E39 Electric Seats

[skp021]

GuysWonder whether anyone has encountered this problem before. Both electric seat when recline backwards, the left side of the seat continues down but the right side does not move in sync leaving you in a very lopsided seat !!! Thought it was just my drivers seat but when I asked my wife to recline her passenger seat, same problem as well. Can't be just coincindence that both seats have the same problem ??? Please advise anyone

 

[556129]

Apparently AB will ask you to change your entire seat. For an E39, its about RM 14K per seat so you are looking at RM28K ang pow for AB. Good luck!

But since its CNY, will share with you that lots of workshops can unbolt your seats and fix the cable actuators and it'll be as good as new! The cost should be minimal.

 

[bimmerholic]

The problem lies in the bowden cable that controls the motion of the seat. What happens is overtime, the end tip of the bowden cable (square head) seasons and it's left with smooth edges thus allowing it to slip inside the motor. Which is why there is no longer any motion at one point during reclining. Can be fixed either by replacing the bowden cable (need to dismantle the seat to do that) or modify the end tip of the cable to be square back again. Can use hardened epoxy glue over it and let it dry for 8 hours then shape it to a square...and you're good to go.

I had this problem before purchasing my car and got it done at Carbi-Deco Puchong.

 

[skp021]

Thanks for the info guys. Looks like a visit to my bmw specialist soon then. Strange though that both seats had failure in the same side....

 

[salim_dom]

I had the same problem too recently.
It was due to the cable underneath. I sent for repairs at "Lucky" upholstery at Taman Mayang (near Stuttgart).

 

[haywire]

Exactly why I went for a manual seat in my 530i

 

[bimmerholic]

Get a Eletric Chair...

and put you on it :rock:

 

[Realred78]

and put you on it :rock:

From what I've read all day, bro, it looks like he has been in the electric chair for most of his life :rock:

 

[buzzlie]

Bro Bimmer/Salim,

Care to share how much it cost?

 

[bimmerholic]

I didn't get charged for that cuz i did other things as well then.

 

[Herbert]

Bro Bimmer/Salim,

Care to share how much it cost?

Cabri Deco beside TESCO Puchong can replace the bowden cable. Call Jason (012) 390-0205 and price about RM100+ each with labor.

 

[Replay]

There is also potentially a cheap DIY fix for the non-synchronized motors...fixed both my driver and passenger seats 3 months back and it cost me rm25 for a set of torex keys large enough to fit the screws for the seats.

 

[saifu]

still on electric seat but not a technical question...I only realized that the plastic cap/housing to adjust the seat (front passenger) was missing after many months later. Any info where can I buy it?

thanks,

 

[bimmerholic]

still on electric seat but not a technical question...I only realized that the plastic cap/housing to adjust the seat (front passenger) was missing after many months later. Any info where can I buy it?

thanks,

Spare parts shop should carry it else you can special order it from them. Bavarian Auto for instance.

 

[supersub]

There is also potentially a cheap DIY fix for the non-synchronized motors...fixed both my driver and passenger seats 3 months back and it cost me rm25 for a set of torex keys large enough to fit the screws for the seats.

Hi Replay,
Care to elaborate on how you DIY and what is torex keys or does any w'shop know how to fix this.

 

[Replay]

Hi Replay,
Care to elaborate on how you DIY and what is torex keys or does any w'shop know how to fix this.

Hi Supersub,

The torox key needed is to detach the seat rails from the car body, its quite a large size so I had to buy one specially for this piece of work. And as for the actual DIY, it involves re-inserting the black wires back into the seat motor. I used the cigarette lighter technique which is much easier. I dont have a write up but the steps are quite common on the internet, try doing a google.

Most workshops do this kinda work, should be a piece of cake.

 

[JFT63]

supersub, have u collected yr car? whats yr plan bro? m5 bodykits?

 

[supersub]

jft63, collected car alredi thanks again for the connection

both front electric seats hv problems, all resolved/serviced at WP Auto, Pandan Mewah (Albert 012-2017792)

Note : WP Auto moved to Pandan Mewah for those who need to know the location and have GPS here are the coordinates

x:101.768848 y: 3.128882

 

[kayzhen911]

there are actually few cables wreaking havoc under our electric seats.
they hv to be very efficient to locate the faulty cables...

 

[sewell]

my driver seat got some problem, when going thru bump can feel the seat are shaking. went to carbi in puchong, they bring out the seat and check but did not found any damage. they ask me to replace the motor.

how you guys think ?