Anyone knows how to replace seat bottom skin?

[cn90]

- My 2006 X5 has a 3-inch tear on the outer cushion area (YELLOW line) from the previous owner. See photo below...

- I know BMW sells the PN 52107077548 for $850! But I can get some used ones on ebay for $110 or so.

- The question is: does anyone know how to replace the seat bottom skin cover?

Thanks!

[Crowz]

I tried finding a good video of the procedure but I cant find one for the e53 and I don't know which other cars have the same seats.

[Dking078]

I would check to see if there are any E46 instructions. Similar seat construction.

Usually Sport seats or M3 ones would be a good direction to mimic.

[80stech]

It's not hard but requires some time and patience. I think you pretty well need to take the whole seat out. The back brackets go through holes in the bottom cover so the back needs to come off. The clips for the side plastic cover where the seat controls are a bit tricky. I would use plastic zip ties instead of the hog rings. If your seat is heated the heater is sewn into the cover. You might need to replace a junk of foam under that side bolster.

[andrewwynn]

I bought an entire seat bottom for $50. I think it's a passenger side not sure if the leather part is interchangable. I don't need the leather just the back rest motor


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[Scott ZHP]

Subscribed. Mine has similar wear. I scored a new seat bottom cover on eBay for about $100, but haven't made time to fit it yet. The guy ordered it and it was the wrong part for his X5 (leather vs leatherette).

There's a YouTube video here for an E46; this guy is a bit of a hack sometimes, but this video isn't half bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSKXFNJur-M

[andrewwynn]

If the cover comes off I could sell just the cover. I'm likely to dissect so I can take the butt sensor out if that is possible to repair wife's iffy butt sensor (doesn't work below about 5°C). If the sensor is sewn into the cover itself I may just sell the whole seat bottom. I think it's black leather but have to check.


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[upallnight]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I bought an entire seat bottom for $50. I think it's a passenger side not sure if the leather part is interchangable. I don't need the leather just the back rest motor


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That's a Great Price.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

I bought an entire seat bottom for $50. I think it's a passenger side not sure if the leather part is interchangable. I don't need the leather just the back rest motor


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People have been known to swap seat cover from a passenger side seat to a driver seat since the passenger side seat cover is always in better shape than the driver.

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

If the cover comes off I could sell just the cover. I'm likely to dissect so I can take the butt sensor out if that is possible to repair wife's iffy butt sensor (doesn't work below about 5°C). If the sensor is sewn into the cover itself I may just sell the whole seat bottom. I think it's black leather but have to check.


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It's black leather with dark gray side bolster.

Here's a video on replacing the bottom seat cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSKXFNJur-M

[jsoto]

Scott -

Link to Ebay ? Just curious. Never did see a PN for just the cover.

I actually got entire seat bottoms brand new (OE) (leather, foam, heat, etc) replaced and had my upholster, redye the entire front so it blended well (aka, 10+ year old car, sun, etc). That in itself was a golden unicorn if I remember, as the seat base itself I don't recall seeing a PN. I had the center console rewrapped as well, just due to the typical arm wear.

[cn90]

Originally Posted by jsoto

...Never did see a PN for just the cover...

I posted the PN for the cover in the original thread above.