Heated Steering Wheel Barely Working

BMWTORONTO123 · 09-26-2023, 01:13 PM

I was wondering whether new(er) software updates have solved the problem of the Heated Steering Wheel that barely works (even on the highest setting)

I have read that a previous software update reduced the intensity of the heated steering wheel dramatically.

I have still quite an old version of the Software (03/2023.24) and I haven't received an over the air update (yet)

tex2670 · 09-26-2023, 01:40 PM

I'm not aware of any change in the X1 software about this. I got my car last December and the steering wheel has always taken a long time to heat up, and doesn't get as intense as my F30. I had the car at the dealer in April for the airbag recall and had them look at it; they said this is normal functionality.

Beembar51 · 09-26-2023, 02:26 PM

We've had a couple of chilly mornings here in NC. I turned on the heated steering wheel and seats. I felt nothing until I put both of them on the highest settings. And even then it took an interminable amount of time to feel anything. Compared to every other BMW I've had (G20, F30, E90, F10, E84, F48, you get it) it sucks. And why couldn't BMW just leave the button on the steering wheel?

tex2670 · 09-26-2023, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beembar51

We've had a couple of chilly mornings here in NC. I turned on the heated steering wheel and seats. I felt nothing until I put both of them on the highest settings. And even then it took an interminable amount of time to feel anything. Compared to every other BMW I've had (G20, F30, E90, F10, E84, F48, you get it) it sucks. And why couldn't BMW just leave the button on the steering wheel?

My seat gets really hot really quick; not so much with the steering wheel.

04S · 09-26-2023, 04:12 PM

I had the same issue. The heating intensity for the seats and wheel is connected to the automatic climate program. If you turn off the auto climate, so it is on manual, then you will see much better performance from the heated wheel and seats. I didn't believe it until I tried it. It works.

MontyB1 · 09-26-2023, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04S

I had the same issue. The heating intensity for the seats and wheel is connected to the automatic climate program. If you turn off the auto climate, so it is on manual, then you will see much better performance from the heated wheel and seats. I didn't believe it until I tried it. It works.

Really, why the hell are the linked. We haven’t really had ours on yet, as a test we did turn it on when it was hot and it worked. As for winter performance we shall see.

My X3 wheel gets too hot for me, something a little cooler would be better, why they have gone with something much cooler is baffling. The X1 has some odd things in it at times.

tex2670 · 09-27-2023, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MontyB1

Really, why the hell are the linked. We haven’t really had ours on yet, as a test we did turn it on when it was hot and it worked. As for winter performance we shall see.

My X3 wheel gets too hot for me, something a little cooler would be better, why they have gone with something much cooler is baffling. The X1 has some odd things in it at times.

It's counter-intuitive. My 328 wheel got real hot real quick, but the heat was either on or off; now the X1 has levels, including "Very Hot", and I can't get it as hot as my 328. I actually don't want it very hot, I just want it to heat up quickly so I can turn it down to a comfortable level, like the seats.

MontyB1 · 09-27-2023, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex2670

It's counter-intuitive. My 328 wheel got real hot real quick, but the heat was either on or off; now the X1 has levels, including "Very Hot", and I can't get it as hot as my 328. I actually don't want it very hot, I just want it to heat up quickly so I can turn it down to a comfortable level, like the seats.

Yeah agreed, wonder why they have gone for this, I bet its configurable somewhere like the seats are via coding but you can't code the X1's now its all held within BMWs control.

