Aftermarket Seat Heaters?

epbrown · 01-12-2002, 01:24 AM

So, here's the deal. I'm in winter "project" mode and I'd like to lay up the RR and work on it, which means pulling the SC out of the garage and driving it on non-snowy days. The heat in the SC simply isn't up to Chicago winters, and I'm thinking of adding seat heaters like this or this, in addition to possibly upgrading the heat exchangers and exhaust (still original and I want to go to stainless steel anyway) with one of those cross-over pipes as mentioned in the Performance Handbook. The blower motor's fine, especially for highway speeds, but for city traffic with 20-below wind chills the car that vinyl top just can't keep up!

Anyone ever done this to a Porsche? I've read testimonials from BMW and Lotus owners that are quite positive.

Emanuel

Milu · 01-12-2002, 05:03 AM

If you can find them I'm sure it would be lots easier to fit a set of original Porsche seats with electric heating and sell yours. I have them on my daily driver - lovely!

epbrown · 01-12-2002, 10:57 AM

I have indeed considered that, but the numbers and availability don't work. Those seats are rare, and expensive when you do find them. My own seats are in good shape (1" rip in the driver's left bolster) and the heated inserts only cost $100/seat and an afternoons work - which leaves more money for other projects (I'd still like to change my SC front valance for a Carrera-style one, for instance).

Emanuel

turbo dave · turbo dave's Garage

Emanuel, I put the Katzkin seat heaters in my Miata daily driver, and they are wonderful, pure & simple. I put them in when I changed the seat covers (for Katzkin leather, also wonderful). It wasn't an afternoon job...

The high heat setting is really nice, to get the heat up quickly, and then the normal setting is just perfect. You can then keep the air temperature cool, to keep from getting drowsy. And with a Miata (or Targa?) it makes top down on a cool day enjoyable, rather than painful.

Good luck,

epbrown · 01-13-2002, 04:53 AM

Dave,
Thanks for the post! How long did the installation take? Which took longer, the seat covers or the wiring? And how much did you spend, if you don't mind? I've seen the same install kit on eBay for $99/seat.

Emanuel

Roland Kunz · 01-13-2002, 08:12 AM

Hello

There are some good designed aftermarked heat elements who can be slided under the fabric and work very well.
However if not seamed in ( stiched on ) they will wander over the time and break and they are to hot on the direct powered solution so you need a resistor and a switch but al this isn´t a real problem for DIY:

Grüsse