BMW X5 Seat Heater Issues, Common Problems & Fixes

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2018 BMW X3 last winter. The symptoms were exactly the same, seat heater would barely warm up and then just quit. Took it to my regular workshop and they diagnosed a faulty heating mat in the seat. The whole repair, including parts and labor, cost me around 390 Euro. They had to remove the seat cover to replace the heating mat, but they got it done in about half a day. I actually considered getting a BMW X4 before buying the X3, and heard similar stories about seat heater issues from other owners. To help you better, could you tell us: Which seat is affected (driver/passenger)? Does it happen on all heat settings? Have you noticed any warning lights on the dash?

Thanks for the detailed reply! To answer your questions, it's happening on the driver's side seat, and yes, it fails on all heat settings. No warning lights though. My X5 only has 26944 KM and was just serviced last month, so this is pretty frustrating. Going to book it in at the workshop next week. Really hoping it'll be covered under warranty since the car's relatively new and well-maintained. Wonder if anyone else with an X5 has dealt with this particular issue?

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up since I've gained more experience with these seat heater issues. After my X3's repair that I mentioned before, I actually learned quite a bit more about this problem. You know what's interesting? With only 26944 KM on your X5, this should definitely be covered under warranty. When I had my issue, my X3 was already out of warranty (had about 65000 KM), which is why I had to pay for it myself. But your situation is different. One thing I discovered after my repair, these heating mat failures are sometimes related to the wiring connection rather than the mat itself. My mechanic showed me that in some cases, the connectors under the seat can work loose over time. Would've been nice to know that before replacing the whole mat! Since you're still under warranty, make sure they thoroughly check the connections before jumping straight to replacing the heating mat. Could save them (and BMW) time and money. And definitely push for that warranty coverage, this isn't normal wear and tear at your mileage. Let us know how it goes at the workshop next week. I'm curious to see if they find the same issue I had or if it's something different.

Thanks so much for the additional info! That's really helpful about checking the connections first, I'll definitely mention this to the workshop when I take it in. Feeling a bit more optimistic now knowing it should be covered under warranty. Just checked my paperwork and my warranty is valid until 2024, so you're right, this should definitely be covered. I'll make sure to push back if they try to charge me for it. It's good to know what to expect and what questions to ask when I go in. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Will update the forum once I get it checked out next week. Thanks again for all the advice!