Heated Seats Retrofit
- Thread starter Faheem
- Start date
I have done this Faheem,
see here:
https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-seat-base-repair-m-sport-heated.58/
you need to put a test meter across the two wires to see if you have a circuit.
If it isn't heating, it sounds like there is still a break somewhere and you will have an open circuit,
Using a thicker wire won't be a problem, using a thinner one will..
see here:
https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-seat-base-repair-m-sport-heated.58/
you need to put a test meter across the two wires to see if you have a circuit.
If it isn't heating, it sounds like there is still a break somewhere and you will have an open circuit,
Using a thicker wire won't be a problem, using a thinner one will..
Thanks Pete. That article was really very helpful I was referring to it a lot, getting the seat out was easy but the wiring etc I'm not very good with! I did put a test meter between the two points - one where the brown wire leaves the seat base and the other in the middle where the wire had previously burnt and I can see that there is a complete circuit but it's odd that I'm not feeling the seats heat up when applying power. I just used an old 12v adapter along with a couple of wires with some crocodile clips and then connected those to the wires coming out the seat base.
I may well buy a new heater pad but want to avoid it if I can as I don't like using aftermarket items from China especially when there's a potential for my arse to catch fire.
I may well buy a new heater pad but want to avoid it if I can as I don't like using aftermarket items from China especially when there's a potential for my arse to catch fire.
Hi mate, send @Antm72 a PM he has fitted some heater pads in his car and I can confirm they're great !Thanks Pete. That article was really very helpful I was referring to it a lot, getting the seat out was easy but the wiring etc I'm not very good with! I did put a test meter between the two points - one where the brown wire leaves the seat base and the other in the middle where the wire had previously burnt and I can see that there is a complete circuit but it's odd that I'm not feeling the seats heat up when applying power. I just used an old 12v adapter along with a couple of wires with some crocodile clips and then connected those to the wires coming out the seat base.
I may well buy a new heater pad but want to avoid it if I can as I don't like using aftermarket items from China especially when there's a potential for my arse to catch fire.
Tony.
I used a gas welding rod back in the day for replacing these so called "hog rings" and you don't need anything more than a pair of side cutters.
Tony.
Tony.
Cheers Tony. I've sent Ant a message 
I wouldn't mind replacing the pads but just need some assurance that the quality of aftermarket pads are okay.
Big hassle taking the seats apart the and I don't like doing it as there's always potential to damage something so might as well do it right the first time.
I wouldn't mind replacing the pads but just need some assurance that the quality of aftermarket pads are okay. Big hassle taking the seats apart the and I don't like doing it as there's always potential to damage something so might as well do it right the first time.
The seats you got looked really smart mate, I'm sure you will sort your heated driver seat mate ... I know she's your daily drive.
I still have my new seats still sitting in the bedroom (along with a hundred other bits
) I might need the wiring conversion kit myself. How much is BMW charging for wiring Faheem?
I still have my new seats still sitting in the bedroom (along with a hundred other bits
) I might need the wiring conversion kit myself. How much is BMW charging for wiring Faheem?
Cheers chaps @Brian4 I did a continuity test this morning and turns out that the wire had burnt even more than I thought, so when pulling out this wire it reveals a soldered connection to the thin black wire and if I join a wire from one side of the pad to the thin black wire I get a constant beep indicating the circuits complete.
However still no joy with the 12v adapter.
I need to test the seats before I put them back together. What if I hooked it up to a car battery?
The pad is starting to look knackered with all the attempts I've had at getting it to work, as Ant recommended I may buy one from a Chinese seller and just use that as a replacement!
However still no joy with the 12v adapter.
I need to test the seats before I put them back together. What if I hooked it up to a car battery?
The pad is starting to look knackered with all the attempts I've had at getting it to work, as Ant recommended I may buy one from a Chinese seller and just use that as a replacement!
Thankfully the zed doesn't get driven everyday now which means that I don't have to rush things to completion The seats you got looked really smart mate, I'm sure you will sort your heated driver seat mate ... I know she's your daily drive.
I still have my new seats still sitting in the bedroom (along with a hundred other bits
I think the adapters were £45 quid each roughly from BMW Soper. I'll find out for you the exact price and P/N later today.
if you have a circuit now, it will warm up provided you have enough power from your supply.
