Heated seat retrofit with pictures

[nigwhyrito]

Been searching on this forum for pics of rear heated seat wires and could never find one. Asked a couple people where the wires are hidden or at least the location.. No answer.. Well today was nice day so here are my pics of my X all ripped up for anyone that wants to know for future .. Also to come will be pics of the rear footwell lights added.. Aparently they are prewired too. So in a nutshell the connectors are zip-tied under the front drivers seat.. but at the front of the rear carpet.. close to the back part of the front door pillar.

[nra0707]

This is some great investigation. I've been meaning to do this for a long time and possibly retrofit some aftermarket heaters using the oem switches. Good job on the tear down and pics!

Did you end up pulling the drivers seat out completely or just slide it backward? And the console...did you need to disassemble it?

[X5 Meister]

Nice work, but does your rear seat bench have the heating elements embedded within it?

[nigwhyrito]

I unbolted drivers seat and slid it backwards.. battery is disconnected to.. was worried about airbag light buti never even disconnected that connector.
no my bench does not have the elements... I have some aftermarket from my last car Im going to retrofit. just need some hog ring pliers or maybe small zipties. I have all the wiring diagrams from wds site .. studied it long time. tommorow will be a day of testing wires and possibly putting in thr rear footwell lights. After doing this I feel you still have to lift the center console up in the back because you still have to fish the rear heat seat wires back to where the switches mount.

[Helmuth]

Sir, Mr. Nigwhyrito

you are my hero, I am searching such a post since one week now. But my problem starts when I look for the plug below the rear set - it was also dirty there :-) - but no plug ............

Did you have to add a relay in the trunk?

Best regards,

Helmuth

[nra0707]

Hey nigwhyrito...sounds like you're doing an aftermarket solution that I've been thinking about for the last 3 years. Let me know how it turns out or if you can document the heating elements used and wiring that you're putting in place. I'm not much of a wiring guy, but I've read all the wiring diagrams and understand what goes where and does what, but actually wiring it together with aftermarket elements is a bit of a mystery for me.

Also, if you don't have the relay in the rear fuse panel, you might need to buy one.

[nigwhyrito]

Yes you defininetly need the the relay.. Its a light green one has 5 pins. Called k93 unloader relay terminal 15. Today I finshed installing the rear footwell. Now I have to trace the seat heater elements out with and ohm metter to match what the bmw is looking for.. stay tuned for more as it comes ( dangit...My stupid butt learned the difference today between disconnecting the battery and disconnecting the ground terminal comming off the battery. Started x5 after taking seats apart again x5 wouldnt start I almost did a #2 in my pants.. Then she started beeping.. like the doors were locking and I could here the relays in the back clicking away..I checked the votlage out of battery was at 8v.. jumped and everything good except... now I got the dreaded Airbag light and ses light... doh...moral of story disconnect battery at post... disconnecting the ground near the power distribution will screw you up sooner or later.

[Helmuth]

Here is the wiring diagram for one side. Maybe you already have that. +12V to white/yellow ground to brown, thermoelement is connected to yellow/brown.

[nigwhyrito]

Thanks helmuth and yes I do have that diagram.. Im just waiting on a nice sunny day hopefully the weekend.

[Helmuth]

Did you have your plug below the rear set "simply lying there" or did you have to find it. On mine I was not able to find that plug I pulled on all cables there ........