Renovating Sports/Recaro seats....................

[Jay07]

The seat is re-assembled and working!!! Its been bugging me since i started it! Had to get it finished tonight otherwise it would have bugged me for the next few days while im away in Chester!! Thanks again! Jason

[CustomX]

Hi.

My drivers sport seat Tilt mechanism is broken. When I put the lever down it just spins.

I can still adjust it by sticking a screwdriver in there and releasing the ratchet tooth.

Do I need a new mech or lever?

Cheers.

[eddieg]

I want to do some work on my 318is sports seats (checked grey type).

Passenger side seat mechanism is broken inside somehow - the little lever near the driver to let the passenger seatback forward is gone and nothing pokes out. Other side lever near passenger door works perfectly I need presumeably to get the seat back off. dismantle the mechanism/wires inside, repair any broken/distorted buts and rewire etc, then putting a little lever back on?

A big/complicated job? Any tips about taking the mechanism/wires apart as a first step to see whats wrong? Is there an manual etc to explain it all? Is there a seat mending agent or service anywhere if I cant do it?

Thanks a lot EddieG

[Brianmoooore]

I want to do some work on my 318is sports seats (checked grey type).

Passenger side seat mechanism is broken inside somehow - the little lever near the driver to let the passenger seatback forward is gone and nothing pokes out. Other side lever near passenger door works perfectly I need presumeably to get the seat back off. dismantle the mechanism/wires inside, repair any broken/distorted buts and rewire etc, then putting a little lever back on?

A big/complicated job? Any tips about taking the mechanism/wires apart as a first step to see whats wrong? Is there an manual etc to explain it all? Is there a seat mending agent or service anywhere if I cant do it?

Thanks a lot EddieG

Tilt the seat back right over, and right at the bottom of the seat backs you will find two small self tappers. Unscrew these, pull the bottom of the panel out a little, and lift the back off.
The inside part of the two release levers and the two crossed over wires that interconnect them should now be in view.

[Cloggy Saint]

I'd like to stop my driver's seat rocking due to loose pins at the point where the front arms attach. Is there a way of getting these tight? There doesn't seem to be an easy way of getting to them.

[Brianmoooore]

I'd like to stop my driver's seat rocking due to loose pins at the point where the front arms attach. Is there a way of getting these tight? There doesn't seem to be an easy way of getting to them.

Don't quite know where you mean, but the above thread just about covers reducing E30 seats to their component parts.

[Cloggy Saint]

I mean the point where the seat base is joined to the runners at the front, the only component part that hasn't been covered!

[Chris-W]

I mean the point where the seat base is joined to the runners at the front, the only component part that hasn't been covered!

That's probably due to worn mounting holes on the seat runners, rather than being able to tighten something up, sadly.

The barrel pins at that point have a little sprung lock which you need to hold in so that you can push them out, btw.

[CustomX]

Repair tilt handle / mech?

[eddieg]

I've got the grey checked sports seats in my 318is.

On the drivers side, the locating brackets (not sure of right word) at the place where the backrest joins the seat base have sheared off and the seat back sways back too far before stopping. Its very loose - not good news for the MOT I guess!

I've heard this is a common prob with old sports seats and seen it on the Zone a couple of times.

Are there any step by step instructions anyone has for dismantling the seat and fixing this particular problem? If I can get in there I can probably do a good job with bolting rather than welding? Alternatively, does anyone know of a good seat mender around the Cheltenham area?

Thanks a lot

EddieG

[Cloggy Saint]

Following on again, I've recovered my driver's seat base twice now and each time an annoying crease appears in the middle. I've pulled the outer cover as tight as it will go before the front of the foam starts to lift. I've realised now that the cover isn't pulled down at the three points across the middle, which would probably sort this problem. I know about the three plastic loops to keep the under-padding tight but I didn't notice any way of pulling in the outer cover. What's the trick, is this just done with glue?

[Cloggy Saint]

where's the seat man gone?

[Gortour]

Try PM'ing jam172 - Jamie's the guy who wrote the original article

[jam172]

where's the seat man gone?

Sorry about the lack of response, PM sent.

[Scooter318]

Anyone have more pictures on this subject? I like pictures!
The driver's seat on my E30 is in desperate need of repair, especially the left side:

[Cloggy Saint]

What seats are those??

[e30325itourer]

What seats are those??

thats exactly what i just said to! they aint any e30 seats i have ever seen

[cro320]

has anyone tried this method on E30 genuine Recaro seats?
My driver seat is pretty worn out and currently I don't have 500E for reupholstery
Maybe I can do that by myself

[jam172]

Principles should be the same as for the sports seats, donner seats will be harder to source, although if i recal alot of E24 6 series use genuine Recaro seats, you would have to change the runners, that's all.

[DJ_B4L]

is it easy to swap over bolsters and the leg extension part?

[Cloggy Saint]

The leg extension part is part of the seat base cover so you'd have to change the whole thing, which is very straight forward. Alternatively you could cut the leg extension part from the base and then re-sew another on. The bolsters are also easy to swap but do involve removing the seat mechanisms.

[DJ_B4L]

cheers for the reply mate il have a go at it

[jam172]

What he said, read through this tread from the beginning and all will become clear. If you are still struggling i am in East Sussex and can show you if needed?

[citizensnips]

Not sure if this is the right place, but tdoes the rear seat fromt he two door fit in to the four door? i assume it does but want to check

[Brianmoooore]

Fits, but has square ends.

[cool_ram_in]

Anyone have more pictures on this subject? I like pictures!
The driver's seat on my E30 is in desperate need of repair, especially the left side:

Wow! Nice seats! What are they?