Used Front Seats, Collection

[Michael:E39 11]

Black leather front seats (manual operation) in my 2002 530i Sport looking very tired (age related, not mileage at only 58,000). This is despite detailing with leather shampoo and balm. New replacement seats don't seem to be an option, and specialist seat renovators hard to find here in Dorset and surrounding counties. So, looking at used front seats. Inevitably, some don't look that much better than my existing ones, but there are one or two sets I've seen for sale that don't look too bad. I'm willing to collect within a couple of hours drive from Dorset coast (post Covid restrictions), but a bit unsure if two front seats would fit into the back of my E39 on the back seat for transportation. Any thoughts on the above, guys?

[d_a_n1979 2,790]

13 minutes ago, Michael:E39 said:

Black leather front seats (manual operation) in my 2002 530i Sport looking very tired (age related, not mileage at only 58,000). This is despite detailing with leather shampoo and balm. New replacement seats don't seem to be an option, and specialist seat renovators hard to find here in Dorset and surrounding counties. So, looking at used front seats. Inevitably, some don't look that much better than my existing ones, but there are one or two sets I've seen for sale that don't look too bad. I'm willing to collect within a couple of hours drive from Dorset coast (post Covid restrictions), but a bit unsure if two front seats would fit into the back of my E39 on the back seat for transportation. Any thoughts on the above, guys?

 

Saloon?

 

I think they'd be a very tight fit; plus you've to ensure that the runners don't catch anything and damage it. They're heavy and can easily mark stuff

 

But would have thought one on the back seat and one on the passenger seat; with it down as far as it can go could work...

 

Maybe take the headrests out etc

 

Wonder if both could fit on the back bench; head to toe, as it were? Head rests out again... 

[Mashmanu 63]

You can seperate the back from

the seat. It’s fairly simple and takes

about 10 mins per seat. Practice on your current seats first then you know what to look out for. If they are manual you won’t have the internal wiring to

consider for the head rest. There are several YouTube videos showing you how to do it but this one shows you the way. Obviously it means taking a few tools

with you but will ensure you don’t damage them or your car. One other option is to remove your front passenger seat before you collect. 
 

 

[Michael:E39 11]

Thanks for replies guys; seems it could be possible to transport two replacement seats in the back of my E39 saloon, albeit with fair amount of effort at both ends of journey. I guess putting in that effort would make the condition of the replacement seats even more important (I was struck in the video as to how the replacement seat foam pads were not much better than his own, and how he wished he'd bought new).

It's made me think about another option, seeing as how it's only the seat bases that are tired, while the seat backs are fine. That is to buy two new front seat foam pads (which for my sport seats seems to be part number "52 1 08162  329") and  have a professional upholsterer fit the new foam pads and fit new leather to the seat bases. Cost of course seems horrifying; each foam pad likely to cost around £174 ("on-line-parts.co.uk"). But I would hope the professional upholster could do the job of fitting and re-covering the bases in leather for a lot less than the cost of two leather seat covers from BMW (around £900 each).

Anyway, plenty of time to think about all this whilst "grounded" by Covid restrictions.  But would really like to do something about it, as the front  seat bases in my E39 are spoiling the otherwise very good interior,   

 

[d_a_n1979 2,790]

It cost me £50 to have the seat foam replaced in my drivers seat in my previous E39 pal. 

 

I just took the seat to the retrimmers and left it with them for the day. 

 

It's not an expensive job if you find the right place. Look for car and motorbike seat upholsterers in your area if you can 

[Michael:E39 11]

Wow; that's encouraging! Seems my best next move is to seek out and talk to some professional re-trimmers. I think there's one in Poole (about 30 miles from me), and one in Yeovil (25 miles). Post Covid restrictions, I'll visit both, and talk through options. Of course, if two used pristine seats in black nappa leather came up for sale, that would be great; but most of the used I've seen online are inevitably not in very good condition (to be expected after 20 or so years). Thanks again.  

[Ray112 228]

23 hours ago, Mashmanu said:

You can seperate the back from

the seat. It’s fairly simple and takes

about 10 mins per seat. Practice on your current seats first then you know what to look out for. If they are manual you won’t have the internal wiring to

consider for the head rest. There are several YouTube videos showing you how to do it but this one shows you the way. Obviously it means taking a few tools

with you but will ensure you don’t damage them or your car. One other option is to remove your front passenger seat before you collect. 
 

 

Mines are manual, but has lumbar support and are heated, so I'm more than sure they still have wiring and air piping inside. Looks like not all manual seats are so easy to split.

[duncan-uk 2,902]

If you are swapping seats anyway why not remove the passenger seat in advance to make room.

[Michael:E39 11]

Makes sense! Hopefully that would create space for the replacement seats (though might still require second seat to fit into back). I guess I was wondering if anyone had actually transported two seats in an E39 (perhaps using one of the suggested approaches above)? Trouble with living in Dorset is thar everywhere is so far away, and wouldn’t want to find myself doing two trips, if you see what I mean. Many thanks. 
 

[d_a_n1979 2,790]

21 minutes ago, Michael:E39 said:

Makes sense! Hopefully that would create space for the replacement seats (though might still require second seat to fit into back). I guess I was wondering if anyone had actually transported two seats in an E39 (perhaps using one of the suggested approaches above)? Trouble with living in Dorset is thar everywhere is so far away, and wouldn’t want to find myself doing two trips, if you see what I mean. Many thanks. 
 

 

Personally I'd save your £££ and look to get yours fixed with new foam before spending a chunk on unknown and used seats that will more than likely go the same way as yours etc...

 

Unless you know they've had replacement foam in their lifetime, it's a gamble IMO

 

However, your car and your £££  

[Ray112 228]

5 minutes ago, Michael:E39 said:

Makes sense! Hopefully that would create space for the replacement seats (though might still require second seat to fit into back). I guess I was wondering if anyone had actually transported two seats in an E39 (perhaps using one of the suggested approaches above)? Trouble with living in Dorset is thar everywhere is so far away, and wouldn’t want to find myself doing two trips, if you see what I mean. Many thanks. 
 

Not exactly E39, but years ago I had b5 Passat saloon, which had cloth interior and I wanted to upgrade interior to highline half leather/alcantara seats. Found one for sale two hours away for cheap enough price, so I went to collect it and I managed to get in both front seats, rear seat and back rest, centre console with arm rest, all four door cards, inside sill covers and few more bits. To be honest it wasn't too complicated.

Passenger seat was laid back all the way, the same with both front seats I was loading in. On top of each other. Nothing impossible and I didn't remove anything like passenger seat etc before collecting. E39 isn't smaller than b5, so shouldn't be any problems to load in extra set of seats