Seat heater failure and DIY repair
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,846
Likes: 29
From: Canada
eclectic assortment of cars
Looks much simpler than I thought! I may have to give this a whirl in the future. Problem is - I rarely use the seat heaters because I don't drive my car in the winter. But there are those cooler spring and fall days...
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Oxford, PA
C55 AMG
After reading what SLacKer32 and others wrote, I opted to do the seat heater repair on my c32, using aftermarket heating elements. Took about 2 hours per seat after all was said and done; did one yesterday and one today. Anyway, I wrote up exactly how I did it in case it could help any of you -- see my attached 2 page PDF. Big thanks to you forum members for all the info that was on MBWorld. Because of you all, I was able to fix my heated seats for $77 total, rather than $1500 at the dealer! And this repair should last a lot longer, since it doesn't use the lousy MB heater elements which always break, especially if you kneel on your front seats. (I kneeled exactly one time per front seat, each time it broke the butt heater!) Oh, and I should mention: I am definitely no electrician or pro or mechanic. I'm a newbie amateur. This is simply a summary of how I did it, and a summary of everything I learned from reading all sorts of forums and other research. I have no idea if this is the best way to do it or if my car will catch fire tomorrow. Use these instructions at your own risk, of course. ALSO: I took some pictures along the way. If you want to see them, they are here: http://rowdypants.imgur.com/all/
Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Oxford, PA
C55 AMG
Just go do it ... the Campion seat heater kit is 85USD and you get two of them. I believe they are carbon fiber so they should last much longer than the stock ones. My passenger heater works great, but my guess is because it hasn't been used as much.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
From: Frederick MD
83 500SEC, 87 300D, 02 C32(x2), 02 C320T (x2), 03 C320T4, 03 C320T, 03 E55, 05 E320CDI, 06 E320CDI
I find myself in the same boat here as I now own SIX of these confounded seats (2 C32's and a pair in my C320) and 6/6 have inoperative seat bottoms as well as 1/6 inop seat back. I had repaired the C32 seat bottom 2x in my C320, which the first time initially worked well (was broken in 5 places) but did not work again the following year. Second attempt (2 places broken) at it got it working again also but would literally almost burn a hole in your butt at the rear of your left cheek so it is now unplugged.
I was thinking of trying a kit such as and seeing how well or bad it works for the cost.
from reading posts here it seems the carbon elements are they way to go. Might even give these a shot for $25 and prime shipping:
I was thinking of trying a kit such as and seeing how well or bad it works for the cost.
from reading posts here it seems the carbon elements are they way to go. Might even give these a shot for $25 and prime shipping:
Newbie
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
'03 SLK32 AMG
I find myself in the same boat here as I now own SIX of these confounded seats (2 C32's and a pair in my C320) and 6/6 have inoperative seat bottoms as well as 1/6 inop seat back. I had repaired the C32 seat bottom 2x in my C320, which the first time initially worked well (was broken in 5 places) but did not work again the following year. Second attempt (2 places broken) at it got it working again also but would literally almost burn a hole in your butt at the rear of your left cheek so it is now unplugged.
I was thinking of trying a kit such as Amazon.com: Dorman 628-040 Universal Seat Heater Kit: Automotive and seeing how well or bad it works for the cost.
from reading posts here it seems the carbon elements are they way to go. Might even give these a shot for $25 and prime shipping: Amazon.com: Crimestopper HSK150 Deluxe Heated Seat Kit: Automotive
I was thinking of trying a kit such as Amazon.com: Dorman 628-040 Universal Seat Heater Kit: Automotive and seeing how well or bad it works for the cost.
from reading posts here it seems the carbon elements are they way to go. Might even give these a shot for $25 and prime shipping: Amazon.com: Crimestopper HSK150 Deluxe Heated Seat Kit: Automotive
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