Heated Steering Wheel

[Johndong888]

So we just picked up the X5 after ordering it a month ago. I have never had a vehicle with heated steering wheel before. I don't think mine is working since there is no indication of whether the function is on or not. I push the heated steering wheel button firmly once and I simply just do not feel it even after 10 minutes. Any input?

best,
John

[NoPII]

You should feel it be noticeably warm (imagine the feel of holding your hot latté with one of those cardboard sleeves over it) within about 30-60 seconds.

Sounds like yours isn't working.

I don't have my F15 yet, but my E70 and E71 wheels all had dodgy switches on them (when the button used to be on the wheel). It'd sometimes take several presses before the indicator light came on.....

[BMWMN1971]

You should start feeling it warm up in less than 1 minute. It gets really warm after a while and the temperature is just perfect to keep your hands warm. It is perfect for weather like in MN. BMW really screw up in this new model and placed the button on the side (it used to be next to the volume buttons in the wheel) so now you cannot see if it is on or not. If you look at the button you will see that it lights up when on but you should not put your head under the steering wheel while driving. Stupid decision to move that button.

Originally Posted by Johndong888

So we just picked up the X5 after ordering it a month ago. I have never had a vehicle with heated steering wheel before. I don't think mine is working since there is no indication of whether the function is on or not. I push the heated steering wheel button firmly once and I simply just do not feel it even after 10 minutes. Any input?

best,
John

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by alistairg

You should feel it be noticeably warm (imagine the feel of holding your hot latté with one of those cardboard sleeves over it) within about 30-60 seconds.

Sounds like yours isn't working.

I don't have my F15 yet, but my E70 and E71 wheels all had dodgy switches on them (when the button used to be on the wheel). It'd sometimes take several presses before the indicator light came on.....

Yeah then it's definitely not working lol. Cause I feel no warmth at all. BMWMN did say there's an indicator on the button as well for the F15. I just went out and pushed the button pretty damn hard and I did not see any light. Blah, gotta take it in.

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

You should start feeling it warm up in less than 1 minute. It gets really warm after a while and the temperature is just perfect to keep your hands warm. It is perfect for weather like in MN. BMW really screw up in this new model and placed the button on the side (it used to be next to the volume buttons in the wheel) so now you cannot see if it is on or not. If you look at the button you will see that it lights up when on but you should not put your head under the steering wheel while driving. Stupid decision to move that button.

That is true, it's pretty out of the way. At least you confirmed there is an indicator light. I thought there were none and to my current testing, I still don't see any. I also thought how utterly stupid it is to have this function without any indication if it was on or not.

[BMWMN1971]

LOL!!! Don't know what is more stupid: to not have a light at all or have a light that is under the wheel and the driver won't be able to see if it on or not.

Originally Posted by Johndong888

Yeah then it's definitely not working lol. Cause I feel no warmth at all. BMWMN did say there's an indicator on the button as well for the F15. I just went out and pushed the button pretty damn hard and I did not see any light. Blah, gotta take it in.



That is true, it's pretty out of the way. At least you confirmed there is an indicator light. I thought there were none and to my current testing, I still don't see any. I also thought how utterly stupid it is to have this function without any indication if it was on or not.

[EmPower]

I bet they forgot to put the solenoid in the wheel No QC whatsoever. Really sad

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by EmPower

I bet they forgot to put the solenoid in the wheel No QC whatsoever. Really sad

That's what I am thinking too. My only grip is I hope they can get this part and that it's the same part as in the old car so we don't have to wait forever.

Other than that though, everything is pretty darn nice about the new X5. When I first saw pictures of it, I was like WTF is this bullshiet. It's so hideous. Of course, I stopped by one day to get the m3 serviced and saw the dealership just got the first batch of X5s in and I was like, damn it's pretty nice so we ordered one. NO rattles so far lol, no other complaints, just the heated steering wheel lol.

[NikonMan]

Originally Posted by Johndong888

That's what I am thinking too. My only grip is I hope they can get this part and that it's the same part as in the old car so we don't have to wait forever.

Other than that though, everything is pretty darn nice about the new X5. When I first saw pictures of it, I was like WTF is this bullshiet. It's so hideous. Of course, I stopped by one day to get the m3 serviced and saw the dealership just got the first batch of X5s in and I was like, damn it's pretty nice so we ordered one. NO rattles so far lol, no other complaints, just the heated steering wheel lol.

Enjoy the new ride!

