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An upholsterer can replace the element without having to replace the whole seat bottom. There are even DIYs out there.
Most have a timer so they're not running full time but rather cycle so they don't overheat.
The element is bonded in between the leather and the seat cushion it can not be replaced. There is no way to remove the leather off the seat cushion with out destroying the seat cushion. It's one of the lamest things I've ever seen, it's like MINI wants you to buy a new car or seat if you ever need upholstery work.
Seat heaters are finding their way into even the average car now. In the winter months, I usually turn on the seat heater for my 30 minute each way commute. Other family members leave the seat heater button ON for the entire winter.
How long have people's seat heaters lasted? The seat heater is essentially just a seating element wire and coil that will eventually lose it's effectiveness. Anyone from cold climates and heavy seat heater users tell us how long they last? Also, I'm assuming seat heaters use a lot of battery/alternator power? Has anyone replaced their seat heater because it was old and ineffective.
I'm asking because I keep cars for over 10 years, maybe even 15 years.
They last almost indefinitely. What usually kills them is physical damage rather than wear. Kneeling on the seat is the worst offender. I guess putting huge objects with awkward shapes, or getting beat up with obese backsides, might have the same effect.
I have seen cars with well over 200k miles with functional seat heaters. Longevity also probably varies on the design and the manufacturer to some extent.
Bought a nissan 2015 with seat warmers during xmas...
1st time I turned them on was when my husband was driving...
I watched in glee, giggling like a school girl.
I was waiting for his reaction to the warmth.
Finally, his forehead turned red and he muttered a few four letter words..
&*(&$ my balls are on fire!!! Turn that crap off!!!!
Highlight of my day
We don't use them much.
I have a 2008 Expedition. It has the heated/cooled seats and my drivers side heated seat stopped working about 2 years ago. The A/C portion still works, just not the heat. Probably one of those things I will never repair. Ive owned plenty of cars without heated seats, im ok with one more.
Yes, they sure do! feels good at 1st when it's below zero, but I've got to shut it down in a hurry.
I'm pretty sure MINI has an adaptor available that you plug into the line to the seat that will lower the temperature of them. There's a corresponding one to raise it too. Probably something to do with manufacturing tolerance individual tastes colliding.
i have had several vehicles (10-15) with seat heaters in the last 20 or so years and only had one go out. it was a 2001 ford pickup and they fixed it under warranty. i had the leather replaced on one of my suvs last year with seat heaters and had no problem there either. i drive over a 1000 miles most weeks and use my seat heaters from the first cold snap until spring.
I've had two vehicles (but one manufacturer I should add) where the seat heaters broke and stopped working. Two of my Jeeps had failed seat heaters, a Liberty (heater stopped working completely) and a Jeep Grand Cherokee, where the seat portion stopped working, but the heater on the backrest still worked.
The Liberty had ~70k when it happened, and the GC about ~100k. Both cars though, were driven in TX and FL, so it wasn't like they got a ton of usage for the mileage. Never bothered fixing them.
I normally don't keep cars past 100k, but on the ones I have, the seat and steering wheel heaters were still working.
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