e53 sport seat covers?

[sontek]

I just bought a low mile 2003 4.6is. Everything is in incredibly good shape. Chain guides and all gaskets replaced. I thought I should protect the near mint seats with covers.

I picked up front covers at Pelican Parts (Coverking). I finally received them but they do not accommodate the thigh extensions so I need to return them.

I am looking for seat covers that work for sport seats and protect all of the high wear areas such as bolsters. They do not necessarily have to be custom fit but should not hinder functions. Have you had good luck with anything?

[X5chemist]

Have you found other options? My '06 rear seats are in great shape. Seats were hardly used by previous owners. The front ones are in good shape for their age. I would like to cover them for longevity. I prefer a thinner cover though. I'm not sure how a thick seat cover would work on heated seats.

[workingonit]

I swapped cars with a friend. It was a deal in the making for 3+ years, where he bought an X5 intended for me, and started re-building/restoring it, a bit at a time. When he was ready to take the other end of the swap (my '66 Chevelle drag car, that had been stored for 13 years), and to convert it back to a streetable (though powerful, 700+ hp) vehicle, then we did the swap.

My wife didn't want another car in the stable; we already have four others, all old ('98 GMC, '04 Chevy 2500HD, '08 Cobalt, '09 HHR Panel) and starting to need more repairs. Another "project" was going to be an unneeded expense (we're both retired), with parts, insurance, etc. already a large expense each month. An '01 X5 was going to be another costly vehicle (yes, we both knew about BMW's expensive needs). But, I wanted the X5, and wanted my (20-year younger) friend to let the Chevelle live again.

So, right now, as I learn the ins-&-outs of the X5, I'm trying to spend only what's necessary, and as little as possible (I've just spent hundreds on her two vehicles lately), so I am just making the X5 serviceable and nothing not needed will come later. I've only driven it 11 miles, in the two months I've owned it.

The bare necessities, as I see them, right now:

• 1)running gear: electric fan conversion (a must-do), everything else works fine,
• 2)exterior: headlight resto (done), everything else can wait,
• 3)interior: secured loose door panel cards, modded aftermarket stereo, cupholders, tablet mount, cheap seat covers/floor mats.

As time passes, I'll work the X5 into our usage pattern:I foresee it to be our bad weather conditions car/truck (since it's AWD; the FWD HHR is it now), and also our local family transport (it has four doors, its perfect to take my wife's octogenarian parents out to eat, etc.). I had intended to go softroad camping with it, but my big pickup is enough.

I'll gradually improve the interior, with better seat covers and custom-fit floormats, but the cracking leather of the driver's seat needed something immediately, as did the floors, since the original carpeted mats were uncleanable. Cheap, but functional, and looks acceptable, for now.

[sontek]

Originally Posted by X5chemist

Have you found other options? ... I'm not sure how a thick seat cover would work on heated seats.

Not found anything yet. I am thinking about a basic weathertech but not sure if it would cover everything well enough. I put a weathertech on the back but that will not allow you to let down a single seat so I would just take off if needed.

I too was wondering about thick covers with heated seats.