Hi,

I have a 2006 E60 m series 530i. It has a lot of toys including electric leather seats which are very nice. I am disappointed though on these cold mornings that they are not heated. Am I able to retro fit heating elements? If so has anyone tried and can point me in the right direction? If not I will sit on a hot water bottle and hope it doesn't burst.

Thanks,

Gramac

 

Upholstery guys can add aftermarket seat heaters.

 

+1 I would like to know the answer to this as well

 

Hi
Check your Idrive setting first 2. The relay for heated seats 3,Do you get any voltage by the element connector ? If all is Ok your element is gone which is the weakest part of sport seats and GL.

 

I think he talking about doing an actual retro-fit from non-heated seats to heated seats.

 

The BMW heated seat elements are actually sewn into the seat fabric, i found this out when I reupholstered my cloth seats with covers taken from leather seats. I did not want to lose the heated benifits and ended up removing all the old cover's stitching to get the elements out. Because of this, the easy option would be to go for aftermarket heating mats and fit these under your existing covers. Be warned tho- removing and replacing the covers is hard work. If you do go ahead- warning, it took me approx 9 hours to do the 1st seat, once I knew what I was doing with the second, it was only about 4. If you go ahead, dont try to take seat out in one piece- theyre heavy and akward to manouver, I did passenger seat 1st and in one piece, when I did driver's I seperated back from base in car, it was a lot easier, although a pain to get to the bolts on tunnel side- gains when getting in and out made it worthwhile as less risk of trim/paint damage. On the wiring side I can't give any advice as I was just moving existing parts, but the BMW ones have heat sensors so going aftermarket on elements will prob mean having a totally non BMW setup would be best- maybe using the dash switches to operate relays? Good luck with the project!

 

[quote name='Gramac' timestamp='1325187928' post='1409053']
removed- it did twice?

 

Thanks,

Where would I obtain an aftermarket heating mat to stitch in to existing seating? I thought I may be able to slide them in somehow and perhaps glue them rather than stitching? Would there be an existing power supply close (near the electric motors for the seats?).

Thanks

Gramac.

 

possible alternative:

http://forums.5serie...post__p__725614

heated rear seats:

https://5series.net/forums/topic/108...st__p__1292291

 

Ebay- search heated seat mat? Note that the seat covers are held behind the seams to the base- if you get wire element type you will have to avoid these points(attachment is a metal ring, called a hog clip I think)- when I used the BMW ones, they are carbon(?) wire and I just cut through with a sharp knife, accepting I'd lose a couple of areas of heat. If you want to slide in, you could maybe get mats small enough to fit between the across stiching, but to insert you'll still have to remove some rings at the side seam.