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 7 other vehicles, including the 2010 BMW X3, 2009 BMW X3, 2008 BMW X3, 2007 BMW X3, and 2006 BMW X3. 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 16 000 Removing and installing front seat (sports/electric), left or right
Remove outer cover with actuating unit, see 52 16 040 Removing and installing/replacing outer cover on front left or right seat (sports/electric)
Remove inner cover, see 52 16 041 Removing and installing/replacing inner cover on front left or right seat (sports/electric)

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: Cable Strap And Holder

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Detach cable (1) from holder (2).

Fig 2: Removing Cable From Holder

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Release screw (1) on inside/outside.

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

Fig 3: Releasing Screw On Inside/Outside

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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: Releasing Clip From Carrier

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Installation:

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

Fig 5: Cable Holder And Carrier

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Installation:

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

Fig 6: Clips And Seat Trim

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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: Plug Connection And Control Unit

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Version with seat heating:

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

Fig 8: Locks And Plug Connection

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

Fig 9: Pressing Lock Downwards

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

Fig 10: Disconnecting Plug Connection For Seat Heating

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

Fig 11: Pulling Cable Out Of Holders

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E46 only:

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

Fig 12: Pulling Out Tongue On Seat Cover On Left/Right

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

Fig 13: Removing Seat Cover From Seat Frame

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

Fig 14: Pulling Out Cover Welt Completely From Seat Frame

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

Fig 15: Pushing Through Under Backrest Towards Front

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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

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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: Pulling Cushion Towards Top Off Holder

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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: Lever Trim Wire And Mounts

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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 Towards Front/Top

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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: Seat Cover And Cable

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Replacing padding or sensor mat:

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

Fig 21: Clips And Rear Left/Right

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

Fig 22: Releasing All Clips On Left/Right

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Version with seat heating:

Installation:

Note routing of seat heater cable (1).

Do not damage with clips.

Fig 23: Locating Seat Heater Cable

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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: Pulling Trim Wires

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

Fig 25: Removing Padding From Seat Cover

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Version with seat heating:

Installation:

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

3 Seat heater cable

Fig 26: Removing Mat From Adhesive Tape Of Thigh Support

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

Fig 27: Double-Sided Adhesive Tape

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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: Seat Heater Cable And Bore Hole

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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: Padding And OC3 Mat

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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 30: Clips And Special Tool

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Installation:

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

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

Fig 31: Wax And Support

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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: Locating Bore Hole

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Installation:

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

Fig 33: Liner, Sensor Mat And Foam

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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: Trim Threads, Seat Cover And Heater Cable

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