Heated Seats
 

Hi,

I bought the X5 a week ago. I did notice what looked like a small cigarette burn hole on the drivers seat, didn't take much notice of it. But the first time I turned on the heated seat, well .... my ass started to burn up. Turns out the hole is caused by the heated seat.

I presume the heating element must be too close to the surface of the seat or something. Still, even if it was buried deeper in the seat wouldn't it cause a problem in there too ? Could it be a short or something ?

Let me guess - it is located under the driver's left butt cheek???

Has been discussed many times before - search for "seat heater".

No - the right one. But I see where you're coming from .... my car is right hand drive so it seems the problem might be caused by the repeated getting into and out of the car by the driver. That must put a particular strain on that part of the seat and upsets the heating element.

Probably would not be an issue if they had not run the heating element up the bolster of the seat.

Is this an issue for those of us with the comfort seat option as well? Does using the seat warmer a lot make it worse?

Not sure - I have the basic seat. Dont think using it more has anything to do with the malfunction - essentially caused from getting in and out of the vehicle which seems to cause wear on the element itself.

I will be posting in the next week or so a tutorial on replacing the element - planning on doing it today, but might take me a few days to get it posted.

In my left hand drive, the hole was in the left bolster. Complained to BMW that it was my wife's car and a fire hazard and they replaced the element and the leather seat cover.

This should be called the Hot Ass Thread.

Wow I thought it was a cigarette burn. I too have this burn on the left side. Going to have to look into this.