Kothar · 09-27-2023, 11:43 AM

Just tried the heated steering wheel on highest with manual climate setup as mentioned. This is quite pathetic compared to my previous m235i sedan. That wheel had button and got toasty good. Contrast to this, barely feeling it. Actually it is no good for Canada winter climate. I'd give this a 3 out of ten. Certainly it must get warmer than this on "highest" setting? The seats seem ok on highest. Maybe they are going to have a "pay for hotter " steering wheel subscription 😅

BMWTORONTO123 · 09-28-2023, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kothar

Just tried the heated steering wheel on highest with manual climate setup as mentioned. This is quite pathetic compared to my previous m235i sedan. That wheel had button and got toasty good. Contrast to this, barely feeling it. Actually it is no good for Canada winter climate. I'd give this a 3 out of ten. Certainly it must get warmer than this on "highest" setting? The seats seem ok on highest. Maybe they are going to have a "pay for hotter " steering wheel subscription 😅

I totally agree, this is not sufficient for a Canadian winter!

DerekS · 09-28-2023, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kothar

Just tried the heated steering wheel on highest with manual climate setup as mentioned. This is quite pathetic compared to my previous m235i sedan. That wheel had button and got toasty good. Contrast to this, barely feeling it. Actually it is no good for Canada winter climate. I'd give this a 3 out of ten. Certainly it must get warmer than this on "highest" setting? The seats seem ok on highest. Maybe they are going to have a "pay for hotter " steering wheel subscription 😅

When was your X1 produced ? Im wondering if there has been a recent software update to cure the mediocre heated steering wheel ???

Kothar · 09-28-2023, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DerekS

When was your X1 produced ? Im wondering if there has been a recent software update to cure the mediocre heated steering wheel ???

April build.

ronime · 10-14-2023, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex2670

My seat gets really hot really quick; not so much with the steering wheel.

That's my experience as well. Built November 2022 and all remote software upgrades applied.

jihong · 10-18-2023, 09:33 AM

I had this complaint when I first received the car back in February. Brought it to the dealer thinking something was wrong because I could barely feel the heat even on high. They told me it's functioning fine and that BMW is probably reducing temperatures due to complaints of "burning hands" on prior models. Sounds stupid...if it's burning your hands, decrease the level (unless it was a model with just an on/off function).

MontyB1 · 10-18-2023, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jihong

I had this complaint when I first received the car back in February. Brought it to the dealer thinking something was wrong because I could barely feel the heat even on high. They told me it's functioning fine and that BMW is probably reducing temperatures due to complaints of "burning hands" on prior models. Sounds stupid...if it's burning your hands, decrease the level (unless it was a model with just an on/off function).

I can say that the wheel in my X3 is too hot, I find it uncomfortable to keep on for a long period but it is just that on or off. The X1 seems to be tepid to warm mere taking the chill off. I've tried it but only for a few minutes and it isn't winter here yet so final verdict is a way off but it's good rather than great in the U11 X1.

tex2670 · 10-18-2023, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jihong

I had this complaint when I first received the car back in February. Brought it to the dealer thinking something was wrong because I could barely feel the heat even on high. They told me it's functioning fine and that BMW is probably reducing temperatures due to complaints of "burning hands" on prior models. Sounds stupid...if it's burning your hands, decrease the level (unless it was a model with just an on/off function).

They added low/medium/high functionality -- isn't THAT the solution for people that think it's too hot????

richiro · 10-25-2023, 02:03 PM

I was reading that if you’re in efficient mode, then all climate systems run on “low output” or something like that, but it states that all non essential systems will run at a lower power than if in other modes (personal/sport)

ronime · 10-25-2023, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richiro

I was reading that if you’re in efficient mode, then all climate systems run on “low output” or something like that, but it states that all non essential systems will run at a lower power than if in other modes (personal/sport)

There is an option to run the climate and lighting systems normally in Efficient Mode. We have done this and the steering wheel still takes a long time to warm up.

tex2670 · 10-25-2023, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richiro

I was reading that if you’re in efficient mode, then all climate systems run on “low output” or something like that, but it states that all non essential systems will run at a lower power than if in other modes (personal/sport)

This is NOT the heated steering wheel issue

markronnie · 03-22-2024, 06:32 PM

I’ve read from other posting that there are 4 heat settings for wheel & seats but in fact there 4 “INTENSITY” SETTINGS IN THE HVAC SETTINGS & 3 heat settings that you have access to with a push of a button. If you believe yours is heating up to slowly be sure Your INTENSITY setting is not set to the lowest setting.

