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Thread: Power Seat Motor Running But No Movement

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    97
    My Cars
    1997 840Ci

    Power Seat Motor Running But No Movement

    So my driver side seat motors all work in terms of running when power is applied from the switches. The front of the seat base tips up and down, the entire seat slides front to back, and the back reclines. However, the seat won't lift up or down. I hear the motor working but nothing changes in the seat position. Is the cable broken or is it gear driven? I haven't removed the seat yet but I'm curious if others have had the same issue. Looking through the parts diagrams it appears some of the cable guides are NLA which is not good. Any thoughts are appreciated...

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Kuna, Idaho
    Posts
    736
    My Cars
    Too Many Cars (NOT!)
    Don't keep messing with it! You will break the gears on the fore/aft movement. You have suffered a sheath shrinkage problem which pulls the cable out of the gearbox.

    Email the Seat Guru, Paul Brill here: seatguru429@gmail.com
    He can get you squared away.
    Last edited by masbury; 01-25-2017 at 05:15 PM.
    Mike Drives:
    BMW's
    E24 - 635CSiA - (1) 1985 (US)
    E24 - 635CSi - (1) 1985 (EC)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Black)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Calypso Red)

    E32 - 740iA - (1) 1994
    E32 - 750iA - (1) 1990 (Not an "L") (EC German National)
    E32 - 735iL - (2) 1990
    E32 - 750iL - (1) 1990

    E38 - 740iLA - (2) (1) 1997 & (1) 1998
    E38 - 750iLA - (1) 1998
    E38 - 740iA - (1) 2000 "Short Sport"
    E39 - 528iA - (2) - 2000 & (1) 1997
    Also:
    2015 Ram 3500 Dually, Cumins 6.7, Std.Cab. Long box 4x4 (To haul all this junk when necessary)
    2014 Dodge Dart Rallye (Daily Driver)
    2007 Mercedes Benz CL600 (Brabus SV12S)
    Mercedes Benz SL's - (1) (2002) & (1) 1999 500 - (1) 1999 600
    1967 Buick Riviera (2)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    97
    My Cars
    1997 840Ci
    Quote Originally Posted by masbury View Post
    Don't keep messing with it! You will break the gears on the fore/aft movement. You have suffered a sheath shrinkage problem which pulls the cable out of the gearbox.

    Email the Seat Guru, Paul Brill here: setguru429@gmail.com
    He can get you squared away.
    setguru429 or seatguru429?

    Also, why the hell do I keep posting new discussion threads in the for sale section!!!!

    - - - Updated - - -

    I sent him an email at both forms of the email address. Thanks for the direction!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Kuna, Idaho
    Posts
    736
    My Cars
    Too Many Cars (NOT!)
    Sorry seatguru429. Friggin' typo...
    Mike Drives:
    BMW's
    E24 - 635CSiA - (1) 1985 (US)
    E24 - 635CSi - (1) 1985 (EC)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Black)
    E31 - 850iA - (1) 1991 (Calypso Red)

    E32 - 740iA - (1) 1994
    E32 - 750iA - (1) 1990 (Not an "L") (EC German National)
    E32 - 735iL - (2) 1990
    E32 - 750iL - (1) 1990

    E38 - 740iLA - (2) (1) 1997 & (1) 1998
    E38 - 750iLA - (1) 1998
    E38 - 740iA - (1) 2000 "Short Sport"
    E39 - 528iA - (2) - 2000 & (1) 1997
    Also:
    2015 Ram 3500 Dually, Cumins 6.7, Std.Cab. Long box 4x4 (To haul all this junk when necessary)
    2014 Dodge Dart Rallye (Daily Driver)
    2007 Mercedes Benz CL600 (Brabus SV12S)
    Mercedes Benz SL's - (1) (2002) & (1) 1999 500 - (1) 1999 600
    1967 Buick Riviera (2)

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    97
    My Cars
    1997 840Ci
    Sent him an email. Nothing yet. Does he still work on seats? When was the last time you heard from him?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    West Chester, PA
    Posts
    154
    My Cars
    BMWs:74 3.0 CS, 97 840Ci
    I also sent him an email. No response after nearly 4 days.

    Gary

    PS: Received a very nice e-mail from Paul Brill today (1/29), giving me info on his product that will cure the lack of vertical movement in the seats. THANKS PAUL, and thanks also to Masbury for the suggestion.
    Last edited by Gary Knox; 01-30-2017 at 12:48 PM.
    Gary Knox

    '97 BMW 840 Ci
    '03 MB SL55 AMG
    '07 Mini Cooper S hatchback
    '09 Aston Martin DB9 Volante
    '13 Audi A8
    '90 MB 560 SEC and '94 Porsche 928 GTS recently departed but long enjoyed
    50 or so others over the past 70 years of driving

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    Toronto, Canada
    Posts
    406
    My Cars
    2009 Porsche 911
    Did you ever find a solution to your up/down seat issue? I have the same problem.

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