Passenger Seat won't go back

drain69 · 01-07-2003, 10:20 AM

How difficult is it to fix the seat release on the passenger side for a 94 325IC? I think the spring just broke or came loose. I can't figure out how to remove the back of the seat to reach the mechanism.

Thanks,

Jeff

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Is this for power or manual seats? Sounds like manual...

-Wayne

Jared at Pelican Parts · 01-07-2003, 11:11 AM

Also, do you have regular or sports seats? the mechanisms are a bit idfferent on both cars.

drain69 · 01-07-2003, 04:27 PM

Regular Seats. They are automatic back and forth and in the back. It is the lever that you pull up on in a coupe that allows a passenger into the back seat that is not working.

Thanks,

Jeff

Beemaboy · 12-01-2003, 03:35 AM

I have the same problem on my 325i Coupe too, the release lever has gone limp, i've had the seat out but cannot work out how to get the back off, any ideas please?

Thanks

blkongry · 12-01-2003, 06:44 AM

I have the same car, '94 325ic... my release system works, but the seat won't recline (powered sport seats). Any pics or info on the overall mechanism or on taking the seat apart is always welcome.

mpomiki · 12-06-2003, 07:09 AM

I don't know about the release system but I do know about the recline problem on the 94 325IC. If you hear the motor working when you activate the recline switch but the seat back doesn't move, then it is probably a broken worm gear in the seat mechanism. It is made of plastic and seems to me designed to fail. It is fairly easy to access but the problem is it's not available from BMW. I think the whole mechanism is only available as part of the seat frame which I'm sure is expensive. I had exactly the same problem with the passenger seat on my 94 325IC.I fixed it by taking the plastic gear from the part of the mechanism that controls the up and down (vertical) adjustment on the seat and using it on the recline part of the mechanism. It's fairly simple to do and I figure that the vertical adjustment on the passenger seat is the one you can most do without. In your case it will be a little more work because you'll probably want to swap the good gear from the passenger seat wih the bad gear on the drivers seat so you'll have to take both sides apart but believe it's not very difficult if you're half mechanically inclined. If you're lucky you may find that it's just that short piece of cable (looks like the inside of a speedometer cable) that connects the motor to the gear mechanism is broken. Also not available from BMW but should be an easy piece to improvise.

blkongry · 12-06-2003, 08:48 AM

Weird.... that's exactly what is broken... the passenger seat's recline. I can hear the motor working, but it doesn't move. I bet that is exactly what is broken... that worm drive. I'll pull it apart when I get the chance. Thank you very much for the info... it sounds like this is a very typical form of breakage

mpomiki · 12-06-2003, 09:59 AM

Let me know if you need any guidance. You have to remove both motors that are mounted at the rear of the seat.(two screws each-torx bits) Don't lose the short cable that connects the motor to the mechanism. then you have to take the cover off of the gear mechanism. There are I think 6 screws holding it on. 2 large ones and 4 small ones. You might need a screwdriver to pry the cover off. You can see the pry points between the cover and the body of the mechanism. The motor that has the bracket on it to mount the black plastic cover (which was the first thing that you removed) is the one that controls the reclining position of the seat. I'm betting that you'll find that the white nylon gear is broken. The pink nylon gear if for the vertical seat adjustment. Make sure you get out all the broken bits of the gear. I would take that entire small shaft with the broken gear and swap it out for the shaft with the pink gear on the passenger seat. As far as I can tell the pink gear and the white gear have identical dimensions. Like I said you'll lose the vertical adjustment in the passenger seat but you can live without it.
Good luck

suiteR · 01-06-2004, 11:27 AM

Hi mpomiki, I am new in this forum....
I spent the whole evening searching thru the internet and finally find this thread, which exactly tells what's going on with my E36 325ic driver seat.
The white gear is broken, the pink is still good.
I have also noticed there's an OEM logo something like "UT" and a number on the little gearbox. I am just wondering if anyone knows what and where this manufacturer is located, or how to contact them. Perhaps this would sort out a way to buy such white gear.
Let's share these pix

suiteR · 01-06-2004, 11:28 AM

OK, more...

suiteR · 01-06-2004, 11:29 AM

suiteR · 01-06-2004, 11:31 AM

The PINK is still good....

mpomiki · 01-06-2004, 05:12 PM

I haven't had any luck finding a replacement gear so I just swapped the pink one for the white one. I don't know what the difference is but I do know that they will interchange. The pink one (in it's original location) controls the vertical movement of the seat. The vertical movement is the least important as far as I'm concerned so losing that feature should not be a problem if it is on the passenger seat. If it's the driver seat I would just take the pink gear from the passenger seat and use it in the driver seat. That way you'll have all 8 way movement of the driver seat and only lose the vertical movement in the passenger seat. I hope that makes sense to you. Good luck

Mike

suiteR · 01-07-2004, 05:16 PM

Sure, it makes sense!
Tks!!
I guess I will have no luck find such rare gear too!!

Roald · 01-09-2004, 05:06 PM

thanks God i don't have power seats!