My Corsa D 2013 SE has heated seats, the heat even seems to warm the lumbar region. I wonder if getting something like them from a breakers might be the easier option.
On the panda, the seat base unbolts easily from the rest and can be swapped left to right, another option from a breakers to give you time to do the work without taking the car off the road.

tinmar49 said:

My Corsa D 2013 SE has heated seats, the heat even seems to warm the lumbar region. I wonder if getting something like them from a breakers might be the easier option.
On the panda, the seat base unbolts easily from the rest and can be swapped left to right, another option from a breakers to give you time to do the work without taking the car off the road.

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Fitting seats with airbags in them that aren't designed for the car is not a sensible option.

You can get slip-on 12v heated seat covers for less than £15 delivered.

I wouldn't let the "DaveMcT versus all heated seats" agenda dissuade anyone - it's been -4C around here most of the last month, so if you want to retrofit some heated seat pads, do it.

I've got a 1.6 diesel and a block heater would be brilliant, besides all the engine longevity benefits. On a cold morning I could clear my window within a minute of starting and the grief it would save my dpf. If I'm doing a school run leaving at 0830, all town. The car on a frosty morning has to be running at least 25mins to stand a chance. Any of my friends luxury/company cars that have seat heaters are brilliant. I've retro all sorts to cars and never had any issues.

DaveMcT said:

I make my living sorting out people's back pain.

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I make my living out of people who's back pain didn't get better/can't be made better. I'm now looking to upgrade my year old golf cabriolet to a Mercedes cabriolet so there is plenty of money in people who can't be fixed.

So that said I know only too well and inside out the subject of back pain.

My own back has an L4/L5 and L5/S1 prolapse with bilateral nerve root compression. At both of the above, short of surgery (which is not a guaranteed fix)I have to put up with it and take pain killers.


Getting back on subject.
The initial point of the thread was how to fit seat heaters not engine block heaters.

chuff said:

Fitting seats with airbags in them that aren't designed for the car is not a sensible option.



You can get slip-on 12v heated seat covers for less than £15 delivered.

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A very good point but in the case of the OP unlikely to be a problem on his panda as unlikely to have side airbags.
A slip on heater however is likely to cause more of a problem to airbags.

Moimo said:

I've got a 1.6 diesel and a block heater would be brilliant, besides all the engine longevity benefits. On a cold morning I could clear my window within a minute of starting and the grief it would save my dpf. If I'm doing a school run leaving at 0830, all town. The car on a frosty morning has to be running at least 25mins to stand a chance. Any of my friends luxury/company cars that have seat heaters are brilliant. I've retro all sorts to cars and never had any issues.

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A lot of bigger engined diesels have webasto engine heater fitted from the factory so that when the car starts it heats the engine quickly in the morning to prevent the problems you stated. These can be picked up for about £150 on eBay or much cheaper from most scrap yards and retro fit yourself or get someone to fit for you.