[Mr NSB]

Is the temperature of the seats affected by the ambient temperature?

When I use my seats I generally only use the lowest temperature and this morning with the temp at -3.5c I had to turn the seat off after about 10 - 15 miles as I was getting too warm. Yesterday with the temp around 5.0c I put the seat on for my 1.5 hour journey home and forgot I had it on until I was nearly home.

[Torque of the Devil]

I don't think so, they just heat to a specific programmed temperature, which can be changed incidentally by coding

[Rukka]

Heat is dependant on driving mode set as well. I kid you not!

Cooler in Eco Pro mode than Comfort and red hot in Sport mode.

[AndyEssex330d]

I think it's affected by how hard the engine is working/revving believe it or not!

[Isow]

Originally Posted by Mr NSB

Is the temperature of the seats affected by the ambient temperature?

When I use my seats I generally only use the lowest temperature and this morning with the temp at -3.5c I had to turn the seat off after about 10 - 15 miles as I was getting too warm. Yesterday with the temp around 5.0c I put the seat on for my 1.5 hour journey home and forgot I had it on until I was nearly home.

I've had this experience, so I think that the heated seat temperature is related to the ambient air temperature.

[Flyboy-fil]

I may be wrong but I thought the seat temps for the various setting setting can be adjusted via coding. This would suggest that they aren't affected by external factors.

But I may be wrong...

[Torque of the Devil]

Originally Posted by Isow

I've had this experience, so I think that the heated seat temperature is related to the ambient air temperature.

I don't think they are that clever, especially as the temperatures are set in the coding which you can change

[Fly100]

Maybe they are, Im reading on other forums that the boost pressure from the turbo alters depending on the outside temp. So the days of a bit more bhp on that cold morning are long gone. If that's the case why not seat temps ?

I cant offer any evidence to the above, just reading it on the other forums ( M135 ).

FLY

[Torque of the Devil]

I really don't think they would put that much thought and tech into heated seats, we are giving BMW too much credit

They are just simple 3 stage heating I think but am happy to be proven wrong.

[Isow]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

I really don't think they would put that much thought and tech into heated seats, we are giving BMW too much credit

They are just simple 3 stage heating I think but am happy to be proven wrong.

I would agree with you except when the ambient air temperature dropped to 0c the heated seat felt the hottest I've ever experienced on the number 1 setting !

[ronime]

Originally Posted by Isow

I would agree with you except when the ambient air temperature dropped to 0c the heated seat felt the hottest I've ever experienced on the number 1 setting !

As I understand it the brain is sensitive primarily sensitive to temperature change rather than than absolute temperature. Most people can sense changes of a fraction of a degree.

Typically demonstrated by the old trick with one hand in a bucket of cold water and the other hand in a bucket of warm water then after half a minute or so plunge both hands into the same bucket of warm water at body temperature.

[Rev77]

I can only stand having it on one, know what you mean though, some days it's a nice warm relaxing temp, others it's burning..

[F30Andy]

Am I the only one that does not use my heated seat no matter how cold out is?

I think after three years of not having them in my F30 I've just plain forgotten the F06 has them.

[Torque of the Devil]

Originally Posted by Isow

I would agree with you except when the ambient air temperature dropped to 0c the heated seat felt the hottest I've ever experienced on the number 1 setting !

I suspect this is you, not the seat. You are going to be more sensitive to heat depending on many factors like core temp, energy levels etc

[mcoops]

I tend to agree with the logic that the temperature isn't deliberately or intelligently varied based on ambient air temp etc. But I do understand what others are getting at - there is an inconsistency which feels like it's more than just my perception of the level of heat. For instance:

- seat heat doesn't seem to get going if car is not moving, e.g. while I'm scraping the ice off the windows first thing

- for a similar journey time, and equivalent outside and inside air temp, 3 or 2 bars sometimes feels red hot and needs to be turned down or off, but other times feel like it has reduced temp by itself

V. confusing...

[MarkG_M5Comp]

I think it may just be perception - you feel colder in the morning....

But then my 14 year old Saab alters the climate control when you open a window so it's possible.

[Danny Fireblade]

So I had new heated mats put into both front seats 2 days ago.

While there is a difference in the heat they produce, they still stay on level 3 for my 35 minute commute to work, and they certainly do not get too hot that they need to be turned down?

Maybe there is a coding issue that is stopping them getting to full heat? How do BMW take to customers telling them how to do their job?

[Torque of the Devil]

I struggle to drive with level 1 on, level 3 is just unpleasant in all the BMW's I've had going back years.

I just use them to heat the seats up on getting into the car then once warm I turn them off,

Conversely heated steering wheel does not get as hot by comparison and can be left on, I actually forget it's on sometimes it's so mild.

[Danny Fireblade]

My heated wheel gets lovely and toasty, unlike the seats.

[Isow]

Originally Posted by Vanguard

I suspect this is you, not the seat. You are going to be more sensitive to heat depending on many factors like core temp, energy levels etc

But, but, but, I was wearing a thicker coat when the ambient air temperature was 0c.

[Torque of the Devil]

Originally Posted by Danny Fireblade

My heated wheel gets lovely and toasty, unlike the seats.

Mine gets warm to start with then settles down a bit, I don't want it really hot it's not pleasant I just don't want it to feel cold which the heating does really well.

[BrennanF30]

You are a pussy if you can only bare the heated seat on one green light.

I put mine on max, 3 green lights, I wouldn't say it's boiling hot but it's nice and warm for sure