[Speedbird1]

Just posting my experience from today in case it's a useful reference point for anyone. My 2019 G01 has the heated MSport wheel. Today it was cold enough where I live to automatically activate it under my pre-set temp parameters (+5c).

I noted the following:

1. It heated up quickly - i.e. it was at full temp after approx. 5 minutes.
2. It was definitely hotter at the 10-2 position than the 20 past 8 position. I would say it was about 30% cooler on the lower part.
3. I drove for 40 minutes. In that time, the wheel did not cool at all, i.e. no fluctuation between noticeably hotter or cooler.
4. Although it didn't cool, it did arrive at a stable upper temp so I guess the 'modulation' side of the system was working.
5. After the 30 mins I found that in the 10-2 position my hands were uncomfortably warm and I was constantly lifting them off the wheel to cool them or holding the lower part. I only continued the discomfort for the further 10 minutes to see whether the wheel started cooling at all - it didn't. In fact, my palms are still feeling the effects of holding the hot wheel 20 minutes later whilst typing this!
6. I accept that it wasn't really cold enough to need the wheel on constantly, but I would agree with previous posts that it is a shame that it doesn't have a graduated system as with the seats. Then I could leave it on rather than having to switch off when it becomes uncomfortably hot and then having to manually switch back on when it becomes cool.

So it would seem there is a wide variety of experiences with the heated wheels fitted to X3's. Also. the issue doesn't seem to be equal across, model years, model variants, regions, or wheel design. Very frustrating, and I feel for the OP.

[rob175]

They (BMW & BMW Regional Tech) told me that the thinner "Sport" wheel (not the thicker M style wheel) "won't heat or stay heated like the "M" wheels"....and claim it's "working as designed".

In my final letter to BMW I wrote that IF it's designed to work that way (unlike all the other BMW wheels, their engineers need to go "back to the drawing board" because the standard sport wheels' heating SUCKS!

GREAT CAR....terrible Sport wheel heating!

[Broose]

Suggest you use a digital thermometer rather than just your hand. It would give BMW some real data to work with.

[kscarrol]

OP did that, the data did not help with BMW...

[rob175]

Exactly....used a digital IR scanner. My wheel heat is just enough to take the "chill" off the wheel but really doesn't warm......even BMW claims that its 97F maximum heat is "within specs"........ I suppose if ones hands are freezing and one touches a 97F object, that object will seem "warm" at first but will not provide any additional warmth.

As I wrote, BMW disappointingly has basically told me "to pound sand" and "go away".

[Admiral]

I tried mine today, not as warm as I expected, also lost heat as I suspected when I switched to Eco Pro

[rob175]

Admirl......did it also seem to "cool down" or stop warming after 15 to 20 minutes?

I wish BMW could tell me how the warmth is regulated. Is there some sort of thermostat that controls it?...IF so, does the passenger compartment temperature affect the wheel's thermostat, or does outside temperature affect it? I also wonder if the sun shining on the black covered wheel and heating it affects the wheel's thermostat (ie: shutting it off prematurely)........lost of questions that nobody at BMW can seem to answer.

So when they tell me it's "working as designed" but, at the same time, can't tell me how it's designed to work, I'm left confused and upset.

[Admiral]

Originally Posted by rob175

Admirl......did it also seem to "cool down" or stop warming after 15 to 20 minutes?

I wish BMW could tell me how the warmth is regulated. Is there some sort of thermostat that controls it?...IF so, does the passenger compartment temperature affect the wheel's thermostat, or does outside temperature affect it? I also wonder if the sun shining on the black covered wheel and heating it affects the wheel's thermostat (ie: shutting it off prematurely)........lost of questions that nobody at BMW can seem to answer.

So when they tell me it's "working as designed" but, at the same time, can't tell me how it's designed to work, I'm left confused and upset.

Rob, It was at an acceptable heat on Comfort both steering wheel and seat, when I switched to Eco both cooled down very quickly and to be honest there was not much heat whatsoever in steering wheel and seat

[rob175]

Well, I never drive in eco mostly comfort and the heating or warming of the standard sport wheel SUCKS

[Razel]

Originally Posted by Admiral

Rob, It was at an acceptable heat on Comfort both steering wheel and seat, when I switched to Eco both cooled down very quickly and to be honest there was not much heat whatsoever in steering wheel and seat

Originally Posted by rob175

Well, I never drive in eco mostly comfort and the heating or warming of the standard sport wheel SUCKS

Have you tried Sport mode too? I wonder if the system is "stuck" in "ECO" mode, at least for the heating elements as they "appear" to be performing at that level. Do you notice any other changes going from ECO to Comfort (or to Sport), like the transmission shift points changing?

