Retrofit Electric Memory seats to replace manual seats

[Gregory891]

Just completed the same on my 2002 X5 3.0 d that come with factory cloth manual seats. They are in good condition but I found a complete leather interior (front sport seats with memory and heating, rear seats and all four door panels) some 200 km from where I live for 300 € (VERY cheap) in Montana black. Right rear side bolster was missing, so I'll be hunting for this one.

DAY 0
Cleaned & treated the seats with Zymöl in my living room before installation

DAY 1 (two hours on a Saturday afternoon)
1. Installed door panels, very easy (I've taken my doors apart before to install Dynamat).
2. Rear seat install, quite easy. My replacement leather rear seats were non-heated but I did see that my X5 is pre-wired for rear seat heating (not vital).
3. Front passenger install, easy (I need to chase some a mounting nut threads). The seat electrics are plug and play (as Helmut and others state) at the sole large connector. Changing it without the key in the ignition is enough. The car is indeed pre-wired to accomodate power and heated seats (if you have the heated seat switches in your car).

DAY 2 (less time another afternoon)
5. Next is to install the "magic relay" in the front fuse box before installing the driver's seat. I also installed Osram LED bulbs in the glovebox, under dash & door positions
6. Remove old driver's seat, remove underseat fire extinguisher & rear back pocket panel - transfer to new leather, heated, power seat.
7. Vaccum, find Lego parts, install new seat, plug in everything and test. Doesn't work
8. Make up a jumper wire (Helmuth's method), install, replace blown 30 Amp fuse (see TIPS & LESSONS learned)- all works.
9. Tighten seats, adjust seat, program in memory and rejoice.

TIPS & LESSONS LEARNED:

a) Clean / treat the seats before installation (easier to do)
b) Vacuum your car as you remove seats (outstanding access)
c) Expect to have some small plastic trim parts missing (door panel plugs)
d) You CAN transfer the (front) seat backs with pockets to a seat without pockets (cut the plastic plugs underneath and replace with new, 52 20 1 964 201).
e) Early (up to 4/2002) X5 cars have a different rear seat backrest locking mount than later E53's. I just ordered the early style part to complete the installation.
f) The required relay for the driver's seat is NOT the green relay, part number 61 36 8 373 700. Installing it will blow your power seat fuse and give you an air suspension warning light in your instruments.
g) Use the Helmuth (bridge wire method), which I did or the BLUE relay (I would have, but I didn't have any in my treasure trove)

Bottom line, you CAN change / upgrade your interior, it's easy.

If anyone wants a set of four door panels and front cloth seats (Switzerland) just let me know, cheap to a good home....
I also have a spare under (passenger) seat first aid mount & mount surplus to needs. Fits all E46, E53 and Z4 cars.

If you have questions about "what, how, etc." I know you'll ask

[JWMich]

Originally Posted by Gregory891

Bottom line, you CAN change / upgrade your interior, it's easy.

Ah, yes. But...for a really interesting time, I wonder, could I possibly swap in these e60 20-way comfort seats that I have in the garage just looking at me and begging for attention? They're from about the same year, I just think to myself....

Maybe I need to get out more.

[Gregory891]

There is a write-up on the Xoutpost from someone installing E46 sport seats in his E53 X5. Just some minor plastic parts to transfer from what I recall.

If you have E60 seats, this might work. You have some basic things to check:

a) Will they bolt up (bolt pattern for seat real / floor ban). Inspect, measure and check.
b) Do the E60 seats have a provision for the seat belt anchor (look at the outboard rear of each seat, you'll see how it attaches on an E53 seat).
c) Will they connect (electrically). Look to see if your E60 seats have the yellow multiconnector, ideally UNDER the seat as on an E53.
D) Space in the car (no interference with the console, door, dash, etc.). You know once you install them (assuming checks a, b & c give you the green light).

Overall time would be all of an hour or so if you're lucky. Two bolts, two nuts, one connector per seat. Leave the ignition key in your pocket so you don't have a airbag or similar warning light.

