Retrofit Electric Memory seats to replace manual seats
 

Hi,

Hopefully one of you will be able to help me from going grey!!

I recently purchased a E53 with manual cloth seats and picked up some leather memory seats.

They went in resonably easily and the passenger seat was 'plug&play' but the drivers seat did not work. I swapped over the seats to ensure the drivers seat actually worked and when plugged in on the passenger side it worked fine.

All the fuses (Drivers side - 2 - 30amp / 5amp and passenger 30amp) are fine, i even swapped them around to ensure that they are okay and still the same problem.

Am I missing something or is something special required for the drivers side, i have done a few searches and the mention of the K-Bus pops up for retrofitting memory seats but as my car seems to be pre-wired (otherwise why would passenger seat work and fuses be present?) I am sure I am missing something (simple I hope, as the wife is having a go at me:( )

Can anyone help or point me in the right direction of what the pins (square seat connector) are so that I can at least do some testing to see if power is coming through.

Is the final alternative just to run a 12+ve feed to the plug? Can I tap this into the passenger feed 12+ve? :dunno:

Any help would be much appreciate for a novice:)

Thanks guys

Could be an interesting project.

The following link will provide an overview of the Central Body Electronics for the E53. This was part of the BMW training material when the E53 was introduced. The module being discussed is ZKE III. The functions for electric memory seats are integrated into this module. There are also additional modules such as the door modules. See in particular page 58 on this link (seats), as well as the introduction (overview) of the main module:

http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/BMW_docs/x5zkeIII.pdf

Strongly recommend you do not jump 12 volt to the seat motors, due to the nature of the control strategy used. There are often control signals used that are not 12 volt, and you don't want to fry something.

My first steps would be to determine if any of the modules involved are different between models equipped with memory seats or not. I would look at the driver's door module, and the memory module in particular. Realoem will show part numbers.

Next step would be to determine if vehicle coding is required for the seat to be recognized. The memory module is on the bus, and can be coded for diagnostics and memory functions. Perhaps it isn't being recognized due to your specific vehicle coding. That would require specific tooling. Someone on the board with a GT1 may be able to tell us if memory seats are a switchable selection in the software.

Good luck. I will do some more thinking and see if I can come up with anything more.

Jeff

Thanks for that Jeff.

I have had a look and the SZM is different on my car as it doesn't have the heated seats. I also do not have automatic folding mirrors or elecrtronic steering wheel adjustment.

I checked the fuses again using a voltmeter and also the power going to the seats. There is power at all the fuses (the 5amp when the ignition is on - this, I believe goes to the SZM control).

The passenger seat is okay and works without the ignition switched on but there is no power at all going to the drivers seat.

I called up my local indy and asked if he could do teh coding (if required) but he said he hadn't come across this before and was not sure if coding was required.

I havent given up just yet......I know the car is pre-wired for the seats but I am flumuxed on why no power is going through to the drivers seat when the passenger seat works.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Have you check the seat control panel on that seat yet? it cound be bad control panel .

That's a great name "MrBMWX5":thumbup:

I plugged in the drivers seat onto the passenger plug and it worked fine, so the panel is fine. Just not getting any power to the plug on the drivers side.

Thanks for the heads up though.

want to sell your cloth stuff?

You will need that one to remove your glove box:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...x-removal.html

and that one to have power on the plug below the driver seat:

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...r-shocked.html <- #8

I did the bridge with a cable - works like a charm for months now - you can also add the right relay if you want.
Coding is not required.

The rest is plug and play.

Good luck

Great information.

Helmuth,

Great, many thanks for that - really appreciate the help - i tried searching for ages for that information so apologies for not spotting it earlier and "wasting" your time.

I am away this weekend visiting the folks but will pick up a relay and plug it in and will update you on how it went.

