Swapping the driver and passenger seat bolsters

[Geezer]

I've got some slight wear on the bottom of the driver's bolster on side my 53 plate X5 which has 94k on the clock, along with a couple of small scuff marks. No rips or tears.

I was doing some research on products to refrubish and how (apparantly Liquid Leather scuffmaster is very good but that's another story) and one of the suggestions was to swap the drivers and passengers seat bolsters. By doing this the driver's outer bolster, which would normally receive the most wear, would now be on the inisde i.e. nearest the gear stick and vice versa.

When I read abou this on another bmw forum (E36 Coupe) many forum members had done this themselves and seemed very pleased with the result giving a new lease of life to the leather seat.

Now my seat isn't terribly worn, but it can only deterioriate with use. I see this as a way of increasing the longevity of the seat by swapping the parts that would normally see the most wear and tear for those that will see less.

Not having done this before, naturally it seems more challenging on an X5 not least because of the heated electric memory seat.

What are peoples' thoughts on doing swapping seats and has anyone sucessfully done this?

[Don Coffey]

Sounds like a simple but very effective idea.  I'm sure Sanj or one of the other 'can do' guys will come along to advise shortly.  Let us know how you get on.

Don

[Sanj]

It is possible and very effective.

Simple to get the seats out (4 bolts). Just don't attempt to start the car when you take the yellow connector off (otherwise the airbag light will come up on the dash and you can't turn it off without a scanner or $tealer/Indy visit).

Then the task to get to the bolsters and swap them over. Hardest part will be to pull the the leather tight after the swap. Might be worth asking a good upholsterer for a replacement. You'll have it to hand to be able to show it. Having the seat base leather off means you can give it an thorough clean and oiling too, I suppose.

[Don Coffey]

Hi Sanj, knew you wouldn't be fair away. 

Don

[Geezer]

Thanks Sanj that's helpful. Have you done this before?

I've taken seats ou before, but how would I remove teh bolsters? Are there clips or screws that I need to remove first?

[Sanj]

Hey Don - fewer further between nowadays - but keep checking in....

Geezer, not done it but had the seats out (when we swapped Jig's non heated for heated seats). There will be elasticated clips and screws there, all very taut so be careful.

[lezmtaylor]

There are special clips that secure the bolster to the covering (Hog clips I think) and a special tool to fit them.
I bought the tool and clips when I attempted to fit after market seat heaters to the Comfort seats on my car.
I got to removing the seat leather and back covering, and then had to split the back upright of the seat from the seat base and could not figure how to do it.
Gave up at that point, did not use new hog clips to reassemble.
Used 12" cable ties instead , gave me a lot more room to work.
I don't often get defeated by a mod, but this one caused me a lot of grief and I did not want to ruin a very expensive car seat.

Lez

[Geezer]

Thanks Lez
That's really helpful. If you struggled with the clips I'm going to have no chance. I guess the X is a different set up to the 3 series. Shame.