BMW seat replacement – how to do it and how to code it?

BMW driver question

My car is equipped with standard heated seats, without memory. However, I would like to replace them with something more comfortable and new. I have seen on the internet that the replacement itself is not a problem, but I have my doubts. I don’t like the look of the F30/F34 seats. If I take the G20/G21 series seats, will the heating and memory function work?

I know that the memory buttons in the G series are in a different place, not on the seat itself. Or, if I buy X5 F-series seats, will I be able to get them to work properly? Given that the seats are not cheap, I would be happy to pay for your time to check this issue and advise on the best course of action. I would very much like to have heating and preferably setting memory. To summarize:

Is it possible to install seats from another model to make the heating and memory settings work? If so, what models would work best? Can you help with the installation of new seats and coding?

The problem was with the BMW 3 F34, but may also occur in other models.

BMW 3 F32 interior
BMW 3 F32 interior | Robert Basic from Germany, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Response from BM Cars website

The factory equipment of BMW vehicles is configured at the production stage. Interior components, including seats, are matched to the vehicle’s design, body and equipment components. Possible replacement of seats with other seats is possible only in the scope of models that use the same seats.

In other cases, it is necessary to change not only the electrical installation, but also the mounting method, mounting rails and equipment elements: such as the center tunnel or center console. The F34 model uses front seats that are also used in the following models:

  • F20
  • F30
  • F31
  • F80
  • F36

The next issue is the type of seat (mechanical/electric). For the correct application of an electric seat (with possible memory), it is necessary to equip the vehicle with a matching electrical system (different body harnesses) and with a controller to operate the seats and memory. In the case of your vehicle, for the use of electric seats with memory and heating, it is necessary not only to replace the seats with matching ones (from the list above), but also to rework the electrical system and add/replace the seat and body controllers. Our service does not do BMW vehicle conversions.

BMW 3 F32
BMW 3 F32 | Norbert Aepli, Switzerland, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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BMW 3 F32 | © M 93 / Wikimedia Commons

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BMW 3 F32
BMW 3 F32 | Navigator84, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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