[Markas]

I have also had the same problem. I narrowed it down to this: if I start up the car, turn on the heated seats, then the heated steering wheel, it turns off as described previously. If instead I first turn on the heated steering wheel after starting the car, then the heated seat, then it stays on.

Seems to be repeatable but would like someone else to verify.

[Jenny09E82]

Finally got the answer from our Techs. There is a Service Bulletin that says they know it's a problem but don't have the software yet to reprogram it. They said for now wait about 10 seconds to turn on the heated steering wheel after you have started the car. They said if you have on the radio, the heated seats, the climate control, etc it is too much of a load and the least needed thing is the wheel so it turns off. We've had some cold snowy weather here and I tried it and the wheel heats up every time. If there is a software update that comes out I'll let you guys know!

[DrSam]

Originally Posted by Jenny09E82

Finally got the answer from our Techs. There is a Service Bulletin that says they know it's a problem but don't have the software yet to reprogram it. They said for now wait about 10 seconds to turn on the heated steering wheel after you have started the car. They said if you have on the radio, the heated seats, the climate control, etc it is too much of a load and the least needed thing is the wheel so it turns off. We've had some cold snowy weather here and I tried it and the wheel heats up every time. If there is a software update that comes out I'll let you guys know!

Thanks Jenny!

I, too have had this problem recurring on my 2-month-old E90. It's exactly as people have described it here, and it works about half the time. Light comes on for 10 seconds, then it shuts off. I had found that it only gets fixed if I restart the car (would do so at the next traffic light, etc.)

No similar problems with the seat heater, etc.

I appreciate this info from you and from now on I'll pay attention to the order I turn stuff on, to see if it works.

It would be great if you could indeed keep us informed in this thread if you hear of a real fix!

-sm

[cardsdoc]

Originally Posted by Jenny09E82

Finally got the answer from our Techs. There is a Service Bulletin that says they know it's a problem but don't have the software yet to reprogram it. They said for now wait about 10 seconds to turn on the heated steering wheel after you have started the car. They said if you have on the radio, the heated seats, the climate control, etc it is too much of a load and the least needed thing is the wheel so it turns off. We've had some cold snowy weather here and I tried it and the wheel heats up every time. If there is a software update that comes out I'll let you guys know!

Thanks, good to know it's an officially acknowledged problem with a fix in the pipeline. It hasn't been terribly cold here the last couple months so it hasn't happened to me recently. But I also had gotten in the habit of waiting 30 sec or so before turning it on and doing so before turning on the heated seats. Hopefully by next winter it will be fixed.

[STE92VE]

Originally Posted by cardsdoc

Thanks, good to know it's an officially acknowledged problem with a fix in the pipeline.

With any new feature, there's always some issues that arise that can't be duplicated in testing. It's frustrating but at least it's being tended to.

[captainrb]

Originally Posted by Jenny09E82

Finally got the answer from our Techs. There is a Service Bulletin that says they know it's a problem but don't have the software yet to reprogram it. They said for now wait about 10 seconds to turn on the heated steering wheel after you have started the car. They said if you have on the radio, the heated seats, the climate control, etc it is too much of a load and the least needed thing is the wheel so it turns off. We've had some cold snowy weather here and I tried it and the wheel heats up every time. If there is a software update that comes out I'll let you guys know!

Anybody know if there is a fix for this problem yet??

[DrSam]

Originally Posted by captainrb

Anybody know if there is a fix for this problem yet??

I was just thinking the same thing, now starting the second winter with my car.

One thing I've found is if you turn on the car, and then turn it off and on again, it often will do the trick. But that is annoying.

Just waiting 10 seconds does not seem to do it for me. I end up restarting the car at the first traffic light that I stop at.

I didn't bring it up with the dealer yet, as I'd love to know there's a known fix out there before they start mucking around with the electronics and swapping parts without knowing what the exact solution is!

-sm

[BMdblU]

Originally Posted by John 070

Interesting how Japanese cars usually don't have flukes, not only for the warranty period, but for their 20 yr. lives. If you look at it logically, it works, or it doesn't work. You wanted to use it, it wouldn't work. That wasn't a fluke! The problem is if it's sporadic, when you take it into the dealership, since you're a warranty customer, you'll get the "everything performing as designed" response. They need to work on cars where the customers are paying $130 for an oil change and $150/hr. for labor!

I dunno, it's laughable how much we love our BMWs. Again, it's about the way they drive. Prices go up 4k and people still think they got a good deal due to financing or discounts, they don't even care that the base went up 4k!

Truth. You certainly wouldn't like paying 60-65k for a loaded 335 coupe up here. But things are worth as much as people will pay for them.

