Im gonna do it...Cut hole in back seat for ski pass through e90

Yogi335 · 11-03-2010, 08:20 PM

I searched on here and there were a lot of people that contemplated the cut and asked about it, but no one actually said they did it. People researched and got parts lists for the ski cassette and everything, but again no one said they did it. (that being said if i missed it somehow can someone point me to the thread where it was done).

I dont have the car with me at the moment but i am going to look into how i can cut through the plastic behind the arm rest in order to allow ski pass through. I would think i can retrofit the ski cassette after that or fabricate some kind of door to allow closure from the trunk (mostly for noise when the hole isnt in use). I do not need the ski bag and all, thats what some towels/blankets are for but i do need some kind of door system so when the armrest is down it doesnt look completely sloppy.

That being said if anyone has fold down (saddle brown, e90) that they dont use/want and want to trade let me know.

Bavarian E92 · 11-03-2010, 08:21 PM

Perfect idea. Take pictures and put it in the DIY section

BTM · 11-03-2010, 08:23 PM

Will this be more cost effective than buying a roof rack which you can hold more equipment with?

Yogi335 · 11-03-2010, 08:30 PM

Yes...i HATE roof racks

BTM · 11-03-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi335

Yes...i HATE roof racks

GL with your endeavor

skiernan36 · 11-03-2010, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi335

Yes...i HATE roof racks

so you're going to cut through your seats because you dont like the way they look? even though you can take them off when you're not using them? Ok....

Coolieman1220 · 11-03-2010, 08:57 PM

what if you just get new back seats? they could fold too right?

Yogi335 · 11-03-2010, 09:23 PM

Skiernan,
No im not cutting through the seat, im cutting through a plastic piece that BMW could have easily put some hinges on. In the end if it all gets screwed up im sure i can find the non folding seat back somewhere. Its not like if it all goes bad it isnt fixable.
And it isnt just the way they look, its the pain in the ass of installing/uninstalling, locking/unlocking, loading/unloading, storing/unstoring when not using, and the looks.

Coolie,
Yes i could change out the entire seat, which i may explore if i can find them at a junkyard but matching to the saddle i think will be challanging and i dont want to spend $1500+ to get the seats from BMW.

skiernan36 · 11-03-2010, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi335

Skiernan,
No im not cutting through the seat, im cutting through a plastic piece that BMW could have easily put some hinges on.

oh ok, thought you meant the actual seat, that would have been crazy

ForTheD · 11-03-2010, 09:39 PM

I look forward to the Diy
Racks also lower the gas mileage.

I'm not a big fan of the roof rack, but need to use it anyway for all the stuff and allow more people inside.

1QuikWS6 · 11-04-2010, 02:07 AM

It's not the plastic behind the armrest you have to worry about - it's the solid metal seat backrest that really needs cut.

There are (2) P/N's for metal seat backrest: (1) with passthru, (1) without. The difference is the one already has the proper size hole for the pass thru punched out of the metal.

Yeah, you could just cut a hole in yours in the right place, but when I looked into it, the carpeted panels that cover the rear of the seats (at least if you have the fold down seats) are friggen glued on and while attempting to remove one it definitely looked as if removing it would ruin it.

If it wasn't for this fact, retrofit would not be bad, cut a hole in metal, install the passthru plastic framework parts & ski cassette.

michaelthepsycho · 11-04-2010, 02:36 AM

Should be easy peasy with the proper tools and an adventurous mindset. Keep everyone updated.

335BBS · 11-04-2010, 08:07 AM

I can't believe someone is going to do this. Good luck trying to sell that car.

Quick6EF · 11-04-2010, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leaker

I can't believe someone is going to do this. Good luck trying to sell that car.

If he does an efficient job and it looks clean, who wouldn't want a functioning pass through for skis?

I know I would love it...

ragingclue · 11-04-2010, 08:36 AM

You ski in Texas?

csteege · 11-04-2010, 08:50 AM

Since my e90 didn't have fold down seats or a pass through I found some at a junkyard for $350. I also had to order the rear seat latch releases and the top trim piece. Make sure if you go this route you get the top and bottom seat, as the top fold down won't work with the other bottom. The seat belt buckles latches are also longer on yours vs the fold down seat but no real need to switch them out. Lastly the middle seat belt disconnects on the fold down versions so you could or not get that too. I still have the orginal seat as it's napa leather and one I bought is leatherette. You can't tell at all unless you feel a front seat and than the rear, but none-the-less the jackass at the junk yard sold it to me as leather.

Good luck if you cut the current one, I think that will work fine and won't be that hard to do. Post up some pictures.

JuppiOne · 11-04-2010, 09:19 AM

wow, thats a bold move, GL, if you did it, make sure you post some pics, like to see how you did it

carve · 11-04-2010, 10:08 AM

Kind of ridiculous design BMW did. You only get the passthrough when you order seats that can already fold down!? If your seats fold, you don't really need the passthrough anymore, do you? The non-folding seats aught to be the ones with the passthrough.

