Adding heat to seats... if the car came with heated seats?

FIRST1 · 05-02-2014, 08:07 PM

Sounds strange I know, I have non-sport electric heated seats and I'm getting sport seats (non-heated) from a friend who upgraded. Is it possible to add the heat function to these seats considering that my car came with heated seats? Do I need to transfer something from the heated seats to the new ones?

If there's any DIY on this or something that'd be awesome. I know this is kind of a strange request lol.

Thanks in advance!

tracer bullet · 05-04-2014, 10:51 AM

I installed heaters into my last car, they basically amount to 2 small pads (back and butt) that lay in place. I haven't opened up the seats in our cars but I'd feel certain the parts could be swapped over. The PITA part is getting the covers off the seat and then getting them back on afterwards. Special clips and pliers are needed to do it right.

If you look up some instructions for a DIY seat heater installation you'll get a pretty good idea of what you're getting into.

FIRST1 · 05-04-2014, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tracer bullet

I installed heaters into my last car, they basically amount to 2 small pads (back and butt) that lay in place. I haven't opened up the seats in our cars but I'd feel certain the parts could be swapped over. The PITA part is getting the covers off the seat and then getting them back on afterwards. Special clips and pliers are needed to do it right.

If you look up some instructions for a DIY seat heater installation you'll get a pretty good idea of what you're getting into.

So it's definitely possible right? I just wanted to make sure it's doable, as I couldn't find anything, I guess I wasn't searching right.

e36addict · 05-05-2014, 07:22 AM

I'm pretty sure these are like other newer bimmers, where the heating element is part of the leather. So you'd have to buy new skins for the seat to make that work..

Lester · 05-05-2014, 07:34 AM

There are a lot of heating pads. You would have to take the seats totally apart. Not a job for the novice, you should have it done by a professional.

FIRST1 · 05-05-2014, 09:19 AM

Thanks for the responses. Yeah I don't mind taking it to a shop to do it, I just wanted to make sure it was doable. What do you guys think is a ballpark estimate for labor hours / cost on this job?

Quote:

Originally Posted by e36addict

I'm pretty sure these are like other newer bimmers, where the heating element is part of the leather. So you'd have to buy new skins for the seat to make that work..

I'm not exactly following what you mean here?

andrey_gta · 05-05-2014, 11:10 AM

If you follow a Lumbar seat retorfit diy, it may be of some help

FIRST1 · 05-05-2014, 11:46 AM

Do you guys think the sport seats are gonna be damaged after they put the heating pads in it :/

Lester · 05-06-2014, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRST1

Do you guys think the sport seats are gonna be damaged after they put the heating pads in it :/

I doubt it, as long as it is done by a pro. I would think about $500 labor for the pair would do it.

05-02-2014, 08:07 PM	#1
FIRST1 Major 109 Rep 1,048 Posts Drives: '15 M235i Melbourne Red Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (5)	Adding heat to seats... if the car came with heated seats? Sounds strange I know, I have non-sport electric heated seats and I'm getting sport seats (non-heated) from a friend who upgraded. Is it possible to add the heat function to these seats considering that my car came with heated seats? Do I need to transfer something from the heated seats to the new ones? If there's any DIY on this or something that'd be awesome. I know this is kind of a strange request lol. Thanks in advance!
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05-04-2014, 10:51 AM	#2
tracer bullet Brigadier General 2410 Rep 3,544 Posts Drives: '11 135i , '15 X3 35i Join Date: May 2011 Location: Saint Paul, MN iTrader: (1)	I installed heaters into my last car, they basically amount to 2 small pads (back and butt) that lay in place. I haven't opened up the seats in our cars but I'd feel certain the parts could be swapped over. The PITA part is getting the covers off the seat and then getting them back on afterwards. Special clips and pliers are needed to do it right. If you look up some instructions for a DIY seat heater installation you'll get a pretty good idea of what you're getting into.
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05-05-2014, 07:22 AM	#4
e36addict Captain 137 Rep 952 Posts Drives: 2013 X1 35iX Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tim @ BMW of Dallas iTrader: (5)	I'm pretty sure these are like other newer bimmers, where the heating element is part of the leather. So you'd have to buy new skins for the seat to make that work.. __________________ 13 X1 35iX, 98 Z3 2.8, 01 M Coupe, 96 Z3 1.9 DASC, 95 318ti, 13 smart fortwo
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05-05-2014, 07:34 AM	#5
Lester Brigadier General 295 Rep 3,350 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	There are a lot of heating pads. You would have to take the seats totally apart. Not a job for the novice, you should have it done by a professional. Attached Images
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05-05-2014, 11:10 AM	#7
andrey_gta Brigadier General 298 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	If you follow a Lumbar seat retorfit diy, it may be of some help __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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05-05-2014, 11:46 AM	#8
FIRST1 Major 109 Rep 1,048 Posts Drives: '15 M235i Melbourne Red Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (5)	Do you guys think the sport seats are gonna be damaged after they put the heating pads in it :/
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