After-market seat heaters

[IAATM]

My wife wants me to get after-market seat heaters installed in our 2013 Mazda5 Sport. I've found a local and accredited shop that will do it for $300 USD per seat, so $600 total all-in.

• Does that price seem fair and reasonable?
• If you've had this done, how did it turn out, and is there any advice you have to offer?
• Should I be concerned about adding seat heaters to the cloth OEM seats, e.g. discoloration?

 

[Vasy]

My wife wants me to get after-market seat heaters installed in our 2013 Mazda5 Sport. I've found a local and accredited shop that will do it for $300 USD per seat, so $600 total all-in.

• Does that price seem fair and reasonable?
• If you've had this done, how did it turn out, and is there any advice you have to offer?
• Should I be concerned about adding seat heaters to the cloth OEM seats, e.g. discoloration?

$600 is VERY high, I did it for $60 plus a few hours of fun
Most of the how-to is posted here: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123839068-2012-Mazda5-How-To-Master-Sheet-READ-ME
You will find two separate how-to on DIY heated seats installs.
There is no problem with discoloration that I can think of.

 

[Silentnoise713]

Vasy has a nice how-to but can understand not everyone is hands on. $600 seems kinda high but I assume this includes parts and labor. It would help to know what brand of heating elements they are using. Make sure the kit comes with variable modes (cos more, can go into lower hundreds, not just on-off toggle like the OE kit (those are cheaper).

You do not need an "accredited" (whatever that means) shop to do this. I think somewhere in the $400 range including not bottom of the shelf kit is fair -to me. Think of it this way: parts + labor rate * hours = cost. Ask them to break it down and get the part # too.

 

[lnxmachine]

We had the dealer add it to our 2012 (they just got a local place to install) and it was $500 for both seats. They only have 2 settings, but work well.