non heated Lux to heated Vaders

[letterM]

I have a lux edition M3 WITH NO HEATED SEATS (what the hell was the original owner thinking).

I just purchased "vader" heated seats.

What do i need to make the proper conversion? Cept for the two little switches on the console? I'm assuming there's a harness of some sort?

Anybody done such a thing? What kind of expenses am I to expect?

Cheers.

[RRSperry]

I really doubt that the harness was installed at the factory, and it will be a major pain to remove them from a parts car.

That said, you need power from the fuse box to the switches, wire from the switches to the the seats and the connectors. All the parts are available from a dealer.
You are probably going to have to remove the carpet and center console.

[das borgen]

I think user fiveightandten did this heated seats harness retrofit

it's not a job I would want to do, personally

[kevinwilly]

*gasp!* No heated seats?!?! What a FOOL!

lol... my car is originally from Florida. It doesn't have heated seats. Even though I lived in Illinois when I bought it, I didn't care. They are kinda nice for about 30 seconds in the winter, but then they make my ass sweat. Either that, or I can't even feel that they are on.

As RRS said, the wiring harness is not there. I have looked for it actually. There is not even a holder for the fuse in the fuse box. So it's quite a bit more complicated than just plugging them in, sadly. I thought about getting them so my wife would stop complaining... but then realized that I didn't care. :)

[letterM]

Hmm. I was at the dealer today and off hand they told me its just the switches, but they took down my info and will let me know exactly what i need.

I love heated seats, the weather is so miserable here, pretty much all the time and when its cold, its like a wet cold rather than dry cold so its chills you to the bone. Ergo, heated seats rule.

I dont get why my previous owner didnt get heated seats, she already ruined the car by making it a luxury edition, why not get heated seats??!?!?!

[kevinwilly]

Ruined it by making it luxury? Lol.... I don't know. I like the luxury door panels and front bumper, personally. And I dislike vaders with a vengeance.

The wood trim I could do without, but other than that, I vastly prefer the lux package.

[letterM]

....no proper sideskirts? i dont know...


still waiting for one of the guys here to chime in on his heated seat retrofit!

[M3Alpine99]

Lux is just fine. The only real issue is the wood trim. The slat grill is different and nice. EASY to add a lip spoiler. Twist skirts are no huge loss. The door panels themselves are definitely nicer looking and seem to not delaminate like the regular door panels do. Only downside again is the wood.

Vaders? Are terrible. They are so uncomfy and the 'sport seats' have the same size bolsters(that don't hold you in just like vaders) and actually has lumbar support.

[Harlow]

What color are you Lux seats? Want to sell them?

[letterM]

they are buffalo nappa leather colour is mulberry, i just had them recently completely revamped. $500. lol, makes me wonder why i did that haha

or why i bought vaders... so confused now

ok, im getting vaders lol

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter8.jpg

[M3Alpine99]

Wonder how shipping to the US is? Would you be willing to do it? Would definitely be interested.

[das borgen]

Wonder how shipping to the US is? Would you be willing to do it? Would definitely be interested.
is your car originally mulberry or you want to switch TO that color?
if the former, read on
u know, I have some spare Mulberry seat parts I can sell you separate...what do you need? I have back pads, backboards and headrests and cushion pads...no rear seat parts tho...stuff is from a luxury edition coupe front....but it doesn t matter, they're all the same pads and headrests between coupe and sedan

but the backboards are different between coupe and sedan front seats




and kevinwilly, I agree with you...the styling on the vaders is actually pretty ugly


they are buffalo nappa leather colour is mulberry, i just had them recently completely revamped. $500. lol, makes me wonder why i did that haha

or why i bought vaders... so confused now

ok, im getting vaders lol

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/vwmaxpwr/Misc%20forum%20uploadz/myseatafter8.jpg
doesn't compute...they're either buffalo or nappa...they can t be both at the same time

[M3Alpine99]

I have a 97 M3/4/5 Dakar over Mulberry. The front seats are not bad but yours are in better shape so would be interested. What do you mean by 'backboards'. I would think they would bolt in... not true?

[das borgen]

I have a 97 M3/4/5 Dakar over Mulberry. The front seats are not bad but yours are in better shape so would be interested. What do you mean by 'backboards'. I would think they would bolt in... not true?
when you sell that car, I better be the 1st person you contact...... it's my dream combo of doors, colors and interior color


http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1459308

by backboard, I mean the cardboard trim behind the seatbacks

[M3Alpine99]

I assumed that is what you meant... it will 'bolt in'? But since it is a coupe seat it doesn't have the 'pouch' on the back. That I am fine with... they are stretched out anyways and it feels so 80s...

I would consider doing it but my seats do have new gears in them... hrmmmm

[letterM]

my car is originally mulberry colour and the vaders i bought, and was lucky enough, in the same colour.

buffalo nappa leather is what my manual says i have along with a patch of leather connected to the little booklet, which matches my interior.


shipping would be around $200 by greyhound, this is how im shipping my vaders. This quote is from Illy to Wash.