Used BMW 7 Series Seat

The F01 generation of the BMW 7 Series ran from 2008 to 2015, so a 2009 seat and a 2012 seat are from the same generation and are likely compatible in terms of body structure and mounting points. However, BMW introduced a facelift for the F01 in 2012, which brought updates to interior trim and materials, so there may be visible differences in stitching, leather grade, or headrest design depending on the exact specification. We'd recommend confirming with the breaker that the seat is from a matching trim level and checking whether the facelift changes affect your specific interior before buying.

The E65 generation of the BMW 7 Series ran from 2001 to 2008, covering both those years, so structurally you're within the same generation. BMW facelifted the E65 in 2005, which updated some interior elements, so a pre-2005 seat may have minor cosmetic differences compared to a post-2005 one. Confirm with the breaker that the year and trim specification of the donor seat match yours to avoid a visible mismatch.

For the BMW 7 Series, seat style does vary meaningfully by trim level — M Sport models typically feature heavily bolstered sport seats, while SE and standard models use a more upright comfort-style seat with different cushion profiles and sometimes different mounting brackets. A seat from an SE will not look or feel correct in an M Sport, and vice versa, so you should try to source a seat from a matching trim level. Confirm the exact seat code with the breaker against your registration to make sure the seat matches your car's specification.

Yes, front seats are handed — a nearside (NS, passenger side, left) seat is not interchangeable with an offside (OS, driver side, right) seat due to differences in the seat frame, side bolsters, and the location of any integrated controls or memory modules. Always tell the breaker which side you need, and double-check this when the part arrives. Rear seats may share more components but can still be handed depending on the exact design, so confirm the side with the breaker regardless.

Seat-mounted side airbags and pretensioner seatbelts are safety-critical components, and both are single-use items — once deployed they must be replaced and cannot be reused. A used seat from a breaker should only be fitted if the airbag and pretensioner are confirmed as undeployed and undamaged. You should have a used seat with integrated safety systems professionally fitted and checked by a qualified technician, and you must confirm airbag module compatibility with your specific SRS system directly with the breaker against your registration, as this varies by variant and we cannot confirm it here.

The front seats from a standard-wheelbase and long-wheelbase (L) 7 Series are generally the same units, as the extra length on the L model is in the rear cabin rather than the front. Rear seats, however, are specific to the long-wheelbase car and will not fit the standard-wheelbase body. Confirm the exact seat location and donor car specification with the breaker before purchasing to be sure you're getting the correct part.