[Obergoose]

Hey folks, I have a set of heated, E63 M6 seats ready to install in my '99 328i. I've spent hours reading up on the topic and I've determined that that this retrofit is entirely possible with the right parts and coding to disable the passenger occupancy sensor.

Seats fit great, trouble is, my early model E46 is equipped with the 18mm, single switch style console for the seat heat buttons. These individual switches only had 2 heat settings, high & low, and there appears to be differences between the individual switch wiring and design and the console style that came in most other cars.

I'm genuinely curious if anyone else has successfully retrofitted heated seats with the individual switch console. The official BMW instructions (linked below) point to a “required module holder” that must be ordered separately but it’s not clear as to what this part is. I assume it’s the new type console. This typically wouldn’t be an issue but I just spent ~$150 on the HVAC relocation single switch console as part of the OE navigation retrofit plus they never produced a switch panel with the old ASC button.

My question is, does anyone have guidance on retrofitting heated seats to use the old switch style console I currently have equipped? (see photo below)

Thank you!

 

[getty150]

Hey folks, I have a set of heated E63 M6 seats ready to install in my '99 328i. I've spent hours reading up on the topic and I've determined that that this retrofit is entirely possible with the right parts and coding to disable the passenger occupancy sensor.

Seats fit great, trouble is, my early model E46 is equipped with the 18mm, single switch style console for the seat heat buttons. These individual switches only had 2 heat settings, high & low, and there appears to be differences between the individual switch wiring and design and the console style that came in most other cars.

I'm genuinely curious if anyone else has successfully retrofitted heated seats with the individual switch console. The official BMW instructions (linked below) point to a “required module holder” that must be ordered separately but it’s not clear as to what this part is. I assume it’s the new type console. This typically wouldn’t be an issue but I just spent ~$150 on the HVAC relocation single switch console as part of the OE navigation retrofit plus they never produced a switch panel with the old ASC button.

My question is, does anyone have guidance on retrofitting heated seats to use the old switch style console I currently have equipped? (see photo below)

Thank you!

View attachment 941338

I don't see the heat button...console looks clean, bet you can't wait to get those seats going! Me and another guy are trying to figure out the heated seat puzzle he's got e46 I got e83...dont know if it will help not I can send the link...hes pretty well versed in this sort of thing far more then me.

Sent from my SM-J727T using Tapatalk

 

[Obergoose]

You bet I'm stoked! Today, I've got the standard, base grade, Montana leather and it's held up surprisingly well considering it's wear and age. It's just gotten really, really hard. The Merino leather on these M6 seats is soft, supple and smells excellent.

Indeed, the seat heat buttons are still missing. I've held off purchasing the 2 individual buttons that fit into my old style console until I can be confident that those will work.

That link would be greatly appreciated!

 

[TobyB]

www.bmwteka.com

Depending on what's in there now, you may need the older E36- style discrete control unit for the seats. The later
cars have a full computer behind that little strip, and then the buttons are populated
as needed for the car options. It's a bit... overkill, but I think BMW was working on trying to integrate
all of the 'body' functions onto the GM.

Good luck- hope the link helps.

t

 

[Obergoose]

www.bmwteka.com

Depending on what's in there now, you may need the older E36- style discrete control unit for the seats. The later
cars have a full computer behind that little strip, and then the buttons are populated
as needed for the car options. It's a bit... overkill, but I think BMW was working on trying to integrate
all of the 'body' functions onto the GM.

Good luck- hope the link helps.

t

Thanks, Toby!

I was concerned about whether the DSC button on these later panels would activate ASC but this should be simple enough to test. If the DSC button activates ASC, I could likely swap over the button faceplate although I haven't come across anyone else on the web doing this. I'd also have to modify the brand new HVAC relocation trim to do so

Shouldn't be too much hassle but will require more parts and testing. I'll research how the e36's handled the seat heat function. There's some benefit in this approach considering the button console utilize 3 heat settings vs. 2.

 

[elfer]

I'm genuinely curious if anyone else has successfully retrofitted heated seats with the individual switch console. The official BMW instructions (linked below) point to a “required module holder” that must be ordered separately but it’s not clear as to what this part is. I assume it’s the new type console. This typically wouldn’t be an issue but I just spent ~$150 on the HVAC relocation single switch console as part of the OE navigation retrofit plus they never produced a switch panel with the old ASC button.

Yes, I retrofitted heated seats into my '99. It was 15 years ago, mind, so the memory's a little hazy, but I definitely had the single 18mm standalone ASC button before and I fitted a 16mm button row. I presume I had to buy the new holder from BMW too.

 

[Obergoose]

Well look at that. You've got the button row with ASC! Perhaps I was mistaken in thinking BMW never made one of these.

That is, unless you managed to swap the DSC faceplate on the button for the ASC version. I realize I'm taking you way back. Do you recall?

 

[elfer]

Well look at that. You've got the button row with ASC! Perhaps I was mistaken in thinking BMW never made one of these.

That is, unless you managed to swap the DSC faceplate on the button for the ASC version. I realize I'm taking you way back. Do you recall?

No, it came like that, I got lucky on ebay! It was from a convertible though and I had a touring, so I had two redundant roof buttons. It was cheap though, so i didn't care. I think maybe the 'verts here had heated seats as standard because so many of the used button rows listed were from them.

IIRC the DSC and ASC have the same pinouts on the big connector, so you could use a DSC button for ASC if you had to.

