Upgrading Base Seats

[Super Saloon]

Has anyone upgraded the base seats to mid-tier in a 4 BW? I’m fine with the base seats, but wouldn’t mind upgrading to mid-tier and just want to know if anyone has done this and what all is involved. Plug and play? Where to purchase? This seems like it could be easy but idk if the wiring will make it as simple as I want it to be.

 

[techdude99]

Should be easy enough to compare the seat wire harness part numbers. If they're the same, you're all set.

 

[Fnfast]

Whats about the ventilation in the seats?

 

[techdude99]

In the CT4, only the climate package has cooled seats. No climate package no vents, so it should be just a harness swap from what I can see. I don't believe the climate package is available with the base and mid seats.

 

[Super Saloon]

I called Cadillac parts department and they said they can only order parts of the seats to assemble, which they won’t build a full seat and install it. They said my best bet was to find the mid-tier seats from a parted out 4 BW and it should just swap over. I posted in the wanted to buy section, but if anyone knows where I can get some let me know!

 

[Dirkbg]

Maybe check with this fella CT5 Blackwing Rebuild - Can't Wait!

 

[Super Saloon]

Maybe check with this fella CT5 Blackwing Rebuild - Can't Wait!

Sent him a PM, thanks!

 

[bookpage]

So I am going through this pain now. I have a CT4BW with base seats and bought the highest trim seats from ebay (from another CT4BW).

I installed them at home, swapping over the computer modules from my original ones (1 on driver, 3 on passenger, including the presence sensor sack thing). I turned it and got a "Service Safety Restraint System" error on start. I also replaced the lower control panel from the basic one to one which has controls for ventilated seats. So far, the only thing that works is seat movement and bolster/lumbar adjustment - not heating or ventilation or massage.

Anyway, I dropped it off at the dealership a couple of days ago and just spoke to then today. The service advisor told me that basically the "Service Safety Restraint System" warnings were showing an airbag issue on both the driver and passenger side. The tech wanted to know if I had "taken the seats apart" - which I told him I hadn't, and I'd just slipped the presence sensor in and out of the passenger side.

He said that the tech was afraid to call GM for help because once he gives them the part number and they see it's not a build-sheet match, that they could simply void the warranty at that point...

He offered that the tech could take the entire seat apart and check all the harnesses and wiring etc and try it again, but was worried we could end up back at square 1, with no progress. Also, that would take 1-2 days or more, probably.

So yeah, pretty crap situation. I'm probably going to just take it back from them, and try another Cadi dealership near me, but am expecting the worst tbh.

 

[Dirkbg]

So I am going through this pain now. I have a CT4BW with base seats and bought the highest trim seats from ebay (from another CT4BW).

I installed them at home, swapping over the computer modules from my original ones (1 on driver, 3 on passenger, including the presence sensor sack thing). I turned it and got a "Service Safety Restraint System" error on start. I also replaced the lower control panel from the basic one to one which has controls for ventilated seats. So far, the only thing that works is seat movement and bolster/lumbar adjustment - not heating or ventilation or massage.

Anyway, I dropped it off at the dealership a couple of days ago and just spoke to then today. The service advisor told me that basically the "Service Safety Restraint System" warnings were showing an airbag issue on both the driver and passenger side. The tech wanted to know if I had "taken the seats apart" - which I told him I hadn't, and I'd just slipped the presence sensor in and out of the passenger side.

He said that the tech was afraid to call GM for help because once he gives them the part number and they see it's not a build-sheet match, that they could simply void the warranty at that point...

He offered that the tech could take the entire seat apart and check all the harnesses and wiring etc and try it again, but was worried we could end up back at square 1, with no progress. Also, that would take 1-2 days or more, probably.

So yeah, pretty crap situation. I'm probably going to just take it back from them, and try another Cadi dealership near me, but am expecting the worst tbh.

Did you check the online service manual? It will have diagrams of the seat components (Master Electrical Component List - Component Locations - Document ID: 5752806, 5752805, 5752804, 5752803) and the wiring for the pin connections. That might give you an idea what's different between the two seats.

Link to ACDelco TDS
Site Maintenance

 

[bookpage]

Did you check the online service manual? It will have diagrams of the seat components (Master Electrical Component List - Component Locations - Document ID: 5752806, 5752805, 5752804, 5752803) and the wiring for the pin connections. That might give you an idea what's different between the two seats.

View attachment 26977
View attachment 26978

Link to ACDelco TDS
Site Maintenance

That's a good point - I didn't check those (though I did use some docs for trim removal to get down to the lower seat controls). My sub expired now though ..

 

[2soonJr]

Apparently this does not work on the CTS-V3s. People have tried swapping the base model seats to the recaros and vise versa. People said the seats are locked to the infotainment center via vin or something. Hopefully the ct5 doesn't have the same hurdles.

 

[Ricomann]

Apparently this does not work on the CTS-V3s. People have tried swapping the base model seats to the recaros and vise versa. People said the seats are locked to the infotainment center via vin or something. Hopefully the ct5 doesn't have the same hurdles.

Funny, my reserach showed the exact opposite. The Recaro option is programmed into the CUE to show certain adjustments, but they should still function with the power connected, even if not showing through the Cue.

 

[2soonJr]

Funny, my reserach showed the exact opposite. The Recaro option is programmed into the CUE to show certain adjustments, but they should still function with the power connected, even if not showing through the Cue.

Nice do you have a link? I have only seen the opposite. It would be great to let the v3 people know about this.

This was from April of this year

Recaro and Cue swap??

www.ctsvowners.com

 

[bookpage]

So update on my situation. The second dealership actually opened up the seats and lo and behold, both seats were missing the side airbags... They suspect they were taken out for air shipping or something. They wanted to charge me $2500 to install new bags, which is mental considering googling the parts shows them available for $100 driver side, and $600 passenger side (why the big diff?).

Anyway I said gimme my car back, I want to try reaping the bags from my base seats at home. I got home, swapped them over in like 15m and BOOM! The "Service Safety Restraint System" is gone.

Sadly the ventilation and the massage function are both not working. I sent them a message about it, but I suspect that will remain locked to me. It's still 100% worth the upgrade though.

 

[Super Saloon]

So update on my situation. The second dealership actually opened up the seats and lo and behold, both seats were missing the side airbags... They suspect they were taken out for air shipping or something. They wanted to charge me $2500 to install new bags, which is mental considering googling the parts shows them available for $100 driver side, and $600 passenger side (why the big diff?).

Anyway I said gimme my car back, I want to try reaping the bags from my base seats at home. I got home, swapped them over in like 15m and BOOM! The "Service Safety Restraint System" is gone.

Sadly the ventilation and the massage function are both not working. I sent them a message about it, but I suspect that will remain locked to me. It's still 100% worth the upgrade though.

Does your heat work?

 

[bookpage]

Yep, heat works