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  #1  
Old 01-05-2006, 12:21 PM
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installed E46 sport seats into the X last night! *pics added*

It took me 2 tries and and set off my airbag light but they are complete. I was looking to purchase X5 sport seats but they're very scarce. After looking at a BMW OEM parts catalog, I noticed that most of the parts for the X5 seat were the same as the E46 3 series seats. Rails were identical, and seat motors were too. So I decided to give it a shot and purchased some used but newer 2003 330xi seats.

The seats bolted in and wired up perfectly. I swapped the X5's side control panel covers because they are a little different from the 3 series, the X's side covers have a lower side skirt that covers up the rails when the seat is raised into its highest position. There is also an extra wire and clip that plugs from the drivers side seat control that is part of the drivers side X5 seat harness . This has something to do with the SRS system. I surmised the harness must tell the X5 where my seat is positioned This harness tells the airbag what position I am seated so that it can determine how fast to deploy the multi-stage airbag so as not to smear by beautiful face. The passenger seat does not have this harness. Anyways, if you swap both seat controls and covers to the E46 sport seats you will see the extra bit of wire that will now be added to the E46 seat harness.

Other than the drivers side SRS wire. The swapping of the side pieces and controls is simply a cosmetic modification. Other than the above mentioned alterations, the seats are nearly identical to an X5 sport seat, they plugged in and bolted in with absolutely no problem.

The black leather comes very close to matching the rest of the car, its nearly identical in every way and I actually prefer the all black seats over the two tone leather seats that were previously installed. My next mod will be to remove the rear bench seat and to install the two X5 seats into the rear, the difficult part will be to hardwire the seat controls, lumbar and heat. Another obstacle is mounting, under the rear bench seat there is only a few steel bars going across. Seat height will also be an issue as the front seats are at least 3-4 inches higher than the bench. I will do a write up for this within the next few months if the logistics are possible.

Sport seats are so terrific, I have to make up a new word just to describe them, and that word is scrumtrulescent. The heat and lumbar support work flawlessly too. Couple these with BMW 20's shoe'd with 295's up front and 315's in the rear, a stick shift and soon to be added lowering springs, and the X5 is now a super fun SUV to drive. Cayennes dont come with sport seats do they?





Last edited by lionkang; 06-06-2007 at 03:04 PM.
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  #2  
Old 01-05-2006, 12:23 PM
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cool! pics?????
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Old 01-05-2006, 12:56 PM
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Can't wait for the pics!!!
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Old 01-05-2006, 01:00 PM
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nice one look forward to the pic's , can see this being a mod a few folk will do
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Old 01-05-2006, 01:18 PM
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Questions...
1. How long did it take?
2. Where did you get the seats?
3. What are you doing with the old seats?
4. one man project?
5. Expensive?
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Old 01-05-2006, 01:21 PM
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Can't wait for the pics and write-up.
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Old 01-05-2006, 08:55 PM
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That's funny. Just today I was thinking how my E46 sport seats were so much comfortable than the E53 b/c it has the side bolsters. Post pics please when you get a chance!!!
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Old 01-05-2006, 09:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WarEagle
Questions...
1. How long did it take?
2. Where did you get the seats?
3. What are you doing with the old seats?
4. one man project?
5. Expensive?

It took me about 1 hr to unbolt and unplug the old seats and to rebolt and plug in the new seats, however my steering wheel wouldnt move and my airbag light came on...

I bought the E46 seats on ebay, I have been waiting for black seats that were in good condition and to have heat and lumbar for awhile. X5 sport seats are nearly impossible to find anywhere, E46 seats however are a bit more ubiquitous.

Not sure what I am doing with the old seats.....they're basically 3 series seats now. I may just sell them as that, I was considering removing the bench in the back and installing them in the rear, but the seats are too high installed so I wont be able to go with the 2+2 arrangment.

This was a one man project, the seats are about 50-75 lbs and not to hard to move in and out with care

Other than the costs of the seats, it wasnt expensive, I cut my hand up a little bit trying to remove the side pieces, they have hidden tabs that are extremely difficult to work with.
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Old 01-05-2006, 11:55 PM
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they look so SWEET!!! Congrats on an awsome job!!!
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  #10  
Old 01-06-2006, 12:01 AM
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they look great.
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