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DISCUSSION => Interior => Topic started by: Royalratch on March 26, 2008, 06:16:33 AM

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on March 26, 2008, 06:16:33 AM

Hello all.

I'm trying to wire my OEM Heated Seat Loom and switches to aftermarket elements that I want to add into my seats.

Basically, the modern elements heat up faster and are more durable but I want to use the E30 loom and switches for originality.

The E30 Loom has 4 wires per seat, 2 per element (back rest and seat base). As you all know, the E30 switches have two settings, warm and hot.

I can only guess that each seat is fed is 2x live and 2 x earth (ground).

The colours are:

1 x Yellow/Red
1 x Yellow
1 X Red
1 x Brown

Does anyone know which colur does what?

Much appreciated.

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 26, 2008, 07:46:12 AM

sorry i can't help but this is interesting. i could use information like that, let us know the answer!

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on March 26, 2008, 08:05:08 AM

LOL! I'm asking you guys!

What tests would I do wotha voltage meter to find out?

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: agreen on March 26, 2008, 03:03:09 PM

Ratch all at e30zone say hi ! loool.

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on March 27, 2008, 07:54:49 AM

I guess I'm looking for 12V from 2 of the wires in the feed loom and then the other 2 must be ground?

There's no neutral or other funny current use in this loom?

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: hoevesruperd on March 27, 2008, 08:16:44 AM

-

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: ak96ss on March 27, 2008, 04:00:50 PM

 This is why I went with the full aftermarket install. The switches don't really look all that out of place.

And, of course, I neglected to take a picture of the final product, and my interior is out.

What you can do is use a multimeter to test the contacts coming out of the switch (at the bottom of the seats, I reckon) and see what voltages you get.

I'm guessing the wire colors you posted are for the aftermarket elements? No wiring diagram with them? What brand are they?

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on March 28, 2008, 02:59:59 AM

Those colours are from the E30 loom leading upto the seats. I want to match those colours to the correct wires on the aftermarket elements as they also only have 4 wires and are 12V, just like the E30.

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: ak96ss on March 28, 2008, 03:59:15 AM

Ah, ok. I didn't use the factory harness at all. It looks like there is only one ground:

(http://lh6.google.com/2006TopBanana/R-zAAhpzldI/AAAAAAAADNs/egZbBoa66Vs/s800/SeatHeater.jpg)

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on March 28, 2008, 05:25:59 AM

You are the man! Many thanks dude. I'll just get the mirror info from the element supplier and I'm laughing!

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: CePa318IS on March 28, 2008, 06:30:31 AM

this probably wont help you, but heres a writeup I had saved as a link for when I do my heated seat install.  I does not have much in terms of wiring help, just what you will plug into.
 
http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/367372

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on March 28, 2008, 07:57:40 AM

Cool. I did this install in my Coupe a few years back with the BMW kit ($500!) elements too. Easy on Cabrio Seats, real pain on vertical stitch Sports Seats.

This excercise is for my Touring and the trimmers said they can fit the elements but I want to use an OEM loom and switches. Which should be fine as the modern system is 12V, has 2 settings and the same loom/feed layout. In fact, it's a german brand I think they are / were the OEM supplier.

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on March 29, 2008, 03:39:14 PM

Hello again.

So, I have the modern elements and I have the E30 heated loom diagram as above.

What tests do I need to do on the element end to make sure it's okay?

1) I can either use the new loom and tweak it work with E30 switches

OR

2) Use the E30 loom and make it work with the modern elements.

Which way is best - sorry, just not super hot on electrics.

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on April 16, 2008, 02:00:14 PM

Bump?

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on April 24, 2008, 10:45:44 AM

?

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: ak96ss on April 24, 2008, 10:55:45 AM

I'd use the E30 loom as far as the seats, then just crimp on the correct connectors for the new elements.

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on April 24, 2008, 10:57:31 AM

Yeah, but how do I know what wire to what wire?

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: ak96ss on April 24, 2008, 11:04:03 AM

So I guess you didn't get the wiring diagram from the supplier?

Title: Heated Seats Modification
Post by: Royalratch on April 24, 2008, 03:47:49 PM

Not yet - the installers didn't give it to me with the seats they did for me.

I'm trying to track them down.