Californian

wchew · 09-05-2005, 02:45 AM

I just ordered my first BMW yesterday, after much consideration, I decided not to order the heated seat option. The reason is that I felt we already paid that much more to be a californian ( 8.25% sales tax, 9.25% state income tax, ridiculous housing price..etc. ), and the reason that we have to pay those extra $$$ is because of the nice weather. Therefore I think I should let the nice weather save me $500 this time.

The things is, although I had experienced winter in bay area, I never had leather seat (I just graduated in June, had been driving crappy car all the time). Is the heated seat option worth it for us living in the bay area?

Thanks !

NaTuReB0Y · 09-05-2005, 02:51 AM

Waste of money..........I have heated seat on my Lexus for the last 2 1/2 years.....and never used it once........It just doesn't get cold enough.......

But if BMW offered air-conditioned seat for the E90.....Hell yeah....I'll buy it!

wchew · 09-05-2005, 02:53 AM

Thanks ! That's a really quick reply and glad to know there is somebody else browsing this website this late at night.

theclay · 09-05-2005, 02:58 AM

I grew up in the Bay Area and I really don't think you need a heated seat. On the other hand, a couple of my friends here in L.A. have them and love them even though they hardly ever use them.

I think people in the northeast laugh at us Californians when we buy heated seats for those cold mornings (50 degrees fahrenheit).

timzerofive · 09-05-2005, 04:22 AM

50 is freezing! But I think for us, unless there's a remote start to warm up the car and the seat before we get in the car, it probably becomes pretty unecessary. It's that initial 5 min when you first get into the car that's really bad.

sunchild · 09-05-2005, 05:50 AM

nah... don't need it.

xyz123 · 09-05-2005, 07:46 AM

Heated seats are standard equipment where I live, and I use it because it's there. But it is something I would not order it if I had a choice and I live where it occasionally gets down to -20, -30 Celsius. The reason is that there is a time lag for the seat to heat up and by that time the heater has warmed up the air to a comfortable temperature anyway. I guess people who like the seat hotter than the cabin air temperature would like it.

MonacoBlueNJ · 09-05-2005, 08:29 AM

I'm in the Northeast and I unfortunately had to get my E90 with heated seats because it was already built and with the price increase it would have been more money to order without it. I know I will never use it and it gets below 0 here. In California, I doubt you would ever use it.

p.s. 50 degrees freezing????? 50 in the morning is almost shorts weather!

mikepinkerton · 09-05-2005, 08:54 AM

You really should think about heated seats in the bay area. I lived there for 5 years and mornings and evenings get pretty cold. A friend had heated seats on his Saab and they were wonderful. I dunno why people are against them if it's not -20 degrees outside.

-Mike

davinet78 · 09-05-2005, 09:17 AM

its matter of choice and not that you need it

connermd · 09-05-2005, 12:21 PM

I am in the Bay Area and I ended up with heated seats b/c they had the car I wanted coming it with them. I wasn't about to wait longer for one to come in without them. I think there are certain people in the Bay Area that expect that when they buy a luxury car it will automatically come with heated seats -my point being that it may affect resale (albeit in a minor way). Example: My sister-in-law just bought a used X5 and immediatly remarked "but it doesn't have heated seats" (like that was a detraction..)

BellasBmw · 09-05-2005, 12:33 PM

My salesman said that the least ordered option for ppl in Cali was the cold weather package. So yea i didnt order it either.. I can handle a little butt freeze...

Agni · 09-05-2005, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timzerofive

50 is freezing! But I think for us, unless there's a remote start to warm up the car and the seat before we get in the car, it probably becomes pretty unecessary. It's that initial 5 min when you first get into the car that's really bad.

lol..he thinks 50 is freezing!

Come to chicago, the windchill up here is horrid... and btw remote start will kill your engine, because idling in cold weather is very bad for your engine, thats by BMW does not advise that you do so. I also dont think BMW dealerships install them for the same reason.

wchew · 09-05-2005, 01:30 PM

Thanks for everyone's opinion ! Looks like most people think it is not really necessary to have heated seat in Cali.

