Hello all, 2006 R50, the drivers seat has the typical split on the seat back outboard bolster. I’ve picked up a used set of matching front seats. My intention is to take off the seat cover and swap the drivers one out. However on my new set the passenger cover is in great shape and I’d like to use that one. I note that the “MINI” tag and “AIRBAG” tag are reversed on the driver and passenger seat backs. Videos I’ve watched have a heavy hook on the inside of the cover as part of its mounting system but only on one side of the cover. In a nutshell can I use a passenger seat back cover on the driver’s side without interfering with airbags or something else? (Man I sure hope I’m clear on this question…)
Also, the recliner function seems damaged on the drivers side of the new set of seats, doesn’t stay locked in a driving position. Is this a typical repairable fault or is it just pooched?

 

Sorry I can't help with your questions. Just a heads-up - if your seats are heated, the upholstery is glued. I say this because I had a shop stitch up the split on my non-heated driver seat. He removed the leather and sewed it on his machine. He would not stitch up the heated seat on my son's MINI because it was glued and therefore he couldn't take it off.

 

Thanks for that. My thought is only the seat bottom is heated, not the back rest part? (I do have heated seats)

 

Yes it can be done and I've done it to my 04 R53.
I "skinned"replaced my/driver side seat with one from the passenger side seat upholstery from a 05 R52. Driver or passenger upholstery is virtually identical. Except for the air bag, tag and/or if it has lumbar support control *****.
My 04 seat upholstery was not glued. But yes; the "skin" from the R52 was. So, as you also noticed the the passenger foam seat back will need to be cut/altered to accommodate the airbag mounted on your original driverside frame. I have yet to swap over the air bag tag.
My 04 was not equipped with heated seats. The 05 R52 seats were and were also glued. For the seat bottoms - I just carefully eliminated the wiring under the cushion/upholstery and transfered it over to my seat rail.
Everything went and fit perfect. The upholstery on an R52 is much more robust in material and appearance than the early material used on the original pre-face lift R50 & R53 seats.
I posted my procedure about it here on the forums. I'll try to find it (if I can), when I'm on a PC.

 

Thanks so much. I’d like to be well armed with intel before hitting it.

 

Ahhh - My apologies @club_c - Although I found the link to my post (Driver's Seat), when I swapped out my old tattered driver seat upholstery with one from a passenger side, I neglected to post pics of the back rest foam modification i had done to accommodate the airbag on the driver side.
However, I will say; If your good passenger side backrest donor is not glued; you may just as well remove the upholstery and just swap it over to your existing foam cushion backrest.
If the good passenger side backrest is glued - then remove the entire backrest as one (upholstery and foam) without trying to separate it. From that point it will just be a matter of trimming a bit of foam, creating a slight cavity on the inside to fit around the airbag mounted on the left side of your upper seat frame. You will understand what I'm attempting to describe when you remove the backrest. Look at the inside of the foam cushion where the airbag resides and try to mimic that same cavity contour.

If I haven't confused you too much - I hope this kinda of helps in some way.

Best of luck - let us know if you have any questions and let us know how it goes.