E36 Interior Luxury Cabin Mods almost done...pictures!!! - United Bimmer Community

**delmarco** · 08-18-2005, 01:37 AM

So I just completed my floorboard lights....

And I got my Leather Seats coming this saturday via FedEx

(Yeah I couldn't afford to pay $679 + $30 S&H + probably $300-$400 labour to get the factoory new sports leather upholstery..so I tracked down some good condition barely used E36 seats on Ebay for way cheaper...
**Notice the rear bench has the luxury cupholders and fold down armrest...sweeeet!

)
These I can install for free!!!

Also my brushed chrome interior door pulls en route next week...

Once done by end of next week, my Interior will be at where I want it for now...and I will get a full interior detail and spa cleaning.... and I will bless you all with pictures

**catalyst** · 08-18-2005, 01:45 AM

I need new front seats too.. im waiting till i can afford vaders though.

Thats going to look a lot better than the cloth did.

**brien4787** · 08-18-2005, 02:29 AM

ineed a new front seat.. maybe i will go up to the junkyard tomorrow in anahiem

**xxxbimmer** · 08-18-2005, 04:28 AM

well tell me what u find i live 2 min from anaheim

**Izdatpaliboi** · 08-19-2005, 08:31 PM

I have a few questions my self. How much do like mint or near mint condition e36 oem seats costs, where can I get them from, are they hard to install and is there a DIY for it. The reason im asking is if everything goes well by the next weekend I should have my bimmer and the guy who is selling it said the seats arent in the best condition. If anyone could help me out on this it would be appreciated. Thanx

**94bmw325i** · 08-19-2005, 08:38 PM

Great upgrade Del, I've never been in a BMW with cloth seats, but I can imagine you will like leather better, just don't spill anything.

**delmarco** · 08-20-2005, 09:55 AM

Actually I like the cloth...it doesnt have that wierd organic odor that leather interior give off when you leave your car in the sun on a hot day

plus it gets me some play from the Vegan chicks who abhor leather products...

jking

**delmarco** · 08-20-2005, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izdatpaliboi

I have a few questions my self. How much do like mint or near mint condition e36 oem seats costs, where can I get them from, are they hard to install and is there a DIY for it. The reason im asking is if everything goes well by the next weekend I should have my bimmer and the guy who is selling it said the seats arent in the best condition. If anyone could help me out on this it would be appreciated. Thanx

I'll help...since help is a rare thing here...lol*

Look on Ebay for the cheapest deals and usually you can get good condition seats (not perfect) in almost all colors especially tan (being the most prevelant), black and grey are rare.

The prices ranges from $300 for full set to $900 for full set. but calculate S&H to be between $50 and $150. I haven't seen the DIY for seats but I will take pictures of when I get mine done and post up a DIY here.

So Far, This is what I've been hearing in terms of what to expect;

The rear seats (that don't fold down for trunk access) are easy as pulling them out and unbolting them...I believe...pull the bottom 1st then the back part 2nd. If you have fold downs it may be harder.

Fronts seats that are NOT powered or heated are easily unbolted from the sliding rack and taken out. The bolts are tricky to get to and the seats may be tricky getting out the door (depending of if you have a sedan(harder) or coupe (easier). Also the trickiest part for the front seats is unplugging and replugging the SRS wires. A quick way around that is by NOT removing the seats themselves but ONLY swapping the cushion parts and the head rests out. The cushions are stapled to the plastic base of the seat with hog rings...if you find the location of all the rings (pull out your old cushion 1st and see where they are) you are good to go. The only side effect is that you can potentially damage the cushion if you are not careful. Also if you have extra wires for power seats (not heated though since the cushions have extra stuff in them) this way will be easier for you.

On the flipside, If you have extra dough go to www.leatherseats.com and buy factory new pre-cut BMW E36 leather upholtery and install them either yourself or at the appropriate shop. These will run yoiu $679 for all the seats and door panels plus 25$ for S&H.

They also custom match your color and offer to make custom cuts and styles for no extra charge. (I wanted the perforated sports leather package-which is the same leather with the tiny ventilation holes found on the new 750i BMWs and S500 Mercs) But for $704...I can't afford that right now even though I think its a great deal.

anyway good luck...and good luck with your new BMW!

**delmarco** · 08-20-2005, 01:03 PM

visit www.realoem.com

you can see by this diagrahm that the cushions are easily removable from the plastic base of the seats.

**B3M2W5i** · 08-20-2005, 06:44 PM

looking good

**xsperf** · 08-20-2005, 09:46 PM

wait, just a quick question, y u need new seats?

**delmarco** · 08-21-2005, 02:00 AM

me, my current cloth interior is shredded on the backs and seat cushion of the front seats...
the driver's seat is the worst and the tan cloth is dirty...the others seats in my car are fine. But I want to get the leather look in the full cabin off the ground for Fall 2005!
lol*
on ebay I got the entire set for a little under $500 plus shipping...
and those chrome handles are like $37 a pop and will be a breeze to self install.

I will be selling my cloth seats...as well.

**xsperf** · 08-21-2005, 01:42 PM

oh i didnt know you had cloth seats..

**delmarco** · 08-21-2005, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

oh i didnt know you had cloth seats..

yeah...by friday not anymore...
I really wish I had money for the custom made E36 sport leather seats...
but I got a great deal on Ebay...
actually I downloaded a cool DIY and I think I can fit the bolts on the bracket...I just needed to remove the extra SRS box and wires for the side door airbags.
The bolts line up...
The backs seats are a breeze..tho...
I gotta post up this in the DIY section...

So far I got crazy DIYs to post up for the complete E36 cabin makeover...
1. Door Pulls from regular plastic to chrome.
2. Door Panels removal/upgrade/or switch
3. Door Speaker Upgrade
4. Armrest removal/upgrade and installation
5. OBC/AC panel back light restoration
6. Rear and Front Seat upgrade/removal/installation
7. Shifter upgrade for pre-97 Automatic E36
8. Footwell lights installation w/ fade in/out effect.

I promised Harry a few months ago and I will finally do it this week with my down time.