"2005 BMW X5: Leather Front Seat Question"

2005 BMW X5 Front Seat View

Will BMW E36 leather front seat fit in a 2005 BMW X5 without modification?

Answer: No. Modification is required to retrofit a e36 seat in a e53 x5. First there is size of the actual seat and different seat rail bolt down locations, there a simply not the same. You would probably have to modify or customize some sort of seat rail to the e36 seat and then re secure it the x5. Now that you have the seat in the car after 1st set of modifications now you have to modify the wiring. Take into consideration airbag lights from the seat occupancy that is now missing from the x5, and also your airbag might work properly, if at ALL. Also if the X5 has electric seats, and or heated seats these used to be options might not be available to you anymore. E36 wiring schematics are different from a E53 wiring. Please take into consideration if wiring mods are done incorrect and wiring harness or connectors get burned that could cost you $1500-$4000 for a dealer to fix. The reason would be is because a complete wiring harness for a x5 is not cheap and consider the labor it would strip the interior to locate the burned section of wires and replace. The best thing to do is a get x5 seat even if it’s a different year and still mods would probably be required such as different leather color. Not to be insulting as well, that won’t look good, unless it’s a E36 M3 sport seat and you are creating a autocross, off-road type x5. I work at a BMW dealer, I’ve seen the nightmares that come through, and i mean electrical, where safety is the first considered.