Hyundai Santa Fe TM OEM Options Review: Cost & Results

Enhance Your Drive with Hyundai Santa Fe TM OEM Options

The Hyundai Santa Fe TM offers a refined driving experience, but for many owners, there's always room for improvement. Adding genuine OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) options like a driver's seat memory system (IMS) and Easy Access function can significantly boost convenience, especially if multiple people share the vehicle or if you simply want a more comfortable entry and exit. This review explores the benefits, installation process, and overall value of retrofitting these factory upgrades.

Understanding Memory Seats and Easy Access

The Integrated Memory System (IMS) for the driver's seat allows you to save your preferred seating position, including seat height, recline, and forward/backward adjustments, along with side mirror angles. You can store up to two distinct positions, easily recalled with the press of a button. This is incredibly useful for households where different drivers use the same Santa Fe TM, eliminating the need to readjust the seat every time you switch. The process to save a position is straightforward: adjust your seat and mirrors to your ideal setting, press the 'SET' button on the door trim, and then press one of the numbered memory buttons (1 or 2). Recalling a saved position is just as simple – press the corresponding button, and the seat and mirrors will automatically move to the stored configuration. This entire save/recall process typically takes only a minute or two.

Complementing the memory seat function is the Easy Access feature. When you turn off the engine and open the driver's door, the seat automatically moves backward (approximately 10-15 cm) to create more space, making it easier to exit the vehicle. Once you get back in and start the engine, the seat automatically returns to your saved driving position. This is particularly helpful in tight parking spaces or for taller drivers. The Easy Access function can be enabled or disabled through the vehicle's settings menu, offering flexibility based on your needs.

OEM Options Installation Process

Retrofitting these OEM options on a Hyundai Santa Fe TM involves integrating genuine factory parts to achieve a seamless, factory-fitted look and functionality. The process begins with meticulous wiring work inside the driver's seat. A specialist will carefully install the genuine IMS module and the control switch onto the door trim. All wiring is routed discreetly along the vehicle's original pathways, ensuring a clean installation without damaging interior panels. The goal is to make the added features feel as if they were present from the factory.

Following the physical installation, the vehicle's onboard computer requires programming. Using a genuine diagnostic tool, technicians will activate the memory seat and Easy Access functions. This coding step ensures the car's systems correctly recognize and operate the new features. The entire installation, from wiring to final coding, is designed to be efficient and non-invasive, restoring the vehicle's interior integrity while enhancing its convenience features.

Before and After Results, Durability, and Value

The transformation after installing OEM memory seats and Easy Access is significant. The 'before' state is the standard Santa Fe TM without these conveniences, requiring manual seat adjustments for every driver and potentially awkward exits. The 'after' is a much more user-friendly experience, where personalized driving positions are instantly recalled, and exiting the vehicle becomes effortless. The durability of these OEM components is expected to be on par with the rest of the vehicle's interior, designed for long-term use. Maintenance typically involves keeping the seat and switch areas clean. While the exact cost can vary, in Korea, this retrofit typically ranges from approximately ₩115,000 to ₩150,000 (roughly $85-$110 USD, subject to exchange rates). Considering the enhanced daily comfort and the premium feel it adds, many owners find this factory upgrade to be a worthwhile investment, especially for vehicles frequently used by multiple drivers.