I suspect that as more and more of these new F15's get on the road, more people will come to accept the styling changes. The E70 will start to become very dated looking at some point, and the F15 will become the new norm. I think it is typical for a popular model to have this type of reaction when restyled.

[barcelona]

Switching on/off
Press the button.
▷ On: the LED lights up.
▷ Off: the LED goes out.

The visual light is tough to see as it is on the button itself. You cannot see it when in D as the button location is awkward. In a Park position, it is easier to see illumination.

[michaeljhale]

Does the amber light turn on?

[barcelona]

Yesterday, I did not look at it on the F15.
On the F25 the button does light up. Too bad it does not provide a visual on the cluster.
If it is heating you will notice within a minute.

[BMWMN1971]

Yes, it does

Originally Posted by michaeljhale

Does the amber light turn on?

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by barcelona

Switching on/off
Press the button.
▷ On: the LED lights up.
▷ Off: the LED goes out.

The visual light is tough to see as it is on the button itself. You cannot see it when in D as the button location is awkward. In a Park position, it is easier to see illumination.

Yeah there were no lights whatsoever lol. I'll just bring it by the dealer to get it replace. I just hope it's not a long wait for parts being a new model and what not

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

Yes, it does

Hey I saw from the other thread that you got screwed by the instrument cluster ordeal too. We had no idea either and would have forked over another 900 for it had we known.

I am not too worried about it because while we don't have HUD, I think there should be a way to retrofit the new clusters that come out next year, the ones that are FULL LCD screen with color changing ones. The old cars cluster could be had for 500 used. Bimmertech should figured something out for 1-1.5k. We also need the car ASAP so we stayed. Other than that and the heating steering wheel, we are pretty happy with it thus far.

[BMWMN1971]

I couldn't care less for HUD and that is the reason I ordered the rear camera by itself. However, I was never told I would get a cheap instrument cluster that has no daytime backlighting. Not a big deal with the LCD but on a cloudy day you can barely see the gauges since they are gray with no lights at all. Very cheap from BMW.

Originally Posted by Johndong888

Hey I saw from the other thread that you got screwed by the instrument cluster ordeal too. We had no idea either and would have forked over another 900 for it had we known.

I am not too worried about it because while we don't have HUD, I think there should be a way to retrofit the new clusters that come out next year, the ones that are FULL LCD screen with color changing ones. The old cars cluster could be had for 500 used. Bimmertech should figured something out for 1-1.5k. We also need the car ASAP so we stayed. Other than that and the heating steering wheel, we are pretty happy with it thus far.

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

I couldn't care less for HUD and that is the reason I ordered the rear camera by itself. However, I was never told I would get a cheap instrument cluster that has no daytime backlighting. Not a big deal with the LCD but on a cloudy day you can barely see the gauges since they are gray with no lights at all. Very cheap from BMW.

Check this one out for the retrofit of the Clusters. I assume we just need to wait for the part to come in stock

[barcelona]

Originally Posted by Johndong888

Yeah there were no lights whatsoever lol. I'll just bring it by the dealer to get it replace. I just hope it's not a long wait for parts being a new model and what not

Sir
The little button that you press once for on then again for off has a tiny LED on it. It should light up. When functional it does get very warm, warmest spots are where the wheel grip is enlarged ( the 10 & 2 position). Don't expect heat like L2 or L3 for the car seats, maybe like L1.

[patrobX5]

Originally Posted by Johndong888

Check this one out for the retrofit of the Clusters. I assume we just need to wait for the part to come in stock

I assume F15 will also eventually get this instrument cluster?

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by barcelona

Sir
The little button that you press once for on then again for off has a tiny LED on it. It should light up. When functional it does get very warm, warmest spots are where the wheel grip is enlarged ( the 10 & 2 position). Don't expect heat like L2 or L3 for the car seats, maybe like L1.

Yeah mine doesn't light up at all lol. So it's definitely broken. I'm sure it won't be a hard fix, I just hope they have the parts in stock.

[Johndong888]

Originally Posted by patrob

I assume F15 will also eventually get this instrument cluster?

They said the arrival of the new digital cluster around qtr 2 of 2014. I have heard April...

[patrobX5]

Originally Posted by Johndong888

They said the arrival of the new digital cluster around qtr 2 of 2014. I have heard April...

Thanks for the info!

[RACE9]

i am trying to retrofit a heated steering wheel to my 2012 bmw x5. my dealer was gracious enough to install retro wheel and retro paddle module but could not get power to the heated steering wheel button. all other button and functions work properly. does anyone know of a dealer or someone that can complete my retrofit? thx. race9.