1999 Boxster Heated Seats

[KC-CarGuy]

I'm looking at buying a '99 Boxster. It does not have heated seats. :-(

I seem to remember someplace that all cars roll off the factory line mostly the same, i.e. all wiring is there. Some things are just not hooked up and/or are missing the "on" button because they are NOT options.

Is it possible that an early Boxster without the heated seats option.... just need the seat plugged in and an "on" switch installed?

A potentially cold but wants to know.

Thanks!

[piper6909]

I doubt that they would have installed seats with heating elements if the build didn't call for heated seats. Also, I took my interior apart, including the center console, and to my best recollection there wasn't any unplugged wires where the heater switches would go.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by KC-CarGuy

I seem to remember someplace that all cars roll off the factory line mostly the same, i.e. all wiring is there. Some things are just not hooked up and/or are missing the "on" button because they are NOT options.

Is it possible that an early Boxster without the heated seats option.... just need the seat plugged in and an "on" switch installed?

Thanks!

On my 1996 Infiniti G20, that appeared to be the case. I was able to retrofit fog lights easily because the wiring harness was already in place. I just bolted on some used fog lights, inserted the switch and relay and was ready to go

Sadly this was not the case when I installed heated seats in my Boxster. My theory is that the Germans value conserving resources and custom fit a wiring harness designed specifically for each car's options. The Japanese value "mistake proofing" the assembly process and use the same wiring harness on each car of a specific make and model.

I used Dennis Vogel's instructions to retrofit heated seats in my car: Dennis Vogel: Projects - Boxster Heated Seats This process results in an installation with the same appearance and operations as the factory heaters.

There are other options. This video shows how to use commercially available seat heaters:
https://youtu.be/2tAGcah3jsY

If you are well versed with automobile electrical work, you could probably combine the method show in the video with Dennis Vogel's work and avoid the cost of new seat foam.

I bought a pair of heated seats out of a wreck and used Dennis' instructions to wire up the factory switches.

Good luck.

[tonythetiger]

Buy the parts used or have an upholstery shop do it with aftermarket kit (just buy switches so it looks stock) the wiring is easy and they are not expensive.


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