 

[Obergoose]

No, it came like that, I got lucky on ebay! It was from a convertible though and I had a touring, so I had two redundant roof buttons. It was cheap though, so i didn't care. I think maybe the 'verts here had heated seats as standard because so many of the used button rows listed were from them.

IIRC the DSC and ASC have the same pinouts on the big connector, so you could use a DSC button for ASC if you had to.

Thank you! Turns out, BMW did produce an ASC switch panel. If I need to go this route, and it's looking more and more like I do, glad to know I can buy one.

 

[elfer]

Thank you! Turns out, BMW did produce an ASC switch panel. If I need to go this route, and it's looking more and more like I do, glad to know I can buy one.

Don't know if this guy would post to the US or what it would cost but might be worth asking him?

BMW E46 3 SERIES HEATED SEATS AND ASC SWITCH PACK 2003 YR CAR | eBay

Even if you do end up going another way and don't use them, £13 is basically free.

 

[Obergoose]

I've done some more research and I think I'm able to activate heating on the M6 seats using the old, individual style switches this car would have been factory equiped with. These switches were installed on cars produced 03/1998 up to 09/1999.

Per the functional description on the WDS, there is "electronic circuitry integrated in the switch controls and monitors the seat heating function". If I've interpreted this correctly, that means the old individual-style switches should work in lieu of retrofitting the switch center. Also, the E46 never appears to have had a discete control unit for seat heating like the E36s. Sounds to me like everything was intergrated into the tiny switch on the dash console!

Some links to the WDS:
Functional Description
Wiring Diagram
Technical Specification & Test Procedures

For next steps, I'm going to buy a couple switches, DIY wire up the seats/switches using the PDF linked in post 1 and buy an infrared thermometer to validate the seats are heating to the 'setpoint temperatures' shown in the linked technical specs.

 

[elfer]

deleted (redundant post)

 

[Obergoose]

I've settled on retrofitting these E38/9 heat switches for use with the M6 seats. They also have an activation button + a potentiometer which will allow for fine tuning an occupant's desired heat level vs. the 2 fixed settings on the old style E46 switches. I assume these switches will fit perfectly in the slots in my console based on the fact that the pre-facelift E38/9's use the same ASC switch as the E46 so dimensions should match.

There's a guy over on a Jeep forum who's done some testing on these and has successfully fitted a set of E46 seats to work with these E38/9 switches HERE.

More to come... on getting the heaters functional.

Test fitted the passenger M6 seat and I'm thrilled to report it fits/works flawlessly. Adjustable side bolsters are a nice touch, early M6 seats didn't have a ///M logo embossed in the headrest (which I like) and nothing beats the feel and smell of Merino leather. I'll dye these to Hellbeige 2 in the coming months.

 

[TobyB]

Ok, I'm going to be on the lookout for those switch/ controllers now-
that's a really neat option for transplanting BMW seats into things
that were never designed for them (a Ferd F-2-fiddy, fer example)

Those are 'pre- facelift (1999) controllers, as the later E39's system
works and looks like the later E46

Thanks for posting that!

t

 

[getty150]

I'm getting closer...

https://www.reddit.com/r/e46/comments/p6404d/_/h9aeomx
Sent from my 9029W using Tapatalk

 

[e46touringbuild]

I am looking at doing this retrofit, I just picked up some M6 seats to go in my 2000 300i. I have the older switch panel and I did buy a new switch panel, albeit it doesn't work? Switch panel lights up, but pressing the DSC button does nothing. I haven't yet installed seats/wired them up so im wondering if the big harness below the DSC harness is required? Any suggestions?

I am leaning towards going back to my old switch panel and grabbing some buttons as in this thread.

Thanks

 

[elfer]

I am looking at doing this retrofit, I just picked up some M6 seats to go in my 2000 300i. I have the older switch panel and I did buy a new switch panel, albeit it doesn't work? Switch panel lights up, but pressing the DSC button does nothing. I haven't yet installed seats/wired them up so im wondering if the big harness below the DSC harness is required? Any suggestions?

I am leaning towards going back to my old switch panel and grabbing some buttons as in this thread.

Thanks

To clarify, did you have a standalone button for DSC before? If so, what did you do with the connector that plugged into the back of it? I've done the heated seat retrofit twice but the last time was 10 years ago now, so memory is a little hazy, but I seem to recall that plugs into the switch centre along with the big connector for all the other buttons.

 

[e46touringbuild]

Yes just the standalone button for DSC on the 18mm switch panel. The connector I believe is a 4 pin, and there is a slot on the new 16mm switch panel for this - unless it is for something else?

Pic from google - the top connector is where I plugged the DSC harness in, it is identical size to the 18mm switch panel DSC button.

 

[elfer]

Yes just the standalone button for DSC on the 18mm switch panel. The connector I believe is a 4 pin, and there is a slot on the new 16mm switch panel for this - unless it is for something else?

Pic from google - the top connector is where I plugged the DSC harness in, it is identical size to the 18mm switch panel DSC button.

That sounds right. It should work. (Incidentally, the single button has 4 pins because it needs power and ground for illumination, but the new switch centre gets that from the big connector).

We used to be able to access the wiring diagrams and descriptions easily online through an unofficial site, but BMW had them take it down last year. I might still have the pin-out description for the big connector saved somewhere. I'll look this evening when I have more time.

 

[e46touringbuild]

It does illuminate the switch panel with just the DSC button in, I did have to add some fuses in though. But the DSC button still won't turn on/off the DSC?

I thought it could be a faulty switch panel, but I have had two now since I thought the first was faulty. Both don't seem to do anything on DSC button?

That would be very helpful if you could find that, thank you.