Recaro Sportster CS help with heated seat

[6ixSpd]

Nice! That's a good discovery.

The TIS wiring diagram shows the stock mats use a built in NTC thermistor to regulate voltage and heating in a feedback system, hence the 3 pin setup for the seatback connector. I wonder what the built in Recaro mats are using.

I've put aftermarket heated mats in my Sportsters as well but haven't wired it to the OEM circuit just yet. Now I'm thinking I may not even need to wire in the NTC to the mats and just splice the OEM plugs.

[m3_tristan]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

Nice! That's a good discovery.

The TIS wiring diagram shows the stock mats use a built in NTC thermistor to regulate voltage and heating in a feedback system, hence the 3 pin setup for the seatback connector. I wonder what the built in Recaro mats are using.

I've put aftermarket heated mats in my Sportsters as well but haven't wired it to the OEM circuit just yet. Now I'm thinking I may not even need to wire in the NTC to the mats and just splice the OEM plugs.

Pm me if you want the details. I wouldn't cut the stock harness on the seat. These harnesses from bmw at $50 each.

[6ixSpd]

I bought a spare set of front E92 sport seats for dirt cheap last Spring just to tinker and experiment with in order to use OEM center console heating controls directly to the heating pads w/o the external Recaro switch I might even pull the occupancy mat from that one just to retain it in the Recaros as well...

IIRC, the aftermarket mats (including the ones Recaro sells - not the BMW Performance versions) have a built-in thermostat inside the mats that regulates voltage. I think this is why you're able to power yours via the stock underseat wiring, as the thermostat is giving some regulation like the OEM BMW NTC thermistor. I didn't think it would work though, as the OEM 3-stage controller requires a 3rd wire input to the underseat harness, and correct me if I am wrong but you simply gave it power and ground, right?

[m3_tristan]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

I bought a spare set of front E92 sport seats for dirt cheap last Spring just to tinker and experiment with in order to use OEM center console heating controls directly to the heating pads w/o the external Recaro switch I might even pull the occupancy mat from that one just to retain it in the Recaros as well...

IIRC, the aftermarket mats (including the ones Recaro sells - not the BMW Performance versions) have a built-in thermostat inside the mats that regulates voltage. I think this is why you're able to power yours via the stock underseat wiring, as the thermostat is giving some regulation like the OEM BMW NTC thermistor. I didn't think it would work though, as the OEM 3-stage controller requires a 3rd wire input to the underseat harness, and correct me if I am wrong but you simply gave it power and ground, right?

That's correct power and ground. When I looked up the diagram for the plug the heated seat only has two wires.

[m3_tristan]

Completed my harnesses since my test was a success. They are ready to go into the car once my floor mounts get here.

[SAMM3Y]

Originally Posted by m3_tristan

Completed my harnesses since my test was a success. They are ready to go into the car once my floor mounts get here.

Nice one.. did you confirm they shut off with ignition? There's still power to the seats with the ignition off.. when you adjust the seat backwards and forwards, there is in the coupe anyway.

[m3_tristan]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

Nice one.. did you confirm they shut off with ignition? There's still power to the seats with the ignition off.. when you adjust the seat backwards and forwards, there is in the coupe anyway.

I didn't no but based on the harness diagram above it should be the ignition power.

They didn't power on until I turned the car on so yeh I guess it does.

[SAMM3Y]

So you're using pins 13/8 and 5?

[m3_tristan]

Originally Posted by SAMM3Y

So you're using pins 13 and 5?

4 and 8. This is the harness I got from bmw instead of cutting off the one on my seat.
Here's the part # 52102753025. It's a mini part

[wyatth]

Good stuff! Most of it’s beyond me but I’m trying to follow. I don’t have factory heat but I wanted heated Sportsters (Recaro elements), with the Recaro button functional. Hoping the AMX harness does all I need for PnP.

[m3_tristan]

Originally Posted by wyatth

Good stuff! Most of it’s beyond me but I’m trying to follow. I don’t have factory heat but I wanted heated Sportsters (Recaro elements), with the Recaro button functional. Hoping the AMX harness does all I need for PnP.

His seats are pnp

[aBMWfan]

Hey guys, I have a full AMX heating kit available and have no use for it pm me if you want to buy thanks

[M3ANMACHINE]

Originally Posted by aBMWfan

Hey guys, I have a full AMX heating kit available and have no use for it pm me if you want to buy thanks

dangggg, I wish I would have seen this prior to my seat and leather install!

[aBMWfan]

Originally Posted by M3ANMACHINE

dangggg, I wish I would have seen this prior to my seat and leather install!

It's not hard to remove the covers and install this pm me if you want to buy thanks

[Nazty Naze One!]

Would this work?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/181866849575

[6ixSpd]

Originally Posted by Nazty Naze One!

Would this work?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/181866849575

You can use that, but it would require a lot more work to integrate with factory controls. Or you can wire that to the battery as they're intended.

[Nazty Naze One!]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

You can use that, but it would require a lot more work to integrate with factory controls. Or you can wire that to the battery as they're intended.

I'd like to make things work with the oem button on the dash, if possible. Is there a kit I should be looking at? I know amx sells a kit but it's $400. Too much imo

[6ixSpd]

That's the only solution other than a bunch of custom wiring work.

[Nazty Naze One!]

Originally Posted by 6ixSpd

That's the only solution other than a bunch of custom wiring work.

Gotcha.

[6ixSpd]

I'll have a solution coming up once I can verify it works in the next few days I got the wiring harness complete, just need to swap the seats in tomorrow to test fit and verify.

edit: Well my theoretical exercise failed! It's extremely difficult to integrate aftermarket elements to be powered off the factory underseat module/wiring and center console buttons. I ended up doing it similar to OP and wiring the aftermarket heater element's switch to the factory power and ground from the car's floor connector.

[irokwrx]

Originally Posted by m3_tristan

Pm me if you want the details. I wouldn't cut the stock harness on the seat. These harnesses from bmw at $50 each.

Thanks for posting this as this is a great help to me in preparing myself for all the items needed to make this work.

If I understand this, you used the Mini plug to connect to the cs seat plug (Per your instructions) and you use the poem switch to tun them on leaving the CS button on 2, or are you just using the power under the seat and using the CS button to turn them on.

[m3_tristan]

Originally Posted by irokwrx

Thanks for posting this as this is a great help to me in preparing myself for all the items needed to make this work.

If I understand this, you used the Mini plug to connect to the cs seat plug (Per your instructions) and you use the poem switch to tun them on leaving the CS button on 2, or are you just using the power under the seat and using the CS button to turn them on.

I am just using the power under the seat to use the recaro switch. Just looks nice with the oem connection