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 21 other vehicles, including the 2013 BMW 328xi, 2013 BMW 328i, 2012 BMW 328xi, 2012 BMW 328i, and 2011 BMW 328xi. 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
Remove Rear Panel on front seat backrest
Remove Outer Cover on front seat

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.

After fitting seat cover, enable OC3 mat with BMW diagnosis system.

Enabling seat occupancy detector (OC3 mat):

Connect BMW diagnosis system
Release seat occupancy detector
Clear fault memory if necessary

Version with seat heating 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: Identifying Plug Connection And 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 2: Identifying Front Seat Trim, Clip And Screw

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Detach seat cover (1) from seat frame.

Fig 3: Detaching Seat Cover From Seat Frame

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

Fig 4: Identifying Cover Welt And Seat Frame

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

Fig 5: Identifying Seat Cover

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

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

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

Fig 6: Identifying Seat Cover And Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacing seat cover:

Version with OC3 mat:

OC3 mat must not be kinked under any circumstances.

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 cross-wires (2).

Remove seat cover from padding.

Fig 7: Identifying Trim Wires And Cross Wires

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

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 8: Identifying Front Seat Padding And OC3 Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacement only:

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

Fig 9: Identifying Trim Threads

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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 10: Identifying Front Seat Cover, Padding, Retainer, Trim Threads, Clips, And Special Tool (52 0 050)
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.