BMW Seat Heater Dies: Quick Fix or Hidden Problem?

Hey there! I had the exact same problem with my 2015 BMW 5 Series Hybrid last winter. The heating mat in the driver's seat was failing intermittently, showing error codes just like yours. The symptoms were identical, barely any heat and constant shutoffs. Took it to my garage where they diagnosed a defective heating element in the seat mat. The wiring had deteriorated and created a break in the circuit. It wasn't just a fuse or connection issue, the entire heating mat needed replacement. This was actually a serious repair since they had to remove the seat upholstery to access and replace the heating element. It wasn't just a quick fix, took them about half a day to complete the job properly. The good news is that once fixed, it's been working perfectly for the past year. My advice would be to get it checked soon, these heating mat failures tend to get worse over time and could potentially cause other electrical issues if left unaddressed. Hope this helps with your decision!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's super helpful as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with on my car. I'm glad to hear you got it sorted out properly. Since you had it fixed a while ago, do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? Also, have you had any other heating-related problems pop up since the fix? Just want to make sure I'm prepared for what's ahead!

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, I actually got the seat heater fixed last week! You'll be happy to know it cost me 390€ for the complete repair, including the new heating mat and labor. The mechanics had to take apart the whole seat to replace the defective mat, but it was worth every penny. I can tell you the difference is like night and day, the seat heater now works perfectly! No more unusual shutoffs or weak heating. It heats up quickly and stays consistently warm, just like when the car was new. Haven't had a single issue since the repair. I was worried about other potential heating problems too, but everything's been working great. The mechanics did a thorough check of the entire heating system while they were at it, and everything else looked fine. Honestly, I wish I'd gotten it fixed sooner instead of putting up with the faulty heater for so long. If you're experiencing the same symptoms, I'd definitely recommend getting it sorted. The repair cost might seem a bit steep, but it's totally worth it for a properly working seat heater. Let me know if you need any other details!

Thanks a bunch! I actually went ahead and got my seat heater fixed yesterday. What a relief! Not gonna lie, I was super nervous going to a new mechanic after my last bad experience, but it turned out great. They found the same issue, a faulty heating mat. The repair took about 4 hours and cost me a bit more than yours at 450€, but I'm not complaining because it's working perfectly now. It's such a nice change to have a properly working seat heater again. The mechanic also doubled checked all the other heating components while they were at it, and everything else looked good. Glad I didn't wait any longer to get it fixed, it was starting to drive me crazy with those unusual shutoffs! Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it gave me the confidence to get it sorted. Now I can finally enjoy my drives without worrying about the heater cutting out every few minutes!