XC40 from base interior to memory seats

[iGeorge3]

Good morning/afternoon, everyone!

I am looking into changing my current interior on my MY2024 XC40 Recharge.
I found a great deal and before buying them I'd like to know what would be the technical limitations.

My XC40 is an iCup, car made in 2024, and the interior would come also from a 2023 XC40, MY2024 also but it's a hybrid with Sensus.
My current interior is the base interior: only lumbar adjustment with the small knob, otherwise fully manual seats without heating, ventilation or other fancy gimmicks.
The interior I'm looking at has it all: heating, memory function, perhaps ventilated, electrically rear foldable headrests, etc.

The cabling part doesn't scare me if it is needed. Same for coding.

I am mainly wondering the following:

• Are there any technical limitations that wouldn't allow for the seat to work? Physically all fits of course, but I'm wondering about the electronics part, if there is anything that wouldn't function properly
  
• What about coding the seat computers? Will it just be plugged in and work or will I face some difficulties, other than the obvious part that the CEM needs to be coded for the extra options?
  
• What about "sensus" seats going into an "iCup" car? Any limitations?
  

Thank you!

[Amazinjoey]

Front seat module will make your car banned if it's connected to VIDA! So transfer the modules between the seats or move over the covers

[iGeorge3]

Front seat module will make your car banned if it's connected to VIDA! So transfer the modules between the seats or move over the covers

Thanks for your feedback!
Would they be compatible although my seats don't have all of the fancy equipment?
Or is it the same hardware in between seats, just with deactivated options?

[IMAY2023]

Front seat module will make your car banned if it's connected to VIDA! So transfer the modules between the seats or move over the covers

This is not true at all.  VIDA "VOLVO" does not block the car if an ECU is replaced. VIDA just forces ECU reload for that replaced ECU under HW changes before allowing total upgrade.  
If the replacement seat module came from XC40,  it can be programmed via VIDA or just disconnect the power that goes into the seat controller before connecting the car to VIDA. 

My current interior is the base interior: only lumbar adjustment with the small knob, otherwise fully manual seats without heating, ventilation or other fancy gimmicks.
The interior I'm looking at has it all: heating, memory function, perhaps ventilated, electrically rear foldable headrests, etc.
Would they be compatible although my seats don't have all of the fancy equipment?
Or is it the same hardware in between seats, just with deactivated options?

First things first, 
Since your original seats have electrical lumber support, most likely it has a seat controller but it does not have the other motors and the wiring for adjustments. 
Look under seat you should see a rectangular ECU with bunch of cables connected to it.  
So, you can install the new seats and plug it in.  Seat movements might even work without changing the config in the CEM.  


Memory function:
There are position sensors built in each motor and reports the position to Seat controller. 
Memory buttons are connected to the Door module ECU.  
When the position is stored in m1 or m2, the door ECU send a message to seat ECU via CAN bus. 
You will need to replace your door trim part with the memory buttons, do some rewiring on the door panel harness or replace it with the one has memory option. 

Heated and Ventilated:
There is a LIN slave module under the seat that controls the heating and ventilation. That LIN slave is connected to CCM "Climate control" 
You will need to rewire one positive and one LIN from each seat. 

Rear foldable headrests:
The is a solenoid inside the rear seats that opens a lock that holds the headrest it up position then gravity does the rest. 
It requires two wires on each side. 1 ground and signal to the CEM.  The wiring is simple but you should check your CEM if it has the PINs.  There are different levels of CEM installed on cars depending on the equipment level.  Even if your CEM does not have that PIN, you can wire a positive with a press switch in the middle to fold them.

[iGeorge3]

Thanks for the feedback!

What would be the best thing to do then? Replace the interior as-is without swapping the seats ECU or swapping them?
If I disconnect the ECU before any service wouldn't that throw some error codes and just confuse any Volvo technician?

My goal would be to change the interior and still service the car in volvo workshops, to benefit from their coverage in case of major issues.

What would happen if I swap the ECU with mine and before any workshop visit I just revert the configuration to the original one? I believe it wouldn't throw any error message, just that only lumbar support would continue working but the rest of seat adjustment won't work at all?

Other than that, wiring doesn't really scare me in the whole thing. It's mostly the communication part and Volvo service that I'm worried about.
I'll have to check about the CEM pins however, I didn't know there were multiple levels. Is there any part number or writing to look out for on the label of the CEM other than the missing pins themselves?

[IMAY2023]

I would start with very basic and if you are lucky, you wouldn't have problems.
Before mounting the new seat as is, compare the part numbers of the seat controller ECUs. (original and replacement).
If the part numbers are the same, go ahead and install your original ECU to the replacement seat then install the new seat. After that, enable the config from Orbit.
Before visiting the service just revert the Orbit config to OEM like all of us have been doing.

Part numbers might be different depending on the production date although its the same exact module. So, if the ECU part numbers are different, don't be alarmed and compare the PINs. If the amount of PINs are exactly the same on each connector, most likely the new seat can work with your original ECU. So, do the same as above.

If the new ECU has more PINs then the original, check the wiring of the new seat if those additional PINs are really used or not. In some cases, there PINs on the ECU but there are no wires going to those PINs. If they are not really used, then go ahead use your own ECU with the new seat.

If the new ECU has more PINs and they indeed wired, you have no option to use the new seat with the new controller.
In this case you have three options.
1) Replace the ECU before visiting the service.
2) Assuming the new seat came from an XC40, leave the new ECU with the OEM config and do ECU reload via VIDA.
3) If you have VIDA access yourself.
a) Install the original ECU and perform readout.
b) Purchase configuration test but do not install "retrieve" it yet.
c) While the VIDA is still connected waiting for you to click on "retrieve" , remove the original ECU and connect the new ECU.
d) Install the configuration test then clear any DTCs.
e) Disconnect the VIDA, lock the car for 10 min.
f) Connect the VIDA and perform a new readout. If everything goes well, nothing should appear under HW changes TAB. (if it does repeat the steps a to f)


This should update the VOLVO servers with the new ECU's HW numbers as if it came from factory unless VOLVO has closed this backdoor hack.

[iGeorge3]

Thanks @IMAY2023
Very useful information!

Now all that's left is to convince the missus that such investment is worth it from a comfort point of view

[IMAY2023]

well, in my opinion it worths especially moving from manual to electric. You can sell your original seats to offset the investment.
Just make sure that the new seats do not have blown or removed airbags.