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Author Topic: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?  (Read 4778 times)

Offline SeanyK

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Hey folks,

Short of buying an ED30 interior, or a leather interior... What I wondered was, is it possible/worth it to retro-fit heated seats?

It would be too easy if it was just a case of buying the Kufatec wiring harness and a new climate control switch panel section...?

My seats are not leather, they are the cloth (Interlagos?) Seats, and the car is a 2005 '05' GTI.

I've seen threads saying to look under the seat to see the wiring connectors, which I do have but assume these are to do with the airbags rather than heated seats?

Thanks in advance guys,

Sean

Offline 182_blue

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2010, 02:16:45 pm »
Everything can be retro fitted but some things are harder than others, do you have a specific need for it ?, tbh my last 3 cars have had this option but I have never used it once

Offline LouCyffer

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2010, 02:57:17 pm »
I'd say unless you have a bad case of piles, or a particularly chilly rear, it aint' worth the hassle. :booty:
Black 2008 5 door GTI. Leather, DSG, ipod prep, 18" Monzas. Retrofitted: Cruise, PDC, RNS510, 729 Skoda Bluetooth (thanks SteveP), MFSW buttons (thanks MortyGTTDi), Armrest & vents, covered cupholder, Highline (thanks Kalu), Polar FIS+ (thanks Richn), Reversing camera (thanks MortyGTTDi)

Offline Gtiain

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2010, 03:21:14 pm »
I'm sorry but I disagree with these guys. I think it's a great feature for winter obviously! I wanted to make sure when I got my gti that it had heated seats! I'm sorry but I can't advise on how hard they are to fit.

Offline CAPTAIN BRITAIN

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2010, 04:09:47 pm »
I had this feature on the Recaros fitted to my Mk4 GTI and in 11 years of ownership i must have used it once.
If it would make you happy to have heated seats then go for it, it's your own hard earned money that will pay for it so why not.

Offline Greeners

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2010, 04:27:00 pm »
I never really liked them until I started suffering with a bad back, they are superb for that!  :happy2:

Offline bacillus

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2010, 04:38:36 pm »
iirc with the winter pack you got heated cloth seats so it's a doable retro fit providing the necessary wiring is already in place.
Without traction power is nothing!

Offline stealthwolf

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2010, 04:58:28 pm »
I never really liked them until I started suffering with a bad back

Is that from all the wheel changing or from the obsessive cleaning?

The GTI isn't just a machine. It's very much a living, breathing thing.

Offline SeanyK

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2010, 05:44:04 pm »
I think it would be a nice feature, when buying my GTI I didn't really have the choice of checking for certain extras, as I paid less than a lot of them go for, if I spent £1500 on retro-fitting extras i'd still have a good deal, not that I want to spend that though obviously!  :grin:

Heated seats would be nice for when needed, I guess if it was an expensive (£300+) retrofit, then no, it's not worth it at all, I guess it depends if the wiring loom is already there under the seat, if it's not then I suspect £££ to retrofit.


Offline Lean

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2010, 05:46:26 pm »
I love mine for two reasons...

1. Great on a cold winters morning.. when your waiting for the car to warm up and your drive to work is only 10minutes!!

2. Good for a sore back

Offline LouCyffer

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2010, 06:05:15 pm »
Wow, all these bad backs on the forum. I reckon we'd better start a group buy on bead seats :laugh:
Black 2008 5 door GTI. Leather, DSG, ipod prep, 18" Monzas. Retrofitted: Cruise, PDC, RNS510, 729 Skoda Bluetooth (thanks SteveP), MFSW buttons (thanks MortyGTTDi), Armrest & vents, covered cupholder, Highline (thanks Kalu), Polar FIS+ (thanks Richn), Reversing camera (thanks MortyGTTDi)

Offline SeanyK

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2010, 07:56:12 pm »
It it helps I have a black and a yellow connector under each seat? Or are they just the standard cables for airbag?

Offline mortygttdi

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #12 on: July 25, 2010, 08:28:44 pm »
The wiring is not there you need to buy it from Kufatec then you will need the climate control with heated seats plus the heating elements for both the seats.

Once you have that then you need to rip your seats apart and fit everything and the wiring is a ball ache to do even Kufatec didn't have a clue when Ollie was having trouble with his.

Darren

Offline SeanyK

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #13 on: July 25, 2010, 08:43:31 pm »
Darren, that description = An absolute non starter for me, im aborting doing it, too much hassle lol! :laugh:

Offline mortygttdi

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Re: Heated seats - can they be retrofitted on non-leather seats?
« Reply #14 on: July 25, 2010, 09:29:25 pm »
Sorry Sean I wish I could say it was easy?

I have nappa leather seats that where in when I bought the car and in the 3 years I have had the car I have not found I needed the heating in them. 

I would attempt any thing and have done most big retrofits but when it comes to ripping seats apart then Ill leave that to the pro's

Darren