I have an ’06 R50, (build date 01/06). The other morning I turned on the drivers seat heat and felt a hot spot on my lower back. Found that the heater burned a hole in the seat back about the size of a pencil point. I haven’t yet contacted my Mini Dealer about this problem. I plan on talking to my upholsterer first. I pulled the fuse. I thinking of reporting it to the NTSB for safety notification purposes. Has anyone else had this problem lately?

 

Yes it's not super common, but it has happened more than a few times for some members on here. I've linked to a few threads for you below:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...eat-cover.html
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...o-kill-me.html

 

This has happened in the past, people had elements popping through the seat. Some have gotten hot and shorted out. Its rare but does happen. Either you can replace the seat pad or disconnect the heater element or pull that fuse.


If you need anything thing else let me know. I work and own these cars.

 

It's not passive aggressive at all. Our vendors that make and stock parts for and support our aging R53s thankfully stay active on these forums to help with what people ask and to give advice and direct them towards replacement/aftermarket parts they sell if need be. It's a win/win for the forum members and for them. We get help and advice from seasoned vets, they get customers when it works out. Pelican, ECS, WMW, ect..

Chill out.

I'm glad they come on here since people aren't always as active on the R53 boards as they used to be.

 

+1

to the op...
You should DISABLE the seat heater ASAP...pull the fuse or unplug it...
the mat under the cover, which is glued to the seat, has a wire/filament that is a resistor...years of flexing can cause it it break...and cause a spot with VERY high resistance, leading to a hot spot, that can BURN a hole in the seat cover, or worse, cause a fire.
It is fixable if you really LOVE heated seats, but it will cost you some $$...
the seat will either have to be replaced with a known good one, or have the seat-cover removed, a new mat glued on, and recovered...but go this far, IMO, and you should have the shop replace the foam, or get a good set of used gen2 seats...

 

Check fuse.
Otherwise, the heater coil in the seat is likely gone.

You just remove the old one and put a new one in its place.