Seat heater hot spot
 

Our '06 has developed a hot spot in the driver's seat heater, right under my left hip. When I first noticed it, it felt like a strong itch until I went to scratch and nearly burned my hand.


I'm not using the heater in case the hot spot converts into actual fire.



Anybody know if the heater is part of the upholstery or if it's a separate pad that can be replaced?

The heating element is part of the upholstery unfortunately. :(

You have to replace the covering, as the heater element is bonded to the covering (leather).

A few folk have fitted alternative arrangements - not sure how successful they were.

That's what I'd suspected based on part lookup on RealOEM. Thanks...

I haven't tried fixing this myself (wifes x5 has the issue) but I had read that the hog rings that hold the cover on can move or something causing this to happen. Again I haven't tried fixing it yet. But its on the todo list :)

Also have this issue, worst location to be as my shirt tends to "ride up" in that exact spot and proceeds to scorch me every time.

Just recently purchased another set of seats (color change), hoping they don't have the issue.

I was wondering if the heater elements were part of the upholstery like my e70 but I guess it is [emoji22]

Mine being an iS I guess I will never be able to replace mine case of damage.


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All of BMW's seat elements from this era are the same. You can order the heating pad from the e39, and it should plug right in. You can either just disconnect the old element and leave it in place or cut it out of the leather covering from the backside. I'm sure an upholstery shop should be able to figure it out for you if you can't do it yourself.

01 Heater element seat 120 W 2 09/1998 52108253115 $123.14 +core
02 Heater element backrest 120 W 2 09/1998 52108253116 $86.14 +core

You can also get the elements from the e46 which might fit a little better, since the ones above are for an e39 sport seat with extendable thigh rest.

I have one hot spot and want to figure out an outside of the box solution. I'm thinking of making a small hole at the nearest seam to get in there and add some more padding over that got spot

All these cars will eventually have this issue. It's the friction of getting in and out that causes it.

I swapped my seat with another one out of a lower mileage car to remedy.

If you cut a hole, you'll have the problem of getting the element off the leather, it's bonded in some way.

Eventually the element will burn through the leather.

Seat heater hot spot
 

My thought was to wedge something like a tongue depressor between heat element and the face of the seat.

I only have one hot spot like the size of a quarter and it's near a seam.

(Also right near my KIDNEY!)

I have an old seat I could practice on the other fix would be to solder a jumper across the hot spot and make it a cold spot but I'd have to take the whole seat cover off and be able to solder to the hearing element which depending on the material not possible.