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

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2006 BMW X5, 2005 BMW X5, and 2004 BMW X5. 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, 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). Pull trim (2) out a little and release screw (3). Release clip (5) from carrier (4). Remove trim (2) and carrier (4).

Fig 1: Removing Trim And Holder

G03268630

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

Fig 2: Identifying Cable Holders On Carrier

G03268631

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 3: Detaching Seat Cover From Seat Frame

G03268638

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat occupancy detector:

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

Fig 4: Disconnecting Plug Connection

G03268633

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating:

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

Fig 5: Detaching Cover (Version With Seat Heating)

G03124821

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Disconnect plug connection (1) from seat heating.

Fig 6: Disconnecting Plug Connection From Seat Heating

G03124822

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Disconnect plug connection (1) from seat heating. Expose cable (2).

Fig 7: Identifying Plug Connection And Cable

G03124823

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release retainers (1) on left/right. Pull out cover tabs (2) on left/right.

Fig 8: Pulling Out Cover Tabs On Left/Right

G03124824

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 9: Pulling Out Cover Welt From Seat Frame

G03124825

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

Fig 10: Installing Cover And Seat Frame

G03124826

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 11: Folding In Tongues On Seat Cover

G03124827

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Model without seat heating and without seat occupancy detector:

Remove seat cover (1) towards front/top.

Fig 12: Removing Seat Cover

G03165564

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

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

Fig 13: Removing Cable

G03124829

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove seat cover (1) towards front/top.

Installation:

The support is coated with wax to prevent grinding noises. Do not remove wax (1) on seat pan (2).

Fig 14: Identifying Wax On Seat Pan

G03124830

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Replacing support:

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

Fig 15: Detaching Retainers At Rear Left/Right From Support

G03124831

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).

Fig 16: Removing Seat Cover From Support

G03124832

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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 17: Bending New Clips

G03287830

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

The support is coated with wax to prevent grinding noises. Do not remove wax (1) on support (2).

Fig 18: Identifying Wax On Support

G03124834

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Passenger seat only (replacing support):

Installation:

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

Fig 19: Identifying Sensor Mat On Foam

G03124835

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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).

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 20: Installing Sensor Mat Onto Foam

G03124836

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Passenger seat only (replacing sensor mat):

Pull plug (1) out of bore hole (2). Make sure foam is not extensively damaged (malfunction of passenger seat occupancy detector).

Fig 21: Removing Sensor Mat (Passenger Seat Only)

G03124837

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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 22: Removing Trim Threads From Seat Cover

G03124838

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Cable (3) for seat heating.