Seats have heat control l option n. drivers side gets too hot and burns driver creating a burn hole on the seat.
The airbag warning light on the instrument cluster turned on when i had a passenger in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. it would go off after a few start cycles with no passengers, but then come back on the next time a passenger was in the front passenger seat. i was able to read the codes which indirectly indicated a fault in the occupancy sensor mat in the front passenger seat. i replaced the sensor mat and related wiring interface and the warning light and errors have not returned. there are many owners groups that discuss the apparent high failure rate of these occupancy sensor mats and we have noted that more recent x5 models were recalled, but that earlier models were not. i suspect that the earlier models have the same - or a related - problem. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw x5. the contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the front driver's seat caught on fire. the contact jumped up from the seat and hit his head on the ceiling, causing him to become dizzy. the contact was able to safely maneuver to the shoulder. the vehicle was then towed to a bmw dealership. the contact stated that the heater for the seat became very hot. the failure and current mileages were 140,000. 8/6/12 *cn
Failure of driver seat heating mechanism. hole burned in bottom seat cushion and burn to occupant's (me) leg. this appears to be due to a short or break in the heating element. on-line research i've done indicates this is a widespread problem with this vehicle. *tr
Driver's seat heater malfunctioned. i first noticed a burning odor and ultimately found 2 scorch marks in the leather...1 on each side of the seat back near the base. the marks were dark brown and hard (from the dried leather). *jb
Quote from dealer's repair notes: "drivers heated seat became very hot, burning oder in vehicle, back of seat was very hot and leather was burned". wife was driving at time. seat was very hot to touch,she had skin burn sensation. we were told that there have been other similar failures, and were fortunate that situation was not worse but feel very strongly that bmw should have addressed this proactively, not on the ad-hoc basis that seems to be its policy.*ak