Broken seat backs

Post Sun Mar 27, 2005 8:49 pm

Well, being as it didn't rain today like the weather girl said it would, i decided to find out why my seat backs wobble about so much.

It seems there are a couple of 'L' shape brackets on each seat and they are all snapped. Does anyone know if they can be replaced or something? Any help appreciated thanks. (don't know what you'd call the seat style but they're leather in a cabrio)

Post Sun Mar 27, 2005 9:41 pm

Mine were the same,

Took the seat complete to be recovered ,and the upolster guy had em welded, as good as new now

Post Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:05 pm

The owner before me had this problem, back of the seat went.

He took the car to get every single thing done at the dealers, even wiper blades!

Guess what the total cost of getting the back of the seat fixed by BMW......

Ãƒ”šÃ‚£136

nice.

Adam

Post Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:43 pm

Such a simple bracket,you could probably make your own,i need one,so that what I'm gonna be doing.............now wheres me hammer............

Post Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:42 am

I had mine welded but it broke again a few months later so I bought a new bracket from Sytners and fitted it myself. it's an easy job but best to remove the seat to do it. The bracket cost approx Ãƒ”šÃ‚£70

Post Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:25 pm

aauser, at Ãƒ”šÃ‚£70 we surely can't be talking about the same brackets. I hope not! Think i might try and make some from steel instead of the cast ones that have broken.

Post Mon Mar 28, 2005 7:53 pm

Anyone got a pic of what these brackets are like? i can probably get some made up by my dad if anyone is interested?

Post Mon Mar 28, 2005 10:14 pm

The brackets are not available seperately - it comes as a complete seat pivot assembley with the recliner etc.

Post Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:55 pm

Plenty of seata around with totaly shagged fabric, but sound frames. ( problem usualy arises when one of the two securing screws come loose and the brackets twist).
It's a fairly easy, if long winded job, to change your fabric to a different seat frame.

Guest · Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:33 pm

Brianmoooore wrote: It's a fairly easy, if long winded job, to change your fabric to a different seat frame.

Any idea if you need any need new parts???

Thanks...

Post Tue Mar 29, 2005 10:56 pm

No new parts required. You should end up with a spare set of most things if you strip a scrap seat.

Post Wed Mar 30, 2005 9:05 pm

Both these brackets were snapped on the drivers seat of the 'is.

So i TIG welded mine last sat, problem solved in like half an hour.

Post Wed Mar 30, 2005 11:45 pm

Hmmm - had same problem on the Motorsport seats I bought for my 320i - this tiddly likkul L shaped bracket takes a lot of stick, and is (unusually) weak 4 Munich's finest.
I dismantled mine, ground off the old brackets and welded a braced bracket in it's place. also took opportunity to bring in the 'wings' of the seat back so they grip better on cornering. Again, standard brackets are prone to bend outward over time. Easy (but time consuming) fix, now have seats that you fit in to , instead of flopping about between on tight corners. Will post tech. details of fix if anyone interested (am I allowed to do this on the zone??)
Also, a very weak point on M seats is the thigh support pad - it uses stupid plastic runner brackets, very weak and prone 2 breaking. I fabricated aluminium runner brackets - no more 'Mister floppy' !!
cheers