Interior work / Heated seats

Post Mon Feb 16, 2015 6:00 pm

I'm looking at getting some work done on my grey/silver motorsport leather interior which would include some minor repair, re dye and adding heated seat elements.

Does anyone know a company that could carry out this work based in West London?

Post Tue Feb 17, 2015 11:14 am

Last night I started looking at my options for adding the heated seat elements”¦.

The car has all the wiring loom, switches in place and was fully working when I had my old seats in the car. I stripped the old seats to inspect the elements thinking that I would swap them in to the newer seats but they seem to be no good as I can see some burn marks.

I have had a quote from Cotsworld for new elements and the price is just over £350 for some OEM elements.

Looking on ebay/amazon you can get aftermarket kits (see below link), has anyone tried to using the aftermarket elements but modifying it so that it uses the existing OEM wiring loom and switches?

Whats peoples thoughts on this?

Post Wed Feb 18, 2015 7:11 pm

Anyone??

Post Wed Feb 18, 2015 7:26 pm

There's a better set than those available. Once again, a retro fit. However, the buttons are similar to the originals. They are slightly more expensive. I'll try and send you the link tomorrow.

Regarding fitting - I personally wouldn't have the skill to take the seat apart, but if you can do this, then go for it.

Post Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:08 pm

Heated seat elements will work the same way for genuine heated seats and aftermarket. So don't see why you couldn't just replace the mat and wire into original switch wiring so will look oe

Post Wed Feb 18, 2015 8:19 pm

Its not that bad a job tbh, i did a DIY refurb on my seats, it was very very very time consuming, took ages!,

In regards to fitting elements get some hog rings and hog ring pliers, to remove simple enough and a pair of needle nose pliers/flathead...

its fairly simple to change the elements over I did mine as they were burnt out, the centre and base comes apart from the frame, it wraps around the frame at the top and bottom, the bottom half wraps around the back part of the frame and the front just attaches to the thigh support which I didnt touch as I could remove it, then undo one side and the element should be accessible if cabby seats if sports seats then its from the bottom iirc, slide the elements out and reinsert,

Heres mine which I did last summer,

Post Thu Feb 19, 2015 10:17 am

These are the ones another zone has used and recommended. I think the switches look pretty good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180874649935? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Post Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:08 pm

Gert_8 wrote:These are the ones another zone has used and recommended. I think the switches look pretty good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/180874649935? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Thanks for the information guys, got a few options to go with now!

Im going to order the above kit and try and match the elements with the current oem loom and switches if not ill fit the entire kit as it looks oem.

I have been quoted £350 to have the elements fitted, whole interior reconolised, including seats, leather doors cards, front leather console, steering wheel and knob.

Post Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:00 pm

Cool. Look forward to the updates.

Post Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:08 pm

Who's that quote from?

I'm looking at getting mine done too

Post Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:28 pm

Sounds like a fair price.
Depending on how many breaks the wiring has you can repair it, I did this on 3 breaks in the heated seats on my E39 and they are working fine

Post Mon Feb 23, 2015 12:08 pm

DanThe wrote:Sounds like a fair price.
Depending on how many breaks the wiring has you can repair it, I did this on 3 breaks in the heated seats on my E39 and they are working fine

I was thinking about that, is there a way to test the elements without connecting it back to the car. Save going back and forth from my garage?

could i connect directly to a battery? (+/-)