Interior/Exterior R56 Seats into my 04 R53: Installed and pics!
#26
Are the R56 seats a lot more comfortable than the ones from the R53? The reason why I ask if because I feel like my R53 seats are not very comfortable. I came from BMW E30 sports seats and I can sit in them for long trips. Heck I can even sit in a Recaro SPG for hours but I just can't with the R53. I would be a nice upgrade if the R56 are better. I would go for a brown set if I can find one!
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#32
Yes, its a cool mod. I remember seeing this back in 2007 done and the r56 seat match well to the R50-r53 design
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#33
#34
I just got a low miles jcw and am going to attempt to install the R 56 seats. I was looking at the wires. I don't think my 05 has the seat occupancy sensor. It does not have the airbag light in the headliner. Just the map lights. All the wires seem to be the same too. Blue plug for seatbelt tensioner, black plug for seatbelt, yellow for airbag, and a flat black plug with 3 wires for heated seats?.
#37
#38
Brown to brown, yellow to yellow. For airbag. The seatbelt plugs will still connect together since you mount the r53 seatbelt bracket to the r56 seat. If you have late facelift r53 you have to sort out the occupancy sensor. The r56 sensor I think is different but I don't no for sure as I don't have it in my car. I have early facelift.
#39
#40
In product 1/2005+ MINI Convertibles had it. So some early 2005 R52 dont have it like mine.
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#41
Mine is late 2004 build, so looks like I dodged the bullet. Mini is now covering this repair free of charge, so it's a good opportunity for a free lower seat replacement if you need one fixed. I'm glad I won't have to mess with it I replace the with R56 seats.
#42
Welcome.
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#44
Reading quite a few threads on this, I keep seeing conflicting results as to weather the heated seats end up working or not. Please chime back in when you get them installed!
#45
I never document mods I do on any vehicle but maybe I'll do it for the seats . In any case I only drive the Cooper in the summer so if the seats end up not working for some reason it won't be a big deal I guess
#46
If you look at the wiring, it all makes sense. On the R53, the control unit for the seat heaters is in the switch panel, but on the R56, it is under each seat.
You'll see the wires going into the R56 control unit are the same color as the R53 seat heater wires. You'll just need to use the wiring from your R53 seats and solder into the wires for R56 seats for it all to work, bypassing the R56 heated seat control unit.
There's a chance the control units are calibrated differently between the models, but it seemed to work normally for me and the seats got plenty toasty.
#47
Are the R56 seats a lot more comfortable than the ones from the R53? The reason why I ask if because I feel like my R53 seats are not very comfortable. I came from BMW E30 sports seats and I can sit in them for long trips. Heck I can even sit in a Recaro SPG for hours but I just can't with the R53. I would be a nice upgrade if the R56 are better. I would go for a brown set if I can find one!
I recently did this mod and am actually finding it hard to get used to the R56 sports seat with lumbar adjustment coming from the R50 non-sport seats I've sat in for so many years. The R56 seats are a little bigger and ride a little higher at their lowest setting, and I can't seem to find a comfortable spot between seat height and backrest angle. I just got them in a few days ago, so giving it some time before I decide to go back...
Last edited by gknorr; 06-26-2017 at 07:59 AM.
#48
Here's a summary of some of the differences of these to R53 seats I've noticed:
- The front seats are slightly bigger all around. The seat cushions are larger. I haven't measured, but there is definitely less room for back passengers.
- These sit just a little higher on their lowest setting than R53 seats.
- I like the back seat access handle at the top back of the front seats - much more convenient location.
- The bolsters hold you in pretty well for fast corning.
- The leatherette they used is a lot softer and just higher quality feeling than what is in R53s.
- The build quality in general feels nicer than R53 seats.
Last edited by gknorr; 06-26-2017 at 08:00 AM.
#49
#50
Thanks for great post. If I have 09 clubmanwith no heat vinyl seats . WIil these same leather seats you have (08-14 with heat) swap out with no wires or connectors to change? Basically plug right in? Thanks? I'm told the heater plug is seperate and just be left unused?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Just make sure you disconnect the battery before unplugging anything, and you'll be good to go.