Seat doesn't recline

[Nuieve]

Just got a 1998 with a manual recline seat. All shops are asking 2hr diagnostic fee at 180/hr, so $360 just to "diagnose". What a world we live in.

My understanding is that the simplest thing would be if there's some sort of a cable with ball tip that supposed to snap on the little clip thing that got loose somehow, but it's under the seat and the seat would need to be taken out regardless? What if the cable is lost somewhere inside the seat, would I be able to fish it out at all?

Are there any pictures of this repair? I saw an old thread here but the links are dead.

I understand the seat would need to be taken out?

I've never done any car repair in my life, I may have some socket wrenches somewhere... I wonder if it's something I can do at all.

 

[Althulas]

It’s easy to take the seat out only four nuts to undo if needed if you can’t fish the cable out with a hooked pick tool or at a pinch a small picture hook screwed into a length of slim dowel. Have a read of this thread https://zroadster.org/threads/seat-tilt-mechanism.72985/#post-912911

 

[Nuieve]

Thank you. At first I didn't quite understand... but now that I've read that thread over and over several times and watched a bunch of youtube videos about seat removal, I think I'm getting ready for my first ever big repair.

 

[spurs fan in a coupe]

This might help

How To Guide - Remove z3 seat base

A quick 'How To' guide on removing the Z3 seat from the seat base, not sure if it's already been covered, but sure I read someone asking about it recently. I have the seat electronically up as high and far forward as possible for access reasons later I've not documented how to remove the seat...

zroadster.org

 

[bmwz3tower]

It’s easy to take the seat out only four nuts to undo if needed if you can’t fish the cable out with a hooked pick tool or at a pinch a small picture hook screwed into a length of slim dowel. Have a read of this thread https://zroadster.org/threads/seat-tilt-mechanism.72985/#post-912911

I started this thread, and tried all the suggestions, bar actually removing the seat from seat base. My seat is still stuck, next week I'm going to have a crack at taking the seat off the rails to properly diagnose it. So I'll provide an update.

 

[colb]

Just be aware that the airbag wiring under the seat will have to be disconnected so you can lift the seat out of the car. Once disconnected DO NOT switch the ignition on as that will set an airbag warning light that will have to be reset using a decent code reader.

 

[Nuieve]

Just be aware that the airbag wiring under the seat will have to be disconnected so you can lift the seat out of the car. Once disconnected DO NOT switch the ignition on as that will set an airbag warning light that will have to be reset using a decent code reader.

That's what I am worried about, that things will glitch. I did buy the B800 or whatever its called decoder because my airbag light is also on already (not sure if it was on when I got the car or if it came on later when I was messing with the seat). The PO also gave me some BMW specific code reader too.

I scheduled the seat project for later next week. I'm dreading the day...

 

[Lulubell]

Mine had this issue with the manual recline lever , I removed the seat to find the bracket had popped out from the frame.
This just clips snaps back into the frame without actually removing the seat, if that is the problem .
Mine was the passenger side UK (Driver if state side usa )
If removing seat just disconnect the battery to save airbag faults .

 

[Nuieve]

Interesting. Thank you. I will try to take a look (if I can contort myself into being able to see from the floor)

 

[Pond]

Just for information....the seats with bases attached are VERY heavy. Don't do yourself an injury when trying to lift it.

 

[Nuieve]

Oh crap. So how do people get them out? There's so little room in the car I've been looking at it and I have no idea how to get it out or how to tip it or something to reach the bottom.

 

[Althulas]

Lower your roof and lift it out you may want to put a blanket or something over your sill to caver and protect the plastics in case you drag a runner over it.