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.

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

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.

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.

:iagree: 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.

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.

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.

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