BMW Z3 Seat Shift Fix - Part 1

Does your seat shift when you stop? Fix your shifting seat by replacing the worn-out bushings. Here's how.

You can make your own bushings, or you can do it the easy way and order them from www.whalenshiftmachine.com.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BMW
• Z3
• Seat
• Shift
• Fix

[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.

[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."

[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?