Heated Seats Burning

[jscheneman]

I've been a loyal BMW owner since 1989 and most recently purchased a 2001 X5 4.4. Excellent vehicle - don't know what took me so long to get envolved!!! Obviously, the X is used but is in fantastic shape. There are only a couple things requiring attention, the most important of which is the driver side heated seat. It's in great shape, but when the heat is activated, I get a super hot spot just under my left "bum". Anyone know what is causing this and how to fix?

Happy to have joined X5 World!

Jeff Scheneman

[rastaFarai]

:xoutpost: does it get super hot immediately? try putting it on low (1 light on heated seat LED).

[jscheneman]

Jah Guides, thank you for your reply. The seat gets hot pretty quickly, but it's just that "spot" that gets super hot, even when on the lowest setting. I'm baffled.

[X5Dawg]

+1 - Mine does the exact same thing, even on the lowest setting.

[fr1539]

Originally Posted by jscheneman

Jah Guides, thank you for your reply. The seat gets hot pretty quickly, but it's just that "spot" that gets super hot, even when on the lowest setting. I'm baffled.

Same thing just happened to us, although my wife was burnt right through her skirt,and the leather burned all the way through in two spots. BMW replaced the whole lower seat cover heating element etc,under warranty of course. It would have cost $1350 if I had to pay. I wonder if anyone ever sued for this espically after being burned. It's obviously a big problem thats well known, just like the oil seporator issues in the cold.

[GOHAWKS]

Originally Posted by fr1539

Same thing just happened to us, although my wife was burnt right through her skirt,and the leather burned all the way through in two spots. BMW replaced the whole lower seat cover heating element etc,under warranty of course. It would have cost $1350 if I had to pay. I wonder if anyone ever sued for this espically after being burned. It's obviously a big problem thats well known, just like the oil seporator issues in the cold.

Just curious, what year is your X5
Thanks

[zerochief]

:xoutpost: Many times its problems with our X5's that get us here to x5world. Thats the way it happened for me. I hope you get the problems solved.

[rayxi]

Welcome to X5world.

A couple of possibilities:
- Heating element is damaged and is shorting in that spot.
- Seat padding is damaged and thin in that spot so heating element is closer to the surface.

Either way I wouldn't use it until you determine the problem. You wouldn't want it to "flare up" while going 65 mph on a freeway.

[hani831]

Mine does the same thing in the exact same spot. Seems like a common problem

[xrob]

My wife had the same issue on her 2005 X3. She ended up getting the entire seat (bottom part) replaced under warranty. I'm guessing the '01 isn't covered, but BMW didn't fix hers, they replaced it.

Good luck.

Rob