Can't get my seat heater to stay on!! :(
 

My drivers side seat heater refuses to stay on. Sometimes when it's 10F outside though, it will stay on for around 5-10 min. I checked the wiring underneath the seat, looks fine. Connections on the switch are fine. Added dielectric grease to the pins too. Nothing works! Passenger side has no problems at all. What else and where else can I check??

Heeeelllppp it's cold in Chicago!

same here except on my r55!

Same. R53. I thought I smelled burning plastic a couple days ago on mine. When im tearing it apart this weekend to do some other work ill see what I can find under my seat.

Usually if the heater turns off, the matt under the seat cover has failed....the circuits wear from bending...overheat...then the resistance change causes it to shutoff...a few folks have gotten burnmarks on the seat...of even pants in a tiny spot...where the circirt has failed...
Real solution is to take the seat cover off...and replace the matt.

Yes,

I have seen a few burn the seat, most were from the Gen 1 MINI. I think its dues to sharp pinpoint pressure to the heating element and over time they can break. Gen 1 I believe the pad and the element are one.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...eat-cover.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...seat-burn.html

Check the connections under the seat and rear upper of the seat where both wire harness make it to the main pad.

Gen 1 Part of the seat pads.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/n/h/230.png


Gen 2 , separate elements

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/z/o/228.png

Thanks