[epdarks]

It's funny, Americans love the manual/non heated seats as they are harder to find here. I have never seen a USA X5 with manual seats. Even in the E36/E46 market... manual seats are more desirable for many.

Then the foreigners are paying big $ to get the electric/heated seats. It's on odd world...

[Gregory891]

The US / Canadian market is different and price level is different (regardless of exchange rate). Not to justify it, simply to state the facts.

In general, people want what is rare or different. Underseat first aid kits and fire extinguishers (more common here) are sought after in the US or Canada (I have a spare for sale BTW). I liked my manual / cloth seats, but leather has a nice feel and smell. Power seats are overkill if you think about it. You play around and eventually find your setting and leave it / put it in memory and then seldom move them again. Heated seats are nice to have, if you live in a place with real change of seasons.

If you want simplicity, lower weight - then I agree - fewer options are better. That's why I like my manual 3.0 diesel WITHOUT deluxe stereo, DSP, GPS, Nav, Sirius, sun roof, roof rails, etc.

[Ricky Bobby]

I wish I had a manual 3.0 diesel...with all the options you listed above! haha

Great info on the seat swap Gregory, I would love to someday retrofit rear heated seats if I could find them, or I would still like to find a set of front leather sport or comfort seats to swap out (on my ultra rare finds). The rear heated seat retro would be a "if it was affordable enough" kind of thing because honestly no one ever sits in the rear LOL

the fronts on the other hand, I would just love my some sport/comfort seats (heated of course)


once you have seat heat in my mind you never go back. unless you are someplace that has no winter.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by epdarks

It's funny, Americans love the manual/non heated seats as they are harder to find here. I have never seen a USA X5 with manual seats. Even in the E36/E46 market... manual seats are more desirable for many.

Then the foreigners are paying big $ to get the electric/heated seats. It's on odd world...

I have the power seat on the driver side, but the manual seat on the passenger side. Since I don't normally sit in the passenger side, I'm just going to leave it alone. My car has the Sport Package. At first I thought my X was a stripped down version, piano black trim instead of wood trim, manual passenger seat, manual climate control, and no headlight washer, but I did have the xenon headlight with clear corners as well as clear corner tailights, DSP audio system and three spoke steering wheels and 18" rims. I grown to like my X the way it is.

[epdarks]

Originally Posted by upallnight

I have the power seat on the driver side, but the manual seat on the passenger side. Since I don't normally sit in the passenger side, I'm just going to leave it alone. My car has the Sport Package. At first I thought my X was a stripped down version, piano black trim instead of wood trim, manual passenger seat, manual climate control, and no headlight washer, but I did have the xenon headlight with clear corners as well as clear corner tailights, DSP audio system and three spoke steering wheels and 18" rims. I grown to like my X the way it is.

Manual seats on the passenger side? I have never heard of a BMW setup that way... interesting.

I do like how each BMW can be a little different. I would love an opportunity to "build" one someday via the Individual program.

Onto the rear heated seats... great when you need to take a nap in your car in the middle of winter!!! (did this at work once)

[Ctsiegf]

Mine is the same way. Power driver's, manual passenger's. my car doesn't have a single option. No sunroof, manual transmission, manual climate control, halogens, leatherette seats, only one powered and no seat heat.

-Carter

[JollySeamus]

Originally Posted by Helmuth

I fully understand your point. Just wanted to point out that the cable could be a test if not something else is wrong.

Maybe you can find out what that relay is doing because I never missed it.

Good luck, Helmuth

Indeed, in the end I did use the cable in the relay location as you suggested and it worked fine, thank you.

There was still an issue with the airbag light being on. Irrespective of resetting it the thing still came back on. After a bit of head scratching I noticed that the leather seat going in the car has 2 wires from the seat belt buckle rather than one wire as with the cloth seat. Disconnecting one of the wires put the light out straight away. It appears to be there to confirm the buckle is in place. But seeing as one wire worked previously and you get a clunk click to confirm it's secure....

I now have a cloth interior in light grey if anyone wants it. Happy to ship overseas if required. Feel free to PM me to discuss.

Huge thanks again to all those who have posted. Made the job so much easier.