Heated seats - retrofit?

[fat controller]

One of the very few things missing from my A4 is heated front seats, and I got to wondering if it would be possible to retrofit them? Or would it be such a costly/nightmarish job that it wouldn't be worthwhile?

[Guest 2]

Aftermarket or OEM? The latter being the more expensive.

[fat controller]

If I do it, I think that OEM would be preferable - but then, if the difference in cost isn't all that much.....

[Guest 2]

I think the biggie in terms of £ in the oem setup is the replacement climate control panel

BigCol done a aftermarket r/fit into a C5 A6 - A6 C5 Avant heated seat retro fit (front and rear)

You could place the little switch down by the lumbar support switch if you want it out of the way.

[Soot1e]

Going by the fact that the local dealers use an aftermarket company to retro fit heated seats on both new and used vehicles, it is probably an indication that going down the OEM route is probably too expensive. The wife had them fit heating elements to her A1 and the two setting rocker switch has been fitted on the seat base.

[fat controller]

Hmmm - OEM may well be out then. I don't have any lumbar support switches (nor handle, in fact - these really are poverty spec seats!) I am wondering if it might be more painless to get these fitted professionally; takes half the fun out of it, but then gives me someone to go back and nag if it goes wrong.

Then again, do I really need them at all? Ho hum..... decisions, decisions....

[Guest 2]

They're lovely in winter, one thing I miss in my A3 as the A6 has them.

They look pretty easy(!) on Col's guide but suppose if you fancy a challenge you could save a few £ fitting them yourself. If I were more competent at wiring I would have a bash and would fit rears too if I were good enough!

[fat controller]

Funny enough, its not the wiring that worries me, its the getting the seats out, covers off, and everything back in without damage or stray airbag lights.

By Christmas, I hope to have paid the bulk of my credit card off, so might allow myself a wee treat and get VCDS to take care of fault codes, so might be as well leaving it until after then.

[Guest 2]

Looking at Col's thread it doesn't seem too bad but I too would worry about getting everything back together correctly.

Seats out without warning is just to disconnect the battery and don't reconnect it again until the airbag plug is in no errors that way then