Heated Seats Retrofit ...is it possible?

rubber_ducky · 01-16-2008, 02:57 PM

I searched and didn't come up with much. Curious if it's possible to retrofit heated seats to a car that doesn't have that option? I'm guessing that the elements are in there already, but who can say for sure? It'd be ideal if a new button panel is all that's needed.

TIA

ages944 · 01-16-2008, 10:36 PM

I'd guess that the heating elements are not in fact in the seat, but a good way to find out would be to ask your dealership. Retrofitting is likely going to be a PITA but if you do it, be sure to post a DIY. Good Luck.

discoboy1 · 01-18-2008, 11:52 AM

http://www.heatedseatkits.com/installation.html

dubber1 · 01-18-2008, 01:09 PM

I did a heated seat retrofit on a VW Jetta once and it worked quite well. It can be done on your BMW I am sure but you are going to have to take the seat covers off which means taking the seats out of your car. I would be very surprised if the elements were in the seats. If you want them to act like the stock seats you may require programming for the car to remember your seat heat setting after you park it.

veightkiller · 01-18-2008, 01:54 PM

what i would like to know is if you can retro fit heated seats at the back.that would be nice for the passenger ..i guess.

tintivilus · 01-20-2008, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by veightkiller

what i would like to know is if you can retro fit heated seats at the back.that would be nice for the passenger ..i guess.

I don't think it's a "retrofit" if the option was never available, but it's certainly possible if you're not afraid of upholstery. The biggest challenge I think would be getting switches that look approximately stock.

bebecker · 01-20-2008, 09:25 PM

I would like to know if cars without heated seats from the factory have any wiring inplace to aid with install. It would be great if the wiring harness had the wiring to the seat and you could hook up after market seat pads and pop in the fuse in the box and be off and running. I doubt this is the case though. Anyone know an easy way to get power to the heating elements?

Placey · 01-21-2008, 05:35 PM

I know that whenever replacing the leather on a seat, the new part comes with the element installed into it. I have never really paid attention if the original upholstry on a non heated seat had the element installed already from factory.
As we dont get too many vehicles w/o heated seats, i'll def report back whenever i do find out.

Rhooki · 02-10-2008, 07:48 PM

Have you consider portable heated seats? The kind were you just have to plug into the 12v outlet.

You only really need the heated seats around 3 months in a year.

Since the car did not came with the heated seats I would assume that this will cost hundreds (hopefully not thousands). Parts if the heating element does not come pre installed. Wires, switch, re-programming and yes - labor cost!

Had anybody here ever did this before?

01-16-2008, 02:57 PM	#1
rubber_ducky Colonel 386 Rep 2,989 Posts Drives: roach coach Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: boston-ish iTrader: (21)	Heated Seats Retrofit ...is it possible? I searched and didn't come up with much. Curious if it's possible to retrofit heated seats to a car that doesn't have that option? I'm guessing that the elements are in there already, but who can say for sure? It'd be ideal if a new button panel is all that's needed. TIA
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01-16-2008, 10:36 PM	#2
ages944 Captain 99 Rep 990 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago 'burbs iTrader: (0)	I'd guess that the heating elements are not in fact in the seat, but a good way to find out would be to ask your dealership. Retrofitting is likely going to be a PITA but if you do it, be sure to post a DIY. Good Luck. __________________ BMW : Sine qua non Mods: Blacklines \| Rear Seat Power Outlets \| Rear Fog Lights \| Ashtray Garage Door Opener
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01-18-2008, 11:52 AM	#3
discoboy1 Lieutenant Colonel 121 Rep 1,555 Posts Drives: E82 1M VO/F30 328D Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Montreal iTrader: (3)	http://www.heatedseatkits.com/installation.html __________________ 2011 E82 1M VO 2013 F84 35i VO
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01-18-2008, 01:09 PM	#4
dubber1 Private First Class 6 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 2017 430i Cabrio Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Calgary, Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335xi [0.00]	I did a heated seat retrofit on a VW Jetta once and it worked quite well. It can be done on your BMW I am sure but you are going to have to take the seat covers off which means taking the seats out of your car. I would be very surprised if the elements were in the seats. If you want them to act like the stock seats you may require programming for the car to remember your seat heat setting after you park it. __________________ *2017 430i xDrive Cabriolet* Retired: 2007 335xi Sapphire/Terra Premium Retired: 2006 325i, Premium
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01-18-2008, 01:54 PM	#5
veightkiller Brigadier General 61 Rep 4,150 Posts Drives: e90 335i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Vancouver,B.C iTrader: (3)	what i would like to know is if you can retro fit heated seats at the back.that would be nice for the passenger ..i guess.
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01-20-2008, 09:25 PM	#7
bebecker Enlisted Member 1 Rep 42 Posts Drives: 2006 330i 2007 335i Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Dakota iTrader: (2)	I would like to know if cars without heated seats from the factory have any wiring inplace to aid with install. It would be great if the wiring harness had the wiring to the seat and you could hook up after market seat pads and pop in the fuse in the box and be off and running. I doubt this is the case though. Anyone know an easy way to get power to the heating elements?
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01-21-2008, 05:35 PM	#8
Placey First Lieutenant 15 Rep 367 Posts Drives: 08 Z4 3.0SI Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Upstate New York iTrader: (1)	I know that whenever replacing the leather on a seat, the new part comes with the element installed into it. I have never really paid attention if the original upholstry on a non heated seat had the element installed already from factory. As we dont get too many vehicles w/o heated seats, i'll def report back whenever i do find out.
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02-10-2008, 07:48 PM	#9
Rhooki Enlisted Member 1 Rep 39 Posts Drives: 328xi 2008 Sparkling Graphite Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central NY iTrader: (0)	Have you consider portable heated seats? The kind were you just have to plug into the 12v outlet. You only really need the heated seats around 3 months in a year. Since the car did not came with the heated seats I would assume that this will cost hundreds (hopefully not thousands). Parts if the heating element does not come pre installed. Wires, switch, re-programming and yes - labor cost! Had anybody here ever did this before? __________________ Vrooooooooom! Vrooooooom!
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