Landrover defender WAECO heated seat retro fit and review

Masseyboy89 · Gate Opener Joined: 12 Apr 2012 Odometer: 36

Hi all,

I fitted a 'WAECO magic comfort MSH50' heated seat set to my defender last week and thought I would take some snaps and report back for you all.

Firstly, if you are thinking about buying some, DO IT - they are great value, with this set for both driver and passenger costing me around £60 on ebay. The other good thing with this kit, the seat can be unplugged, not all kits are like it so watch out! You will curse it if you can take the seat off to get at the battery.

Tools that I used - 40w soldering iron, solder + heat shrink, 3feet of decent single core wire, 15amp fuse, x1 15mm m4 bolt, drill + chainsaw file, ruler, electrical tape.

close up of the kit.

Taking the seats apart, really my 90 could do with a re-trim which I will do in spring time, the foam is in bad condition as you can see in the below pictures.

Fitting the heating element to the bottom cushion -

Firstly, bend this tab up, there are two at the back.

Pop out these clips, they should pull out with needle nose pliers I think there were 6 in total.

Now you can fold the cover over, it is glued to the foam, in 4 strips, so put your hand in and work it off being careful to no tear the foam too much.

Cover removed enough to insert the element, this kit fitted perfectly in the recessed piece of foam of the seat, this means you cant feel it.

Element going in, it attaches with double sided tape.

Masseyboy89 · Gate Opener Joined: 12 Apr 2012 Odometer: 36

Once the element is in, pull the cover tight over, and hook it back onto the metal clips, folding them back over. Then start to pop the clips back in, the two at the back hold the piping in and you will need to thread the cord back through the hole before inserting the plastic clip.

Next the backs, these are the easy ones to do, I did this one with the seat still in position in the landrover (ignore the mess behind the seat Embarassed

) I didn't struggle with them in the car.

Fold the seat down, and un-pop this strip, it just pulls apart.

Now you can fold the cover up like this and offer the element up, don't worry if it seems really short, I thought this, but realistically its only the bottom bit of of the seat that your back actually touches.

Stick the element on, the cover isn't glued on the backrest like it is on the seat, just pull the cover back down, pull it tight and clip it back on like before.

Masseyboy89 · Gate Opener Joined: 12 Apr 2012 Odometer: 36

I fitted the earth and the relay like this in the fuse box.

This is where I chose to fit the switches, it was the easiest and most convenient place to put them, it is important to place them in this position, other wise when the loom is plugged in, the cover wont go on. (this is where I got the file out, the hole needed is massive)

mrcheese · Mud Obsessed Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Odometer: 6339

Toasty. Will be intersting to see how they do when it gets a bit colder..

bluesj · Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 5:20 pm Post subject:

I fitted some when did my seats. bit slow to heat up and when you get in soaking wet they make it fell like you've ****** your self! Shocked

but then warm **** has got to be better than cold ****!! Laughing

Masseyboy89 · Gate Opener Joined: 12 Apr 2012 Odometer: 36

That was the first thing that my Mrs said! 'What do you think? how great are these' - 'not that great, it feels like ive wet myself!'

They take a few miles to get warm which is a down side, I have a fresh fused feed off my batt for my cb and now my seats so i'm worried with no warning light, it won't be long until one side gets left on....

bluesj · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 5:27 am Post subject:

I run via a relay fed by the ignition so they can't be left on