Leather interior upgrades, what else will fit, if any?
 

I was debating selling my 06 3.0d M-Sport but I can't bare to see it go. It's an awesome car but has some things which annoy me. The driver's seat is uncomfortable as hell and really has a negative effect on my back.

I was told that E46 M3 seats will fit in there so was thinking just find two front seats from an M3 and throw them in but what would be even cooler would be if an interior of a newer BMW would fit in there?

Obviously technology, wireing and such has come along way so I'd imagine it's no way as easy as throwing them in but I'd like to see if anyone else has done something similar.

Thanks in advance.

Chuck in the grey misrible UK.

Just an FYI...the e38/e39/e46/e53 are the last old generation BMWs. The models that came after the last of each of the previous mentioned nomenclature...are new generation BMWs.

The operate on a completely different communication BUS. They utilize the LIN, MOST, BSD, K-Can, and other modules that weren't used in the e53 (old gen) BMWs. So yes, there is no plug-n-play installing components from the new gen BMWs into the old gen BMWs like the e53.

The two charts below are examples of the new generation BMW communication bus and components: (e90/e60/e65/e70-up)


http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...%20Bus%201.jpg

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...%20Bus%202.jpg


The two charts below are topological charts of the communication bus used by the e38/e39/e46/e53 (with high & low instrument clusters):

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...Diagnostic.jpg

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/q...%20Cluster.jpg

Thanks very much for your detailed answer. I thought this may be the case but always worth asking the question, I guess I'll carry on with my quest to find a couple of E46 M3 front seats. Thanks again :-)

So I've now purchased a front set of E46 M3 front seats, they have every option apart from the option to heat which I'm not bothered about. I was hoping that I would be able to just plug them in and they would work just fine but apparently I would need to wire the lumbar support separately, is this correct?

M3 seats will fit straight in and work (I've done it) however there's 1 wire (from memory) you'll need to change in order for the automatic steering wheel movement to function when you switch the ignition on/off.

Easiest thing to do is compare the looms when you have everything apart.

I'll give that a go, does everything work? Such as the lumbar controls?

Post some pics when you're done.


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For sure, I will do. I think someone on here as mentioned has already put these seats in an X5 and they look spot on. Just hope that I can do the majority of this myself and not have to call upon help from anyone mid job!

I wanted to do this as well, but couldn't find a solution for matching rear seats.

The way I see it is they're black seats and no one really goes in the back of the car other then my dog and he won't mind that they don't match. Comfort is key for me and I think these seats will cure one of the niggles of my car and hopefully make me want to keep it. :-)