BMW Performance Seats Retro fit kit avail for E90/92

[Bob MG]

Just received this from my dealer, and I am certain if you order the part from Germany you guys in the US can have this fitted. It requires additional re coding from the BMW dealer once installed correctly. All airbag functionality is 100% and seat occupancy etc after re coding.

1. Buy the retro fit wiring harness as per the attachment
2. Plug the car into the BMW coding machine to programme the car
3. Select retro fit seat option

The BMW computer will then know you have removed the standard electric seats from the car and it will recode the car to deactivate the error codes and restore functionality of the airbags and seat airbag the performance seat comes with.

My guy says all BMW computer programming machines are set up the same, clearly US dealers won't sell you the wiring harness part and perform the reprogramming once installed.

Without the wiring part fitted you WILL not be able to reprogramme as per above

part number 61122155580 wiring kit
part 07147146686 x 8 fillister
part 52102152617 set of screws

Hope this helps

[bavarian19]

That is great news!

[bavarian19]

Is that because this could be an option on the ZCP package?

[Trier Germany]

Awesome this is really good news for people that wanted the performance seats!

[dimabimmer]

Good news!
Any idea on cost for seat and install?

[MN M3]

They are only available as an after-market purchase, and BMW dealers won't install them because they are, technically, illegal to install into a road-registered car in the US. The seats don't meet DOT requirements, and BMW never submitted them for testing to get certified. Most dealers won't even order them because they know they aren't supposed to be installed in US-spec cars. I had heard from my dealer that BMW Germany won't let US dealers order the seats directly because of this issue, so any seats that do show up in the US are basically third-party sales - a European dealer orders the seats and sells them to a third party in the US. BMW won't install the new software into a US-spec car, so it is pointless to "demand" it from your dealer - it can't legally be installed, and they won't assume the liability issues for doing so.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by MN M3

They are only available as an after-market purchase, and BMW dealers won't install them because they are, technically, illegal to install into a road-registered car in the US. The seats don't meet DOT requirements, and BMW never submitted them for testing to get certified. Most dealers won't even order them because they know they aren't supposed to be installed in US-spec cars. I had heard from my dealer that BMW Germany won't let US dealers order the seats directly because of this issue, so any seats that do show up in the US are basically third-party sales - a European dealer orders the seats and sells them to a third party in the US. BMW won't install the new software into a US-spec car, so it is pointless to "demand" it from your dealer - it can't legally be installed, and they won't assume the liability issues for doing so.

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by MN M3

They are only available as an after-market purchase, and BMW dealers won't install them because they are, technically, illegal to install into a road-registered car in the US. The seats don't meet DOT requirements, and BMW never submitted them for testing to get certified. Most dealers won't even order them because they know they aren't supposed to be installed in US-spec cars. I had heard from my dealer that BMW Germany won't let US dealers order the seats directly because of this issue, so any seats that do show up in the US are basically third-party sales - a European dealer orders the seats and sells them to a third party in the US. BMW won't install the new software into a US-spec car, so it is pointless to "demand" it from your dealer - it can't legally be installed, and they won't assume the liability issues for doing so.

Yup. The US dealer's won't even be able to order this so called retro-kit. It's pretty much case closed unless you have connections or have an independent dealer try to help you.

[dimabimmer]

if warranty isn't the issue, these seats shouldn't be difficult to install "do it yourself" or at a good "performance/mod" shop?

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by dimabimmer

if warranty isn't the issue, these seats shouldn't be difficult to install "do it yourself" or at a good "performance/mod" shop?

No, it is difficult. Most shops don't have the tools or the knowledge to re-coded the seats to work with our ECU.

For cars with iDrive, that means annoying errors on the screen, rendering the unit useless, deactivated passenger airbag and side seat airbags.

Even with the kit that the OP mentioned, it still requires re-coding.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Forget that.

[michaeldorian]

Whoever figures out how to install these seats along with any other after market seating system for US spec cars has the opportunity to make some seriously good bucks.

