Twisted seat back issue

[Grady in Texas]

I have this problem with my drivers seat. I pulled the seat to replace the bottom and back leather and hoped to fix the recline. The leather was a pain but worked, except the seat back didn't reinstall (after many attempts) properly. The top clips aren't grabbing (It's the same seat back in the same seat frame so it should fit).

I pulled the front motor and trimmed the left sheath (the side that doesn't move) about 3/8"-1/2". But when I went to reinstall it, the square wire wouldn't go in to the motor far enough to seat the retaining hip on the silver collar. I was running out of time and had to trim the square back a bit to to seat the clip. And of course my seat still twists. (And the end didn't look damaged and I couldn't shake anything out of the motor.)

Any ideas on convincing the seat back clips to work or the seat motor to to accept more of the square drive shaft? Thanks

[DIEGOBMW]

Did you straighten the back before reinstalling the cable you trimmed?

[Grady in Texas]

Yes.

Although to get the seat out (per the inter-web) I also straightened the back more than I normally set it. But it didn't twist going forward past a "comfortable" recline. Once I reinstalled the seat, it went back (both sides??) then twisted. More straight than I like.

[DIEGOBMW]

Sounds like you have another cable not making connection in the motor. When I did my sport seat for my 5 series I did the all for good measure.

[Grady in Texas]

I didn't measure, but the passenger side square flex shaft goes in (much) farther than the driver side. I guess I could have a piece broken off in the motor but the end looked clean.