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Thread: E31 twisting drivers seat - UK repair options?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    london
    Posts
    149
    My Cars
    840ci

    E31 twisting drivers seat - UK repair options?

    Hello all,

    The drivers seat in my E31 has developed the infamous "twist". From searching previous posts on the forum some users recommended a repair kit supplied by Seatguru429 AKA Paul, to whom I have sent an email but as of yet haven't received a reply.

    To keep options open, is anybody aware of a repair kit or solution available in the UK?

    Cheers.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Hampshire UK
    Posts
    8,867
    My Cars
    99 840ci Sport Indv
    There are repair instructions around that need no new parts - the plan is to reduce the length of the OUTER of the Bowden cable so that the inner mates properly again. Shogun will know all about this as it was first tried on the E32 - but a quick search of 'BMW seat-back twist' should help you out!

    https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=BM...hrome&ie=UTF-8
    Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i


    My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Location
    Chicago, Illinois
    Posts
    3,842
    My Cars
    are slow
    Blowtorch, some pliers and maybe a knife is all you need.


    Shogun's DIY is appropriate for our seats, but if you want to be visual instructions, search YouTube for "e39 seat twist fix".
    Last edited by XAlt; 01-30-2018 at 08:52 AM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Japan
    Posts
    54,654
    My Cars
    11/88 E32 750iL+98 E36M3
    see my website below, detailed instructions with pics, fixes>>>seats>>>Untwisting the seat back
    Shogun tricks and tips for the E32 series are HERE!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    San Antonio
    Posts
    712
    My Cars
    850,76 2002 &530,84 633
    The seat in my '91 was 'jacked up' when I bought the car. I removed seat and found the seat rails and back of seat were both uneven. One of the cables that operate the 'lift' of rear seat was stretched so cable drive was not engaged with motor. The outer cable housing only needs to be shortened about 6mm. I plan to shorten both sides.

    I removed the bottom rail section of seat and pulled cables out of motor drive mechanism. Cables appeared to be engaged in motor drive. So I used a electric drill and inserted cable drive into drill chuck. Running drill very slowly revealed one cable that was not operating screw mechanism in rail. I disassembled one side of rail and found the nylon gear on long screw shaft was cracked. I had a jeweler make a rubber mold and reproduce the gear in brass. Reproduction shrank about .45mm and the very fine splines did not come out accurately so I have a machinist who is going to cross drill the gear and shaft and use a roll pin to mount the gear.

    I should be picking up assembly in the next day or two. Some of the guys on here found a automotive instrument/odometer shop that rebuilds gauges and he can make a plastic reproduction but you must send him your gear and he can only make one per gear. That is why I went the route of mold making/ casting process.

    The odometer shop in the NE USA is: http://www.odometergears.com/product...s+E31+89-99/40

    IMG_20180120_132529791.jpg
    Last edited by JDP530; 01-30-2018 at 02:00 PM. Reason: add pic

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    SF Bay Area
    Posts
    3,778
    My Cars
    Supercharged 850ci
    Quote Originally Posted by JDP530 View Post
    The seat in my '91 was 'jacked up' when I bought the car. I removed seat and found the seat rails and back of seat were both uneven. One of the cables that operate the 'lift' of rear seat was stretched so cable drive was not engaged with motor. The outer cable housing only needs to be shortened about 6mm. I plan to shorten both sides.

    I removed the bottom rail section of seat and pulled cables out of motor drive mechanism. Cables appeared to be engaged in motor drive. So I used a electric drill and inserted cable drive into drill chuck. Running drill very slowly revealed one cable that was not operating screw mechanism in rail. I disassembled one side of rail and found the nylon gear on long screw shaft was cracked. I had a jeweler make a rubber mold and reproduce the gear in brass. Reproduction shrank about .45mm and the very fine splines did not come out accurately so I have a machinist who is going to cross drill the gear and shaft and use a roll pin to mount the gear.

    I should be picking up assembly in the next day or two. Some of the guys on here found a automotive instrument/odometer shop that rebuilds gauges and he can make a plastic reproduction but you must send him your gear and he can only make one per gear. That is why I went the route of mold making/ casting process.

    The odometer shop in the NE USA is: http://www.odometergears.com/product...s+E31+89-99/40

    IMG_20180120_132529791.jpg
    Wow! Very impressive, great job! I threw away a seat rail once because of this issue..

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    London, UK
    Posts
    49
    My Cars
    Bmw 840
    Did mine last week. Took me about 30 minutes. No need to even unbolt the seat.

    Just google BMW twisting seat and there are videos showing how on the E39 however the process is the same
    Last edited by 1959terry; 01-30-2018 at 03:27 PM.
    1998 e31 840ci Sport, Individual. 2008 Aston Martin DB9. 2016 4.4 SDV8 Range Rover Vogue.
    1959 Triumph Bonneville, 1969 T120R Triumph Bonneville, 1975 T160 Triumph Trident, 1990 Harley Davidson Fat Bot Grey Ghost, 2009 Triumph Bonneville 50th Anniversary model. 2014 Suzuki Gladius.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    San Antonio
    Posts
    712
    My Cars
    850,76 2002 &530,84 633
    A local machinist I use finished mounting the cast brass gear I had made for bottom seat rail mechanism. The castings weren't perfect and ID needed to be reamed to correct size so gear could be pressed onto spline shaft. We thought it might be necessary to pin or use a set screw but after squaring up and reaming the gear he was able to press it onto spline shaft for a very tight fit.

    So I can put driver's seat back together and possibly drive my car this weekend for the first time! I completed a partial brake job this past week, just hoping the master cylinder and booster work properly.

    IMG_20180214_155115311.jpg

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