09-26-2023, 01:13 PM	#1
BMWTORONTO123 New Member 9 Rep 7 Posts Drives: BMW X1 (U11) Join Date: Mar 2023 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	Heated Steering Wheel Barely Working I was wondering whether new(er) software updates have solved the problem of the Heated Steering Wheel that barely works (even on the highest setting) I have read that a previous software update reduced the intensity of the heated steering wheel dramatically. I have still quite an old version of the Software (03/2023.24) and I haven't received an over the air update (yet)
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09-26-2023, 01:40 PM	#2
tex2670 Brigadier General 2423 Rep 4,472 Posts Drives: '23 X1 28i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Philly iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 328i xDrive [0.00] 2023 X1 xDrive 28i [0.00]	I'm not aware of any change in the X1 software about this. I got my car last December and the steering wheel has always taken a long time to heat up, and doesn't get as intense as my F30. I had the car at the dealer in April for the airbag recall and had them look at it; they said this is normal functionality.
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09-26-2023, 02:26 PM	#3
Beembar51 Private 55 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 2023 X1 Join Date: May 2016 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Heated Wheel and Seats We've had a couple of chilly mornings here in NC. I turned on the heated steering wheel and seats. I felt nothing until I put both of them on the highest settings. And even then it took an interminable amount of time to feel anything. Compared to every other BMW I've had (G20, F30, E90, F10, E84, F48, you get it) it sucks. And why couldn't BMW just leave the button on the steering wheel?
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09-26-2023, 04:12 PM	#5
04S Captain 174 Rep 837 Posts Drives: M4 xDrive, X5 40i and U11 X1 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia iTrader: (0)	I had the same issue. The heating intensity for the seats and wheel is connected to the automatic climate program. If you turn off the auto climate, so it is on manual, then you will see much better performance from the heated wheel and seats. I didn't believe it until I tried it. It works.
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09-27-2023, 11:43 AM	#9
Kothar Second Lieutenant 175 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 20 m235i gran coupe Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: 519 iTrader: (0)	Just tried the heated steering wheel on highest with manual climate setup as mentioned. This is quite pathetic compared to my previous m235i sedan. That wheel had button and got toasty good. Contrast to this, barely feeling it. Actually it is no good for Canada winter climate. I'd give this a 3 out of ten. Certainly it must get warmer than this on "highest" setting? The seats seem ok on highest. Maybe they are going to have a "pay for hotter " steering wheel subscription 😅
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10-18-2023, 09:33 AM	#14
jihong Private First Class 53 Rep 126 Posts Drives: 2015 328xi Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New York iTrader: (0)	I had this complaint when I first received the car back in February. Brought it to the dealer thinking something was wrong because I could barely feel the heat even on high. They told me it's functioning fine and that BMW is probably reducing temperatures due to complaints of "burning hands" on prior models. Sounds stupid...if it's burning your hands, decrease the level (unless it was a model with just an on/off function).
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10-25-2023, 02:03 PM	#17
richiro First Lieutenant 270 Rep 379 Posts Drives: 2024 BMW X1 M35i Join Date: May 2023 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	I was reading that if you’re in efficient mode, then all climate systems run on “low output” or something like that, but it states that all non essential systems will run at a lower power than if in other modes (personal/sport)
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03-22-2024, 06:32 PM	#20
markronnie Private First Class 29 Rep 155 Posts Drives: 2024 BMW X1 28i Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW X1 28i [0.00]	I’ve read from other posting that there are 4 heat settings for wheel & seats but in fact there 4 “INTENSITY” SETTINGS IN THE HVAC SETTINGS & 3 heat settings that you have access to with a push of a button. If you believe yours is heating up to slowly be sure Your INTENSITY setting is not set to the lowest setting.
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