driver's side seat heater replaced again
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
driver's side seat heater replaced again
My dealer just replaced the driver's side heat seats for the 2nd time during my 30K service. At this rate, I think I'll need another at 45K.
Anyone know the trick to making them last longer? I'm only 180 lbs. OK maybe 185. And I'm very careful about not putting alot of pressure on one spot. i.e. knee on seat to reach across to passenger side.
Anyone know the trick to making them last longer? I'm only 180 lbs. OK maybe 185. And I'm very careful about not putting alot of pressure on one spot. i.e. knee on seat to reach across to passenger side.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 5
From: MILFORD,CT
E36M3 race car/Ferrari F355 GTS/1973 Mini 1275GT/Fiat Abarth/ML63/SLK55
stop farting in the car? :-0
mine went the 2nd time and never bothered to fix. in the the grand scheme of things it's no biggie.
mine went the 2nd time and never bothered to fix. in the the grand scheme of things it's no biggie.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
My dealer just replaced the driver's side heat seats for the 2nd time during my 30K service. At this rate, I think I'll need another at 45K.
Anyone know the trick to making them last longer? I'm only 180 lbs. OK maybe 185. And I'm very careful about not putting alot of pressure on one spot. i.e. knee on seat to reach across to passenger side.
Anyone know the trick to making them last longer? I'm only 180 lbs. OK maybe 185. And I'm very careful about not putting alot of pressure on one spot. i.e. knee on seat to reach across to passenger side.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 11
From: PA
S600, GL450, GLC 43
Mine went out at 14,000 miles, can you say WARRENTY
Anyway, my light would shine, but my a__ was cold! Driver side only.
See yeah
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 828
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
SLK32
I went through the drivers side seat bottom heater every year and the seat back heater every other year.
The best advice to make it last longer is to use it sparingly. Not a good solution but the best one I know of.
The best advice to make it last longer is to use it sparingly. Not a good solution but the best one I know of.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
2002 C32, 2011 VW GTI
Yea, nothing like a cold a__ on a freezing day. My car's warranty history does not show a replacement and it works fine now, knock on wood.
Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 120
Likes: 3
C55
I think mine is going out or simply doesn't work. I used it for the first time the other morning when it was cold and noticed my lower back was heating up but not the bottom. Hmmm... looks like that will be the first warranty repair for me at 16K miles. What a wonderful piece of junk aint they?
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Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 121
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From: Los Angeles
2003 C32
My seat heater was broken for a long time, but the back heater worked just fine. I liked it that way. I could use it during the summer, after a long day's work, to provide some relief to an aching lower back. The seat heater is only nice when it's REALLY cold, otherwise, it just makes your ***** sweat. 
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Newbie
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, CA
SLK32 AMG
Ok, I've had my fifth bottom seat heater burn out now. I have a '02 SLK32. The bottom portion of both driver and passenger seats has failed twice each and now the driver side has failed a 3rd time. We live in "sunny" California so the heaters don't get used THAT much. The car only has 34,000 miles on it. The first set was warranty, the second set I had to pay 1/2 for and now I'm trying to complain to them on the 3rd round.
Each time the failure seems to be identical, and even in the same location, though they kept the old parts so I can't disect them or tell exactly what happened suffice to say it burned up a portion of the circuit which caused an open and the heater function no longer works. The lights come on fine and the back segment works just fine and always has.
Any suggestions on where/how to complain to get them to fix this, and continue fixing it forever given it's obviously a design problem.
-Alan
Each time the failure seems to be identical, and even in the same location, though they kept the old parts so I can't disect them or tell exactly what happened suffice to say it burned up a portion of the circuit which caused an open and the heater function no longer works. The lights come on fine and the back segment works just fine and always has.
Any suggestions on where/how to complain to get them to fix this, and continue fixing it forever given it's obviously a design problem.
-Alan
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Indiana
Silver 02 C32 & White 05 CLK500
I actually have that same exact problem right now. The back warmer works on my 32, but the seat warmer does not.
I hate taking the car to the dealer, because even though I got the extended warranty, they still charge me $200 every time I take the car in for service. I eventually will take it in before my warranty is over, but for now, it doesn't bother me.
I hate taking the car to the dealer, because even though I got the extended warranty, they still charge me $200 every time I take the car in for service. I eventually will take it in before my warranty is over, but for now, it doesn't bother me.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 714
Likes: 17
From: CA
C63
Mercedes heater pads suck big time. I figured they would have tested these things before implementing them. My passenger bottom heated seat just went out. This would be the third in total that my car had the bottom heated pad failure. Twice on the driver side and now the passenger side. 
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
2002 G500
I've got a 2002 G500 and all my bottom seat heaters don't work either including the rear seats. Dealer wanted over 1 grand for labour and parts to fix ONE. The parts alone is like 700 for one seat bottom since the elements are integral with the bottom leather seat cover.
The dealer told me that the elements are burnt out so I've been toying with the idea of taking the seat cover off myself and rerun the elements with new wiring. I've also looked at aftermarket seat heaters but then I would have new switches mounted somewhere for them as you would not be able to use the stock switches. In any case seems to be a lot of work.
Not worth to fix it for me since it will be all out of pocket expense unless there is a factory recall on them..... good luck on that!
The dealer told me that the elements are burnt out so I've been toying with the idea of taking the seat cover off myself and rerun the elements with new wiring. I've also looked at aftermarket seat heaters but then I would have new switches mounted somewhere for them as you would not be able to use the stock switches. In any case seems to be a lot of work.
Not worth to fix it for me since it will be all out of pocket expense unless there is a factory recall on them..... good luck on that!
