Interior Swap

sltillim · 08-25-2025, 07:08 PM

Hello All - first time poster. I bought an 2011 e88 (135i base manual) for my lady earlier this year. We've been getting it running right, doing maintenance and fixes and some upgrades. Eventually we will do the m-suspension upgrade and paint it with some style 42 17' wheels. What a great and quick little car!

I just installed a full upgraded interior that I stripped from a totaled 2011 e88 M-Sport. So i thought it would be very like for like... It was complete from carpet to window pillars, less the instrument cluster, stereo and climate / roof controls. The old owner was a smoker so this made my lady happy the car doesn't smell anymore.

I researched on here, watched the YouTube videos and all went well. I made a consolidated list of my steps that I will post next. I had to pull together a lot of info. I am all about helping the community in return.It was interesting what works and doesn't with the interior gutted and things disconnected. I have the chassis pigtails from the crashed car so i was easily able to tap into the CAN and operate the lumbar and bolsters. Everything works! The old interior did not have powered seats but they were heated.

The car is back together and I am still getting the Airbag and seatbelt warning lights. I have read anything from
- Stealing the seatbelt latches off the old chairs
- stealing the seat postion sensors off the old chairs
- it just needs to be coded.

Can someone share some solid next steps? I am not trying to bypass - I want it to work. (Only thing i haven't done is put in the headrests yet - I also saw weird posts about abs sensor in there...?)

Thanks all!

sltillim · 08-26-2025, 02:08 PM

I did my own next step of purchasing a scanner - the FOXWELL NT530 for BMW off amazon. It was $180 but hopefully worth it considering the BMW specific system access, reset functions and coding capability. It arrives tomorrow. I am going to reset the system and see what turns back on.

I saw in many posts, the airbag / seatbelt light comes on if the battery remains plugged or the car turns on with components unplugged. I did both, so hopefully the reset works. If not I will either see if I can code the new seat in or use sensors from the old seats.

One item I found needed to be coded through default is the driver's window controls - i tried two other units that did not plug and play - I assume it's coding. Fortunately my original worked but had a beige surround so i stole the black surround and put it on the old switches.

Still, if anyone had advise it is certainly appreciated!

08-25-2025, 07:08 PM	#1
sltillim Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2025 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	Interior Swap - Airbag and Seatbelt Lights Hello All - first time poster. I bought an 2011 e88 (135i base manual) for my lady earlier this year. We've been getting it running right, doing maintenance and fixes and some upgrades. Eventually we will do the m-suspension upgrade and paint it with some style 42 17' wheels. What a great and quick little car! I just installed a full upgraded interior that I stripped from a totaled 2011 e88 M-Sport. So i thought it would be very like for like... It was complete from carpet to window pillars, less the instrument cluster, stereo and climate / roof controls. The old owner was a smoker so this made my lady happy the car doesn't smell anymore. I researched on here, watched the YouTube videos and all went well. I made a consolidated list of my steps that I will post next. I had to pull together a lot of info. I am all about helping the community in return.It was interesting what works and doesn't with the interior gutted and things disconnected. I have the chassis pigtails from the crashed car so i was easily able to tap into the CAN and operate the lumbar and bolsters. Everything works! The old interior did not have powered seats but they were heated. The car is back together and I am still getting the Airbag and seatbelt warning lights. I have read anything from - Stealing the seatbelt latches off the old chairs - stealing the seat postion sensors off the old chairs - it just needs to be coded. Can someone share some solid next steps? I am not trying to bypass - I want it to work. (Only thing i haven't done is put in the headrests yet - I also saw weird posts about abs sensor in there...?) Thanks all!
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08-26-2025, 02:08 PM	#2
sltillim Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Convertible Join Date: Aug 2025 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	I did my own next step of purchasing a scanner - the FOXWELL NT530 for BMW off amazon. It was $180 but hopefully worth it considering the BMW specific system access, reset functions and coding capability. It arrives tomorrow. I am going to reset the system and see what turns back on. I saw in many posts, the airbag / seatbelt light comes on if the battery remains plugged or the car turns on with components unplugged. I did both, so hopefully the reset works. If not I will either see if I can code the new seat in or use sensors from the old seats. One item I found needed to be coded through default is the driver's window controls - i tried two other units that did not plug and play - I assume it's coding. Fortunately my original worked but had a beige surround so i stole the black surround and put it on the old switches. Still, if anyone had advise it is certainly appreciated!
	Appreciate 0 Quote