Retrofit heated seats

[Bungleaio]

Has anyone had heated seats retrofitted to their car? Abarth sadly doesn't offer heated seats as an option so I can't get some seats with the heating element in and fit them. I need to go to someone who can strip my seats, fit a heating element, wiring etc and refit.

I'm willing to travel if there is anyone whose work is top notch but I'm based in Leicester.

[DJ_AS]

Its not the neatest solution, but you can get a heated seat cover that plugs into the 12V adaptor. A bonus is that it can be moved between cars.

Something like this: https://www.wayfair.co.uk/garden/hd0/proplus-heate...

[Wooda80]

It's not a big job. Most car seat covers can be slipped off the foam easily if you know how they fasten on. It's then just a question of layng a sort of electric blanket element ( if anyone else remembers those 70s-tastic inventions ) , wiring up a 3 position switch on the seat valance and putting the covers back on.

I've used these guys on a few occasions and they've always been very good: www.avsolutions.co.uk
Not local to you unfortunately but anyone who offers the service that seems half decent in their general operationwill be satisfactory I'm sure.

[Mr-B]

I was looking at this the other day so put a speculative search on ebay and came up with the same product as above

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-HEATED-CAR-VAN-FRON...

Haven't bought them as I don't need them yet but a car I am looking at hasn't got heated seats which I would like.

[Phunk]

See: https://www.abarthforum.co.uk/500-abarth/bum-burne...

[MrJolly71]

Would it be worth your while travelling to Sheffield?

https://www.sourcesounds.com/gallery/heated-seat-u...

[jas xjr]

I think we have a car upholsterer based in the east midlands. Fermit the krog and sarah? Possibly

[anonymous-user]

I guess there will be a good discount, on the hottest day of the year!

[Macboy]

We had it done on wife's car. It was a day's work - or at least they needed the car for a day - stripped off the seat covers, added in heated pads, wiring under the carpet and added the heated seat buttons , three position I think, to the seat based which was extremely neat. All in about £450 so not hugely more expensive than factory fit. When we were looking at buying it, several dealers offered to have the work done before delivery so they obviously do it fairly regularly as, bizarrely, few people spend the £250 on the option. Work as well as the OEM ones in my Audi.

[Bungleaio]

Thanks for the help everyone, looks like a trip to Sheffield will be in order. £500 isn't cheap but will add a lot to the enjoyment of the car.

[ChickenvanGuy]

Perhaps a bit further for you, but MotorMods based in Cheltenham do this.

I fitted the heated seat elements to my S2000. Got carbon ones from Ebay, arounf £150, Fitting them was pretty straightforward, but a) I had done it on a previous S2000 and b) there are no airbags or motors in S2000 seats.

MotorMods wired them in for me as I'm not confident with electrics. The brief was that it had to look like they were fitted in the factory and they do. Fitting was around £250. The carbon elements are much better than the wire ones I fitted a few years ago, toasty warm.

MotorMods will do the whole job, including fitting the elements. http://www.motormods.co.uk/

[threespires]

I bought a pair of heated pads off ebay for about £30:00.
Easy peasy job, it took me a morning to fit them both.

[Bungleaio]

Cheers guys. No issue with the wiring side but I don't fancy taking brand new seats apart to fit the elements.

[FastDad]

You really want heated seats that much? I have them but sure wouldn't pay for them to be honest.

[Bungleaio]

They make a big difference in a convertible, there's nothing better than having the roof down on a clear cold night with the heated seats on.

[FastDad]

Bungleaio said:

They make a big difference in a convertible, there's nothing better than having the roof down on a clear cold night with the heated seats on.

Fair point, never thought of that

[Smitters]

Cheers for the Motormods link - that's near me. When I upgrade my van seats I'll look into them.

I've always thought the ultimate luxury was aircon on and heated seats on. For a man with a dodgy back, the difference that little bit of warmth makes on a long journey is significant.

[Mike335i]

Agreed, heated seats are awesome for rescuing back ache and for relaxing on a long drive. Wouldn't want to be without them!

[Bungleaio]

Just to close this out I had my seats fitted with all the heating gubbins by https://www.facebook.com/AutoroofsAutomotive/ The only visible clues that anything has changed is the switch by the centre console and the cable going to the seat back on the driver's side.

[Mike335i]

Looks decent!