My seats fold, and whenever I go skiing I just fold down one seatback. Skibag has never been unfurled (looks like it'd be impossible to get it back in the case if I ever did!)

sickem · 11-04-2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carve

Kind of ridiculous design BMW did. You only get the passthrough when you order seats that can already fold down!? If your seats fold, you don't really need the passthrough anymore, do you? The non-folding seats aught to be the ones with the passthrough.

My seats fold, and whenever I go skiing I just fold down one seatback. Skibag has never been unfurled (looks like it'd be impossible to get it back in the case if I ever did!)

but with the pass-through you can still have two people sitting in the back seats...you can't do that if the seat is folded down!

I know this point is belabored, but it is just so stupid that this is not a standard feature on these cars anyways...I am not a skier, but I think I'd just go with the roofracks, remove them when I wasn't using them, and be done with it. but GL op!

carve · 11-04-2010, 11:09 AM

Believe me- if you have more than two skiers, all the ski gear is going to occupy at least half the back seat area anyway. I don't think you can fit four pair of skis and poles through the passthrough. Two is pushing it.

Three is the most people this car can practically take skiing without a roof rack...but if you have that you don't need a passthrough. Even the boots and clothes for four would be tough to jam in the trunk- especially if you have a spare tire back there, since most winter tires aren't available in runflat.

sickem · 11-04-2010, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carve

since most winter tires aren't available in runflat.

uh, that's not true...

plugboots · 11-04-2010, 12:09 PM

Do it. BTW, I fit 4 pairs in my pass through and everyone's junk in my car all the time. I have a rack with a box, bike fittings, kayak fittings, etc. and only use it when I have to. Folding a big piece of nylon is just not that hard folks.

