52 16 400 Replacing seat cover for left or right front seat (sports/electric)

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 10 other vehicles, including the 2010 BMW M6, 2010 BMW 650i, 2009 BMW M6, 2009 BMW 650i, and 2008 BMW M6. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Special tools required:

52 0 050 . See SEATS - SPECIAL TOOLS .

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove front seat .
Remove outer cover with actuating unit
Remove inner cover

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

Version with seat heating:

If necessary, disconnect plug connection (1).

Release cable strap (2).

Detach cable (3) from holder (4).

Fig 1: Identifying Plug Connection And Cable Strap

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Detach cable (1) from holder (2).

Fig 2: Identifying Cable And Holder

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release screw (1) on inside/outside.

Unclip clips (3) towards bottom and pull trim (2) out a little.

Fig 3: Identifying Screw And Clips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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 4: Identifying Trim And Carrier

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

Fig 5: Identifying Cable Holders On Carrier

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Clips (1) on sports seat trim (2) must not be damaged.

Fig 6: Identifying Clips Sports Seat Trim

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: The operation "Removing holder for actuation" ends here.

Version with seat occupancy detector:

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

Fig 7: Identifying Plug Connection And Control Unit

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating:

If necessary, release locks (1) and detach plug housing (2).

Fig 8: Identifying Locks And Plug Housing

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

If necessary, press lock (1) downwards and detach cover (2).

Fig 9: Identifying Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Disconnect plug connection (1) for seat heating from plug housing (2).

Fig 10: Identifying Plug Connection And Housing

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Pull cable (1) out of holders (2).

Fig 11: Identifying Cable And Holders

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

E46 only:

Pull out tongue (1) on seat cover (2) on left/right.

Fig 12: Pulling Out Tongue On Seat Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 13: Detaching Seat Cover From Seat Frame

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 14: Pulling Out Cover Welt

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 15: Identifying Backrest

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Unfasten thigh support and pull completely towards front.

Bend open retaining plates (1) and remove cover piping (2).

Fig 16: Removing Retaining Plates And Cover Piping

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: Cushion (1) is secured at front with double-sided adhesive tape (3) to carrier (2).

Pull cushion (1) towards top off carrier (2).

Fig 17: Pushing Cushion

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Lever trim wire (1) out of mounts (2).

Installation:

Stick new double-sided adhesive tape (4) to carrier (3) or attach mount with spray adhesive.

Fig 18: Identifying Double-Sided Adhesive Tape

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Model without seat heating and without seat occupancy detector:

Remove seat cover (1) with thigh support (2) towards front/top.

Fig 19: Removing Seat Cover With Thigh Support

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Model with seat heating and/or with seat occupancy detector:

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

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

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

Fig 20: Identifying Seat Cover And Feed Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacing padding or sensor mat:

Release clips (1) and (2) at rear left/right from support (3).

Fig 21: Locating Clips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release all clips (1) on left/right and center (2) from support (3).

Fig 22: Identifying Support Clips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating:

Installation:

Note routing of seat heater cable (1).

Do not damage with clips.

Fig 23: Identifying Seat Heater Cable

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.

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 24: Identifying Trim Wires And Cross-Wires

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove padding (1) from seat cover (2).

Fig 25: Removing Padding

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating:

Installation:

If necessary, detach heating mat (1) from adhesive tape (2) of thigh support.

3 Seat heater cable

Fig 26: Identifying Heating Mat And Seat Heater Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Stick double-sided adhesive tape (2) to support (1) or coat with spray adhesive.

Fig 27: Identifying Double-Sided Adhesive Tape

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Installation:

Feed seat heater cable (1) through bore hole (3).

Feed seat heater cable (2) through bore hole (4).

Fig 28: Identifying Feed Seat Heater Cable Through Bore Hole

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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 29: Identifying Padding With OC3 Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

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

Fig 30: Identifying Special Tool
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Support (2) must be coated with wax (1) to prevent grinding noises.

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

Fig 31: Identifying Wax On Support

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Passenger seat only (replacing sensor mat):

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.

Lay sensor mat connection without creasing into groove on support.

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 32: Identifying Sensor Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

Fig 33: Identifying Liner And Sensor Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: The operation "Replacing support or 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).

