Heating Steering Wheel issues?

DaRickSta81 · 02-02-2010, 12:38 PM

Hello folks,

I've been seeing this a few times this winter and I'm not sure if I'm the only one having this problem.

I park my car outside at my office, and it usually sits there for the 8+ hours I'm working... So when I get back into my car and it gets really cold out: I start my car, turn on the seat heaters, turn on the rear defroster, and hit the heated steering wheel button...

The problem I run into is, when I turn on all three, the heated steering wheel button turns off by itself after about 30 secs....

So I'm wondering, am I drawing too much power from some relay that kills it? or is there something wrong with it? So I take it to the dealer?

DnA Diesel · 02-02-2010, 02:16 PM

I have only had it happen to me two or three times, but in very cold weather (below -16C/0F) I found that selecting the max defrost function or changing the airflow to def/vent/flr while the rear defrost, seat and steering wheel was on, would kick off the wheel heater. It is a bizarre combination of conditions, but after turning on the wheel htr again and not touching other HVAC controls, it stays on. Would love to see the electrical diagram and dig signals on the CANBUS to see what's going on with these modules.

only1 · 02-02-2010, 02:28 PM

I believe there is a recall for this. it happens to me and the solution that works for me is to turn everything on and wait about thirty seconds and then turn the steering wheel on. I did a search when it began happening to me and that is what i found. Seems to work fine even though it should not be that way.

OwnAge · 02-02-2010, 02:29 PM

whohoo and i thought i was the only one

I was too lazy to make a thread.
I've had that happen to me 30+ times by now. Im too lazy to call the dealer too.
1st of it can happen in any temperature. Sometimes it even happened to me when my car was already warmed up and i would still not be able to turn the heated steering on. I never turn the defrost or if i did then rarely so may be that whats was causing the problem i just never noticed.
Now the way i do it is I turn the ignition on, then turn the heated seats, then the steering wheel and so far i havent get the problem. Ohh and my steering wheel turns off every 10sec or so not 30.

CRS · 02-02-2010, 03:02 PM

If you turn on your heated steering wheel, is it supposed to stay on until you turn it off (like your heated seats)?

Or does it turn off after a certain amount of time?

DnA Diesel · 02-02-2010, 03:09 PM

It stays on until selected off.

The SIB (#32 01 09) is referred to here.

Quote:

Service Information bulletin SI B32 01 09 dated October 2009.

SUBJECT
Heated Steering Wheel Malfunction

MODEL
E90, E91, E92, E93 (3 Series) produced from 9/2008 and equipped with the Heated Steering Wheel (SA 248)

E82, E88 (1 Series) produced from 9/2008 and equipped with the Heated Steering Wheel (SA 248)

SITUATION
Immediately following a cold start, if the heated steering wheel is switched on in addition to other electrical consumers (i.e., heated seats, rear defroster, etc.), it may switch off after 5-10 seconds of operation. This is an intermittent situation. Cycling the key will typically restore function.

CAUSE
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.

This situation may be present even if the battery is properly charged and no charging system problems are present.

CORRECTION
Replace the steering wheel electronics with an updated part.

more...

CRS · 02-02-2010, 03:15 PM

Oh wtf!

Mine turns off by itself. God damnit.

What do they mean by cycling keys?

And most importantly, is this covered by warranty?

OwnAge · 02-02-2010, 05:33 PM

Thx DnA. I'll take it to the dealer then. I gotta go for a oil change soon anyway.

DaRickSta81 · 02-02-2010, 11:15 PM

Thanks folks! I'll bring a copy of that SIB to the dealer when it's oil change time!

tolkino · 02-03-2010, 11:35 AM

This happened to me for the first time last night, after it stayed outside the whole day. I kept pushing on the button while driving, but it kept switching off in around 10 secs. When I finally stopped and started the car again it finally worked. I'll see if it continues to happen, maybe I should get it checked as well.

catch · 02-03-2010, 09:09 PM

no one likes a show off!!!

you know... not all of us have heated steering wheels you know...

flashcut · 02-08-2010, 06:20 PM

thanks DnA.

I have noticed this problem on my 09 e93 only after my car has been sitting outside for several hours (while at work). When my car has been sitting in my garage, I have not had any issues; only after sitting outside on a cold day. thanks for the bulletin aka "ammo" for my dealer.

CRS · 02-08-2010, 06:48 PM

Called BJ today and apparently, it is suppose to turn off after a while.

Ughhh... So confused.

DnA Diesel · 02-08-2010, 08:53 PM

BJ?

