How effective are your heated seats?

[rand008]

I'm in the market for an 09 or 10 35i, and for some reason, all of the cars with blue and exclusive ivory interior (the combo I prefer) seem to have been ordered with out heated seats.

Apart from being baffling, this puts me in a predicament. I feel heated seats are a must have in a modern roadster, but the heated seats in my previous BMW's have not been particularly effective compared to other cars I've owned.

So, how much do your heated seats extend you driving days and at what tempurature do they become ineffective?

Thanks for the help and I look forward to joining the community as a "real" member soon.

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by rand008

I'm in the market for an 09 or 10 35i, and for some reason, all of the cars with blue and exclusive ivory interior (the combo I prefer) seem to have been ordered with out heated seats.

Apart from being baffling, this puts me in a predicament. I feel heated seats are a must have in a modern roadster, but the heated seats in my previous BMW's have not been particularly effective compared to other cars I've owned.

So, how much do your heated seats extend you driving days and at what tempurature do they become ineffective?

Thanks for the help and I look forward to joining the community as a "real" member soon.

I agree I would never buy a roadster without heated seats. I use mine every winter morning here in chilly SoCal. In the afternoon its top down and soaking up the sun. At level 3 they are warm to my back in about 2-3 minutes, then I cycle them back to level 2 or 1. I find the heating capability is comparable to my wifes 2003 E46 vert.

During the cooler days with the top down they are great. I've used them top down to the low 40's. No complaints here.

[RichysBlk35i]

I'm in So California also. I run with my top down many times when it is in the 40's and 50's. If I did not have the heated seats I most likely would not run with the top down in the winter. The heaters are VERY effective and well worth having. As was mentioned, they heat up quickly and offer great warmth. I usually run in the 2 or 3 setting in the winter months. And the heaters do heat the entire seat, bottom and full backrest. I love driving on a brisk cool morning or night with the seat heated and enjoying the ride!
If you can find a Z4 with them, that's the way to go.

[jparnes1]

No offense Herr K, but I scoff, scoff I tell you, when you say SoCal is chilly. Up here in the Great White North, we know what chilly really is.
As far as the effectiveness of heated seats goes, I've driven at 35 degrees, seats on, windows up and heater blasting, maybe a hat, maybe not Rather cozy, if I say so myself!

[RichysBlk35i]

I lived in Pennsylvania for many years, I DO know what cold is. And large snow drifts and icy roads. Thank God I live in Southern California. It is true, our temps here are warm all year round, compared to where I came from!! Would have loved those Z4 heated seats in PA.

[cdeslandes]

Very effective.
Mine have the following setting: Hot, Fry & Fukushima.

[timwhayden]

I have an '11 and the high setting is too warm for my backside and have to use medium, so yes they are very effective. If you find the perfect car but doesn't have heated seats you can always add them after purchase. I did that to a Boxster I use to have and they worked nicely. Can get them installed at a lot of upholstery shops for probably $400-$600 depending on area.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

Very effective.
Mine have the following setting: Hot, Fry & Fukushima.

Mine too.

[Blu Yea]

Same here. Works great.

[STOOF]

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

Very effective.
Mine have the following setting: Hot, Fry & Fukushima.

hahah

yeah i cant keep it higher than 1 its too hot lmfao

[ChuckB]

Originally Posted by STOOF

hahah

yeah i cant keep it higher than 1 its too hot lmfao

+1, anything higher than Setting 1 is too warm unless we get down below 20F, then it is setting 2 for 5 minutes and then crank it down. They warm up very quickly, like 30 seconds.

[Jayda]

Wow, I actually think that the heated seats could be MUCH warmer. In comparison to Audis and Hondas I've had with heated seats, the BMW heated seats leave something to be desired. I am cold by nature and I really like a warm heated seat (my fanny would actually be a little red with the seat on high in an Audi). Apparently my opinion is not shared by others! Still something is better than nothing in terms of a heated seat!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

On cool fall days even in your State you will miss the heated seats if you don't get them. I recommend you do get them.

[az34]

i'd used the heated seats once they works flawlessly.

[rand008]

Thanks for the feedback! I'm keeping heated seats on my must have list.

I still don't understand why they aren't standard on a roaster at this price range and why there are so many 09's in the blue/ivory combo with out them. I'm guessing the combo was a pre-spec'd BMW launch build and they cheaped out on the options.

I just don't see someone upgrading to the special exclusive interior package and not paying a bit extra for heated. Especially since all the cars I see on the market with another exterior color and that interior have heated.

The hunt continues.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by rand008

Thanks for the feedback! I'm keeping heated seats on my must have list.

I still don't understand why they aren't standard on a roaster at this price range and why there are so many 09's in the blue/ivory combo with out them. I'm guessing the combo was a pre-spec'd BMW launch build and they cheaped out on the options.

I just don't see someone upgrading to the special exclusive interior package and not paying a bit extra for heated. Especially since all the cars I see on the market with another exterior color and that interior have heated.

The hunt continues.

Correct. I believe the 35i launch config was blue/ivory but missing a few options. I dug up this thread with a good interior pic. http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=314607
No heated seats or iDrive. It may not have had premium stereo, a deal breaker for me. I ended up with one of the first non-launch 35i models at my dealer.

[HerrK]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

No offense Herr K, but I scoff, scoff I tell you, when you say SoCal is chilly. Up here in the Great White North, we know what chilly really is.

Yes I know but this is the time of year we warmer climates get to rub it in. Been there done that - grew up and lived in northern Indiana, 77 days in a row below freezing, yada, yada, yada. I know what cold is, but in all seriousness it does get into the 20's and 30's at night 15-20 miles inland from the coast and then it warms up nicely in the day. San Diego. LA, San Fran official weather reporting stations are right on the coast which always report moderate night temps seldom below 55° F due to the ocean influence.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by ChuckB

+1, anything higher than Setting 1 is too warm unless we get down below 20F, then it is setting 2 for 5 minutes and then crank it down. They warm up very quickly, like 30 seconds.

+2. I don't know how others manage, the seat settings 2 and 3 are really hot and I usually just use #1 to warm up the seat before turning it off. During winters I wear an overcoat and the warmer is still effective through that thick fabric.

[STOOF]

The heated steering wheel is great too.

[mstevens]

Here in New Hampshire I can't stand to use the heated seats when set to High, which is the equivalent of "char". If it's cold (below -10F or -22C) I'll usually leave my seat on Low, but above that even Low is too much once the seat is warmed. My wife usually goes with Low all the time below freezing. The heated seats in my Z4 and her X3 are equivalent.

The heated steering wheel is something I'll no longer order a car without.

[35iDriver]

Didn't get them, didn't need them, haven't missed them, live in desert.

[cool4re]

I have them on my Z4 and on a chilly southern California morning they work great until the car heater warms the car. I don't have them on my X3 and it definitely makes a difference the first few minutes. After the car is warm, I turn off the seat warmers because even on setting 1 they get too hot.