It's just a car

11-03-2010, 08:20 PM	#1
Yogi335 Private 7 Rep 98 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Im gonna do it...Cut hole in back seat for ski pass through e90 I searched on here and there were a lot of people that contemplated the cut and asked about it, but no one actually said they did it. People researched and got parts lists for the ski cassette and everything, but again no one said they did it. (that being said if i missed it somehow can someone point me to the thread where it was done). I dont have the car with me at the moment but i am going to look into how i can cut through the plastic behind the arm rest in order to allow ski pass through. I would think i can retrofit the ski cassette after that or fabricate some kind of door to allow closure from the trunk (mostly for noise when the hole isnt in use). I do not need the ski bag and all, thats what some towels/blankets are for but i do need some kind of door system so when the armrest is down it doesnt look completely sloppy. That being said if anyone has fold down (saddle brown, e90) that they dont use/want and want to trade let me know. __________________ 2010 BSM/Saddle E90 335i (M Sport +more) 2006 Vette Z06 (Shifter, Thats it and thats all man) 2001 Honda CBR600F4i Past Cars: 03 Stg 2 WRX, 05 Stg 2 92x, 06 IS350, 86 Vette, 05 Vette, 07 Jeep SRT8, 10 Camaro SS
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11-03-2010, 08:21 PM	#2
Bavarian E92 First Lieutenant 9 Rep 312 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 335 Montego Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	Perfect idea. Take pictures and put it in the DIY section __________________
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11-03-2010, 08:23 PM	#3
BTM Banned 483 Rep 10,309 Posts Drives: A///MERICAN!!! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: A///MERICA!!! iTrader: (11) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [7.20]	Will this be more cost effective than buying a roof rack which you can hold more equipment with?
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11-03-2010, 08:30 PM	#4
Yogi335 Private 7 Rep 98 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Yes...i HATE roof racks __________________ 2010 BSM/Saddle E90 335i (M Sport +more) 2006 Vette Z06 (Shifter, Thats it and thats all man) 2001 Honda CBR600F4i Past Cars: 03 Stg 2 WRX, 05 Stg 2 92x, 06 IS350, 86 Vette, 05 Vette, 07 Jeep SRT8, 10 Camaro SS
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11-03-2010, 08:57 PM	#7
Coolieman1220 Banned 73 Rep 1,770 Posts Drives: 2010 335d Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	what if you just get new back seats? they could fold too right?
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11-03-2010, 09:23 PM	#8
Yogi335 Private 7 Rep 98 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	Skiernan, No im not cutting through the seat, im cutting through a plastic piece that BMW could have easily put some hinges on. In the end if it all gets screwed up im sure i can find the non folding seat back somewhere. Its not like if it all goes bad it isnt fixable. And it isnt just the way they look, its the pain in the ass of installing/uninstalling, locking/unlocking, loading/unloading, storing/unstoring when not using, and the looks. Coolie, Yes i could change out the entire seat, which i may explore if i can find them at a junkyard but matching to the saddle i think will be challanging and i dont want to spend $1500+ to get the seats from BMW. __________________ 2010 BSM/Saddle E90 335i (M Sport +more) 2006 Vette Z06 (Shifter, Thats it and thats all man) 2001 Honda CBR600F4i Past Cars: 03 Stg 2 WRX, 05 Stg 2 92x, 06 IS350, 86 Vette, 05 Vette, 07 Jeep SRT8, 10 Camaro SS
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11-03-2010, 09:39 PM	#10
ForTheD Second Lieutenant 19 Rep 251 Posts Drives: 2007 e90 335i 6MT (ZSP) Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Salem, OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 BMW 335i [0.00]	I look forward to the Diy Racks also lower the gas mileage. I'm not a big fan of the roof rack, but need to use it anyway for all the stuff and allow more people inside.
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11-04-2010, 02:07 AM	#11
1QuikWS6 No 55mph 1619 Rep 8,476 Posts Drives: F32 435ix MSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blitzburgh, PA iTrader: (113) Garage List 2022 BMW M440ix Vert [0.00] 2015 BMW 435ix MSport [0.00] 2000 Pontiac Trans Am [0.00]	It's not the plastic behind the armrest you have to worry about - it's the solid metal seat backrest that really needs cut. There are (2) P/N's for metal seat backrest: (1) with passthru, (1) without. The difference is the one already has the proper size hole for the pass thru punched out of the metal. Yeah, you could just cut a hole in yours in the right place, but when I looked into it, the carpeted panels that cover the rear of the seats (at least if you have the fold down seats) are friggen glued on and while attempting to remove one it definitely looked as if removing it would ruin it. If it wasn't for this fact, retrofit would not be bad, cut a hole in metal, install the passthru plastic framework parts & ski cassette. __________________ F32 435ix//MGM//M Sport-Prem-Tech-Driver Assist-Lighting-Cold Weather-Dyn Handling Pkgs//M4 Black Lthr Int w/M4 Alum Blade Trim//HK w/Bavsound Stg3//763M//M4 Euro LCI Tails//M4 Mirrors w/CF Covers//AWCarbon CF F/R Spoilers-Side Splitters-Diffuser 6WB/ID6 HU+HUD/IND M4 Alcantara Armrest//PURE S2 Turbo//AA FMIC+DP//ER CP+TIC//3.5bar TMAP/TS DV//AWE Tuning Exh w/Blk Tips//Turner MS CF Intake//BM3 Cary Jordan Tune//MPerf Diff//PrecRW Ignition Kit
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11-04-2010, 02:36 AM	#12
michaelthepsycho Lieutenant Colonel 76 Rep 1,644 Posts Drives: 11 Montego Blue E90 335i Step Join Date: May 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (4)	Should be easy peasy with the proper tools and an adventurous mindset. Keep everyone updated. __________________ Former car 2011 BMW 335i Step - Montego Blue / Chestnut Brown
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11-04-2010, 08:07 AM	#13
335BBS Brigadier General 55 Rep 3,606 Posts Drives: 2009 335 coupe. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	I can't believe someone is going to do this. Good luck trying to sell that car.
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11-04-2010, 08:36 AM	#15
ragingclue One cam is enough 130 Rep 6,801 Posts Drives: VF Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: mulletville iTrader: (1)	You ski in Texas?
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11-04-2010, 08:50 AM	#16
csteege New Member 0 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 335xi Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Colorado Springs iTrader: (0)	rear seat Since my e90 didn't have fold down seats or a pass through I found some at a junkyard for $350. I also had to order the rear seat latch releases and the top trim piece. Make sure if you go this route you get the top and bottom seat, as the top fold down won't work with the other bottom. The seat belt buckles latches are also longer on yours vs the fold down seat but no real need to switch them out. Lastly the middle seat belt disconnects on the fold down versions so you could or not get that too. I still have the orginal seat as it's napa leather and one I bought is leatherette. You can't tell at all unless you feel a front seat and than the rear, but none-the-less the jackass at the junk yard sold it to me as leather. Good luck if you cut the current one, I think that will work fine and won't be that hard to do. Post up some pictures.
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11-04-2010, 09:19 AM	#17
JuppiOne Captain 25 Rep 691 Posts Drives: everyone crazy Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: MO iTrader: (4)	wow, thats a bold move, GL, if you did it, make sure you post some pics, like to see how you did it
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11-04-2010, 10:08 AM	#18
carve Major 177 Rep 1,105 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: usa iTrader: (0)	Kind of ridiculous design BMW did. You only get the passthrough when you order seats that can already fold down!? If your seats fold, you don't really need the passthrough anymore, do you? The non-folding seats aught to be the ones with the passthrough. My seats fold, and whenever I go skiing I just fold down one seatback. Skibag has never been unfurled (looks like it'd be impossible to get it back in the case if I ever did!)
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11-04-2010, 11:09 AM	#20
carve Major 177 Rep 1,105 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: usa iTrader: (0)	Believe me- if you have more than two skiers, all the ski gear is going to occupy at least half the back seat area anyway. I don't think you can fit four pair of skis and poles through the passthrough. Two is pushing it. Three is the most people this car can practically take skiing without a roof rack...but if you have that you don't need a passthrough. Even the boots and clothes for four would be tough to jam in the trunk- especially if you have a spare tire back there, since most winter tires aren't available in runflat.
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11-04-2010, 12:09 PM	#22
plugboots Nude Member 6 Rep 52 Posts Drives: 2011 328 xit, 2012 Golf R Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Do it. BTW, I fit 4 pairs in my pass through and everyone's junk in my car all the time. I have a rack with a box, bike fittings, kayak fittings, etc. and only use it when I have to. Folding a big piece of nylon is just not that hard folks. It's just a car
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