3 Seat heater cable

Fig 34: Identifying Trim Threads And Seat Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Special tools required:

52 0 050 . See SEATS - SPECIAL TOOLS .

Necessary preliminary tasks:

Remove front seat .
Remove outer cover with actuating unit
Remove inner cover

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

Version with seat heating:

If necessary, disconnect plug connection (1).

Release cable strap (2).

Detach cable (3) from holder (4).

Fig 1: Identifying Plug Connection And Cable Strap

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Detach cable (1) from holder (2).

Fig 2: Identifying Cable And Holder

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release screw (1) on inside/outside.

Unclip clips (3) towards bottom and pull trim (2) out a little.

Fig 3: Identifying Screw And Clips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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 4: Identifying Trim And Carrier

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

Fig 5: Identifying Cable Holders On Carrier

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Clips (1) on sports seat trim (2) must not be damaged.

Fig 6: Identifying Clips Sports Seat Trim

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: The operation "Removing holder for actuation" ends here.

Version with seat occupancy detector:

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

Fig 7: Identifying Plug Connection And Control Unit

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating:

If necessary, release locks (1) and detach plug housing (2).

Fig 8: Identifying Locks And Plug Housing

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

If necessary, press lock (1) downwards and detach cover (2).

Fig 9: Identifying Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Disconnect plug connection (1) for seat heating from plug housing (2).

Fig 10: Identifying Plug Connection And Housing

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Pull cable (1) out of holders (2).

Fig 11: Identifying Cable And Holders

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

E46 only:

Pull out tongue (1) on seat cover (2) on left/right.

Fig 12: Pulling Out Tongue On Seat Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 13: Detaching Seat Cover From Seat Frame

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 14: Pulling Out Cover Welt

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Fig 15: Identifying Backrest

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Unfasten thigh support and pull completely towards front.

Bend open retaining plates (1) and remove cover piping (2).

Fig 16: Removing Retaining Plates And Cover Piping

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: Cushion (1) is secured at front with double-sided adhesive tape (3) to carrier (2).

Pull cushion (1) towards top off carrier (2).

Fig 17: Pushing Cushion

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Lever trim wire (1) out of mounts (2).

Installation:

Stick new double-sided adhesive tape (4) to carrier (3) or attach mount with spray adhesive.

Fig 18: Identifying Double-Sided Adhesive Tape

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Model without seat heating and without seat occupancy detector:

Remove seat cover (1) with thigh support (2) towards front/top.

Fig 19: Removing Seat Cover With Thigh Support

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Model with seat heating and/or with seat occupancy detector:

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

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

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

Fig 20: Identifying Seat Cover And Feed Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacing padding or sensor mat:

Release clips (1) and (2) at rear left/right from support (3).

Fig 21: Locating Clips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release all clips (1) on left/right and center (2) from support (3).

Fig 22: Identifying Support Clips

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating:

Installation:

Note routing of seat heater cable (1).

Do not damage with clips.

Fig 23: Identifying Seat Heater Cable

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.

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 24: Identifying Trim Wires And Cross-Wires

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Remove padding (1) from seat cover (2).

Fig 25: Removing Padding

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Version with seat heating:

Installation:

If necessary, detach heating mat (1) from adhesive tape (2) of thigh support.

3 Seat heater cable

Fig 26: Identifying Heating Mat And Seat Heater Cable

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Stick double-sided adhesive tape (2) to support (1) or coat with spray adhesive.

Fig 27: Identifying Double-Sided Adhesive Tape

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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

Installation:

Feed seat heater cable (1) through bore hole (3).

Feed seat heater cable (2) through bore hole (4).

Fig 28: Identifying Feed Seat Heater Cable Through Bore Hole

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

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 29: Identifying Padding With OC3 Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

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

Fig 30: Identifying Special Tool
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Support (2) must be coated with wax (1) to prevent grinding noises.

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

Fig 31: Identifying Wax On Support

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Passenger seat only (replacing sensor mat):

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.

Lay sensor mat connection without creasing into groove on support.

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 32: Identifying Sensor Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

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

Fig 33: Identifying Liner And Sensor Mat

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

NOTE: The operation "Replacing support or 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).

3 Seat heater cable

Fig 34: Identifying Trim Threads And Seat Cover

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.