Removal of Front Seats, Center Console Trim, Interior Detail Project

[BMWX5CHI]

I'm currently planning on fully detailing the interior (and exterior). I just got this E70 in January, so i'm going balls out on this one. Noticed there was a faint smell of smoke when it gets warm outside.(dealer masked the smell) Either way, I was going to detail it anyway. I did the same to my E53 when I first purchased it. Removed all the seats, shampooed and steamed cleaned the shit out of everything. Headliners, pillars, carpet, the works. Now my question is, can I safely remove the seat without setting off any MIL's if I disconnect the battery before removing the seats ?

[SeanC]

If it's the smell that's making you do this, swap the cabin filters first?

[BMWX5CHI]

Originally Posted by SeanC

If it's the smell that's making you do this, swap the cabin filters first?

Regardless of the smell, I was going to do this anyways. I don't want to mess anything up, but I wanted to disconnect the battery and then remove the seats. Is it possible? As I mentioned before , I wanted to go balls out on this detail project. There's some gunk between the seats and the center console. That would just annoy the hell out of me leaving it there.

[Price]

I'd definitely disconnect the battery. You may need to recalibrate the seats once reinstalled.

[BMWX5CHI]

Can anyone confirm removing the battery will prevent an MIL from going off when removing front seats?

[Scott ZHP]

I'd be more concerned about the airbag indicator than the MIL. Resetting the MIL is easy, the airbag indicator, not so much.

You're probably fine if you disconnect the battery, that's standard body shop procedure when removing major interior components with airbags or sensors in them - seats, seatbelt pre-tensioners, door cards w/ airbags, etc.

I'm about the yank the seats out of my E53 to deep clean the carpet and replace the drivers seat bottom.

If you have funky smells, I use a product called Zorbx to help get rid of them. Spray it on all soft upholstery; it has an enzyme in it to eat the bacteria that causes odor. Lowes used to carry it, but I normally get it via Amazon.

[BMWX5CHI]

[QUOTE=Scott ZHP;1077854]I'd be more concerned about the airbag indicator than the MIL. Resetting the MIL is easy, the airbag indicator, not so much.

Sorry, I wasn't clear, what I ment to say was MIL for the airbag. I got the seats unbolted, so I just have to remove the battery and then take the seats out. I'll keep my finger crossed and hope no airbag or other error lights pop up. Thanks.

[Socale39]

Different application but I swapped out the seats on my E60 M5 without any recalibration or airbag lights. Battery was disconnected at the time of swap. Those seats had all the comfort features as our X5s do so I can't imagine you'd have any issues.

[BMWX5CHI]

Originally Posted by Socale39

Different application but I swapped out the seats on my E60 M5 without any recalibration or airbag lights. Battery was disconnected at the time of swap. Those seats had all the comfort features as our X5s do so I can't imagine you'd have any issues.

Thanks for the info.

[Jyohay]

just a thought,
when i did my stereo install, i had to get to the underseat subs.
instead of disconnecting and fully removing the seats,
i just unbolted them, and tipped/leaned the back, pivoting on the back of the rails.
should give you enough room to take care of what you need to do