BMW Z3 Seat Shift Fix - Part 1

[busaboy64]

Always unplug the battery before you do anything electrical for at least for 10 minutes prior to disconnecting , this will clear your onboard computer: break your bolts free from the seat before you disconnect the battery but don’t unplug until you disconnect your battery! Great job Ben2931, I used nylon bushing from the hardware store, and used my table top grinder to make the bushings, cost a total of $3.50

For 8 of them, they were 1 ¼ with a ¼ hole in the middle.

[Westwoodorama]

Didn't you have a really tough time unscrewing the left rear bolt? Not only is that one very hard to reach, the rear bolts are very tightly locked in, quite a job.

[Westwoodorama]

Do you have to disconnect the battery before you handle the electrical plugs under the seat?

[raypags]

How many hours should I allocate for fixing each seat?

[raypags]

How many hours should I allocate for fixing each seat?

[jzx32]

Thanks for the video. It was a god send to me tonight. Well chuffed!!!!

[k111ap]

А в масскве это кто нить может повторить. Очень надо :-)

[jdr1300]

thanks for the video, it came in handy at work today. The black plug is for the passenger seat occupacy sensor mat and the black box is just the module for it, i think its a voltage regulator or something. And the yellow plug you pointed to is for the seat belt tensioner not the controls.

[msolanoo]

Great video, i replaced the bushings myself!! Thank you

[Rio356]

isnt that black box the seat heating motherboard?

[drlugnut2008]

invaluable. Thanks for taking the time. Make sure you have the T25 and T50 wrenches before undergoing the task to avoid delay. This process is the same for the M coupe.

[dizzytats]

that "black thing" is your weight sensor for the airbag. I hope you hooked it up before you turned on the accessory power back on in your car or you will need the airbag reset tool.

[steamtom1]

Is it necessary to position the seat all the way back, or will another position work? I have completely removed my seat, and I think it is almost mid position. I can always hook the wiring back up and put it in the rearward position if necessary.

[ben2931]

It's not necessary. It makes it easier to align both sides though by counting the threads - see third vid.

[hplar1]

The black box you asked about has something to do with the passenger airbag sensor. I have a 97 Z3 & having issues with the airbag light on dash coming on & staying on. So far I haven't found the problem but seen your video & offered what I have learned while searching. If anyone knows how to kill this airbag warning light, please let me know! Thanks

[ben2931]

Dealers can reset the airbag light. You can avoid the trouble by first disconnecting the battery.

[espressomiata]

Easy job thanks to your video. Thanks for taking the time to make this available.

[ben2931]

Got this as a comment - thought it was good:

" They [seat bushings] were designed by Rockwell International in the US, not BMW. The same Rockwell that built the Space Shuttle. Now you know why they fail."

[monkeyboy27476]

yet another BMW Design fault, crappy german trash!

[godspeedm3]

They were designed by Rockwell International in the US, not BMW. The same Rockwell that built the Space Shuttle. Now you know why they fail.

[wobblycheeks]

Thanks for posting this video, which has allowed me to replaced the bushes on the seat in my Z3 with no problems. Are you planning to replace the seatbelt guide on your seat? as the guide on my seat has also snapped. If you do, can you post a video of that, that would be great.

[UKtegi]

hahaha "what are they thinking?!" hahaha, its out of warranty = not BMW's problem haha.

[smithrc1]

Thanks for posting this. THe only problem I had was with the seat postion. I couldn't get the seat out when it was all the way back, So once I got it loose, I had not move it all the way back, disconnect the battery, and then unplug the electrical connections.

[carlmCKIM]

heated seats is what that "random" wire is. If I have anything else to add I will do it tomorrow as soon as I finish this bad boy.

[jbarton750]

That extra plug on the passenger seat is probably for the passenger airbag sensor. There wouldn't be one on the driver's side because the seat is always going to be occupied...no need to sense an occupant. : )

[s1meao]

i used a soft plastic and a hard rubber don't know if it are the best materials?! to plug the rods again its best 2 align and insert it on the motor out and them insert on the rail. i had trouble to make it slide totally down and insert it on the hole...

[s1meao]

i have a 1.8 Z3 build in 11/96 and i want to thank you for the post. i took 6H but the other side is going to be faster. forgett to disconnect the battery so airbag light turn on :(