I Need Wiring Help: 1998 seats in 1996 body

[Johnny Sea Rang]

I just bought this 1996 Z3 with 1998 seats PARTLY installed. The problem is the driver seat. The 1998 drivers seat was shorting and blowing a fuse, so I have disconnected the switch, and it does not blow anymore. The motors run fine when hot wired, so the problem is probably the switch. I have the old 1996 switch with 2 inches of the wires sticking out. The previous owner reported that the 96 switch was working when taken out of the car. Probably the 1996 switch will work on the 1998 seat, but I don't know which wire colour to hook up to the snap connector. I have a Haynes manual but the wiring diagrams are totally different colors for whatever reason.

The connections on the back of the 98 switch are numbered 1-6 if that is of any help.


1998 Passenger seat works okay, so the two 98 seats are probably compatible with the 96 body.

I know 96 had the mechanical pre tensioner and 98 had the pyro pre tensioner but that is not the issue at the moment.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Vintage42]

I just bought this 1996 Z3 with 1998 seats PARTLY installed... problem is probably the switch... Probably the 1996 switch will work on the 1998 seat... I have a Haynes manual but the wiring diagrams are totally different colors for whatever reason....

Some seat switch DIYs that show wiring:
http://www.bimmerdiy.com/diy/e36powerseats/
http://www.pelicanparts.com/bmw/tech...eat-Repair.htm
And the switch for my Z3 built 10/96:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/61311383475/

[ptimko]

You need the Z3 electrical diagrams. Google z3 electrical trouble shooting manual. It will show the correct wire colors for you car. I did the opposite swap, newer seat into an old car. It was very simple.

Paul

[deni2s]

You need the Z3 electrical diagrams. Google z3 electrical trouble shooting manual. It will show the correct wire colors for you car. I did the opposite swap, newer seat into an old car. It was very simple.

Paul

Diagrams for all years z3 can be found here: https://www.drive2.ru/l/3138409/