52 13 400 Replacing Seat Cover On Left Or Right Front Seat (Normal/Manual)

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Special tools required:

52 0 050

For identification of special tools, refer to SEATS - SPECIAL TOOLS - 3-SERIES (M54/E46) .

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove inner cover, refer to 52 13 041 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING INNER COVER ON LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT SEAT BACKREST (NORMAL/ MANUAL)
Remove cover (normal/electric), refer to 52 16 040 REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING OUTER COVER ON FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT SEAT (SPORTS/ELECTRIC) or outer actuating unit, refer to 52 13 015 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING CONTROLS ON LEFT / RIGHT FRONT SEAT (NORMAL / MANUAL)

WARNING: US/CND front passenger seat (with OC3 mat) only: To avoid damaging the OC3 mat, it is essential to carry out the following operations with extra care.

When replacing seat cover: If seat cover is defective, seat cover and support with OC3 mat must be replaced together.

New seat cover is supplied with support, OC3 mat and if necessary seat heating.

When replacing support with OC3 mat: If OC3 mat or support is defective, both parts may only be replaced together.

These must be fitted with the seat cover from the car.

Enabling seat occupancy detector (OC3 mat):

Connect BMW diagnosis system
Release seat occupancy detector
Clear fault memory if necessary

Seat with electric actuating unit only:

Release screws (1).

Fig 1: Removing Trim

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Pull trim (2) out a little and release screw (3).

Release clip (5) from carrier (4).

Remove trim (2) and carrier (4).

Installation:

Cable holders (1) on carrier (2) must not be damaged.

Fig 2: Identifying Cable Holders On Carrier

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E46 only:

Pull out tongue (1) on seat cover (2) on left/right.

Fig 3: Pulling Out Tongue On Seat Cover

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Detach seat cover (1) from seat frame (2).

Fig 4: Removing Seat Cover From Seat Frame

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Version with seat occupancy detector:

If necessary, disconnect plug connection (1) from control unit (2).

Fig 5: Disconnecting Plug Connection From Control Unit

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Version with seat heating:

If necessary, lever catch (1) towards top and detach cover (2).

Fig 6: Detaching Cover

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Disconnect plug connection (1) from seat heating.

Fig 7: Disconnecting Plug Connection From Seat Heating

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Disconnect plug connection (1) from seat heating.

Fig 8: Exposing Cable

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Expose cable (2).

Release retainers (1) on left/right.

Fig 9: Pulling Out Cover Tabs

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Pull out cover tabs (2) on left/right.

Pull out cover welt (1) completely from seat frame (2).

Fig 10: Pulling Out Cover Welt Completely From Seat Frame

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Installation:

Begin assembly in middle.

Cover piping (1) and seat frame (2) have markings for middle position.

Fig 11: Identifying Cover Piping And Seat Frame

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Fold in tongues (1) on seat cover and push through under backrest (2) towards front.

Fig 12: Folding In Tongues On Seat Cover

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Model without seat heating and without seat occupancy detector:

Remove seat cover (1) towards front/top.

Fig 13: Removing Seat Cover

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Version with seat heater and/or with seat occupancy detector:

Pull seat cover (1) forward a little and feed cable (2) out.

Fig 14: Feeding Cable Out

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Remove seat cover (1) towards front/top.

Installation:

The support is coated with wax to prevent grinding noises.

Fig 15: Locating Wax On Seat Pan

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Do not remove wax (1) on seat pan (2).

NOTE: The operation "Removing complete seat cushion" ends here.

Replacing support:

Detach retainers (1) at rear left/right from support (2).

Fig 16: Removing Retainers At Rear Left/Right From Support

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Version with OC3 mat:

OC3 mat must not be kinked under any circumstances.

Detach all retainers in side area from longitudinal wires (1).

Fig 17: Detaching Retainers

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Pull trim wires (1) forward out of seat cover. Carefully fold back seat cover and release retainers from cross-wires (2).

Remove seat cover from support.

IMPORTANT: Remove all remnants of clips from seat cover and support.

Support (1) with OC3 mat (2).

IMPORTANT: No retainer remainders may be fitted as well. Handle OC3 mat with extreme care. Do not kink OC3 mat. Do not clamp OC3 mat. OC3 mat must lie without folds under seat cover.

Installation:

Bend new clips (2) with special tool 52 0 050.

Fig 18: Bending New Clips With Special Tool

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Support
Retainer
Trim thread in support
Trim thread in cover
Seat cover

Installation:

The support is coated with wax to prevent grinding noises.

Fig 19: Locating Wax On Support

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Do not remove wax (1) on support (2).

Passenger seat only (replacing support):

Installation:

Make sure foam is not extensively damaged (malfunction of passenger seat occupancy detector).

Fit new sensor mat (1) for passenger seat occupancy detector.

Fig 20: Fitting New Sensor Mat

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Align new sensor mat (1) on foam (2).

Feed plug (3) through bore hole (4).

Passenger seat only (replacing sensor mat):

Passenger seat only (replacing support):

Installation:

Detach liner (1) at individual points and stick sensor mat (2) onto foam (3).

Fig 21: Removing Liner At Individual Points

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NOTE: The work for "Replacing support" ends here.

Passenger seat only (replacing sensor mat):

Pull plug (1) out of bore hole (2).

Fig 22: Pulling Plug Out Of Bore Hole

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Make sure foam is not extensively damaged (malfunction of passenger seat occupancy detector).

Carefully remove sensor mat (3) from support (4).

NOTE: The operation "Replacing sensor mat" ends here.

Replacing seat cover:

Remove trim threads (1) from seat cover (2).

Fig 23: Removing Trim Threads From Seat Cover

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Cut new seat cover (2) to size and insert trim threads (1).

Cable (3) for seat heating.