

In turn it might make me show some love to the rest of the car... (Driver's doorcard is peeling apart, passenger window needs a new regulator, I need to upgrade my $30 Chinese Double DIN stereo for a used EONON unit.., and maybe for next winter source some BMW wheels and winter tires..)