[ZipSpeed]

Left work today and forgot my gloves. Never had a vehicle with a heated steering wheel before. Was great having warm hands all the way home!

[MikeBimmer]

+1!

[tuco44]

Absolutely, heated steering wheels are great..!!

Understand you folks in Calgary needed that today. Messy..!!

[02420X3]

I love my heated steering wheel too, but it gets a bit too warm after a bit. It would be even better if it was adjustable like the heated seats.

My wife has very quickly learned the pleasure of heated seats. The "why do you want to spend money on that" questioning look has now turned into an "Oooh!" as the heat kicks in.

[TJTT]

where is the switch? I could not locate it.

[Beyu]

Originally Posted by TJTT

where is the switch? I could not locate it.

The button is well hidden.

It's on the left side of the steering wheel close to the lever for adjusting the steering wheel.

[Want the thrill]

Agree! Used it a few times already and it is NICE

[BIMMER UK 76]

Nearly ticked this option but passed in the end, will I regret when winter kicks in?

[JOHNBMWM5]

I have yet to try mine as the car gets picked up monday

[TuffLittleUnit]

+1

Not something I would have ordered specifically but it comes with the cold weather pack in the UK. I've surprised myself with just how much I'm already using it.

Heated seats are great too ... and my kids just love having them in the rear.

[Harplayr]

I had it on my last X3 and now it’s on my “must have” list.
Just wait until its -10 or -20….turning on the heated seats and wheel will make anybody an instant convert.

[Botwin]

I had the heated sterring wheel on my 05 X3. I used it all the time! Of course, I ordered one on my new X3.

Interestingly, on the old X3 the switch was right on the front of the steering wheel. It was in the perfect spot. The new X3 hides it behind the wheel...

[Le Chef]

In the Midwest it's well worth having and means you don't have to wear gloves driving the car when it gets to -20F.

[Mako]

I almost didn't get it because with 2012 models it requires the cold weather pack which is $100 more than what heated seats and wheel cost last year and I dont need/care about tri folding rear seats. But got it anyway and am do glad I did. Heated M steering wheel is awesome.

My wife used to be one of those saying heated seats were a waste until she had them in her Audi and now won't go with out them. Same goes for the steering wheel, tried it once after saying not to get it and she changed her mind...

[Lotus7]

Since I received my X3 in early February, I used the heated steering wheel almost every day for the first 6 weeks of ownership. Love the heat, and it does eliminate the need for using gloves for the first few miles of driving in very cold weather.

HOWEVER, the ergonomics of the operating switch could not be worse. It's completely hidden behind the steering wheel, it's too small to be found easily by feel, and the orange "ON" indicator light cannot be seen unless you look around the wheel. It's hard to imagine a worse place for the switch. Generally the ergonomics of the X3 seem well thought out, the shift lever, the Sport Mode buttons, E-Brake and Auto-hold buttons seem to be placed perfectly, BUT the steering wheel heater switch and especially the "blocked" indicator lamp seem like an afterthought.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by Lotus7

Since I received my X3 in early February, I used the heated steering wheel almost every day for the first 6 weeks of ownership. Love the heat, and it does eliminate the need for using gloves for the first few miles of driving in very cold weather.

HOWEVER, the ergonomics of the operating switch could not be worse. It's completely hidden behind the steering wheel, it's too small to be found easily by feel, and the orange "ON" indicator light cannot be seen unless you look around the wheel. It's hard to imagine a worse place for the switch. Generally the ergonomics of the X3 seem well thought out, the shift lever, the Sport Mode buttons, E-Brake and Auto-hold buttons seem to be placed perfectly, BUT the steering wheel heater switch and especially the "blocked" indicator lamp seem like an afterthought.

The stop-start on/off switch is the same. It's hidden by the steering wheel so you have to peer over to see if it's on or off (usually after stop-start randomly doesn't kick in again and you think "I must have turned it off by mistake")

[midlifecrisis]

Years ago when we ordered our E83 X3, the SA urged us to order the heated steering wheel. My wife thought it was stupid, but I thought - what the heck, it's only a hundred and fifty bucks.

We picked up the car on December 29th. On December 30th, my wife called me from the car to say what a genius our SA was for getting us to order the heated wheel. We were disappointed that it wasn't an available option on our next two cars (M3 and Mini Cooper S), but we're happy to have it on the new X3!

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by Lotus7

Since I received my X3 in early February, I used the heated steering wheel almost every day for the first 6 weeks of ownership. Love the heat, and it does eliminate the need for using gloves for the first few miles of driving in very cold weather.

HOWEVER, the ergonomics of the operating switch could not be worse. It's completely hidden behind the steering wheel, it's too small to be found easily by feel, and the orange "ON" indicator light cannot be seen unless you look around the wheel. It's hard to imagine a worse place for the switch. Generally the ergonomics of the X3 seem well thought out, the shift lever, the Sport Mode buttons, E-Brake and Auto-hold buttons seem to be placed perfectly, BUT the steering wheel heater switch and especially the "blocked" indicator lamp seem like an afterthought.

I agree about the placement of the switch. Very awkward indeed. It's a good thing (in this purpose) that we don't have power adjustable steering wheels, because I can imagine how many times one would accidentally move the steering wheel trying to turn on the heat element. The control used to be on the spokes of the steering wheel. Another reason I don't like the relocation of the cruise control to the wheel, because it displaces space for other controls.

That said, I do LOVE the option and I really glad that they now put the heater in the ///M wheels. They didn't used to. Our X5 M Sport could not have it because of a problem with the element harming the softer leather.

[GenX3]

Once you go 'heated steering wheel' you never go back!

I love this option. I live in Colorado so that stands to reason. I swore I would never buy another new car without this option... Even when we lived in Texas, though we didn't use it as frequently, it was still an option I felt was a good purchase.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by GenX3

Once you go 'heated steering wheel' you never go back!

I love this option. I live in Colorado so that stands to reason. I swore I would never buy another new car without this option... Even when we lived in Texas, though we didn't use it as frequently, it was still an option I felt was a good purchase.

Agree. This is the first heated steering wheel I've had and aside from one short test, I can't wait to use it. I used to have to keep my gloves on for the first 10 minutes of my drive home from work, and hated that. Looking forward to not needing them. The heated seats have always warmed me quickly until the heat system warms the cabin. No need for coat and gloves (I hate driving with a coat on).

[Powerrunner]

Love the heated steering wheel and have been using it a lot once I found the well concealed switch.

[Lotus7]

Originally Posted by Powerrunner

Love the heated steering wheel and have been using it a lot once I found the well concealed switch.

There's a rumor that the 2013 X3s will have the steering wheel heat switch relocated to under the fuel filler door for better access. You heard it here first!

(The BMW logic being that when you go outside to add fuel, your hands will freeze and will remind you to trigger the wheel heater).