Good afternoon everyone! The other day a buddy of mine and I were out in my car. It was a rainy cool day and the seat heaters were on (driver and passenger). We drove the vehicle for about 15min and got out, then I realized that a hole was burned into the passenger seat under where my friend had been sitting. Has anyone had problems with the seat heaters burning the upholstery? I have 2004 MCS with 35k miles, black and grey two-tone cloth interior. The hole is small, about the size of a pen in diameter. I've ruled out all other options that I can think of as he didn't have anything flammable in his pocket, or sharp and the vehicle is a smoking free car. Thanks in advance.

 

Yikes, I've never heard of that. I'd certainly quit using the seat heaters, you don't want to start your interior on fire!

 

I've got the fake leather seats and the driver's side gets danged hot after about 10 or 15 minutes and I have to turn it off. I'm not really surprised at your situation at all. Hope you can find a solution. There is a very fine line between warm and too hot, sounds like a E=I*R situation with too much I in which case you'd expect a fuse to blow.

 

They get hot....but hot enough to have holes?! I would ecpect you froliend to have SERIOUS BURNS on his rear if the seat heater caused it....and maybe melting of the fabric, stuck to his pants!!
Some r50/53 seatheaters did run very warm, but never to my knowledge caused dammage, it was just "too warm on you butt"....mini added a resistor to mant to cool them down a bit...

 

So I went out today. It's definitely the seat heater.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97gVl...ature=youtu.be

 

My heated seats were unbearably hot. My dealer fixed that problem at no charge during warranty. I think there is a service bulletin out.

 

I have seen a few reported but nothing to suggest that it is a common fault.

 

i think its an intermittent issue they had. i i think i see these posts maybe once a year if that. dealer Might actually fix it out of warranty . worth a phone call at least.

 

Dang, saw the glow! Cigar lighters glow like that. You have a malfunction without a doubt. I was prepared to accuse your passenger of spending too much time in line at Taco Johns but I withdraw my jape.

 

Prior to specing out our R53, I had read of several instances in Europe where the seat heaters had malfunctioned and the MINI went up or down in flames. Not a good endorsement of the design. So that option was eliminated. Hence in its place sheep skins or the occasional bean burrito with cheese have sufficed.

 

Well unfortunately my car is out of warranty so I don't quite know what my options are as to how I can get this fixed. My concern is what if I had been out of the car with it warming up and someone wasn't there to extinguish the flame? My interior could have been destroyed...

 

Just reach under the seat and UNPLUG it.
sounds like the wire got a short... hence the FULL power for the FULL seat heater is getting released in a very short junction...just like an electric lighter.
This far out of warranty, kinda doubt it will be fixed for free...might be worth asking,,MINI might want the part back to look at it...but the heating pad is very $$..so much so if you want to fix it...going with an aftermarket seat heater mat would be suggested IMO.

 

I have heard of it , and it is quite rare , but not for a while. Its definite a short in the seat.


Here is a link about the other owner talking about it:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/first-gen...ater-fire.html


When you read,
The add- on adapter wire to heat up & cool down the seat:
Cooler seat:

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/61100152025/ES159245/

Warmer seat :
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/61100152026/ES159246/

**But that's not the problem here, I would stop using the heated seat button on that side ASAP. You don't want it to ignite.

The only fix would be to replace the seat bottom. It looks like you have space gray cloth sport seats.

Picture of you seat type:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-interior.jpg

Here is the part number:

52107155058 production -7/2004
52107132568 production 7/2004 - 1/2005

Thanks and I hope that helps.

 

Just had the center of my passenger seat burn a hole through due to this issue. Posted full writeup and picture in another seat burn thread.

 

Hi ECS,

I just got my Adapter Wire For Cooler Seat from you. I looked under the seat and there's a bunch of wires. Which one is for the heater?

Thanks in advance!

 

See "06 drivers seat heat problem" 11-30-2015. According to my dealer, the complete seat has to be replaced. The heating element is molded to the foam. If the element is removed from the foam, it tears up the foam so that there isn't enough to give support to the seat (back or bottom). The price: $600- 800 for the seat and installation. If you order it for DIY, it is considered an "electrical item" and can't be returned. I pulled the fuse out which makes both seats inoperative. The value of an '06 is such that it my not be worth it unless you are keeping the car for awhile.

 

Its here on the PDF linked on post #14 Its goes to the wire which goes into the seat, white plug and its goes in the middle of the original wires as a add on.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-or-cold.html