BMW Seat Heaters Failing: Quick Fix or Major Repair?

I had the exact same problem with my 2016 BMW 5 Series 520d last winter. Initially thought it was just a minor glitch, but it turned out the heating mat inside the seat was defective. The control module kept shutting it off as a safety measure when it detected irregular resistance. At the garage, they had to remove the entire seat upholstery to access and replace the heating mat. It wasn't a quick fix, took them nearly a full day to complete the work. While it was a bit complex, it wasn't a serious mechanical issue that would affect the car's performance or safety. Definitely worth fixing though, driving in cold weather without properly functioning seat heaters can be quite uncomfortable. My recommendation would be to get it checked soon before it completely fails. Just make sure to find a shop that has experience with BMW electrical systems, as these heating elements can be tricky to diagnose correctly. For what it's worth, mine's been working perfectly since the repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience! You pretty much described exactly what I'm dealing with, the heating mat issue sounds spot on. Do you remember roughly how much the repair set you back? Also, have you had any other electrical problems since getting it fixed? Been a bit nervous about other potential issues popping up.

Hey there! Just wanted to follow up about the repair costs since you asked. I paid 390 € to fix my seat heater, and honestly, it was money well spent. Since having the heating mat replaced, it's been working like a charm, no more unusual shutoffs or error messages. The good news is I haven't had any other electrical problems pop up since the repair. I was worried about that too, but it really was just isolated to the seat heating mat. Seems like it's a known issue with these models when they get up there in mileage. I'd say go for it, especially with winter coming up, you'll want those heaters working properly. Just make sure whoever does the work knows their way around BMW electrical systems. The comfort of having working seat heaters is definitely worth the investment. Trust me, you'll forget all about the cost once you're sitting in a nice warm seat again!

Thanks so much for all the details, really helpful! I actually took your advice and went to get it fixed last week. Funny enough, my repair bill came to around the same as yours. The mechanic I found was actually fantastic, way better than my last one. He even showed me the old heating mat when they pulled it out, thing was completely shot! Got to drive home with working seat heaters for the first time in months, and what a difference! No more error codes or unusual shutoffs. The mechanic also gave the electrical system a once-over and said everything else looks solid, which was a huge relief. Just wanted to thank you again for pushing me to get it sorted. Was worth every penny, and now I've finally got a reliable mechanic I can trust. Feels good to have this sorted without any drama!