The heater pads from china are better then OEM, I have them in my seat and my wife has OEM, mine hots up faster and is hotter, they are so easy to fit as you can cut them to size.Thanks Pete. That article was really very helpful I was referring to it a lot, getting the seat out was easy but the wiring etc I'm not very good with! I did put a test meter between the two points - one where the brown wire leaves the seat base and the other in the middle where the wire had previously burnt and I can see that there is a complete circuit but it's odd that I'm not feeling the seats heat up when applying power. I just used an old 12v adapter along with a couple of wires with some crocodile clips and then connected those to the wires coming out the seat base.
I may well buy a new heater pad but want to avoid it if I can as I don't like using aftermarket items from China especially when there's a potential for my arse to catch fire.
Well after soldering it one last time, continuity test shows a complete circuit, connected a 12v car battery to the two wires and sure enough its heating up now.
I've ordered replacements from Malaysia and will keep them spare but as both seats are working it'll be good to get the drivers seat back in the car. I've buried the wire deep in the foam and everything looks okay. I really hope that the repair will last, if not, I'll probably end up replacing the pads on both seats. Car is immobile at the moment and whilst it's not a big issue the estimated delivery for the pad is mid November! Can't wait an entire month to drive the zed!!
I replaced the seat bushes whilst they were out. The rocking on the seats was minimal but still present on the drivers side. The condition of the bushes was the best I've ever seen in a zed seat rail, in the two other seat rails that I've seen the stock bushes had completely disintegrated!
I'll put everything back together tomorrow and it'll go in the car on Friday or Saturday.
I've ordered replacements from Malaysia and will keep them spare but as both seats are working it'll be good to get the drivers seat back in the car. I've buried the wire deep in the foam and everything looks okay. I really hope that the repair will last, if not, I'll probably end up replacing the pads on both seats. Car is immobile at the moment and whilst it's not a big issue the estimated delivery for the pad is mid November! Can't wait an entire month to drive the zed!!
I replaced the seat bushes whilst they were out. The rocking on the seats was minimal but still present on the drivers side. The condition of the bushes was the best I've ever seen in a zed seat rail, in the two other seat rails that I've seen the stock bushes had completely disintegrated!
I'll put everything back together tomorrow and it'll go in the car on Friday or Saturday.
Been looking in on this thread now and then and I must say Faheem, you are very patient, especially for a young chap .
I too have wrestled with those hog rings and was very close to having a bonfire with the father in laws seat.
Pleased you're getting somewhere now with your new seats.
.I too have wrestled with those hog rings and was very close to having a bonfire with the father in laws seat
.Pleased you're getting somewhere now with your new seats.
you are becoming an expert in all these Zed things now Faheem..
Frustrating at first when things seem to be going pear shaped, but then when its sorted you get a sense of satisfaction knowing that you have done it yourself.. great work
Frustrating at first when things seem to be going pear shaped, but then when its sorted you get a sense of satisfaction knowing that you have done it yourself.. great work
I retrofitted heated seats to our E36 323i convertible last year.
1. Hog ring plier kit (with 100 or so rings) was circa £20. You cannot reuse the hog rings, they have to be cut off. Take care to get all the bits out or you could have short circuit problems in the future.
2. I used new BMW seat heaters, new switches (which control things) and a BMW wiring loom (are available for retrofit).
Not the cheapest way to do things, but it is OEM standard.
1. Hog ring plier kit (with 100 or so rings) was circa £20. You cannot reuse the hog rings, they have to be cut off. Take care to get all the bits out or you could have short circuit problems in the future.
2. I used new BMW seat heaters, new switches (which control things) and a BMW wiring loom (are available for retrofit).
Not the cheapest way to do things, but it is OEM standard.
bold statement alert !
I reused mine.... and didn't cut any of them off..... as in the write up
You can spread them to remove using a pair of external circlip pliers. That what I did, then easily reusable.
Tony
Tony
Your article refers to 3 hog rings at the front of the seat, there were at least 30 on each of my seats, no way they could all be reached with plyers. Some you could hardly see as they were "buried" in the foam. Whilst the E36 seat is likely larger and a different design, the hog rings tie the leather to the vertical and horizontal tie bars embedded in the seat foam giving it it's "pleated" shape. Maybe the Z3 seat is different to the E36 seat, I have not had experience of doing these as my Z3 and MC have factory heated seats. If my experience is of no help, so be it.
What is a "bold statement alert" anyway??
Cut it out guys.