MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: RobC on February 06, 2020, 08:25:54 am

Title: Wingback Heating Elements - any alternatives?
Post by: RobC on February 06, 2020, 08:25:54 am
Im looking at getting a set of Wingback seats retrimmed and whilst Im at it Id like to add the heating elements. VW want £200 per element (£800 in total!!) which is madness, considering 5 years ago they were £75 a piece. Are there any alternatives? Does anybody have any for sale?! Im going to look at the wiring diagrams but do they just get fed by a simple 12v live, meaning I could use a universal set, chop the plugs off and connect VW plugs to plug in to my existing wiring?

Rob C
Title: Re: Wingback Heating Elements - any alternatives?
Post by: colesey on February 06, 2020, 11:43:26 am
That is crazy and a complete piss take for what is essentially a few pieces of wire and a rheostat. I'd have thought you could easily source from another model / brand or directly from Recaro.
Title: Re: Wingback Heating Elements - any alternatives?
Post by: RobC on February 06, 2020, 12:03:28 pm
That is crazy and a complete piss take for what is essentially a few pieces of wire and a rheostat. I'd have thought you could easily source from another model / brand or directly from Recaro.

I agree!

I believe the seats are fairly unique in that sense and when I asked Recaro they basically said they are a VW seat so you have to get them from VW  :sad1:

Rob C
Title: Re: Wingback Heating Elements - any alternatives?
Post by: bobby_fodge on February 06, 2020, 12:31:41 pm
Can you use some generic ones?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Carbon-Element-Heating-Cushion/dp/B07HB1BM82
Title: Re: Wingback Heating Elements - any alternatives?
Post by: RobC on February 06, 2020, 12:50:54 pm
Can you use some generic ones?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Carbon-Element-Heating-Cushion/dp/B07HB1BM82

Yes, potentially but Id like to keep the wiring OEM so would need to make sure its compatible. If I was to do that Id probably find a cheap set of standard Mk5 seats and pull the elements from them as then at least the wiring will be plug & play.

Rob C