New owner with a question about seats

[Mart54]

I just bought a 1986 635csi 5 speed to keep my 850 happy. She was lonely.
My question is can the drivers and passenger seat swap. I have them out now to clean and soften the leather. They are memory sport seats.
I love the car but only drove it 2 blocks when I bought it, and had to get it towed home. Has the no start problem. Slowly working my way through that. With feet of snow here in the mountains, no rush to go skating.

[ryanev70]

Great!

[bkats]

Sort of. But by the time you get the seat belt, folding handle, and other misc. items swapped over, you might as well get the driver's or both reupholstered/re-covered if that's your issue.

[Mart54]

Thanks. I'm just trying thinking outside the box. The folding button is no problem as they are on both sides of the seat. Seat belt not a problem, but the switch for the power thigh support could be a problem. Need to think more about this. The seats are not ready for a recover yet. they are out of the car on my bench for a full leathertique treatment and fixing some cables.

[dcains]

This article may assist you with the seat swap:

http://www.mye28.com/tech/rods_pages/id14.html

Also, lots of good maintenance/upgrade tips on that site.

[6erWEBB]

Your best bet is just to swap the leather. Take the sliders off the base of one and take a look. The covers are simply held on with screws hog rings even basic spikes in places. I PROMISE you, its super easy and if you take your time youll never know (other than the uneven wear) that they were even swapped.

[FernandoBunster]

I did this on my '86. If I recall it was quite easy. The only thing I remember modifying was making new holes in the side bolster leather to mount the side trim.

[RSheiman]

No start first step= Turn key one stage and listen over passenger rear wheel for the fuel pump.....if you hear nothing, check the main and fuel pump relays. Main hangs off the box outside in the 86.

[1986series6]

Hey Rob,

Have you been drinking formaldehyde again?

[Mart54]

Thanks for the responses. What seemed like a simple idea became much too complex. I have memory power sport seats and the mechanical and electrical are quite different between the passenger and driver. Manual seats are basically the same. So that's the end of that idea.
If I remove and install skins I would get new ones. Mine are not that bad yet.
But I did repair the electrical headrests - only because you can not move them manually.

I did this on my '86. If I recall it was quite easy. The only thing I remember modifying was making new holes in the side bolster leather to mount the side trim.

[Mart54]

I've been going over all the items on this site and others as to solve the no start problem. Have ruled out many items such as relays and ecu. Fixed some vacuum leaks and fuel pressure items but still doesn't start. Checked all sensors. Have power to injectors and spark when cranking. Fuel pressure at rail correct, return fuel working.
New wires and caps next, may not be problem, but should be done. Car has 123000 miles on it.
I'm thinking the problem may be a clogged cat. Need to check that out.

No start first step= Turn key one stage and listen over passenger rear wheel for the fuel pump.....if you hear nothing, check the main and fuel pump relays. Main hangs off the box outside in the 86.

[DesktopDave]

Excellent troubleshooting guide:
http://hiperformancestore.com/Motronic.htm

I printed that web page out and and took out to the car. I ignored the S38 sections and methodically went through it step by step. It was good enough to become a permanent addition to my 3-ring maintenance binder. With that guide's help I fixed a bunch of stuff - lift pump had a bad pin, speed & position sensors both out of spec, replaced two dud fuel injectors, coolant temp sensor had a dead resistor & broken wire from an old BMW TSB. Once I sorted all that out, the car started right up.

[Mart54]

Thanks for the link. I printed that out and some others when I started several weeks ago and went through it like a checklist. Solved some problems, but still no start, not even a cough from the engine. It started and went two blocks when I bought it, but nothing since then. Could all seven injectors be bad at once? They get power when cranking. It's cold and winter up here in the mountains, so I'm going to have towed to my indie. He's done really well on my 850 for the things I don't want to touch.
But it is really frustrating when you can't even get it to cough even once. I've spent this to also pull out all the interior and recondition the red leather upholstery and fix some power seat issues.

[Big Six]

I'd venture that if you cant get a single cough out of it then you are missing at least either fuel/spark. If you truly arent then next up would be timing. Grab a brand new main and/or fuel pump relay (you'll want them in your glovebox anyway) and re-test.

[Mart54]

Have new relays. It's at my indie now to figure it out, somewhat limited on ability to work on it in the winter. Big Six, my 635csi came from Seattle via Montana to me in Reno.