How to: BMW Heated Seat Built In Diagnostic Procedure

How to activate the self diagnostic procedure to help troubleshoot a non-working heated seat. The car I am working with here today is a 1997 BMW 540i. This procedure is intended for the rotary style heated seat switch circuit. Information has been quite limited for this produce, I am unsure if it applied to the newer style switches too. If someone is able to test out this procedure on a newer style, if you could post the results in the comments below, that could certainly help out fellow viewers. With the rotary style switch, it uses a potentiometer and typically operates between 20C or 68F to 42C or 107F. The circuit does have a temperate sensor which regulates the heated circuit. If there is a fault with the circuit, once that switch is activated, the green led light will illuminate for a moment and then shut off immediately to prevent further damage. BMW does have a built in test procedure for this. #bmw #bmwe39 #bmw5series
Website: 4diyers.com
Patreon: / 4diyers
Facebook: / 4diyers
Twitter: / 4diyers
Instagram: / 4diyers
Tumblr: / 4diyers
Pintrest: / 4diyers
Procedure:
-to activate the testing procedure, the ignition must be off first
-press and hold the heated seat switch with the fault
-turn the ignition on, no need to start the vehicle
-do this while still holding the switch
-release the button and then press briefly again and then the code sequence will activate
-the light will flash and then have longer pauses in between to demonstrate breaks between the fault
-one flash indicates a fault with the switch
-the switch can have either failed or is overheated due to a short
-two flashes means a faulty temperature sensor, either a break or short in the circuit
-for three times means a broken heated element or fault with the wiring
-I won’t be getting into any more testing in this video, however a heated element can be tested with a multimeter to measure resistance and they typically have a specified ohms reading
-unfortunately not all BMW models can have their heated element replaced separately as they may come as one piece with another component such as the seat cover
Thank you to all those who watch my videos and support my content. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for future tutorial videos and like my video if you found it helpful. New videos are always being uploaded every week!
© 4DIYers 2013
All Rights Reserved
No part of this video or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author.

[@ScottHDuke]

No luck on procedure in 2001 e38 750iL with standard non rotary button.

[@JoaoPereira-ds6ds]

Hi. I have that same error on my 5 series. Can you show how to resolve the problem??

[@user-cs7vu9fd7l]

I know very much time has passed, but do you remember how you fixed this issue?

[@jamiladivine117]

Were you able to get any information about how to run this test in newer models? (2020 and newer)

[@4DIYers]

I’m going to assume that’s most likely a BMW specific diagnostic software like ISTA.

[@dantedred]

doesnt work on my 728i 96.

[@multidjfilip]

Did not work on my e91 330i

[@DirtCoveredBoyz]

Can a temperature sensor be replaced?

[@ObstTube]

same question

[@bdsmith674]

Did not work on my 2002 530i