Has anyone swapped e53 seat bottoms?
 

Hello. I picked up an '05 4.4i with a hole (under backside left pants pocket) where I believe it is common to have the heating element short out or arc and burn through. Now, someone is selling a cheap set local to me, but the drivers seat bottom is a bit haggard looking compared to the brand new looking passenger seat bottom. Anyway, I swapped seat bottoms (a passenger bottom with a driver's bottom) in an e36, was hoping someone had done it on e53 and could advise if possible or not? My concern is drivers controls/seatbelt on left of drivers side versus right of passenger...but did not know if this would have any ill effect on trying to swap seat bottoms or not? Thanks!

Yes it's possible.

Passenger to driver = Ok
Drive to passenger = Not ok (Seat occupancy sensor)

Everything else is identical

Thanks!!!


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Good to know. My passenger side has a bypass installed. The air bag will go off if someone is not sitting on it. Better to deploy than not. I've thought of swapping lower seats too. It can be done.

Can the seat bottom itself be swapped easily? Not the whole pan or whatever with the frame. My heater will also cook my thigh meat in one spot. I did this on my old Volvo 240 with no issue (but that was obvs a much more primitive setup, no power anything, no passenger SRS).

Try replacing the metal hog rings with zip ties, it could be they are shorting out the heating element. Things will be a little more clear when you get it apart which you will need to do if you just want to swap the cover anyway.

black zip ties for every usage
 

I recommend using zip ties over hog rings anyway (I hate hog rings...they rattle and the pliers are a pain to use); I've used black zip ties for 30 years for replacing upholstery on my restoration cars & trucks, whenever I've put new seat covers on them.

I've used both 50lb-rated 8" ties and 40lb-rated 5" ties (always the UV-resistant black ties...I even use them for wire fencing outdoors), whichever you can find. I've never had them loosen or fail.

Does anyone have pictures of seat undersides? Are lower seats bolted to the rails?

Easy to remove those bolts as long as you've got power to the seats for adjustment.

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Any updates ??