[rob175]

I'll try driving in Sport mode today and see if it makes a difference.....but I kinda doubt it will. I dislike the "sport" mode because to me, it makes for a "herky-jerky" ride in general with all of those noticeable transmission shifts, both up and down. But I'll try it and see if it affects the steering wheel heating.

[TXBDan]

Weird, i drive almost exclusively in Eco Pro (trying to save battery) and i think the level of heat from the wheels and seats is fine. Doesn't stand out as super hot, just a reasonable amount of heat. This is in around 32-38F weather. I do say that after about 5min i tend to turn off the wheel (to save battery) and the seats off prob around 10min. So i can't say for sure if the heat will cut off after 15min.

[Alias1431]

Originally Posted by rob175

Exactly....used a digital IR scanner. My wheel heat is just enough to take the "chill" off the wheel but really doesn't warm......even BMW claims that its 97F maximum heat is "within specs"........ I suppose if ones hands are freezing and one touches a 97F object, that object will seem "warm" at first but will not provide any additional warmth.

As I wrote, BMW disappointingly has basically told me "to pound sand" and "go away".

Keep in mind, if 97F is the maximum, that's the reading internal to the steering wheel where the temperature sensor is. It's like your arm- the inside might be ~98.6F, but that's certainly not how the outside is going to feel. Other cars may have hotter wheels, but that's just design, not fault.

[rob175]

Tested it yesterday and driving in "sport" mode had no affect on it's heating.

To the last poster..... It seems to be a problem ONLY with the thinner "sport" steering wheel. The thicker "M" wheel doesn't suffer from the same low heat issues of the thinner wheel.

So the frustration remains....BMW says the thinner wheel performs "as designed" .....designed to offer a "little" warming and for just a "little" while????. Nobody at BMW will define or explain exactly how they designed it to OPERATE. What affects its heating? (Internal wheel temp, cabin temp, outside air temp) Does it cycle on and off? (how often) Why is there a performance difference between the thick and thin wheels?

I've tried to get answers from dealers, BMW tech reps, BMW Genius line, BMW Corporate.......nothing but "crickets" or the replay "it works as designed".

[titomi]

You keep writing the same over and over. You will certainly not get the information you seek here. If you can't get answers to your questions and no solution to your problem from BMW, than just sell the car and get something, you will have no complaints about. Or live with the car as is.

[rob175]

Just what I need ...."advice from the EU"....LOL

[rob175]

...YES....in the hope that others, experiencing the same will also raise their voices and BMW might take notice.......but thanks for the "advice" from the EU.......LOL

[BMWZ4]

Just checked my wife's msport 2018 x1, which has the thinner sport wheel. Damn thing gets pretty warm, even hot and stays that way for at least a half hour, then cools down somewhat and even then, stays fairly warm.

[GS - X3]

Originally Posted by rob175

...YES....in the hope that others, experiencing the same will also raise their voices and BMW might take notice.......but thanks for the "advice" from the EU.......LOL

Here is another response from Wisconsin, your neighbor to the North.
I agree with titomi.

Although I absolutely agree with you that BMW should be able to provide you with the design parameters for your steering wheel, the fact is they haven’t. I also understand why you have taken to this Forum in order to hope to get a satisfactory resolution to your concerns. It doesn’t appear to have worked.

At some point, you need to just sue BMW, sell your X3, or get on with your life.

[BMWZ4]

And no reason for the EU crack...

[titomi]

Originally Posted by rob175

Just what I need ...."advice from the EU"....LOL

politics? really? That is one mature answer.

You got your car from a German automaker, even if it is completed in the US.

Greetings from EU

[Bob in IL]

Originally Posted by GS - X3

Here is another response from Wisconsin, your neighbor to the North.
I agree with titomi.

Although I absolutely agree with you that BMW should be able to provide you with the design parameters for your steering wheel, the fact is they haven’t. I also understand why you have taken to this Forum in order to hope to get a satisfactory resolution to your concerns. It doesn’t appear to have worked.

At some point, you need to just sue BMW, sell your X3, or get on with your life.

Three solid choices.