52 13 400 Replacing seat cover on left or right front seat (normal/manual)

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 7 other vehicles, including the 2010 BMW X3, 2009 BMW X3, 2008 BMW X3, 2007 BMW X3, and 2006 BMW X3. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

52 0 050

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove inner cover, see 52 13 041 Removing and installing / replacing inner cover on left or right front seat backrest (normal/ manual)
Remove cover (normal/electric)52 16 040 Removing and installing/replacing outer cover on front left or right seat (sports/electric) or outer actuating unit52 13 015 Removing and installing / replacing controls on left / right front seat (normal / manual)

WARNING: US/CDN 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 padding with OC3 mat must be replaced together.

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

When replacing padding with OC3 mat:

If OC3 mat or padding 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).

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

Release clip (5) from carrier (4).

Remove trim (2) and carrier (4).

Fig 1: Releasing Clip From Carrier

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Installation:

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

Fig 2: Cable Holder And 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 On Left/Right

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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: Plug Connection And Control Unit

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Version with seat heating:

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

Fig 6: Lever Catch And Cover

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Disconnect plug connection (1) from seat heating.

Fig 7: Plug Connection

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Disconnect plug connection (1) from seat heating.

Expose cable (2).

Fig 8: Plug Connection And Cable

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Release retainers (1) on left/right.

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

Fig 9: Pulling Out Cover Tabs On Left/Right

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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: 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: Pushing Under Backrest Towards Front

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Model without seat heating and without seat occupancy detector:

Remove seat cover (1) towards front/top.

Fig 13: Cover Piping And Seat Frame

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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.

Remove seat cover (1) towards front/top.

Fig 14: Seat Cover And Cable

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Installation:

The support is coated with wax to prevent grinding noises.

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

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

Fig 15: Wax And Seat Pan

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Replacing support:

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

Fig 16: Retainers

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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).

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 padding.

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

Fig 17: Removing Seat Cover From Padding

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Padding (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.

Fig 18: Padding And OC3 Mat

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Installation:

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

Padding
Retainer
Trim thread in padding
Trim thread in cover
Seat cover

Fig 19: Padding And Seat Cover

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Installation:

The support is coated with wax to prevent grinding noises.

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

Fig 20: Removing Wax

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Passenger seat only (replacing padding):

Installation:

In order to guarantee the function and fastening (adhesive strength) at the sticking surfaces of sensor mat (1), the foam most not show any traces of damage at all!

Replace the foam if it is hardened or damaged particularly in the area of the sticking surfaces.

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

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

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

Fig 21: Plug, Sensor Mat And Bore Hole

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Passenger seat only (replacing sensor mat):

Passenger seat only (replacing padding):

Installation:

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

Fig 22: Liner And Foam

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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).

In order to guarantee the function and fastening (adhesive strength) at the sticking surfaces of sensor mat (3), the foam most not show any traces of damage at all!

Replace the foam if it is hardened or damaged particularly in the area of the sticking surfaces.

Cut sticking surfaces on sensor mat (3) with cutter knife or razor blade from foam without damaging the foam.

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

Fig 23: Sensor Mat And Support

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

Replacing seat cover:

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

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

Cable (3) for seat heating.

Fig 24: Removing Trim Threads

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