I've driven hours with the heater on...and it never turned off. Does "BJ" have a technical reference indicating when the wheel will turn itself off? I do get a sense that the wheel modulates current so as not to over heat after the initial warm-up, but it stays on for me (so long as I don't select too many electricals after start, per the SIB).

Cheers

DaRickSta81 · 02-09-2010, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catch

no one likes a show off!!!

you know... not all of us have heated steering wheels you know...

lol... we're not showing off... in some sense, we're worse off... We're being teased with this handy feature that doesn't work when needed...

The steering wheel heater doesn't work when it's cold outside... it only works when it's warm!

Kind of like a solar-powered flashlight... very cool, but totally useless

ehhhwik · 02-09-2010, 04:12 PM

its never happened to me, but i usually only have the heated steering wheel on along with heated seats, and the coldest it has been in Vancouver is uhhh -5C?

328 · 11-14-2012, 07:26 AM

This problem happened to my 09 328 xdrive coupe. If I turned on the driver's seat heater along with the steering wheel heater after a cold start the steering wheel heater would turn off and not work until the car was turned off and back on again. I took it to the dealer (along with a cell phone video of the problem occurring due to the intermittent nature) and mentioned The SIB (#32 01 09). They changed the "steering wheel heater electronics" = replaced the steering wheel. Works great now, thanks to this thread for the info. It was repaired under warranty

danchee · 02-17-2015, 08:45 AM

Sorry to drag this back up again but does anyone know if I'll be charged to get this done on my out of warranty vehicle? Never really had this issue before but this month's cold NY weather caused this to occur.

Ibi · 02-17-2015, 11:07 AM

this used to happen when i had my 128. if i pressed the button right away after starting the car, it would turn off after a few seconds. i leared that i had to wait 30 seconds after i started the car before i pressed the button.

whish i had this feature in the vert lol.

02-02-2010, 12:38 PM	#1
DaRickSta81 Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 2009 328xi Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (4) Garage List 2009 328xi, e92 [10.00] 2006 325i, e90 [0.00]	Heating Steering Wheel issues? Hello folks, I've been seeing this a few times this winter and I'm not sure if I'm the only one having this problem. I park my car outside at my office, and it usually sits there for the 8+ hours I'm working... So when I get back into my car and it gets really cold out: I start my car, turn on the seat heaters, turn on the rear defroster, and hit the heated steering wheel button... The problem I run into is, when I turn on all three, the heated steering wheel button turns off by itself after about 30 secs.... So I'm wondering, am I drawing too much power from some relay that kills it? or is there something wrong with it? So I take it to the dealer?
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02-02-2010, 02:16 PM	#2
DnA Diesel Major 27 Rep 1,110 Posts Drives: 09 335d Sport SGrey/Blk/Blk Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	I have only had it happen to me two or three times, but in very cold weather (below -16C/0F) I found that selecting the max defrost function or changing the airflow to def/vent/flr while the rear defrost, seat and steering wheel was on, would kick off the wheel heater. It is a bizarre combination of conditions, but after turning on the wheel htr again and not touching other HVAC controls, it stays on. Would love to see the electrical diagram and dig signals on the CANBUS to see what's going on with these modules. __________________ 2016 GLE 350d - White on Black
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02-02-2010, 02:29 PM	#4
OwnAge Gourik 187 Rep 4,302 Posts Drives: soon Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Innisfil Ontario. iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 328i [8.90]	whohoo and i thought i was the only one I was too lazy to make a thread. I've had that happen to me 30+ times by now. Im too lazy to call the dealer too. 1st of it can happen in any temperature. Sometimes it even happened to me when my car was already warmed up and i would still not be able to turn the heated steering on. I never turn the defrost or if i did then rarely so may be that whats was causing the problem i just never noticed. Now the way i do it is I turn the ignition on, then turn the heated seats, then the steering wheel and so far i havent get the problem. Ohh and my steering wheel turns off every 10sec or so not 30. __________________
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02-02-2010, 03:02 PM	#5
CRS First Lieutenant 20 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2009 323i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (3)	If you turn on your heated steering wheel, is it supposed to stay on until you turn it off (like your heated seats)? Or does it turn off after a certain amount of time?
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02-02-2010, 03:15 PM	#7
CRS First Lieutenant 20 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2009 323i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (3)	Oh wtf! Mine turns off by itself. God damnit. What do they mean by cycling keys? And most importantly, is this covered by warranty? Last edited by CRS; 02-02-2010 at 04:23 PM..
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02-02-2010, 02:28 PM	#3
only1 Lieutenant 28 Rep 513 Posts Drives: 07 Z06, 09 e90335i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Markham iTrader: (5)	I believe there is a recall for this. it happens to me and the solution that works for me is to turn everything on and wait about thirty seconds and then turn the steering wheel on. I did a search when it began happening to me and that is what i found. Seems to work fine even though it should not be that way.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

