heated seats?

[sKunk]

any options (besides putting in aftermarket heating elements in the stock seats) for heated seats?  from an e36 or something maybe? i dont recall and e30 ever having heated seats? (i may very well be wrong).

gets pretty shitty here in the winter, and heated seats would be amazing. thanks for any info.

[dude8383]

E30's did have heated seats as optional equipment and the heated elements do come up for sale occasionally...

You'd need the complete wiring harness as well, meaning you'd have to pull the carpet to run everything

[DesktopDave]

Yep, our e30s had an optional heater setup...here's the diagram at RealOEM  I've seen them in 'verts but I'm sure they were available in most other models.  Very rare option, like the rear sunshade & glass sunroof.

[YetiX]

PM LongTallSally.  He can tell you all about oem heated seats.  He's in Germany right now and really needs them . . .

[longtallsally]

PM LongTallSally.  He can tell you all about oem heated seats.  He's in Germany right now and really needs them . . .

Funny...

Anyway, yes, I am suffering over here with the larries that designed these wonderful cars.  So I went to a yard and pulled everything needed which is:

- elements from the seats (upper and lower)
- full wiring harness (this all goes under the carpet)
- switches
- relay

OK, since I'm trying to see if it is possible to repair the OEM elements I've got, I've not undergone putting the whole shlameel in yet.  So, here is what I know:

1) The OEM location for power in the fuse block is position 16
2) You will plug in the harness to the junction block on the lower left hand side of the firewall (just to the left of the steering column)
3) You will also ground right there at the grounding post (can't miss it)
4) You will install a relay in the OEM position (K5)

So here is where it gets wonky and I'm not certain what I'll need to do.  If you want OEM there may be a couple hiccups:

- I don't think there is a terminal on the other side of slot 16 in the fuse block despite there being one side that is powered.
- I don't think there are terminals in any of the slots for the OEM relay location (K5).
- I've not verified if the post to the junction block under the dash for the OEM position is hot or if it is even there.  This is very similar to the retrofit of cruise control; there is the opening for the OEM plug in the junction block, but no posts, thus forcing you to wire it elsewhere.  This is the block I'm speaking of and each plug in unique to avoid incorrect wiring.  Sorry, I don't know which one is for the heated seat as I've not gotten in on my car to look, and I had a helper actually pull the plug for me in the yard.





So with this in mind, doing the wiring in the cab is a joke.  However, getting juice, and safe juice, to the switches and elements may take a bit more work if I am correct that none of the relay terminals are populated, or position 16 in the fuse block.

If there is a post that is ignition hot in the OEM position on the junction block, I may go ahead and wire it to the OEM location in the fuse block.  This will require getting a couple extra "plugs" that will go into both the other half of the fuse and to each of the 4 terminals for the relay.  I think this is #19 in this diagram:



This of course means pulling the fuse block apart and wiring under there with the obvious benefit of extremely clean wiring.

If the post for heated seats on the junction block is empty or not powered, then I most likely will either find another one, or use the auxiliary power block (the one right next to the fuse block) for power and then put in my own relay and such right there at the seat switch location like I did for the rear fog light.

I hope that helps out.

[longtallsally]

OK, I checked my car just now on a quick drive to the gym and sure enough I remembered WRONG.  There is a relay in K5 AND a fuse in position 16.  WOOHOO!  Maybe I'm going to get lucky and this will be plug and play.

[DesktopDave]

Way to go.  Do you know how far out you are on the bleeding edge of e30 swap tech?

[longtallsally]

Way to go.  Do you know how far out you are on the bleeding edge of e30 swap tech?

I got spoiled having a few 325is' previously, and now I want all those toys.  And when you sit bored in Germany a good amount of time thanks to crappy weather, it gives you time to study wiring diagrams and the like.  You should see my project plan...

[DesktopDave]

I'll just wait for the updates.  You keep it lively 'round here.