Over time, the different parts that comprise a vehicle show signs of wear and tear. However, this is not always mechanical. Car seats are known to become worn out over time, which can reduce not only their levels of comfort but their appearance. If your BMW seats are showing their age, you might be wondering about replacing them.
Seats within a BMW are not interchangeable in terms of switching the driver and passenger seats due to varying rail systems and seat belt placements. However, BMW seats are interchangeable when replacing them with seats from the same year and model series. This is not possible across varying BMW models. Reupholstering seats is often a cheaper alternative to replacing them.
In this article, we’ll look at your available replacement options for your BMW seats. In addition to this, we’ll look at alternative options to replacing your seats and how to adequately care for your BMW seats to ensure they last a long time. Let’s get started!
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Are BMW Seats Interchangeable?
The answer to this question depends on what your notion of interchangeability is! When it comes down to whether or not the seats in your BMW are interchangeable, we’ll break down everything you need to know about your seats.
Over time, the seats in your car will become worn out. This is bound to happen the longer you have the car. Furthermore, the driver’s seat is usually the first seat to show signs of wear and tear. This is because, whenever you’re using your car, someone is sitting in the driver’s seat. Convertible seats tend to also wear out significantly faster than hardtop vehicles do.
If you have noticed that the foam on the driver’s seat has started to feel thinner over time, you might have wondered about replacing your seat. In fact, some BMW drivers have wondered whether they’d be able to simply switch the driver and passenger seats to mitigate this wear and tear.
Unfortunately, in this sense, the seats in your BMW are not interchangeable. This is due to the mechanisms these seats use to function properly in your car. The rails that the driver and passenger seats use are not symmetrical, making it impossible to switch these seats. Furthermore, your seat belts wouldn’t function if you switched these seats.
Your BMW seats ARE interchangeable across years of the same model series. However, BMW seats are not interchangeable across different models. This means you can replace your BMW seats, but only with seats from the same model series as your current car.
Replacing BMW Seats
In the above section, we established that it is possible to replace BMW seats if the replacement seats are from the same year and model series. Keep reading as we look into how you can go about replacing your seats in this manner… and about alternative options!
While it is possible to replace your BMW’s seats, it won’t be cheap! According to a qualified BMW mechanic, this process could set you back quite a lot. At one point I was searching around for a seat replacement for an E90 BMW and I received quotes starting at $2,000! Therefore, depending on your reason for wanting a seat replacement, you may want to consider your alternatives.
If you do want to get your entire seat replaced the best place to start would be at your nearest BMW dealer or shop. Get some price quotes from your dealer and Indy shop, but the dealer will likely want more for a relatively simple replacement.
As mentioned earlier, official BMW replacement seats will need to come from the same year and model series as your car. Therefore, the age and model of your car could greatly impact the availability of official replacement seats. Your local BMW dealer will be able to give you more detailed information regarding the ability and cost of replacing your seats through them.
However, replacing your seats isn’t your only option. Whether the seat padding has worn out over time or your upholstery isn’t looking great anymore, your car seats can be recovered if you go to the right place! Keep reading to find out about your cheapest option to revive your seats without flat-out replacing them.
Consider Alternatives to Leather
It is a well-known fact that many BMW cars come standard with leather seats. Leather is a premium material with many great advantages. For example, leather seats are comfortable, easy to keep clean, and are great for those who live in colder climates.
However, there are also some downsides to leather material. Those living in hotter climates will be aware of this if they’ve ever sat on leather seats while it’s scorching outside. In addition to this, leather can be difficult to maintain over time.
BMW is aware of this, however, and has a solution! In fact, most BMW cars are available with an alternate option. Whether this is simply due to comfort factors like where you live or ethical concerns about where leather is sourced, there’s another option for BMW drivers.
Most BMW cars are available with SensaTec upholstery. This upholstery material was designed to resemble leather but is not produced with an animal hide the way leather is. Essentially, BMW has developed an alternative upholstery option to suit the needs of their customers. SensaTec is an attractive seat material because it is comparable to the appearance of leather and it tends to last longer!
Consult a Reupholstery Specialist
Unfortunately, regardless of whether your BMW has leather or SensaTec seats, your seats are bound to experience wear and tear over time. However, instead of replacing your seats, you can consider the cheaper option of seeking a re-upholstery specialist who can revive your seats.
Furthermore, by using an upholstery service, you’ll have even more control over the material used on your car seats. This is a great way to breathe new life into your car seats, both in terms of comfort and aesthetics. This will also be a much cheaper alternative to fully replacing your car seats.
Protecting Your Car Seats
As discussed earlier in this article, a vast majority of BMW cars have either leather or SensaTec seat upholstery. In time, the seats in your BMW are bound to show signs of wear and tear.
In terms of protecting your car seats, the name of the game is extending the life of your leather seats, but no matter how well maintained your seats will eventually wear. Leather wear is a natural process that is bound to happen to your seats sooner or later. Unless you get seat covers for your car, which can often feel cheap, your best option is to simply maintain your BMW’s seats as well as you can.
One major factor that impacts your BMW seats is exposure to the sun. This is especially important for the front seats of your vehicle, which get more exposure to the sun due to your windshield. To prevent the sun from damaging your vehicle’s seats, you should invest in a sunshade for your car, which can protect your vehicle’s interior from harmful UV rays.
To protect your seats, you should strive to clean them regularly. You can do this by using a handheld vacuum in your car to remove any dirt particles. Once you’ve done this, you should use a non-scratch microfiber cloth to clean your seats with a non-toxic leather cleaner. This solution will help you remove marks and stains from your BMW seats.
You should condition your BMW seats at least twice yearly using a leather conditioner. This will ensure that there is adequate moisture in your car seats to prevent the leather material from eventually drying and cracking. By regularly conditioning your BMW seats, you can mitigate damage to your seats.
Conclusion
In time, all vehicles show signs of wear and tear, and BMW seats are no exception. When this happens, it is possible to replace your BMW seats with those from the same year and model series. However, this can often be a costly process and depends on the availability of the relevant seats for your BMW model. Instead, you can consult an upholstery specialist. They will be able to revive your car seats, both in terms of comfort and aesthetic – and at a fraction of the cost of replacing your car’s seats.
Sources:
https://www.justanswer.com/bmw/75zto-bmw-years-model-front-seats-interchangeable.html
https://www.bmwofdevon.com/blog/2019/august/23/Which-BMW-Models-Dont-Have-Leather-Seats-.htm#
https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1822657-Switching-Driver-amp-Passenger-Seat
https://www.bmwblog.com/2015/03/05/leather-vs-leatherette-vs-cloth-which-one-should-i-get/