Seems like a few people have had problems but no real answers, I was wondering though, without me trying and breaking it can i just pull off the button for the seat heaters straight up? Or do i need to take a whole bunch of crap apart just to get to it, I believe i might have spilled something just a little but fell so perfectly now my drivers side heater is on full blast always (just a side note, they get STUPID HOT when left on) just wondering if i cleaned the area would that fix it or is it the swtich/relay the problem now? Thanks for the help! 2002 mini S

 

Does no one know this? There is no way this question stumped all the people on this forum? really the first and easiest question is can i just directly pull off the seat heater turn on/off button? Lets start there.

Thanks again for your help.

 

I know the housing itself as a whole pops off. I don't know about the individual buttons.

 

I looked at the part on realoem.com and it looks like that the buttons are part of the whole switch, meaning it's all one unit. Normally if it was removable then they would have the part listed (or exploded view) by itself. Sometimes this isn't the case tho. Dumb question, but, have you tried gently pulling on the buttons to see if they come off?

 

I think you can only remove the housing as a whole. I would do that, and douse it liberally with contact cleaner or isopropyl alcohol and let it dry.

It's really strange that a dirty/stuck switch would default the seats to "full high", because normally, holding the switch down constantly (which a stuck switch would be emulating) would turn the seats "off".

 

Have you tried calling a dealer and asking the service department?
I've found my local dealer (MINI of Peabody, in Mass.) to be very helpful.

 

Just looked in my Bentley manual, and the whole switch block (with mirror controls and seat heater switches) comes out as a unit. It suggests using a plastic prying tool to lift up one side of the block. They don't mention the individual switches within the block. I second ScottRiqui's idea of spraying the removed unit with contact cleaner or rubbing alcohol to clean it out. Good luck!

 

Sounds like a plan! Thanks a lot guys, no I havent tried pulling on them i would smack myself if i broke it! I am in Fargo ND and the closest Dealer is 4 hours away so its a little rough.