I'm surprised no one has figured it out yet.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by andrewabf

Don't think so. The performance seats are a retro fit option. From what I read, the US dealers weren't allowed to sell or fit them. Doesn't make sense as the software an wiring does exist to make them work in the M3.

I mean it does have side impact airbags so I can't understand the issue.

This clears it up, so talk to your dealers and demand!!!

Correct, these will not be imported to the US by dealers nor is coding available for the retrofit.

[aus]

What if they DOT certifies them for the ZCP?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by aus

What if they DOT certifies them for the ZCP?

Then we'll come to that road when the ZCP arrives, I don't believe there's been any choice in seats for the M3 during ordering other than cosmetics.

US-compatible PS Seats would mean different OC3 mats embedded within the seats at the very least.

[Green///Hell]

Aw sweet this is exciting, this means I can put race seats back into the car again

Nice to see BMW sort of listens to the customers wants. Maybe next we can get the 09' iDrive retrofit

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Panda///Monic

Aw sweet this is exciting, this means I can put race seats back into the car again

Nice to see BMW sort of listens to the customers wants. Maybe next we can get the 09' iDrive retrofit

These instructions have been available since the Performance line was released (regardless of revision date) earlier last year in the 1-series. Page 16 holds some key points:

Subsequent installation of BMW Performance sport seats does not invalidate the owner's manual. The BMW Performance sport seat is included in the European type approval for the car, There is no need for the installation to be approved by a technical monitoring organization or for an entry to be made in the registration document.

Notes
- Retrofitting the BMW Performance sport seat deactivates the function of the seat belt reminder for the front passenger seat. In addition, the belt hand-over is deactivated in the E92, The driver must make sure that the front-seat passenger has fastened his or her seat belt before setting off.
The function of the passenger airbag is unaffected by the seat belt reminder having been switched off. Inform the buyer of this if the car is sold.

- In order to restore the original front passenger seats (in E92: driver's and front passenger seat), the seat occupancy detection of the front passenger seat and, if appropriate, the belt hand-over must be coded. Contact your BMW Service company for this.

Just don't want to give false expectations here. But hey - I could be wrong.

[Green///Hell]

Gosh that is so much involved. I've been wondering more and more if it might just be worth my while to buy a cloth seat bottom and take out the appropriate harness and airbag sensor mat and retrofit it, especially since I don't have to deal with the 09' headrest

Would this work, in theory?

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by Panda///Monic

Gosh that is so much involved. I've been wondering more and more if it might just be worth my while to buy a cloth seat bottom and take out the appropriate harness and airbag sensor mat and retrofit it, especially since I don't have to deal with the 09' headrest

Would this work, in theory?

Should in theory. I don't know of anyone that's dismantled a set of Performance seats to find out for sure.

The stock US seats have the OC3 mat pressed onto the backside of the seat cover, these are not available separately like e46 models once were.

[michaeldorian]

Originally Posted by Panda///Monic

Gosh that is so much involved. I've been wondering more and more if it might just be worth my while to buy a cloth seat bottom and take out the appropriate harness and airbag sensor mat and retrofit it, especially since I don't have to deal with the 09' headrest

Would this work, in theory?

PM, Finnegan. He's gone down this route and has verified that this would work. However he has an 09 car with headrest restraints and has not been able to solve that particular problem.

I was considering picking up some 09 3 series seats and ripping out all the electronics and retrofitting it.

Does anyone know if the OC3, etc is the same in a normal 3 series?

[Kev]

Yes, the OC3 sensor on a regular 3 is the same as the M3. See the pic here:



The one on your left side is the US-spec M3 seat bottom, and the one on your right is the Euro-spec M3 seat bottom. You can see that the OC3 sensor on the US-spec car which actually comes as a unit with the seat bottom. I'm trying to transfer all the hardware over to the Euro-spec seat cushion and eventually find an interior shop to retrofit the seat bottoms to my car.

[Robwe46m3]

excellent project! keep us posted. Its people like you who make M3post so good