Heated Seats Burning

[mark scheurer]

Originally Posted by BeckMule

The defective heating element was covered under the CPO warranty (with $50 deductible). The dealer does not replace the entire seat cushion, only the leather seat COVER in which the heating element is integrated. The SA mentioned that they have seen a lot of this, including situations where the heating element burned all the way through the seat cover. I cannot understand why this would not precipitate a recall.

Recalls cost money.

[BeckMule]

Originally Posted by mark scheurer

Recalls cost money.

Yeah, but I have to assume that BMW complies with CPSC reporting requirements. If the problem is as widespread as has been reported on this board (and as confirmed by my SA) I would have thought such a pattern would be sufficient to require a recall. I mean people are getting burned and this has to be a fire hazard as well.

[Laz]

I have an 05 X5 that has the driver side issue with the hot spot buring a hole through my leather. I called BMW and they told me to take it to the dealer, which I did. After a couple of days both the dealer and BMW called me saying that they could not help me, so now I'm stuck. I'm going to try and escalation but I doublt I'll get anywhere. Does anybody know how to fix this? Is it something I can do myself or a shop if I get the parts? Any suggestions?

Laz

[Weasel]

Would take new leather as the heater is built into it. Anyone or shop familiar with doing basic upholstery work could do it, just hog rings in the right places.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by e30mpower

I just bought a 2003 X5, and the same exact thing is happening to me. On the left side, towards the back. It physically burns me. And today I had it on, and the damn thing started burning through the leather. The whole car smelled like cows being branded, and then I got out and noticed that it had actually BURNED the leather, not all the way through, but it did leave what looks like a little cigarette burn or something. Highly pissed. It's only got 66k miles on it. How much is it to replace the seat? Or what really needs to be done? It's just out of it's certified pre-owned warranty (previous owner bought it CPO, had a 100k/2 year warranty), how do I get a BMW extended warranty? My bank was talking to me about it and thought for sure that it qualified, but couldn't tell me how to do it. Thanks y'all.

Benjamin K. Earle

If you'd turned it on before and it got so hot, why would you continue to turn it on after the fact. I'm sorry, but sounds like this time you did it to yourself.

In reply to everyone else, I'd suggest doing what this guy did I have warm buns again!!. This is a writeup I found on www.e38.org.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by JCL

The posts I have seen indicate that turning them off solves the safety hazard, and they don't come on automatically. If an electrical short caused the seat heater to start a fire when there was no power to them, I agree it would be a safety hazard. If turning them off eliminates the hazard then they are every bit as dangerous as a cigarette lighter, which can also burn you.

While I completely agree this sucks and it's happening in my friends 750iL, I would hardly call this a safety issue since it's something that is optional. People burning themselves on seat heaters is simply your own accountability, since if you know the problem is starting, then stop using it...see my reply above to another member. If it's starting having the issue, STOP using it till you fix it.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by BeckMule

I mean people are getting burned and this has to be a fire hazard as well.

So, oh, I don't know...DON'T turn them on till fixed. People aren't going instantly from all cozy to a cooking turkey. If you feel the burn, stop using them before it roasts through the leather and repair/replace the element.

[BeckMule]

Originally Posted by m5james

So, oh, I don't know...DON'T turn them on till fixed. People aren't going instantly from all cozy to a cooking turkey. If you feel the burn, stop using them before it roasts through the leather and repair/replace the element.

It's not quite that simple. Some people lend their car to others. Some people have their kids drive their cars. Some have spouses who drive them ocassionally. While in an in deal world the owner would be able to tell everyone "don't use the seat heater or it will burn your ass" before they drive the car, that is not always practical. And someone could be badly burned before the realize how hot it truly is. The "cigarette lighter" analogy is inapposite; a cigarette lighter is SUPPOSED to burn things and is therefore not defective when it functions to sepc, whereas a heated seat is not supposed to do that. I don't know why you feel the need to make excuses for an obviously dangerous and unsafe condition. I agree, for godsakes, if this starts happening to your car don't use the seat heater until its fixed. But that doesn't rationalize or excuse the situation in the first place.

[m5james]

I'm not making excuses for BMW by any means because one day I'm going to eventually have to fix them myself just like everything else typical on a BMW. But if its something you know is failing (just like window regulators for example), yes you can tell people to not use it...cover it w/ some tape, leave a post-it note, pull the fuse, etc. Notes or tape may look stupid, but it's better and much more affordable than a burnt hole in your leather seat. Point is, once noticed it can be avoided and prevented from getting worse.

[X5 Meister]

This SIB 520908 was updated in April 2009, here it is.

Originally Posted by X5 Meister

Whatever you do, don't buy an E70 X5 then. SIB 520908 . Apparently BMW has gotten so many complaints that the heated seats DON'T get hot enough, that they will be cranking up the heat on them via a software update!