Seat bolster refurb..

[Themoog2]

In my X5 I have the comfort option seats. In my opinion they look a lot better than the standard sport seats but I accept that they may not be as supportive.
However, the thigh bolster on my driver seat is flat and saggy but the leather is still good. And it burns my leg when the heated seat is on..
How easy is it to fefill with fresh foam? Anyone done it..
If I actually get the time to do it I may even put more foam in to pad the bolsters out a bit.

[marti]

The foam in the seat is a molded one piece foam as in the link below,I suppose you could undo the leather and fill it a bit....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/276512871775 ... p_homepage

[X5Sport]

Not seen anyone on here do it. According to Realoem’s last update 5 years ago, there are replacement parts available (just the foam). You’ll probably need to remove the seat and take it apart to release the cushions, heater panels and related wiring. The leather cover should come off relatively easily (but be challenging to get back on again!). There will also likely be special tools needed in the form of those rings (and the pliers) upholsterers use to hold foam to furniture.

Worth a go if you have the time. Have you tried looking for car seat re-upholsters nearby? They might be either an easier option (I know there’s a cost implication), or give you helpful tips.

[henrym3]

According to realoem the foam for the front seats is interchangeable so you could consider a scrapyard seat preferably passenger and use the foam from that which according to the pictures on realoem is a 1 piece affair. Depends what they want for a seat. There are usually some being broken for parts on line which mighta be cheaper. Just another line of thought for you.

[sapphireblack]

This is a job for a pro imo, unless you have appropriate skills. Yes it will be more costly than a DIY attempt, but sourcing a used seat would obviously help the final cost.

[Themoog2]

I've looked at used seats but they are all sport and not comfort seats so that's no good.
I went to an upholstery place near me the other day but it was burnt down when I got there.. Maybe I'll find another one.
It can't be that difficult to stuff a bit more foam in to firm it back up a bit. It's dismantling the seat that concerns me..

[sapphireblack]

What car/seat type is involved here? My E53 had comfort seats but the seat base (squab?) was basically flat. I think the later type comfort seats with raised bolster sides would require pre-shaped foam rather than just stuffing it in randomly ?

[Themoog2]

I thought there were just two types. Sport seats and comfort seats.
Mine are comfort and have a fairly flat base compared to sport seats I've seen.
It may well be a one piece foam construction but I reckon some could be cut away and new foam glued in place then reshaped. It's just taking it all apart..
I've seen the videos on YouTube of peoe doing it.
What surprises me tho is my X5 is at 180k with a squashed bolster but my Honda Civic on 160k has seats that still look new.. Probably as the X5 is higher you enter and exit differently from a lower car.

[StuBeeDoo]

The last time I put new foam in seats it was the Recaros (pukka ones, not BMW sport seats) in my E30. It's not difficult, just time-consuming.
Personally, I wouldn't bother faffing about with cutting foam if BMW still supply them. I found that cutting/shaping odd bits of foam is a black art - probably best left to upholsterers. And, to be honest, they probably charge as much as BMW.

[henrym3]

Or depending on what the vehicle is used for then swap the passenger and driver seat bottoms complete. I did that years ago on mine although they are sports seats and it wasn’t to squashed but I then got one of those seat repair/colour kits to do what was then the inside bolster on the passenger side and it’s virtually undetectable.

[sapphireblack]

I thought there were just two types. Sport seats and comfort seats.
Mine are comfort and have a fairly flat base compared to sport seats I've seen.
It may well be a one piece foam construction but I reckon some could be cut away and new foam glued in place then reshaped. It's just taking it all apart..
I've seen the videos on YouTube of peoe doing it.
What surprises me tho is my X5 is at 180k with a squashed bolster but my Honda Civic on 160k has seats that still look new.. Probably as the X5 is higher you enter and exit differently from a lower car.

This is my current cars comfort seat, very different to the same named seat in my E53.

Screenshot_20250106_210358_Gallery.jpg (84.64 KiB) Viewed 3542 times

Whereas this was the E53 comfort seat type in my car.

Screenshot_20250106_211238_Google.jpg (80.35 KiB) Viewed 3541 times

Both have articulated backrests with adjustable lumbar support. The base though on the earlier version has no thigh support adjustment and is virtually flat.

[StuBeeDoo]

This is my current cars comfort seat.......

They look very similar to the Sport seats in my F25.

[Leslie]

I looked on youtube and all I could find was for an e70 , while the leather can be taken of tbe foam the way its secured to it by ring clips and rods doesnt lend itself to adding more foam .if a new foam was still available id think with the heat pads etc it would be very expensive but worth an ask I guess as that would be the easiest.

[henrym3]

The OEM parts list I have which is very old listed a seat cushion at £168 you could probably double that now.

[Themoog2]

Arrrggghhh……!
Never mind the seat - the chuffing passenger door handle carrier broke this morning and now the door won’t open from outside or inside. Stupid design.
Time to get the wire coat hanger out.. trouble is - it’s either going to be freezing cold or raining when I go to fix it