Possible to retrofit and add heated seats?
 

Anyone ever looked into the possibility and/or cost of adding heated seats front and rear if they didn't come from the factory with the Cold Weather Package?

It is very much possible. Should set you back by about $2000 for front and rear.

It is not possible to retrofit heated seats unless you buy new seats with the heating element on them, which won't be cheap.

I know a shop here in Boston that specializes in custom seats and retrofitting heated seats in all cars. It is very much possible.

Custom seats are not the same as OEM seats. You are right that it is possible to install aftermarket heated seats, but they will not be original BMW and the buttons to control them will not be OEM either. I believe SoCal was looking to retrofit his with both OEM buttons and heating element.

I wouldn't do aftermarket, so I'll treat it as "not an option."

Thanks for the quick feedback though.

Heated seat option
 

My wife and I have agreed that we will never buy another car without heated seats! Our last MB CLK320 convertible came with everything but heated seats.... loved the car, but hated not having the heaters, especially in a convertible! A local trim shop could retrofit the heating elements into the factory seats for about $1400. I found a similar set on ebay for less than $200 for the fronts and attempted to do it myself... After struggling with the driver's seat, I began to wish I had paid someone to do it profesionally... what a pita! Never did the passenger side and ended up selling the car.

I agree. Got to have heated seats. And I don't even live where it's cold. I bought a 2003 CPO M3 that had the heated seats. Didn't think I would use them much, but I was wrong on that one. In the "winter" (I'm in southern California) when I'd hop in the car in the morning or evening to commute, it was just nice to bring the seat up to a toasty temperature immediately.

We decided to wait and buy a 2010 X5. We'll either order one or pick one up from inventory that has the Cold Weather Package.

BTW If you decide to order your X5, the Heated Front Seats are available as a separate option without getting the full Cold Weather Package.

Even though we live in central Texas, we ordered Heated Front Seats for our new X5 35d. We had gotten all the other options/accessories exactly like we wanted on our build to order 2001 X5. But for the last 8+ years, every time we got in the X5 on a cold morning, we'd 'debate' about which one of us had made the mistake of not ordering the heated seats. ;)

Funf Dreisig

I did happen to notice that last night than you can order just the front seats. But the reality is, I'd like to have the back seats heated too. Another ~$600 for peace and quiet (from the kids).