Thanks @NosherN I think that BMW engineers have over engineered the heated steering wheel. I want to determine what level of heat I want – not the car 🙄. I worked out that it was doing its own thing, but it never got warm enough for me, even with the sensitivity level at the highest level (when it should stay on longer). The seats were fine though as I could set them to level 3. In fact, in complete contrast to the steering wheel, I had to turn it down a few times!
All the X5/X7 variants I tested had the pre heating function but I didn’t try it. Like you, I’d never use it. The car is always parked in a garage so never gets frost, snow or ice on it, and as the garage is attached to the house the car interior never gets so cold as to warrant it.