02-02-2010, 05:33 PM	#8
OwnAge Gourik 187 Rep 4,302 Posts Drives: soon Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Innisfil Ontario. iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 328i [8.90]	Thx DnA. I'll take it to the dealer then. I gotta go for a oil change soon anyway. __________________
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02-02-2010, 11:15 PM	#9
DaRickSta81 Second Lieutenant 22 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 2009 328xi Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (4) Garage List 2009 328xi, e92 [10.00] 2006 325i, e90 [0.00]	Thanks folks! I'll bring a copy of that SIB to the dealer when it's oil change time!
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02-03-2010, 11:35 AM	#10
tolkino Captain 47 Rep 821 Posts Drives: '09 BSM E92 328i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Toronto, ON iTrader: (1)	This happened to me for the first time last night, after it stayed outside the whole day. I kept pushing on the button while driving, but it kept switching off in around 10 secs. When I finally stopped and started the car again it finally worked. I'll see if it continues to happen, maybe I should get it checked as well.
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02-03-2010, 09:09 PM	#11
catch Major General 668 Rep 7,148 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Thornhill iTrader: (27)	no one likes a show off!!! you know... not all of us have heated steering wheels you know... __________________ 2016 F80 M3 Mineral White/Sakhir Orange 2013 BMW S1000RR Flat Silver <stolen> 2007 BMW E92 335i Jet Black/Jade Grey <sold>
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02-08-2010, 06:20 PM	#12
flashcut New Member 2 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2009 328i cabriolet ts on blk Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: toronto iTrader: (1)	thanks DnA. I have noticed this problem on my 09 e93 only after my car has been sitting outside for several hours (while at work). When my car has been sitting in my garage, I have not had any issues; only after sitting outside on a cold day. thanks for the bulletin aka "ammo" for my dealer.
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02-08-2010, 06:48 PM	#13
CRS First Lieutenant 20 Rep 324 Posts Drives: 2009 323i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (3)	Called BJ today and apparently, it is suppose to turn off after a while. Ughhh... So confused.
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02-08-2010, 08:53 PM	#14
DnA Diesel Major 27 Rep 1,110 Posts Drives: 09 335d Sport SGrey/Blk/Blk Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	BJ? I've driven hours with the heater on...and it never turned off. Does "BJ" have a technical reference indicating when the wheel will turn itself off? I do get a sense that the wheel modulates current so as not to over heat after the initial warm-up, but it stays on for me (so long as I don't select too many electricals after start, per the SIB). Cheers __________________ 2016 GLE 350d - White on Black
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02-09-2010, 04:12 PM	#16
ehhhwik Brigadier General 114 Rep 3,431 Posts Drives: 09' BMW 335d, 07' BMW E92 328i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Vancouver, BC iTrader: (5)	its never happened to me, but i usually only have the heated steering wheel on along with heated seats, and the coldest it has been in Vancouver is uhhh -5C? __________________ Current: 09' E90 335d - Titanium Silver/Black Leatherette/Sports Package/6AT Paddle Shift/USB Integration/19" Staggered Breyton GT Gloss Black Retired: 07' E92 328i (Jet Black)
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11-14-2012, 07:26 AM	#17
328 Registered 2 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 09 328i xdrive coupe, 2014 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Steering wheel heater problem This problem happened to my 09 328 xdrive coupe. If I turned on the driver's seat heater along with the steering wheel heater after a cold start the steering wheel heater would turn off and not work until the car was turned off and back on again. I took it to the dealer (along with a cell phone video of the problem occurring due to the intermittent nature) and mentioned The SIB (#32 01 09). They changed the "steering wheel heater electronics" = replaced the steering wheel. Works great now, thanks to this thread for the info. It was repaired under warranty
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02-17-2015, 08:45 AM	#18
danchee Lieutenant 136 Rep 453 Posts Drives: 21 X7 40i Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Rainy City iTrader: (0)	Sorry to drag this back up again but does anyone know if I'll be charged to get this done on my out of warranty vehicle? Never really had this issue before but this month's cold NY weather caused this to occur.
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02-17-2015, 11:07 AM	#19
Ibi Private First Class 8 Rep 168 Posts Drives: E93 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 128i [0.00]	this used to happen when i had my 128. if i pressed the button right away after starting the car, it would turn off after a few seconds. i leared that i had to wait 30 seconds after i started the car before i pressed the button. whish i had this feature in the vert lol.
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