The seats on my 2008 T2 V8 are hotter than a heating pad when on high. Drive with them on high all the time to help my back.

 

Mine are lukewarm.

 

Yours go up to 5 or 3? Mine go up to 5. Takes a good 7-10 minutes for them to warm up completely. Also, I believe they are actuated by someone actually sitting on the seat. If no one is sitting on it, I don't believe they get as hot as they would with weight on it. Don't quote me on that, but it seems to be my experience. Once I sit on them, they seem to get hotter.

 

Mine go to 5. And I think sitting in them will let the sensor know that someone is in the seat and warms it up. I'll try the several minutes rule to see if it is indeed time that it needs to properly reach full temperature.

 

10 minutes is enough to see do they work properly..

 

They get hotter once you sit on them, for the obvious reasons that for one, your weight is squeezing all the air out of the foam, which acts as insulation (the air). Second, your butt is acting as insulator to trap the heat.

I don't believe the seats heating elements are activated when you sit on them, unless there was a change 2006+. I've often switched on the passenger side seat heating element, so that the seat will be pre-heated, before my passenger enters the vehicle.

I always pamper my passengers

 

Mine heat up fine and fast about 1 min to warm and 2 for HOT.
they work with the heat setting no matter if someone is seating on them. That would be a nice feature so they are off when not needed.

 

X2

 

Mine are actually fine.

 

I'm confused, didn't you write as your thread opening post, that setting #1 was like #5?

In any case, #5 is waaaay to hot for me after 5 min, even when -20C here. I start off at #5 for the initial 3-5 min, then I lower it to #2, and just leave it there.

 

There is some very interesting reading if you google "toasted skin syndrome" directly related to heated car seats.... They are undoubtably wonderful on cold mornings, but moderation is key!

 

X2 on moderation

It is the key