X5 2005 - can I change these parts that are inside the car from beige to black?

[sallyjc]

Hi all

I have a 2005 X5 with beige leather inside which was never my preferred colour. I originally wanted black leather inside as it is more practical with kids (which I have). However in the end I got fed up waiting for the perfect a car to turn up bought this one.

After driving it for a while I grew to like the beige but was never entirely happy with it (us girls can be incredibly fussy you know!!). I have since seen a friend's X5 which I really like! She has beige leather seats but lots of the inside is still black, for example the area at the front, I don't know what you call it but the plastic below the steering wheel and glove box area and also along the middle where the gear stick is, all this is black. So are the backs of the front seats and even the seat belts are black. Oh and the bottom half of the doors are black (the top half is beige).

So,

1. Can I buy these bits in black and have them fitted, and if so where?
2. Would it be expensive?
3. Could I buy them second hand instead of brand new to keep costs down.
4. Do I have to go through a main dealer for this work?

I am not sure I want to go the whole hog and change the carpet from beige to black as I imagine it would be a huge job taking the seats out etc. But is it at least possible, can you buy a black carpet!! I have black mats anyway as I am often walking in muddy fields and beige is not the best colour!

Thanks

Sally

[Steamyrotter]

Any thing is doable.
I had the front seat out of mine to get some cables in and it was an easy thing to do. 4 bolts and a couple of connectors. (Remember to disconnect battery first as you could have issues with teh seatbelt pre-tensioners and the Air Bag Warning light....

From what i have experienced there isn't much work in changing the items you have listed.

Finding them may be an issue.
Have you searched evilbay??

[Sanj]

Hi Sally,

Yep, anything's possible. I've had the centre-console, seats, rear seats and door cards off.

From what you describe I think the friends car was originally a black interior and the seats and door cards have been added, with the rear parts of the original black seats put on the beige one's.

Is the carpet black in his/her car?

Get looking for a beige interior (check what seats you have, sport/electric/heated) and buy similar.

Cost is down to what you get them for second-hand, forget new dealer prices, they'll be extortionate!

You can do this yourself (if near me, would happily help)... But any Indi/bodyshop/half competent person can do this. Most of the How-To's are on this forum anyway.

The carpet will be the hardest thing to change and even then that's not too hard. Unless you want to change the lower half of your dash - then that's a nasty job!

[Imy]

[quote="Sanj"]

From what you describe I think the friends car was originally a black interior and the seats and door cards have been added, with the rear parts of the original black seats put on the beige one's.

Is the carpet black in his/her car?


[/quote]

BMW did the option of beige leather but with an all black trim (along the dash, seatbelts and behind the seats.)
They were common with the E39 530i mainly but Iv seen it on a few X5's aswell (mainly 4.6/4.8is). it does look nice, probably my favourite interior. rare as yetti's though :-/

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E39-530i- ... 3a7983dd91

for your reference...

[Sanj]

These were the 'Champagne' Editions, right?

Wonder if they are available for the E53 and the friends car is OEM ???

EDIT: It is - just seen the eBay ad title.

[pvr]

My new E70 is exactly like that with the Oyster seats but everything else black.

[sallyjc]

Imy

That looks very much like it. Except that instead of wood slats she has silver ones. Looks great! I want it!

Thanks

Sally

[Imy]

Sanj,

Yes it was the champagne edition, however, the champagne edition came as a 530i. there were numerous 530i and 525i that i saw when contemplating to buy one that werent champagne and had exactly the same interior except the back of seats were black also (and were missing extras that came with the champagne such as sat nav)

Sally,

I agree it really does look good. im in the same boat as you, iv got a black x5 with blacked out windows but then beige inside. i dont mind it and it has grown on me, and in some ways i prefer to being completely black inside but i would go for the interior any day!

I was thinking about black floor mats and black seatbelts to soften the blow!

[Raj]

It is possible to have just seats and leather parts of doorcards etc in a different colour. Very common tbh. The 4.8 came that way and have seen it in plenty of motors (E46's, E39's, E53's, etc).

Just need to source a breaking X5 with full black interior to strip the pieces you need. Speak to the likes of FABdirect, etc.

As for the changing of those pieces, again not a major issue as everything is fairly straight forward to unbolt, etc.

[rjkc600]

i like a nice beige interior personally, i wish there were more around when i bought mine!

[Imy]

I don't mind beige so much... Makes the interior feel a bit more airy and spacious

[sallyjc]

Hi

I have found a solution! A friend of a friend is going to buy my current X5 and I have already bought another one this morning which has a 100% black interior. I must admit it did feel a bit smaller in the front but I don't mind as black is more practical with little ones jumping in and out. It wasn't just a case of the colour being wrong (honest!). When I looked around at other cars, just to see what colour combinations were available, I saw this one and it had some other features that I really liked. So all in all it has worked out rather well and I am a happy bunny.

Have a good weekend.

Sally

[AW8]

Glad your happy.......assuming replacement is all good then this will save you loads of hassle.

[Sanj]

[quote="sallyjc"]
Hi

I have found a solution! A friend of a friend is going to buy my current X5 and I have already bought another one this morning which has a 100% black interior. So all in all it has worked out rather well and I am a happy bunny.

Have a good weekend.

Sally
[/quote]

[sallyjc]

OK I will take some! Next weekend though!