BMW Z3 heated seats not working
- Thread starter SteveZ3
- Start date
Time to pull out your tester and find out where you're losing power. Start with switches, make sure there's power to the drivers seat switch and work your way till you find a loose connector or broken wire. Obviously there's power to the passenger seat, work through the connectors and wiring. It could be the break is in the heating elements themselves but I think you'll find faults before that. HTH JIM
Thought I'd best add to check ground wires also.
Thought I'd best add to check ground wires also.
The most likely cause is from kneeling on the seats and one of the eliments snap under the weight. Can be eaisyly re solded and sleeved.
Lee
Lee
Direct link to the full article if needed - https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-seat-base-repair-m-sport-heated.58/ 
I can vouch for the article by Gookah as I repaired one of ours using the guide.
A few things to remember
1. once the seats are unplugged DO NOT turn on the ignition as the airbag light will come on and have to be reset.
2. The rear seat anchor bolts are 16mm spanner. Front bolts first, move seat forwards, remove key and lock away, remove rear bolts. and also be careful with the seat belt guide on the side of the seat.
3. It is easier to remove the seats with the roof down so if your roof is manual easy but if powered there is a small 'T' key on top of the pump behind the boot trim left hand side which isolates the pump and you can lift/lower the roof by hand. see note 1
If you drop the roof this weather warm the rear screen 1st they have been known to crack folding in the cold.
If you want some help shout up and will be able to sort something out.
A few things to remember
1. once the seats are unplugged DO NOT turn on the ignition as the airbag light will come on and have to be reset.
2. The rear seat anchor bolts are 16mm spanner. Front bolts first, move seat forwards, remove key and lock away, remove rear bolts. and also be careful with the seat belt guide on the side of the seat.
3. It is easier to remove the seats with the roof down so if your roof is manual easy but if powered there is a small 'T' key on top of the pump behind the boot trim left hand side which isolates the pump and you can lift/lower the roof by hand. see note 1
If you drop the roof this weather warm the rear screen 1st they have been known to crack folding in the cold.
If you want some help shout up and will be able to sort something out.
Neither of my seats will heat up due to lack of that feature being purchased initially. I have bought some wiring loom but need the elements if anyone has some lying around they will part with. Believe me, I need heated seats here if I'm going to be able to use my car year round as planned. JIM
I am sure you can buy the mats separately Jim, either that or make sure the next car you ship over has them
I changed the seat bushes a couple of weeks ago on the passenger side, should have had a look at the circuitry then really.
Couldn't do the drivers side as the seat won't go forward enough? Motor works but just stops half way.
Couldn't do the drivers side as the seat won't go forward enough? Motor works but just stops half way.
Hi Steve there will probably be some thing jamming the runner and if the seats are rocking probably the bushes are gone on the drivers side.
There are ways round it and somebody will find the link before me.
Here it is
https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-stuck-seat-motor-seat-removal.21/
There are ways round it and somebody will find the link before me.
Here it is
https://zroadster.org/articles/bmw-z3-stuck-seat-motor-seat-removal.21/
Back on topic so we don't force Gaz to split the seat bush issue off. Were the seat heaters working on the passenger seat before you removed it? Perhaps you missed a connection? JIM
Sorry, so many small individual problems my bad! haha..
Don't really know if passenger seat was fully working before - pretty sure I plugged everything back from where it was before.
Hopefully, you'll find a loose connection. Let your tester be your friend and you should soon have answers and a warm tushie! Have you read the thread that Brian4 linked you too? Good luck with the wiring and the seat problems in general. JIM
We had a car in at work a few weeks ago which had a drivers seat that could only move so far then jam solid. Culprit turned to be a 5p piece stuck in the runner, and as I've lost countless change from my pocket down the side of the seat, it may be worth having a good luck.
Tony.
Tony.
In my cars it's usually an empty drink can that Trinity's stuck under there. JIMWe had a car in at work a few weeks ago which had a drivers seat that could only move so far then jam solid. Culprit turned to be a 5p piece stuck in the runner, and as I've lost countless change from my pocket down the side of the seat, it may be worth having a good luck.
Tony.
Wow. What an easy fix this turned out to be.
Managed to finally get the seat out by just pulling on the seat whilst pressing the forward button at the side. Must have been something in the rails because it's fine now.
Got the drivers seat out and found that the black connector was actually plugged into a connector which had no wires coming from it.
Picture below
The top connector was where it was plugged into. Clearly no electrics are wired to this plug. Why is it here? Can anyone shed some light.
Anyway I tested the plugs and the connections were fine so I plugged the connecter into the bottom black plug (the one with electrics connected) and now the seat works!!!
I can go out today and enjoy the winter sun with a toasty arse!!!
Managed to finally get the seat out by just pulling on the seat whilst pressing the forward button at the side. Must have been something in the rails because it's fine now.
Got the drivers seat out and found that the black connector was actually plugged into a connector which had no wires coming from it.
Picture below
The top connector was where it was plugged into. Clearly no electrics are wired to this plug. Why is it here? Can anyone shed some light.
Anyway I tested the plugs and the connections were fine so I plugged the connecter into the bottom black plug (the one with electrics connected) and now the seat works!!!
I can go out today and enjoy the winter sun with a toasty arse!!!
Great glad it is all sorted. No help with why connectors are there but the best fixes are the easiest ones.
Did you check the runners for obstructions? best to give them a spray with silicone lubricant just to keep them moving freely.
Did you check the runners for obstructions? best to give them a spray with silicone lubricant just to keep them moving freely.
Glad your fix was easy, I tackled this yesterday and I had to solder the wire as in Gookah's guide
Ash
Ash