Special Tools Required

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 9 other vehicles, including the 2013 BMW 128i, 2012 BMW 128i, 2011 BMW 128i, 2010 BMW 135i, and 2010 BMW 128i. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

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 backrest. Refer to 52 13 198 Removing And Installing/Replacing Rear Panel On Left Or Right Front Seat Backrest .
Remove outer cover on front seat. 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) .

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

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

Unfasten plug connection (1) 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 1: Locating Wiring Harness From Cable Holders On Seat Mechanism

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 2: Locating Lever Clip & Screw

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Detach seat cover (1) from seat frame.

Fig 3: Detaching Seat Cover From Seat Frame

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 4: Pulling Out Cover Welt From Seat Frame

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 5: Removing 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 cable (2) out.

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

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

Fig 6: Identifying Seat Cover & Feed Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Carefully 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 crosswires (2).

Remove seat cover from padding.

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

Fig 7: Identifying Trim Wires Forward Out Of Seat Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacement only:

If necessary, cut new seat cover to size and insert trim wires.

Fig 8: Identifying Trim Wires

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

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

Fig 9: Identifying Trim Wire In Cover & Clips With Special Tool 52 0 050
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.