New mini owner here. My wifes driver seat gets really hot it just one spot on the right of the bottom of the seat. Its so hot it feels like a stabbing pain after a while and I am afraid it will burn through like others have had on here. Any idea on how to fix this? It just doesnt seem to be warming up in any other spot but along the right bolster on the bottom part of the seat.

Thanks for the help!

 

well, to start, obviously dont continue using it haha. if repairs arent possible right away, sitting on a towel will be a bit warmer than cold leather.

from what ive read, removal of the seat only involves a few torx bolts and unclipping of 1 or 2 plugs, but this will cause an srs light which will need to be cleared later on.

i have no personal experience with this, but it sounds like there is a short somewhere. beyond that, hopefully someone with further electrical knowledge will chime in.

 

I believe you're experiencing the same thing I did a year or two back. It is a manufacturing defect that results in corrosion at a connection joint to the seat heater.

See my post #19 on this thread for details and pictures:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...eat-cover.html

 

Ya she isnt using it. Thats sketchy as heck! And the dealer wont do anything about it? I know its out of warranty but I am surprised they havent put a recall on this. I guess more people just need to literally burn themselves.

Id like to redo it but hot glue would probably just keep re-meltling. Wonder if some heatwrap tape or something would work.

 

You need to trim the corroded part of the wire off. I think if you do that, re-solder at the joint, and then coat with hot glue, the heating element won't ever get hot enough to melt the "protective" hot glue (it would have to be around 250F).

The problem is the original "hot glue" that protected the joint missed the mark and didn't actually cover the joint, causing corrosion over time.

I agree, there should be some kind of recall on it because it is a manufacturing flaw, but I doubt there will ever be one. I've run across posts on the BMW forums of folks who've had their BMW dealer fix it for free though...