My 2005 R52S came from Fl. with the Hot Climate option...no heated seats. I live in OH and NEED heated seats as my top is down most of the time. Are there any seats that would be plug and play in other years? In other words...what year MINI seats would be interchangeable. PS..if anyone knows what the Hot Climate option is, please let me know. I can find VERY little. As always, TIA for and information and help.
You can add aftermarket seat heaters. These work great: Amazon.com : Carbon Fiber Seat Heater Kit Hi/Lo Setting 3 Years USA Warranty - 2 Seats : Automotive Electronic Security Products : Car Electronics Need hog ring pliers to reassemble seats. Amazon.com: Drake Off Road PLIERSET-P Professional Hog Ring Upholstery Installation Kit: Automotive
I'm wondering if aftermarket might be a better way to go anyway, the ones in both my cars are too damn hot to use for more than about 5 minutes, 15 if it's below zero outside...... The ones in the wife's Audi are wonderful - six different settings that you can actually feel, from just barely warm to how do you like your eggs..... The ones in my MINIs go from "oh my god that's too hot" to "turn it off - now"! However, the ones posted above look like they only do the cushion, I like the backrest to be heated too. There are other aftermarket heaters out there, including some that just sit on top of the seat and plug into the cig lighter....I have a local convertible owner who bought them for his convertible MINI too.....I'll ask him what kind he got.
My buddy has Wet Okole seat covers with the heaters built in, here's a link..... Mini Cooper Seat Covers - Wet Okole Hawaii
"Hot Climate" vs "Cold Climate" option involves some differences in the engine, such as the intake manifold and probably ECU programming. It is automatically selected based on where the car is sold. Not to be confused with the extra cost "Cold Weather Package" option that includes heated seats, mirrors and washers.
The ones I posted have two mats, for the back and seat. Hard to tell in the pic. EACH KIT includes 4 pads for 2 seats with Illuminated 2-Color Switches
You can buy one of those combo massaging and heating seat covers that you plug into your cigarette lighter
Only ever used mine for maybe the first 10 minutes on a very cold morning. Never seemed too hot to me, maybe because I only had them on for a bit. Babs always has seat heaters running, I can't understand how she can stand that. One of the many mystery's of a women I guess. Babs rates the 3 speed heaters in her R55 above those 2 speed ones in the R53 or the 3 speed ones in my Golf Kart. What I'd really like is a heated steering wheel.