Fitting 2006 m-sport seats to 2003 Z4, potential issues?

J

JSz4

Member
Hi, I'm looking to fit manually adjustable (non-heated) m-sport seats from a 2006 Z4 to my 2003 Z4 which has the standard sports seats that are electrically adjustable.

Is this an easy swap or are there complications given that I'll be swapping from pre-facelift to facelift seats and electric to manual?

I have read about issues with passenger occupancy sensors and airbag warning lights but unsure if this is relevant to my swap. Any advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

Jeremy
 
Shouldn’t have any issues with that

The most you may need to do is install a seat occupancy override module from eBay on the passenger seat

All issues I’ve encountered have been putting older seats into newer cars
 
Didn't someone manage to swap the seat bases so the manual M-Sport ones would have the electric adjustment?
 
The occupancy sensor circuits are quite different so both pre-facelift to facelift, and facelift to pre-facelift should result in an airbag light. That can be solved using a bypass module as bigwinn said, or by changing the passenger seat’s sensor mat. There should be previous threads describing the latter.
 
BMW think modularly. I made a set of electric sports seats from a set of electric standard seats and mechanical sports seats for my E46. And then added lumbar from an E38 7er.

I'd expect to do the same in an E85.
 
Thank you all for the advice, picked these up last weekend, hopefully fitting will be straightforward and won't damage too much of the interior, definitely heavier than I expected!

seats.jpg

Will the driver's seat swap trigger an airbag warning light too or just the passenger's?
 
bigwinn said:
Yes- I did read up on this with a view to doing it

Very doable
Click to expand...
I don’t suppose you or anyone can share the link for that - for obvious reasons :D , I can’t seem to find it?
 
When I fitted m seats in a 2005 e85 back in the day ,I fitted the bypass module off eBay .
 
Zedebee said:
bigwinn said:
Yes- I did read up on this with a view to doing it

Very doable
Click to expand...
I don’t suppose you or anyone can share the link for that - for obvious reasons :D , I can’t seem to find it?
Click to expand...

I was looking to do a swap on behalf of mark plant

There is no definitive thread, however (and I forget who now) there is a member who has done a base swap who sent me pictures via WhatsApp

I recall his name was Fred
 
It must have been - I just found this:- https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1948073&hilit=firebobby#p1948073
 
That’s the one

Very useful

His pics gave me the confidence that the bases were interchangeable
 
Sorry, just seen this, if anybody needs photos/advice, please message me and I'll try and help
 
firebobby said:
Sorry, just seen this, if anybody needs photos/advice, please message me and I'll try and help
Click to expand...

Hey mate, long shot but wondering if you're able to send photos to me for the seat base swap? I'm doing heated manual m sport seat bases to standard electric seat base and would be a great help!

Thanks in advance
 
To get you started:

Make sure you have the seat bases in the highest position and the tilt all the way up at the front.

Remove the seat back from the base.

Look here for how to remove the side plastic side panel:

https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2016376#p2016376

The manual seat has an extra clip where my thumb is which you prise up with a flat screw driver:

20230801_203427.jpg

The plastic section behind that panel has to be removed as well. There are 4 bolts which have to be removed but they are quite obvious.

The extending thigh support is the most tricky part if I get time I'll post back tonight :thumbsup:
 
PhilMGCollins said:
firebobby said:
Sorry, just seen this, if anybody needs photos/advice, please message me and I'll try and help
Click to expand...

Hey mate, long shot but wondering if you're able to send photos to me for the seat base swap? I'm doing heated manual m sport seat bases to standard electric seat base and would be a great help!

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
PM sent
 
Usel said:
The extending thigh support is the most tricky part if I get time I'll post back tonight :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

That's the bit I'm at now, managed to get the side plastic off of the manual base, the seat cushion is all loose now but looks to be held in by that thigh support, which as you say, doesn't seem as straightforward haha.

Am I right in thinking the cushion should lift up from the metal base to be able to swap over? Or is there a frame to which the cushion joins and its that which comes off altogether?
 
Tip the seat back so you can see the underneath.

Have the thigh support fully out. My photos show the leather already already released but should guide you in the right direction.

The four arrows point to four metal tabs you will have to bend away from the leather trim. Use a big flat head and a medium size flat head.

20230801_204505.jpg

Prise out the leather trim all the way round and lift it up you'll see this:

20230801_204713.jpg

Use a medium size screwdriver to push down and if needed a small screwdriver to push away to release. There are four. The foam and leather should now be free to come off.

20230801_204637.jpg
 
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