It is fun to see people making fun at Californians complaining that 50 degrees is freezing. I came from a country where it is 95~100 degrees 365 days a year.... however, I went to college in Indiana for two and a half years before coming here two years ago. I sat in my friend's car with leather seat during winter in Indiana and it can really freeze your nuts off.

timzerofive · 09-05-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agni

lol..he thinks 50 is freezing!

Come to chicago, the windchill up here is horrid... and btw remote start will kill your engine, because idling in cold weather is very bad for your engine, thats by BMW does not advise that you do so. I also dont think BMW dealerships install them for the same reason.

Poor bastards. Yes, 50 is freezing where I live, and I'm glad that's so.

So you're saying you don't warm up your car at all?

wish1 · 09-05-2005, 03:02 PM

In the northeast heated seats are a must have with leather, in CA maybe not. More importantly though, the cold weather pak is worth the cost for fold-down rear seats alone. The heat and headlight spritzers are free. Can't tell you how much more practical this car is for me with the fold-downs.

David328M-Sport · 09-05-2005, 05:31 PM

And I thought that 32 degrees F is freezing.

roburado · 09-05-2005, 06:37 PM

Depends where you live. If you live in the High Desert, you might appreciate them. Freezing temps are not unheard of there.

NaTuReB0Y · 09-05-2005, 07:27 PM

I was in Minneapolis a couple of years ago to visit my in-laws......the temperature was 2 degrees during the day!......and I accidently left the beers in the car......and guess what? That sh*t exploded.......as it freeeezed......I wish I had heated seat while driving to Cantebury for some poker!

Never going there again during winter.........oh, how I love Southern California Weather!

btw, 50 degrees is freezing!

puck724 · 09-05-2005, 08:39 PM

im like probably the only one that actually wanted the heated seats. i have a tendency to roll the windows down at night and drive so i have the heater and heated seats going sometimes...its quite nice....im in orange county by the way.

marcus330i · 09-05-2005, 08:57 PM

What Roburado said.

I live in a beach community in San Diego and the temps don't really ever get that cold here...even on winter nights. But if you live even just 10 miles or more inland it can get pretty cold in winter. Morning frost isn't uncommon and even though it's nothing compared to other places in the US it's still cold to us because we're not used to it.

I think the more important question is have you ever had heated seats? I personally hate them because my back gets itchy after just a few minutes....so they're a waste of $ for me.

exclusivo · 09-05-2005, 09:14 PM

im from new york and i wouldnt even get them...actually i have them on my honda odyssey minivan and have never used them...tried it on a trip in my cousins 530, and it started to burn after a while, had it too high i guess

09-05-2005, 02:45 AM	#1
wchew Private First Class 14 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Californian - Is heated seat necessary? I just ordered my first BMW yesterday, after much consideration, I decided not to order the heated seat option. The reason is that I felt we already paid that much more to be a californian ( 8.25% sales tax, 9.25% state income tax, ridiculous housing price..etc. ), and the reason that we have to pay those extra $$$ is because of the nice weather. Therefore I think I should let the nice weather save me $500 this time. The things is, although I had experienced winter in bay area, I never had leather seat (I just graduated in June, had been driving crappy car all the time). Is the heated seat option worth it for us living in the bay area? Thanks ! Last edited by wchew; 09-05-2005 at 02:56 AM..
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09-05-2005, 02:51 AM	#2
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD 337 Rep 7,369 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Inland Empire iTrader: (12)	Waste of money..........I have heated seat on my Lexus for the last 2 1/2 years.....and never used it once........It just doesn't get cold enough....... But if BMW offered air-conditioned seat for the E90.....Hell yeah....I'll buy it! __________________ 2006 E90 330i Jet Black \| 20" WORK VS-XX \| FK452 \| H&R Sport on Koni Yellow \| REMUS QUAD
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09-05-2005, 02:53 AM	#3
wchew Private First Class 14 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks ! That's a really quick reply and glad to know there is somebody else browsing this website this late at night.
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09-05-2005, 02:58 AM	#4
theclay Lieutenant 20 Rep 510 Posts Drives: '06 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Angeles, Ca. iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	I grew up in the Bay Area and I really don't think you need a heated seat. On the other hand, a couple of my friends here in L.A. have them and love them even though they hardly ever use them. I think people in the northeast laugh at us Californians when we buy heated seats for those cold mornings (50 degrees fahrenheit). __________________ Jet Black, Black Leather, Aluminum Trim, Sport, Premium, Steptronic, 35% tint
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09-05-2005, 04:22 AM	#5
timzerofive there is no spoon 243 Rep 867 Posts Drives: 330i manual Join Date: May 2005 Location: Irvine iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	50 is freezing! But I think for us, unless there's a remote start to warm up the car and the seat before we get in the car, it probably becomes pretty unecessary. It's that initial 5 min when you first get into the car that's really bad.
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09-05-2005, 05:50 AM	#6
sunchild Lieutenant 25 Rep 469 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orange County, CAL iTrader: (2)	nah... don't need it.
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09-05-2005, 07:46 AM	#7
xyz123 Private First Class 9 Rep 141 Posts Drives: 2013 E82 Msport, manual Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Heated seats are standard equipment where I live, and I use it because it's there. But it is something I would not order it if I had a choice and I live where it occasionally gets down to -20, -30 Celsius. The reason is that there is a time lag for the seat to heat up and by that time the heater has warmed up the air to a comfortable temperature anyway. I guess people who like the seat hotter than the cabin air temperature would like it.
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09-05-2005, 08:29 AM	#8
MonacoBlueNJ Private First Class 2 Rep 145 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Central NJ iTrader: (0)	I'm in the Northeast and I unfortunately had to get my E90 with heated seats because it was already built and with the price increase it would have been more money to order without it. I know I will never use it and it gets below 0 here. In California, I doubt you would ever use it. p.s. 50 degrees freezing????? 50 in the morning is almost shorts weather!
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09-05-2005, 08:54 AM	#9
mikepinkerton Private First Class 6 Rep 196 Posts Drives: '06 330i Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Northern VA iTrader: (0)	You really should think about heated seats in the bay area. I lived there for 5 years and mornings and evenings get pretty cold. A friend had heated seats on his Saab and they were wonderful. I dunno why people are against them if it's not -20 degrees outside. -Mike
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09-05-2005, 09:17 AM	#10
davinet78 Lieutenant Colonel 28 Rep 1,832 Posts Drives: bmw e90 320d Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: gibraltar(europe) iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 bmw 320d E90 [0.00]	its matter of choice and not that you need it __________________ e90 320d,arktis,lumber support, hifi speaker, alarm, dakota beige, 162 18", xenon with washer spray,window chrome trimmings, professional radio, 6 cd changer wood trimmings 6 speed manual.
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09-05-2005, 12:21 PM	#11
connermd What did I miss? 0 Rep 60 Posts Drives: e46 M3 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The coolest city ever iTrader: (0)	I am in the Bay Area and I ended up with heated seats b/c they had the car I wanted coming it with them. I wasn't about to wait longer for one to come in without them. I think there are certain people in the Bay Area that expect that when they buy a luxury car it will automatically come with heated seats -my point being that it may affect resale (albeit in a minor way). Example: My sister-in-law just bought a used X5 and immediatly remarked "but it doesn't have heated seats" (like that was a detraction..) __________________ 05" M3 ZCP
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09-05-2005, 12:33 PM	#12
BellasBmw If love is the answer,please rephrase the question 315 Rep 1,731 Posts Drives: Tit Silver 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Diego, Ca iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	My salesman said that the least ordered option for ppl in Cali was the cold weather package. So yea i didnt order it either.. I can handle a little butt freeze... __________________ ~~BellasBmw~~ Proud mama to 325i/TiAg/Black lette/Pwr seats/Sirius/Sport/Walnut/Step/Xenons/Chrome exhaust/20% tint
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09-05-2005, 01:30 PM	#14
wchew Private First Class 14 Rep 108 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks for everyone's opinion ! Looks like most people think it is not really necessary to have heated seat in Cali. It is fun to see people making fun at Californians complaining that 50 degrees is freezing. I came from a country where it is 95~100 degrees 365 days a year.... however, I went to college in Indiana for two and a half years before coming here two years ago. I sat in my friend's car with leather seat during winter in Indiana and it can really freeze your nuts off.
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09-05-2005, 03:02 PM	#16
wish1 Private First Class 15 Rep 157 Posts Drives: Lexus sc400 Join Date: May 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	In the northeast heated seats are a must have with leather, in CA maybe not. More importantly though, the cold weather pak is worth the cost for fold-down rear seats alone. The heat and headlight spritzers are free. Can't tell you how much more practical this car is for me with the fold-downs. __________________ e90 330i 6m, alpine white/terra/carbon fiber, sport, premium, cold, BBS LMs/M5 rep winter, cdv, tint, XPEL, Blacklines, Msport wheel and shift knob, RE SSK
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09-05-2005, 05:31 PM	#17
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	And I thought that 32 degrees F is freezing. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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09-05-2005, 06:37 PM	#18
roburado Lieutenant 36 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '03 Passat, '09 Cayman S Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Troy, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 1991 318is [0.00]	Depends where you live. If you live in the High Desert, you might appreciate them. Freezing temps are not unheard of there. __________________ E30 1991 318is, Red on Black Leatherette Family History: Two E21 320i, One E28 535is, One E34 535i, One E34 540i
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09-05-2005, 07:27 PM	#19
NaTuReB0Y Powered By 36DD 337 Rep 7,369 Posts Drives: 2006 E90 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Inland Empire iTrader: (12)	I was in Minneapolis a couple of years ago to visit my in-laws......the temperature was 2 degrees during the day!......and I accidently left the beers in the car......and guess what? That sht exploded.......as it freeeezed......I wish I had heated seat while driving to Cantebury for some poker! Never going there again during winter.........oh, how I love Southern California Weather! btw, 50 degrees is freezing! __________________ 2006 E90 330i Jet Black \| 20" WORK VS-XX \| FK452 \| H&R Sport on Koni Yellow \| REMUS QUAD*
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09-05-2005, 08:39 PM	#20
puck724 COLTS 4 LIFE!!! 99 Rep 1,746 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: california iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	im like probably the only one that actually wanted the heated seats. i have a tendency to roll the windows down at night and drive so i have the heater and heated seats going sometimes...its quite nice....im in orange county by the way. __________________ 2006 330i --sapphire black--black leather --alumminum trim --premium package --cold weather package --park distace control --automatic transmission --navigation with iDrive
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09-05-2005, 08:57 PM	#21
marcus330i Lieutenant 42 Rep 524 Posts Drives: 2006 330i 6spd Join Date: May 2005 Location: Point Loma, California iTrader: (0)	What Roburado said. I live in a beach community in San Diego and the temps don't really ever get that cold here...even on winter nights. But if you live even just 10 miles or more inland it can get pretty cold in winter. Morning frost isn't uncommon and even though it's nothing compared to other places in the US it's still cold to us because we're not used to it. I think the more important question is have you ever had heated seats? I personally hate them because my back gets itchy after just a few minutes....so they're a waste of $ for me. __________________ Realtor Mobile: 6spd / Sport / Prem / Navi / ED 3-30-06 73 3.0s/84 528e/90 525i/97 M3 4dr/99 M3 Conv/2001 330i/2004 545i ED/2006 330i ED June 05 You're in control...is there anywhere you want to go ? -------------------------
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09-05-2005, 09:14 PM	#22
exclusivo Lieutenant Colonel 126 Rep 1,893 Posts Drives: race car Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: queens, ny iTrader: (11)	im from new york and i wouldnt even get them...actually i have them on my honda odyssey minivan and have never used them...tried it on a trip in my cousins 530, and it started to burn after a while, had it too high i guess
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