Thanks again :thumbup:

ienjoydrifting - if i get the electric ones to work, i will be looking to off load teh cloth ones (they are in really good condition, no nicks or tears0 BUT I am based in the UK, Berkshire - dont think thats any good to you is it? :(

I managed to pull my back so did not get anythime to spend looking at the car but the dealer did not help with the "relay", I am assuming that it is the light green one (61368373700 - anyone confirm?) - I checked realoem and that was the obvious one. Th deler said they would get one in a couple of days so hopefully this weekend will be the weekend when I can finish off this project.

I would really go that way:

Does it's job since one year here.

Hi all,

Finally managed to finish off this install (was out of action with a bad back and those front seats weigh a tonne).

Special thanks to Jeff and Helmuth, for the advice and guidance. After doing some more research I was missing a relay (where Helmuth has bridged using a wire), the relay is a closed circuit cut out relay and is next to the GM. The price from the dealers was £83.51 but I managed to get a used one for much less :).

Thanks again people:)

Glad that you have them in and working !!

Do you know that this was only the first step to a full leather interior conversion? :-)
I am through the whole thing now. My advice would be: watch ebay.co.uk - leather interior is much cheaper there then on .com or .de - at least it was when I was hunting my parts. I believe you do not need that advice because you are from UK - right? And they sell the parts there in smaller pieces.

Big Plus: the rest is not as heavy as the 2 front seats ;)

And since you said you had a bad back - do your seats have lumbar support? You can add that also "relative" easy and not too expensive.

This is some great information. Thanks for posting....:thumbup:

Hi Heluth,

I got lucky as i got the heated, memory seats with lumbar. I have to source the door cards but as the rest of the interior is black it does not look odd. Yes, they do sell the individual parts in the UK and fairly resonable prices if you are prepared to wait.

Gents, not sure it was mentioned but did not need any coding for the memory to work. Just need the heated console switch to finish this off.

My next project is the aluminium running boards - they are hard to source even on the UK ebay:) but that is after saving up for the 285-55-19 rear tyres (ouch).

Thanks again for all the help and if anyone needs help on the seats I have spent a fair while looking at DIY's and wiring diagrams so drop me a PM.

Bye for now.

Hi All,

I've just changed the interior on my 2002 X5, the door cards and rear seats went in no problem at all, passenger seat was plug and play but the drivers seat is not working.

I've put the relay 61368373700 in behind the glove box in the space available but all it did was through up an air suspension warning and the drivers still didn't work, so it must be the wrong relay.

As I don't have access to another X5 with electric seats to compare it to and the dealer has no idea what should be there, does anyone know the part number of the relay needed? I know I can run the bridge across as per Helmuth but I'd prefer to have the correct relay in place.

Any help much appreciated.

Cheers
Seamus

Hi,

any particular reason why you do not try the cable as in post #12?

Best, Helmuth

Hi,

I'm happy to try the cable, just prefer to have a relay where a relay lives (I know I'm being particular).

Cheers
Seamus

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

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 :)

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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) :thumbup:

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

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.

I have STILL been trying to figure out which relay is correct (I have the bridge wire). I can also confirm that it is NOT the little 5 pin light green relay. It will blow a 30 amp fuse and give you a working light on your dash.

I THINK it's 61 35 8 365 960, which is a current control relay, long black case. The BMW ETK doesn't show this (or very well). Did Harmank, Helmuth or JollySeamus find out to confirm? Anyone else know?

Hi Gregory,

I am still with my bridge wire because I do not miss any function without that relay. If you are successful with your relay I would be very interested in what it does.
My best guess would be that you cannot move the seat while driving with the relay
- I can do that.

Good luck, Helmuth

Hi all

I can confirm that this is the right relay
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-t...421_155650.jpg

However my electric seats move even with the engine on (may be european specs are different).

Thanks Helmuth for all the info.

Edit: My car was initially sold in Spain in 2000, it is a manual 3.0i petrol and has heated seats wiring for the rear seats but not for the front ones :dunno: