52 16 400 Replacing cover for left or right front seat

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 BMW M3, 2009 BMW M3, and 2008 BMW M3. 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 carrier of outer cover .
Remove inner cover .
Remove seat belt pretensioner . See 72 11 041 REMOVING AND INSTALLING OR REPLACING FRONT LEFT OR RIGHT LOWER BELT FITTING (SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER) .

US/CDN front passenger seat (with OC3 mat) only:

WARNING: 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 or OC3 mat:
If OC3 mat or padding is defective, both parts must be replaced together.
These must be fitted with the seat cover from the car.

IMPORTANT: The OC3 mat must be enabled after each installation operation.

Enabling seat occupancy detector (OC3 mat):

Connect BMW programming system
Code airbag control unit
Clear fault memory if necessary

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.

Only when replacing OC3 mat with padding:

OC3 mat (1) is secured on the left and right sides in the marked area with a longitudinal trim wire for transportation.

Carefully remove adhesive tape (2).

Fig 1: Identifying OC3 Mat And Adhesive Tape

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Removing transportation lock:

Carefully release retainers in marked area on left and right from longitudinal trim wires (1).

IMPORTANT: Remove all remainders of retainers from padding and OC3 mat.

Fig 2: Identifying Longitudinal Trim Wires

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release left and right screws (1).

Remove seat panel.

Fig 3: Identifying Seat Panel Screws

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Lever welt (1) out of seat mechanism.

Fig 4: Identifying Welt

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Lever welt (1) out of seat mechanism.

Fig 5: Identifying Welt

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Unfasten thigh support and pull completely towards front.

Lever welt (1) out of thigh support.

Fig 6: Identifying Welt

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Turn thigh support (1) over.

Detach trim wire from metal lugs.

Fig 7: Identifying Thigh Support

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.

Fig 8: Identifying Seat Cover And Wiring Harness

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Release all retainers in marked areas.

Fig 9: Identifying Retainers In Marked Areas

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Detach all retainers in side area from longitudinal welts (1).

Carefully turn seat cover over and release retainers from crosswelt (2).

Remove seat cover from padding.

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

Fig 10: Identifying Longitudinal Welts And Crosswelt

Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Replacement only:

Pull trim wires (1) out of seat cover (2).

Installation:

If necessary cut hole in new seat cover for trim wires.

Insert trim wires.

(3) Seat heater cable

Fig 11: Identifying Trim Wires And Seat Cover
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Installation:

Insert new retainer (2) with special tool 52 0 050 and bend closed.

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

Fig 12: Bending Retainers Closed With Special Tool
Courtesy of BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, INC.