52 17 400 Removing And Installing/Replacing Seat Cover For Left Or Right Front Seat (Comfort)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2008 BMW Alpina and 2007 BMW Alpina. 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 front seat. See 52 14 000 REMOVING AND INSTALLING LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT SEAT (NORMAL/ELECTRIC) .
Remove both rear panels on front seat backrest. See 52 14 198 REMOVING AND INSTALLING / REPLACING REAR PANEL ON LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT SEAT BACKREST (NORMAL / ELECTRIC) .
Remove inner cover on front seat. See 52 14 041 REMOVING AND INSTALLING INNER COVER ON LEFT OR RIGHT FRONT SEAT (NORMAL/ELECTRIC) .
Remove thigh support . See 52 17 ... REMOVING AND INSTALLING/REPLACING LEFT OR RIGHT THIGH SUPPORT .

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 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

Release retainers in area (1).

Detach seat cover in area (2) on left and right.

Remove cable (3).

Fig 1: Identifying Retainers And Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Unhook seat cover (1) in area (2).

Disconnect plug connection (3).

Remove seat cover (1) complete with support.

Fig 2: Identifying Plug Connection

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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.

If necessary, carefully fold back seat cover and release retainers from cross-wires.

Remove seat cover from support.

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

Fig 3: Identifying Longitudinal Wires

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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.

Fig 4: Identifying OC3 Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Insert new retainer (2) with special tool 52 0 050 and bend closed.

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

Fig 5: Identifying Special Tool (52 0 050)
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Pull trim threads (1) out of seat cover.

Installation:

Slide trim threads (1) into new seat cover. If necessary, cut mounting for trim threads.

Fig 6: Identifying Slide Trim Threads

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.