This week's Ski's Z4 Search-related question - how much do heated seats matter?

Chanceschmerr

Chanceschmerr

Member
 Bristol, UK
Site Supporter
As I go through the search for my E89 manual 30i Z4, I find myself often looking to see if the Z4 has the heated seats or not.

....which is weird, because I found I never used heated seats much in my 2010 Mercedes ML350bluetec that I bought to satisfy my wife's request for an SUV back in 2016 (which became our family car until we moved from Canada to the UK last year and I sold it in Ottawa rather than try to import it to the UK). Even when it was frigid outside (which is 6 months of the year in Ontario/Quebec), I rarely used the heated seats - my wife often did though. The heated steering wheel, on the other hand......that was quite nice.

I guess....i assumed that the heated seats were a game changer for driving around on non-warm days with the top down in the Z4....but is it really that big a utility, or just down to personal preference again?

I'm curious to hear your thoughts - does anyone here swear by them? Does it get really cold in the Z4 cockpit whilst driving with top down (or up), or is the internal climate up to the task if needed?
 
On leather seats, in the winter, they are handy to warm it up for the first few minutes, but then I turn them off. In my E89 with the cloth centre section of the seat, I don't really bother with them as the material never gets that cold.
The heaters in the zeds (E85 and E89) are pretty efficient. Driving with the roof down and the windows up, in the middle of winter, is fine with the heating aimed at feet to waist levels.
Other, thinner-blooded members will no doubt disagree. ;)
 
Not to want to complicate things further, but the heated steering wheel is also a fantastic thing especially for a convertible. Was an option on the E89 but I’m not sure if from the start of production or at facelift time.
I don’t get why the heated seats weren’t standard or why not everyone ticked the box, it’s always a relatively cheap option.
 
I’m with you on this. I never used to be a fan of heated seats at all and even used to find the sensation quite unpleasant!

A heated steering wheel which I’ve now had in my last three daily driving cars (E61s and F07) is MUCH better!

I’ve kind of got used to having the heated seats in my F07 and must admit I do put it on for a few minutes when first setting off before then switching it off again.

Heated seats or not wouldn’t personally be a priority for me in a Z4 because I would never drive mine in the winter anyway.
 
Yes, heated seats def for me, I would NOT buy one without, it would be like going back to the dark ages of driving old British sport cars of the 1960s. (I was a lot younger then) :rofl:We use ours all year round and if it's not raining the roof is down, car heater on and seats at number 3 :) My wife's Ford Focus although it has cloth seats the seat heaters are used when we first get in the car. Thin blood? you bet🤣
 
As said above, heated leather seats are useful. Not so much with cloth IMO.
I have recently removed the heating circuit from my Z3, as I changed the seats and didn't want heating. The car will never be used on cold days anyway.

My wife's car has heated seats, heated steering wheel, heated windscreen; heated everything. But it has an aluminium gear knob which is freezing in the winter (and red hot in the summer). I would rather it have a leather or placky knob than heated seats any day.
 
Depends if you’re out with the top down in +15c and lower..then it’s really useful and imho much better than blowing hot air over you…

Given so many E89s do have them I wouldn’t contemplate not having them..

Fwiw heated steering wheel option is very rare..and..imho ..not that great as in this case..yes you can use the side vents to blow warm air over your pinkies..

I had a heated option and removed it..no loss ..
 
Okay, seems like the majority seem to be a fan (or at least a convert) of the heated seats.

Is it the kind of thing you could upgrade an E89 with if it didnt come with it originally? I.e. is it a lot of extra work/wiring or is the car more FFBNW (as we say in the navy) Fitted For But Not With
 
I guess i should say - I'd be driving my Z4 year round, although somewhat less in the winter. I guess it's one of the reasons I lean towards E89 with the hard top - that rooftop will actually see water in my ownership.
 
You've answered your own question, if you didn't use them much in Canada in those harsh winters, then you sure as hell ain't going to bother using them in the shite we get here!! :rofl:

Personally for me, in the depths of Winter, leaving the house at 5:45 on a freezing cold morning it's start car, turn on heated seat and steering wheel, get out and scrape car, once done get back into nice warmth. The engine wont have warmed up enough by that point to blow anything of interest onto your fingers so nice to have the wheel warm :driving:
 
AnubisZed said:
You've answered your own question, if you didn't use them much in Canada in those harsh winters, then you sure as hell ain't going to bother using them in the shite we get here!! :rofl:

Personally for me, in the depths of Winter, leaving the house at 5:45 on a freezing cold morning it's start car, turn on heated seat and steering wheel, get out and scrape car, once done get back into nice warmth. The engine wont have warmed up enough by that point to blow anything of interest onto your fingers so nice to have the wheel warm :driving:
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There's always nice warm leather gloves off course;)
 
I know the wife loves the heated seats, but I never really use them in either car.
That said, I never really did when I was in Winnipeg but the old Mercedes had an epic heater!

It is a nice thing to have, but it would not be a major impact on my decision making.
 
AnubisZed said:
You've answered your own question, if you didn't use them much in Canada in those harsh winters, then you sure as hell ain't going to bother using them in the shite we get here!! :rofl:

Personally for me, in the depths of Winter, leaving the house at 5:45 on a freezing cold morning it's start car, turn on heated seat and steering wheel, get out and scrape car, once done get back into nice warmth. The engine wont have warmed up enough by that point to blow anything of interest onto your fingers so nice to have the wheel warm :driving:
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This illustrates the point perfectly..mission profile!

I don't even start my car unless its going for at least a 30 minute drive minimum..usually at least 1 to 2 hours of usually a 5-6 hour driving day..

In that context its not how you feel after 5 minutes its the 5 hour mark..

Different missions different prioirties..
 
B21 said:
This illustrates the point perfectly..mission profile!

I don't even start my car unless its going for at least a 30 minute drive minimum..usually at least 1 to 2 hours of usually a 5-6 hour driving day..

In that context its not how you feel after 5 minutes its the 5 hour mark..

Different missions different prioirties..
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You lost my support when you said you needed heated seats on at +15 degrees C. :rofl:
 
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