Special Tools Required

WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.

52 0 050 PLIERS

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove front seat . Refer to 52 13 000 Removing And Installing Left Or Right Front Seat (Normal/Manual) .
Remove rear panel on front seat. Refer to 52 13 198 Removing And Installing/Replacing Rear Panel On Left Or Right Front Seat Backrest .
Remove outer cover . Refer to 52 13 040 Removing And Installing/Replacing Outer Cover On Left Or Right Front Seat Backrest (Normal/Manual) and/or 52 14 040 Removing And Installing/Replacing Outer Cover On Front Left Or Right Seat (Normal/Electric) .
Remove thigh support . Refer to 52 16 048 Removing And Installing Thigh Support On Left Or Right Front Seat (Sport/Electric) .

WARNING:

US/CDN front passenger seat (with OC3 mat) only:

A defective OC3 mat may only be replaced complete with the padding and the seat cover.

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

After fitting, the OC3 mat must be enabled with the BMW programming system.

Individual parts not available.

Enabling seat occupancy detector (OC3 mat):

Connect BMW programming system for BMW/MINI service functions in Progman.
Code airbag control unit
Clear fault memory if necessary

Unlock retaining lugs (1).

Remove seat trim (2) downwards.

Installation:

Seat trim (2) must not be damaged.

Fig 1: Identifying Retaining Lugs & Seat Trim

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating and/or with seat occupancy detector (OC3 mat) only:

Unlock plug connection (1) for seat heating and disconnect.

Disconnect cable straps.

Release wiring harness (2) from cable holders on seat mechanism.

IMPORTANT: Feed the wiring harness carefully through the seat and backrest mechanism as the edges of the frame can be sharp.

Fig 2: Identifying Plug Connection & Wiring Harness

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release screw (1).

Lever clip (2) out of seat cover on left and right.

Installation:

If necessary, replace faulty clip.

Remove trim (3) from inside of seat.

Fig 3: Identifying Seat Inside Trim

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Detach seat cover (1) with padding from seat frame.

Fig 4: Detaching Seat Cover From Seat Frame

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 5: Identifying Cover Welt

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Remove seat cover (1) with padding towards front/top.

Fig 6: Identifying Seat Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heater and/or with seat occupancy detector (OC3 mat):

Release the corresponding plug connections depending on the version and disconnect.

Pull seat cover (1) with padding forward a little and feed wiring harness (2) out.

Remove seat cover (1) towards front/top.

NOTE: The operation Replacing seat cover with OC3 mat ends here.

Fig 7: Identifying Seat Cover & Feed Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release all retainers in marked area.

Fig 8: Identifying Retainers In Marked Area

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release all retainers in marked area.

Remove seat cover from padding.

NOTE: Remove all remnants of clips from seat cover and padding.

Fig 9: Identifying Retainers In Marked Area

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacement only:

Pull trim wires out of seat cover.

Cut new seat cover to size and insert trim wires.

Fig 10: Identifying Trim Wires

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

Padding
Retainer
Trim wire in padding
Trim wire in cover
Seat cover

Fig 11: Bending Retainers Closed With Special Tool 52 0 050
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.