Rear Heated Seats Retrofit (E53)

[Imy]

[quote="ChrisLux"]

If it'd been 'foiled' was gonna ask where from .

If I paint mine the same colour as the exterior , I end up with the same problem I already
have , coz everything's bloody black  )  I had the idea to maybe change it to silver carbon
like the ACS stuff , but don't wanna pay their prices !!
[/quote]

ACS prices are crazy! I ended up wrapping mine in alcantara.

[grantsmtih82]

i would love to retrofit the rear blinds to my car... just pig to source doorcards with the blind cut out and the replacement window trim with the hooks on.. let alone the blinds themselves. 

[The Doc]

Nice job sir, your a brave man - loving the two piece blinds 

[Sanj]

Original pictures back on this thread too.

[X5E53Des]

Many thanks for this Sanj. Although your post was some years ago its still helping us E53 enthusiasts!
I had the retrofit rear seat heating info from another source but got stuck when I needed to find the loom to connect to the 2 switches. Your post quickly gave me the answer (remove front passenger / left seat on UK car and release the loom with 2 plugs cable tied horizontally underneath the carpet underneath the seat).
I now have toasty rear leather and just need to upgrade to a chauffeur now / next!
1 further tip for anyone doing the E53 rear heated seat retrofit - You don't need to remove the centre console and only need to remove the centre console glove box, release the 2 screws to release the rear vents and unclip the left hand panel on the left side of the centre console immediately next to the front left seat. When the left seat is removed to gain access to release the wiring loom with 2 connectors for the switches, it can be easily routed up into place with the minimal parts removed as described from the centre console. This will save you time and reduce any risk of any breakage as well as I've known BMW specialists to break parts like the rear cup holder when removing the centre console to access the air bag control unit (happened to me years ago on my 1st 2002 E53). Lastly, I think the correct E53 switches are with Green LEDS's on the left and have a green switch body. Beware as some breakers are selling switches that work but the LED's are on the right and are orange instead of green. I think the orange switches are the units fitted in Range Rovers!
Hope that further helps anyone doing this retrofit.

[X5Sport]

Glad to see an older thread still bringing value to the forum. Sanj’s a bit of a star amongst the long term members. Thank you for commenting too.