trhs75

Uh-oh. The seat heaters in the driver's seat (seatback and lower cushion) have failed and need to be replaced. Dealer says about $1200-1500 for parts and labor -- lots of labor involved. I'm wondering if I can do this myself. The cheapest Lexus-original heating elements I have found online are $220.61 for the upper (part # 87510-48020) and $306.38 for the lower (part # 87510-48011). I don't mind spending that much for parts for my daughter's car if I can do the labor myself. Have any of you tackled this? Gotta keep my daughter warm for the winter if I can!!

bob2200

I would look into getting a used heated seat from an auto recycling center (i.e., junk yard). I would think you could get one for less than the cost of the heater parts, but that's just a guess.

Lil4X

Bob's got a good idea there. Check around an import junkyard that keeps inventory on a computer (most big ones do) - they can communicate with other yards and probably run down the seat for you. I put Volvo seats in a number of my own cars years ago, when they were the only people who made ergonomically correct seating. This would be a direct swap out - and a WHOLE lot easier. Do a search on this forum for details and photos of the DIY. I seem to recall someone posting on this a couple of years ago.

You might check with a few custom upholstery houses. Messing with those hog rings while pulling the leather tight is not easy, but like anything else, is an acquired skill. Your dealer would probably just farm it out anyway. I recovered the interior of a car some years ago, to change the color of the back seat to match new front buckets and get away from the awful plasticky OEM door panels. It was a LOT of work, I had to buy some tools I never used again, and I sliced myself up pretty good in the bargain. I probably spent more on tools and band-aids than I would have if I had it done by someone who knew what he was doing.

trhs75

Good suggestions! I wonder, though, if I risk getting nearly-worn-out or already-worn-out heating elements buying used seats. I've also thought about trying to reupholster the driver's seat using one of this site's sponsors -- I believe it is leatherseats.com. I've heard those hog rings are a pain!

Lil4X

Hog rings are a pain - and unless you buy a good set of special pliers, you will probably set one in your hand. Maybe that's why body piercing is not high on my priority list.

There might be another source for a seat - find a wrecking yard with a direct connection to the importer. In the days before the Ro-Ro (roll on, roll off) ships, cars were offloaded by crane . . . and occasionally they'd get a little clumsy. I'd get my seats out of Volvos that had been slammed in the old school sense of the word. Car was just about three feet high - just enough to preserve the brand new leather seats, still in factory plastic wrap.

trhs75

Sounds like their loss was your gain. That's a great idea for a newer model vehicle!