Subject: more details Author: DavidC (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 12933 posts Posted on: 2003-12-27 23:05:44

To install the heating elements, the leather must be removed at least enough to pull out the foam cushion. Since my driver's seat was somewhat sunken and compressed from 100,000 miles of driving, I decided to also replace the foam cushions in that seat ($88 for the bottom and $88 for the back at my local BMW dealer).

I can't see how anyone would do this installation without having to remove the seats. I chose to go to an automobile upholstery shop, which is something I highly recommend after seeing what's involved -- lots of little pieces and hooks and special tools to make the work easier.

It took about 2.5 hours to remove the driver's seat, replace the cushions, install the heating elements and reinstall the seat back into the car. I took LOTS of photos during the entire process so I'll be able to show you every step once I post the pics.

The rear seats should be much easier/faster to install since they aren't as complicated as the front seats, which have motors and buttons, etc.

The leather is held in place around the seat with metal hooks. The hooks are removed and the leather is pulled away. The seams in the seat bottom and back leather have long metal rods that are secured to the foam cushions by more "hog" hooks.

The heating elements that I used are thin wires sandwiched in a layer of foam with a sticky-tape backing. You simply remove the backing and apply it to the foam cushion. The purpose is to secure the heating elements so that they don't move around when you sit on them and get pinched up and short out. If you ever need to replace the heating elements (they have a 3-year/36,000-mile warranty), all you need to do is remove the cushions and peel/scrape off the heating element foam layer.

The seat heating kit is made by Check Corporation and is available through IPD, USA.

I can't think of anything that would prevent you from successfully installing these heating kits in any vehicle.

David Cecil
Lexington, KY
Titanium silver '01 750iL, 92k miles
Oxford green '97 740iL, 184k miles
Alpine white '92 750iL, 95k miles (for sale)
Charcoal gray '86 735i, 101k miles (for sale)

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