Seats and electric adjustment drives — removal and installation (BMW 3 Series E46)

Removal the front seats

1. Disconnect the cable from the negative battery terminal (see chapter 5A).

2. Move the seat as far forward as possible and raise its cushion completely.

3. In the sedan and tourist models, unscrew the bolt and disconnect the seat belt buckle lever from the seat guide (Fig. 24.3).



4. Unscrew the rear seat guide mounting bolts and remove them together with the washers.

5. Move the seat as far back as possible and remove the caps from the front guide mounting nuts/bolts. Unscrew the nuts/bolts and remove them together with the washers (Fig. 24.5).



6. Slide the seat forward until the ends of the runners are flush with the guides.

7. At the front under the seat, remove the retainer and disconnect the seat wiring connector (Fig. 24.7).





8. Lift the seat and remove it from the vehicle.

Removal the folding rear seat

"Sedan" and "coupe" models

9. Lift the front of the seat cushion, disconnect it from the left and right anchors, then slide the cushion forward and remove it from the vehicle. When removing the cushion, disconnect the seat heater wiring connector from the cushion (if it exists).

10. If necessary, fold down the rear seat back armrest (if it exists), unscrew the bolts and detach it from the back (fig. 24.10).



11. Remove the bolts securing the lower rear seat belt mounts to the body.

12. Slide the seat back forward, unscrew the central bolt and remove it (fig. 24.12).

Model "tourist"

13. Detach the seat back and fold it forward.



14. It is necessary to remove the trim located between the seat back and the door opening. Pull the upper edge of the trim forward, disconnect it from the clips, then pull the trim up and remove it (fig. 24.14). Repeat this procedure for the panel on the other side.



15. Remove the screws securing the backrest to the central bracket (fig. 24.15).



16. Remove two screws securing the backrest to the side brackets (fig. 24.16).



17. Lift the seat back up and disconnect it from the guides. Remove the seat from the vehicle.

Removal the fixed rear seat

18. Lower the rear seat armrest (if it exists) and detach it from the back.

19. Lift the seat cushion, detach it from the fasteners and remove it from the vehicle interior.

20. Detach the upper part of the seat back, then slide it up (so that the lower fasteners are disengaged) and remove the backrest from the car interior (fig. 24.20).

Installing the front seat

21. Installation is carried out in the reverse order of removal, taking into account the following notes.

• a) On models with manual seat adjustment, insert the seat mounting bolts and tighten them by hand. Slide the seat forward as far as it will go, then slide it back until the locking mechanism engages. Rock the seat to ensure that the locking mechanism is securely engaged. Then tighten the mounting bolts securely.
• b) On models with electric seats, make sure the connector is securely connected and locked, then tighten the mounting bolts securely.
• c) On sedan and tourist models, tighten the seat belt buckle lever mounting bolt to the specified torque.
• d) Connect the battery (see chapter 5A).

Installing a folding rear seat

"Sedan" and "coupe" models

22. Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal. Make sure that the seat pins enter the corresponding sockets in the body (fig. 24.22). Tighten the lower seat belt mounting bolts to the specified torque.

Model "tourist"

23. Installation is carried out in the reverse order of removal.

24. Unfold the top fastener and insert it into the side of the backrest.

25. Install the lower side trim guides on the appropriate brackets and secure the upper edges. Install the plastic trim on the side panels.

Installing a fixed rear seat

26. Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal. Make sure that the lower pins are in the body sockets and the seat belts are passed through the corresponding windows.

Electric front seat adjustments

Removal

27. Remove the front seat (see above).

28. Disconnect the electrical wiring connector and remove it from the bracket.

29. Remove the two screws and remove the electric motor from the gearbox (fig. 24.29, a, b).

Installation

30. Installation is performed in the reverse order of removal. Securely tighten the motor mounting screws.

(This publication was borrowed from an online resource: BMWMan)