Quick update
The heated steering wheel appears to work fine when the temp is over 30. Under that and you better let the car warm up
It seems they make the heating elements more wimpy each year. My 550 was awesome, my M5 not too bad, my X6, fair, and my 650, fair at best.
NONE of them ever made the steering wheel to hot to touch - but they used to get a lot warmer a lot faster.