My business thrives off it

[BK]

I think the SIBs are reproduced in the Bentley service manual. The heated steering wheel issue described in this thread is listed as a known issue with an explanation of "At the time of this printing, no repairs were required for this condition."

The cause, it says, is "For the first few seconds after start-up, voltage levels may dip momentarily when electrical consumers are switched on. If the supply voltage dips below the threshold for the heated steering wheel, it will be switched off."

[mbergman]

Has anyone ever gotten a software update to fix this issue once and for all? M bumper t bumper expires 11/20 so I have an appt for this problem this week. If its still a BMW "not a problem" (like my speedo that reads 4MPH over), then I won't waste the time driving 90 miles to the dealer.

[N8N]

Originally Posted by asdflkijd

wtf, I didn't know they had heating steering wheels in 3's.. thought it was only ont he 5 series... Maybe its a 09 thing.

I have an '09 and the Monroney sticker sez that the heated wheel was part of the Cold Weather Package - it consists of

-heated steering wheel
-ski bag
-heated front seats
-retractable headlight washers

Don't know if the contents of the CWP changed in later years or not, but in '09 that apparently is what it was. (you caught me literally feet away from all my paperwork)

As an aside, apparently the heated mirrors, heated windshield washers, and adaptive xenons were standard for '09 335i. (not sure if that is true for all BMWs but I expect those to be options on most cars...)

[myE70]

DON"T PANIC
My friend has that problem before all was done was JUST SIMPLY CHARGE THE BATTERY TO THE FULEST
I know it sounds funny but, think of this if you don't drive for about 2 hours everyday one way ( school or whatnot ) your battery even though the car starts, is NOT fully charged and computers in this complicated beast WILL shot off ALL of the non essential power gadgets ( including heated wheel )
It took my friend about two days after work (for about 6 hours ea ) with a slow 2 amp charger. He has been OK for about a year now .

Hope that helps

[Braumin]

Originally Posted by myE70

DON"T PANIC
My friend has that problem before all was done was JUST SIMPLY CHARGE THE BATTERY TO THE FULEST
I know it sounds funny but, think of this if you don't drive for about 2 hours everyday one way ( school or whatnot ) your battery even though the car starts, is NOT fully charged and computers in this complicated beast WILL shot off ALL of the non essential power gadgets ( including heated wheel )
It took my friend about two days after work (for about 6 hours ea ) with a slow 2 amp charger. He has been OK for about a year now .

Hope that helps

Actually, there is a service bulletin for this and there is a new switch:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...18&postcount=6

[N8N]

Crappit! I have this issue too. Just charged battery overnight using ctek charger a couple weeks ago. New battery time (09)? What is involved in the service bulletin, I was unable to view it?

[C.D.335xi]

I've attached the relevant SIB.

Originally Posted by N8N

Crappit! I have this issue too. Just charged battery overnight using ctek charger a couple weeks ago. New battery time (09)? What is involved in the service bulletin, I was unable to view it?

[Braumin]

Thanks for the PDF! I'll take this in to my dealer so they don't try and dick me around with the problem.

[N8N]

That's awesome. The part referenced in that TSB is $25 @ realoem so if my battery load tests OK I will just try to replace it myself (no warranty.) Is there somewhere that I can look up that attachment referenced in the TSB?

Thank you so much! It's frustrating that the first time I really wanted to use the heated wheel (yesterday morning - it was actually below freezing, which I don't expect a lot of this far south) as opposed to just testing to make sure it worked, it actually didn't work Sure, I could just wear gloves, but it's so extraneously awesome

Thanks again for posting the TSB, that's great stuff.

[starrfyr]

I hope this doesn't happen to me. The winters in OR aren't terribly harsh but it does snow on occasion and freezing rain is even more frequent than snow. I need my heated seats and steering wheel because it takes FOREVER to heat up the 335d so the cabin heater is a bit useless at first.

[C.D.335xi]

No problem. I've attached the illustration you requested.

Originally Posted by N8N

That's awesome. The part referenced in that TSB is $25 @ realoem so if my battery load tests OK I will just try to replace it myself (no warranty.) Is there somewhere that I can look up that attachment referenced in the TSB?

[wdeerfield]

i now officially love e90post. have an appointment friday, going to address this issue too. Been happening for a few weeks now. seemed odd to me since all fuses were fine.

[Blubaron79]

My 09 had a recall on this. Check with the dealer.

[N8N]

I replaced the module in my car based on the information above - but now it's 60 degrees out? go figure. I'll post back with success or failure next time we have a sub-freezing morning.

Edit: was 32 degrees this AM and the heated wheel worked fine. Only one data point but I am hopeful! It didn't feel as hot as previously, but then again, it never actually worked when it was significantly below 45 degrees before.