Heating standard seats

[Mike68]

Has anyone added aftermarket heating elements to standard Z3 seats?

The seats are mint as the car is very low milege and since doing the seat tilt mod I find them perfectly comfortable, so I'm reluctant to go down the route of fitting (pricey) sports seats that wil likely be in worse shape.

There seem to be plenty of kits for doing this, but I'd like to fit standard switches to control them if possible and the kits all seem to come with a single twin control switch.

Not too worried about stripping the seats as I've redone an old Mustang's seats in the past (managed to hog ring myself to the seat, quite hurty).

Any advice welcomed. Don't know if it makes any difference, but my Zed is a 2001 3.0.

 

[Mike68]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rectangl...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Would this do the job?

I assume there is wiring for heated seats under the carpet somewhere.

 

[Sean d]

If I where you I would just buy the after market pads, because of the design you can cut them to shape, I did this with my sport seats, then source OEM switches as the loom is in place for them and they will sit correctly in the dash.

 

[Dino D]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rectangle-rocker-switch-seat-heater-2-seat-heated-seat-kit-life-time-warranty-UK/180874649935?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Would this do the job?

I assume there is wiring for heated seats under the carpet somewhere.

As Sean say law really. I’ve bought something similar and put them into my Sparco seats. They work better than the little wire filaments that BMW borrowed from the 19th century which break. These heat more evenly although I would get the longest pad you can find to go as high up the backrest as you can.

The car should have the wiring in it under the seat so you’ll just need the OEM switches for the dash.

 

[Mike68]

Sounds like the way to go.

Don't suppose anybody knows were I can get hold of some facelift switches?

 

[t-tony]

Sounds like the way to go.

Don't suppose anybody knows were I can get hold of some facelift switches?

@spurs fan in a coupe , @Synclare , @mrscalex

Tony.

 

[Sean d]

This is very similar to what I got and they are better than OEM
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Seat...06&rk=1&rkt=1&&_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226

 

[Mike68]

Already tried Andy for OEM, no luck.

Sean, how hard was it to marry the aftermarket switches up to the existing wiring? Did they fit without savaging the centre console?

I'm happy wielding spanners, but a bit more nervous of electrics.

 

[Sean d]

Already tried Andy for OEM, no luck.

Sean, how hard was it to marry the aftermarket switches up to the existing wiring? Did they fit without savaging the centre console?

I'm happy wielding spanners, but a bit more nervous of electrics.

The only changes you need to make are where the new pads meet the exhisting loom and its only two wires, doesn't matter which way around they go as you are only creating a circuit, the multiplugs for the switches are tucked behind the heather controls, I took the stereo out and hooked them with a welding wire after a few attempts at fishing around

 

[oldcarman]

The honeycomb style mesh is the best because if you should happen to get a break the wiring surrounding it will still receive power and you won't notice any difference in efficiency. I have the same set as @ Sean d to install next spring. JIM